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Can I use my Speedball trackball instead of the provided mouse, in tandom with a Walcom Graphire table?
-------------------- "Don't change horses in midstream, unless you spot one with longer legs" bronzeo oti Jack Davis 1410 Main St Joplin, MO 64801 www.imagemakerart.com jack@imagemakerart.com Posts: 1549 | From: Joplin, MO | Registered: Mar 2000
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Jack, I don't think the computer would know the difference between a trackball or a mouse if it plugs into the same port as a mouse. I have a Graphire on one system & a Wacom ArtZII on my other and they both work in tandem with the mouse. It's a good backup if something flaky happens with the Wacom stuff you at least have a pointing device. Karen
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Karen, how would you describe the differences between the two tablets? Which do you prefer and why? Are small sizes a disadvantage? That's something on my wish list.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6724 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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My understanding is the graphire and most other tablets plug into a usb port so that they can work in tandem with any other pointing devices. I am going to look at some today and may buy a low end one like the Graphire. I already own a 5 year old Calcomp Drawing Slate, which has more options and features, but being a serial port hook up, is much too erratic.
-------------------- Wright Signs Wyandotte, Michigan Posts: 2785 | From: Wyandotte, MI USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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I've got the Calcomp too...but hardly ever use it. Mine came with so many warnings about the power supply and procedures just to turn it on, that I realized it was not the machine for me (more correctly, my son) Rick..When you get ready, you should check out the Wacom's on e-bay. I bought a 9 x 12 Intuous, brand new, for 300 bucks. The thing is to look at what's new each day and know when to jump. hk
-------------------- Howard Keiper Independent Contractor Benicia, Ca. thekeip@comcast.net
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They come with a mouse. I am hoping that I don't have to use it with that mouse. My question was that more, that they don't have to be programed together and using the same mouse drivers. I wouldn't give up my trackballs if that were the case. While on the subject, is the little 4x5's at 90.00 not worth the effort???
-------------------- "Don't change horses in midstream, unless you spot one with longer legs" bronzeo oti Jack Davis 1410 Main St Joplin, MO 64801 www.imagemakerart.com jack@imagemakerart.com Posts: 1549 | From: Joplin, MO | Registered: Mar 2000
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Yes, you can use the Wacom Graphire in conjunction with your current pointing device, as long as you have the extra port on your machine for it. The tablet has its own drivers so it will work independently of your trackball.
I have a 6x8 Wacom Intuos tablet with a serial connection. It works great, nice and smooth, even on my old machine on which I use the serial mouse and serial tablet at the same time without a glitch.
Now I use a laptop and have the serial wacom plugged in, and use a USB optical mouse. I dont have the mouse that's designed for use on my tablet, it's shape is kinda klunky and I am used to very sleek and ergonomic mice.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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Perhaps I'm thinking of a different kinda bird? Several years ago I played with a drawing tablet at Mike Jacksons shop and it had something tha more resembled a pencil to draw with. I could adjust the line thickness and type of termination and starts for each stroke and could set an angle to the nib so I could get a thick and thin script. I remember doing some script that required no or little editing. That's what I've wanted. Am I on the same page????
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6724 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Rick, the features you described seeing would be more a function of the software that was being used for drawing or making the script or calligraphic looking designs.
The cordless pen with the Wacom tablets is pressure sensitive (producing thicker and thinner strokes as you press down) but the software you use must allow for that pressure input for it to be used in that manner. The larger tablets usually come with pens that have more pressure sensitivity - something like 1024 levels versus 512 levels of sensitivity in the pens included in the small tablets. If your software only recognizes 32 levels, the point is mute.
I have the small Wacom with the cordless mouse and cordless pen. I tried it for about 3 weeks and stopped using it. Originally I bought it thinking I would use it with Fractal Design Painter, and then I never bothered learning that program well enough to even bother with it. I bought the Wacom new for around $99. Make me an offer I can't refuse :-)
-------------------- EmpY Mayo Pardo #138 South Elgin, IL.
Posts: 436 | From: South Elgin, IL | Registered: Nov 1998
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Rick, Hard to say if its the same tablet - there's so many out there. Sometimes what the drawing device will do depends greatly on the abilities of the program you use it with. I have a 6x8 ArtzII I use on my main computer where I do alot of editing in GA and photoshop,it's about 5 years old(paid @ $320 for it then) I use the Graphire on my second station where I have all the capabilities of my main computer but use it more for bookeeping, word programs and sign design. I like the larger 6x8 especially if you edit bitmapped images - but the graphire is easier to setup thru USB (& cheaper $99) I was first introduced to "The pen" at a class I took about 5 years ago. When I returned from the class the first thing I did was order the ArtZ. I RARELY use my mouse. Whichever model you buy it's worth it. Karen
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While we're on the subject of tablets/pens/meeces...when we installed my setup, my scanner proggie froze up and shut down when I tried to use the pen. We found settings for pen pressure, etc. but apparently it's too archaic to keep up with the equipment I have now. The scanner is a 5 year old flatbed with Picture Publisher software...from back in the day when 8 characters were all you had to name a file prior to the .tff/.jpg/.gif,etc file types.
The scanner still works great and most of my input graphically is done with the digital camera or straight outta my mind. (grin) The wacom mouse is sleeker than the microsoft mouse I'd been using and it had a scroll button (woohoo!)
