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Has anyone bought or tried the airbrush pen or stroke pen for the Intuos? I'd be curious to hear if you'd recommend them (especially the stroke pen), or if it's just too much money for the difference between them and the regular pen.
The regular stylus is great, but I'd hate to think that I was missing out on something really cool and useful.
Anyone have one?
-------------------- Bob Darnell London, Ontario, Canada
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I don't know what the airbrush can do vs. the pen, unless there's a dual-action feature. But the pressure sensitivity of the tablet seems to cover that pretty well.
I just purchased a second tablet this winter. I'll never be without one again.
-------------------- Steve Purcell Purcell Woodcarving & Signmaking Cape Cod, MA
************************** Intelligent Design Is No Accident Posts: 900 | From: Cape Cod, MA | Registered: Oct 1999
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I have been curious as well about the airbrush tool. Especially now that Photoshop 7 is out which not only supports the airbrush tool but will also work with the angle you hold the regular pen tool at. That sounds real cool!
-------------------- Brian Stoddard Northwest Wholesale Signs
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I have a 12" x 12" Wacom Intuos II with the stylus pen and the Airbrush...even came with a wireless four button mouse (dirty word) that my friends use. I use the pen 90% of the time but the airbrush is a blast! (The airbrush could be used in pen mode as well but its not as comfortible to use for that function.)I'm learning how to manipulate it to do what I want it to do...as with the pen, there is an infinate aray of combinations that can be set up and experimented with. I just installed my upgrade to Photoshop 7, and yes the airbrush seems to function a little smoother. As an avide t-shirt airbrusher, one of the main reasons to use an airbrush is the "rat tail", "Dager stroke", or just plain "Flair Stroke". There is a roller on top of the airbrush that simulates the real trigger mechanisum and it works pretty well with some exceptions. There is also a single function button right behind the roller that can be programed for any number of functions. Since you do not need air presure there is no need for dual action; however, the roller is spring loaded to give you that feel. It takes some getting used to since there is no paint bottle or hose hanging under it and its plastic instead of steel, hence it is very light. The tablet will only sence the pen up to approximately 1/2 inch off the surface so you've got to develope a feel for this especialy when trying to implement a fancy stroke like the "Rate Tail". I use a thin magazine placed on the tablet as a guide for practice. The idea is to be free flowing with out touching the pad itself. There is also an eraser on the back end (sure could have used it on a few T-shirts!). I like it because it gets me that much closer to the REAL tool in the computer. Yes you can implement some of the same effects using a stylus pen, but it's done in a round about way with presure settings. Next time you go back to the real airbrush you mite forget and try using this same technique and end up with a bent needle. Is it worth the extra $100.00 bucks, that is something you need to decide for yourself based on your needs. To me it's just another tool that (after the learning curve) makes my craft that much easyer and enjoyable. As I mentioned earlyer, the Wacom is just another tool in your studio and it's not unlike learning to use real brushes, the more you PRACTICE and experiment with all of its features and excessories the more that tool becomes a part of your daily routin. I mite also add that the airbrush tool shows its best side in Corel Painter 7,which is a full featured art program. They realy took the time to develope the interface between the program and the airbrush tool. Good Luck 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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Hi Bob, I just picked up a 6x8 a month ago. I primarily use it in Illustrator and I must say that the pressure pen works just fine with variable stroke selected. Once the stroke is down you can go to "expand stroke" and you will have an outline path to cut if your running vinyl. I've only played a bit in PS6 so far. I was truely amazed with the directional aspect of the airbrush tool selected even though I'm using the actual Wacom pen. I'm not sure how much more control the acutal physical airbrush tool would add. Now, if they would just package some extra time in the box to learn the tricks I'd be all set.
-------------------- Bill Modzel Mod-Zel screen Printing Traverse city, MI modzel@sbcglobal.net Posts: 1356 | From: Traverse City, MI | Registered: Nov 1998
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Thanks for the replies. I've never been that great with a real airbrush, mostly using it for backgrounds or masked effects. You're making it sound kind of fun though, Robin. Maybe it would help me practice and get some better control for the real thing. I'm still curious about the stroke pen... if I buy one I'll let everyone know what I think of it.
Randy, the stylus and tablet will work in both vector and raster programs, but they really shine in the paint programs. Besides that, they are a pretty cool mouse replacement too. More info is at Wacom
-------------------- Bob Darnell London, Ontario, Canada
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