posted October 03, 2002 08:45 AM
Please excuse the sunglasses on the smiley face in October...but it's still summer here.
How many of you actually USE a digital tablet on a regular basis? I'd love to get away from the hockey puck, but have never watched anybody use a digital tablet...which would be helpful.
I know that Dan Sawatsky and David Butler have made the switch. And that's enough to tell me that good stuff can come outta one!
Dan mentioned a couple days about working different colors on different layers. I'd like to hear more about that.
Also, I've found it's more comfortable to work on a photoshop image than it is a vector image with the tablet. I've got the stylus buttons set up and all, just the lines don't want to do what I'm telling them to do...as far as closing paths, etc.
Guess this is the long way of asking if there are tricks and tips that might help get the most out of a tablet?
[ October 03, 2002, 08:46 AM: Message edited by: Don Coplen ]
Avid user of the tablet for raster based stuff, but like you mention, I find it difficult to get vector stuff. I just need the discipline to spend some time with it and understand what I’m doing wrong. Just acquired the airbrush tool and need to spend some time with that as well.
No tips to add other than the one I just learned at PS World; stand it upright when not it use. Lean it against the monitor, shelf, etc, anything to keep it vertical in nature as opposed to horizontal. Less likely for things to be “piled” on top of it which tends to discourage most people from using it.
I started another one of my typical “novel” responses to your Streamline post, but won’t have time to finish it until sometime this weekend. Hopefully something of value will be in that post.
-------------------- Bob Gilliland InKnowVative Communications Harrisburg PA, USA
"The U.S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself." Benjamin Franklin Posts: 642 | From: Harrisburg, PA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted October 03, 2002 11:33 AM
I have one of the bigger Wacom tablets (something like 10" x 13" or so) I dont even have a mouse on this machine anymore. I am just so used to working with it I could never go back. Sure it works great in Photoshop but I work very well with it in Illustrator, Freehand, and Corel. I dont understand not being able to work with the vector images, I can digitize a logo or graphic in half the time some one else can with the mouse. what is the trouble you are having? I dont have any real tips other than it takes time to get used to. When someone else sitd down at my machine its very frustrating to watch them with the tablet, then I realize how accustomed I am to working on it.
-------------------- Brian Stoddard Northwest Signs
posted October 03, 2002 11:34 AM
Love it! Got a Wacom 12 x 12 and I'll never go back to the mouse. I also have the airbrush tool and it does take some getting used to. Only draw back is if you use it constantly the muscles in your fingers that you write with will get lazy cause, although your using a pen, your not using the same presure that you would normaly use to write with...just make sure you force yourself to write and doodle a couple times a day with a regular pen or pencil on paper. Robin
-------------------- Robin Sharrard Sharrard Graphics & Sign Fallon, Nevada rds@phonewave.net "Proud $$$ Supporter" Posts: 282 | From: Fallon, Nevda, USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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posted October 03, 2002 12:21 PM
I just have a wacom 6x7 (or something close) & I store it horizontal, but right under my mouse pad. I only use it for vector tracing. I slide my mouse & pad out of the way, slide client original under clear overleaf, grab my stylus & choose the pen tool in illustrator. A fairly quick hand drawn trace of organic shapes (as opposed to more geometric)produces less nodes then a scan, & most of them just where I want them.
I've recall havine the same trouble with closing paths, so when I stop short of closing a path, I close them up with the mouse. This is a pretty easy way to jump between the two, but truth is I really don't use it much. When I need a complex irregular shape & have to cut a lot of them, this seems the fastest way I've found to get nice curves with reduced node count for fast plotting.
[ October 03, 2002, 12:47 PM: Message edited by: Doug Allan ]
I don't use vector based art in my business as I don't own a plotter and don't often do vinyl. The odd time I do need it I get someone else to do it.
All my art these days is done with the digital pad and computer in either Painter or Photoshop.