I do find it easier on most counts to use the pen in lieu of the mouse, but old habits are hard to break hehehe! The pen can be configured to do lots of different things, I'm still learning and I don't think I'll be selling it unless I go for a digital tablet someday...any thoughts on those?
David, yer right about the connection, but we unplugged the old mouse cuz it was broken anywho.
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my wife got me a kb gear 5x7 tablet from big lots for $20 for christmas. at first i thought it was a joke. but it works excellently in corel and does what rick is asking about with the pen tool in corel (the third tool down on the toolbar). its called a jam pad you can get more info from their website.sorry its called jam studio at kb interactive.
[ January 28, 2002: Message edited by: jon peterman ]
-------------------- Jon Peterman 200 Summit Loop Grants Pass, OR -------------------- a.k.a. dc-62 success is in Jesus Christ Posts: 434 | From: grants pass or. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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So what is the difference between the Intuos and the Graphire and the other brands? I'm not thinking about getting into the details of photo retouching, just wanting a means to get my own script on screen in a quicker way than lettering it small with a shocard brush and scanning. What do I need?
Jon, I couldn't find the place you mentioned for the tablet you got.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6724 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I've been looking for the box it came in to make sure what model this is, but I'm sure it's the same $99 one Karen mentions above. On the back it says, Model ET-0405-U and underneath that is says ET-0405-U0H. The rectangular drawing area that's printed on the clear/frosted overlay is about 3.75" x 5" but I think the pen may work somewhat beyond that. I uninstalled the driver for it so I can't test the actual working area at the moment.
-------------------- EmpY Mayo Pardo #138 South Elgin, IL. Posts: 436 | From: South Elgin, IL | Registered: Nov 1998
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mine is a 6x9 wacom art zll(probably ancient now), i love it. i cant imagine using one smaller than that, but thats what im used to. it plugs into the serial port on my mac and has sort of like a 3way plug, i plug it in and the keyboard/moouse plugs into it.
One thing that really messed me up, i would leave the pen laying on the tablet and try to use the mouse, the curser went haywire, thought my computer was going crazy!!! I did everything to try and solve the problem, zapping the pram, reinstalling the software i was using. It never dawned on me that the computer was picking up 2 "meese" signals making the cursor go wild. Boy did i feel stupid when i finally figured that out.
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Could/Would someone post a pics of some line drawings they accomplished with a tablet? It would help several of us learn the capabilities of a tablet. I pretty much understand how it works as a photoshop editor. The one thing that would be very beneficial to signers is the hand/eye/feel of the pen as opposed to the mouse or trackball. I.E. Can you write your name with much less node editing?
[ January 29, 2002: Message edited by: bronzeo ]
-------------------- "Don't change horses in midstream, unless you spot one with longer legs" bronzeo oti Jack Davis 1410 Main St Joplin, MO 64801 www.imagemakerart.com jack@imagemakerart.com Posts: 1549 | From: Joplin, MO | Registered: Mar 2000
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I have a wacom pad that is about 5x7. It has a clear plastic overlay built in. I scan line art for vinyl cutting at least every week. Sometimes I will lay the art under the overlay and redraw it with the wacom stylus.
I sell a lot of stickers of Hawaiian flowers. 4' bands are very popular on the top of windshields.
If I trace a floral design & scan it I can get acceptable lookingresults, but in viewing the nodes there are many small irregularities in the lines. If I trace the art with the tablet instead I will end up with less then 1 tenth as many nodes, but nice bezier (sp.)curves.
For a short run of cut vinyl for a client who has camera ready art I will go with the scan. If I have to trace it anyway though I would use the tablet. In the case of my 4' flower bands, I cut 6-12 at a time for my wholesale accounts. The reduced nodes saves a huge amount of time cutting the job every time.
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Thanks Doug, for that explanation. That is maybe what we are all looking for. Less node editing on drawings. Do you have any info for Rick on the Scripty looking stuff? That would be a great addition to its uses.
[ January 31, 2002: Message edited by: bronzeo ]
[ January 31, 2002: Message edited by: bronzeo ]
-------------------- "Don't change horses in midstream, unless you spot one with longer legs" bronzeo oti Jack Davis 1410 Main St Joplin, MO 64801 www.imagemakerart.com jack@imagemakerart.com Posts: 1549 | From: Joplin, MO | Registered: Mar 2000
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Rick check out Wacom's site Intous & Graphire are two different models that they have. Mine is the intous. If you are a lettering artist you will be happier scanning your signiture to pick up all the style you are getting from your brush or calligraphy pen. The stylus or pen that I have just puts down a thin line.
If you need to vectorize the scan of your signature, &/or want to reduce the nodes, then you could trace both sides of the brush or pen stroke with the wacom pen. You could even scan, enlarge & printout a larger version of the signature for easier tracing & improved resolution when reduced back to normal size.
Hope this helps.
[ January 31, 2002: Message edited by: Doug Allan ]
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Well I just bid on a Pablo drawing pad on ebay,($25) and received it yesterday. I believe they are discontinued and are very low end, but I figured what the heck, I only want it for basic things at home. As I have said, I own a Calcomp Drawing Slate and put it back to work on my second computer at the shop. When it runs, it's great.
Unfortunately the Pablo locked up both systems that I tried it on, driver problems I believe, and doesn't seem to have any support to get it going. If you are serious, stay away from this one.
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