As I've mentioned before I carry a sketch book everywhere with me to make little doodles and sketches. For the basic shapes I find it way easier to draw on paper. Old habits die hard I guess. These I scan in and layer like tracing paper of old. Only with the computer you can manipulate, stretch, resize, and flip as necessary in seconds.
Painter is a digital drawing and paintiong program that I have grown very fond of... anything you can do in real life you can do digitally. I have an older version Painter 5... and it has some limitations and is a little cumbersome in regard to layers. THe latest version is much more compatible with Photoshop I hear and is definitely on my wish list of late.
I also use Photoshop a lot, more and more lately. I use it to compose my images at the preliminary stages and also at the end of the drawing process.
The programs are way more complex and powerful than I will ever need but I am slowly getting the hang of things and each day disciver more features that are really useful!
I spoke of layers a while back... My drawings look like pen and ink drawings of old, done in black ink. Over this I used to add ink washes to make them color.
I do this in Painter, over the top with the pencil tool, or lately I do it in Photoshop on an underneath layer. You can also do it on a top layer and use the multiply feature to blend it in without obscuring the original linework. Each process has its drawbacks and advantages based on what I am trying to do.
The beauty of using photoshop and layers is that editing the picture and colors is a snap. I am designing theme parks of late, and that process is all about change... constant change. I can edit the drawing or colors or both in sections or the whole without reworking the original drawing. What used to take hours and hours reworking drawings and ideas I had already visited is now done in minutes. It takes the tedium out of my job and lets me keep on being creative.
My work is all concept art, whether it be for a sign, logo, or complete theme park.
I use a Wacom 12X 12 drawing pad. THe pen can be set under preferences to react to the pressure and weight you normally use with non-digital instruments (your real pencil) so the feel is exactly the same. It does take a little getting used to looking at a screen and working with your hands a little ways away, but in a couple of days it will feel normal.
I keep the pad in front of me all the time. I raised my monitor up off my desk slightly on a homemade bench so my keyboard slides under it. I also use some keyboard shortcuts with my left hand while my pen is in my right one... makes things go faster. I also keep my mouse handy next to my pad as some things just go better with it.
You can sort of see my setup if you go to my web page and click on Giggle Ridge Studio logo. I don't use two monitors anymore as it takes up too much desk real estate. ( A 21" flat screen is on my wish list)
If you have more questions... let me know.
-dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8768 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted October 03, 2002 04:30 PM
My wacom 9" x 12" is a Lefty's Dream.
I am left handed and could never be acurate drawing with my right handed mouse. I could never get used to using my mouse left handed-clicking with my middle finger and right clicking with my left index finger-CONFUSING! So when I purchased my tablet I really enjoyed the increased accuracy and natural "drawing" feel. I must admit there is a keystroke shortcut conspiracy going on against the lefty's. Most keystrokes are done with the left hand which is very difficult to do with a stylus in your hand. I guess they wouldn't call it work if everything went perfectly
-------------------- Rick A. Stemmler Creative Sign Resources P.O. Box 10743 Ft. Wayne, IN 46853 rstemmler@creativesignresources.com Posts: 11 | From: Ft. Wayne, IN | Registered: Sep 2002
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posted October 03, 2002 04:52 PM
One more thing...
I bought three or four books on the two programs I use the most, Painter and Photoshop. They are by different writers and give instructions in a little different way. Lots of pictures too.
When I go to learn a new task I look it up in each of the books and walk myself through it all of the books as a reference. It makes learning a whole lot easier and faster.
-dan
[ October 03, 2002, 04:53 PM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8768 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted October 03, 2002 09:36 PM
Dan, what books are ya referring to? I like the "visual shortcut" books. Have one for dreamweaver and photoshop. Lots of pictures! Wonder if they're the same that you use.
posted October 03, 2002 10:48 PM
I have two drawing tablets, one at work and one at home. I don't use either much and when I do it is mostly in bitmap editing or tracing. Like Dan, I use mine a lot with Painter but only on a recreational basis or for more traditional looking art.
-------------------- Wright Signs Wyandotte, Michigan Posts: 2787 | From: Wyandotte, MI USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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