Graphics Tablets

[Shuemue]

So I've just found out my girlfriend wants a graphics tablet for Christmas.

It's debatable how much she'll use one, so I'd like to get her a cheapish one first.

What kind of specs should I look for?

[Sigi]

Get a Wacom Graphire.
VERY good. reasonable price

[Isiolia]

Wacom is the way to go, they're pretty much -the- name in tablets.

The simple answer is to find what they offer in your price range and buy that.

For a long time the product they made which would be quite suited for your needs, was the Graphire series. The 4x5 was very common to find around for $80-90, and came with a lite version of Photoshop (originally 5.0 LE, a version of Elements for Graphire 2/3) as well as Painter Classic. The software alone was worth the entry price, so it's quite a good deal for someone starting in computer graphics or wanting to dabble with a tablet.

They also made a 6x8 Graphire, but I think it was in the $200-250 range, not sure offhand.

Either way, it'd be likely that you'd still see the wired Graphire 3s on the shelves somewhere. However, looking at Wacom's product page, they have now reduced the Graphire series down to one model, which is a 6x8 Bluetooth one.

What would have previously been called a Graphire has been changed to the Bamboo series. The Bamboo Fun looks to be intended for the same graphics market as the older Graphire (there's one marketed more for handwriting recognition as well). http://global.wacom.com/bambootablet/bamboofun.cfm
Same basic specs, same software bundle, same general MSRP. So it's also likely that you'd see this on the shelves at Best Buy or whatever, and given the heritage I would assume it's a solid product.


The basic specs for a tablet are the resolution of it and the levels of pressure sensitivity. The specs on even the cheapest thing Wacom makes are easily enough for someone starting on a tablet. So I wouldn't worry about it unless you're looking for a justification on the higher price of the Intuos series.

IMO, if your girlfriend is an experienced digital artist, and you have a bit more money to spend, I'd consider the Bamboo medium ($200) or a 6x8 Intuos ($330). Not because the cheaper models are crap (I own a 4x5 Graphire, it's a quality product), but simply because if she really gets into it she'll probably want to get one down the road.

[Shuemue]

Awesome, thanks guys. I'll hit the shops and find a Wacom.

[Fhqwghads]

I know you're already getting a Wacom, but just wanted to reinforce what a good brand it is. I had (and still have) an old little 4x6 Wacom that was connected via serial port (that'll give you an idea how old it is.) Even back then it worked great, and it still does. I recently bought my girlfriend a Wacom Intuos 9x12, and she's still freaking out over how much ass it kicks. Can't go wrong with a Wacom!

Oh yeah, and you can order direct from them, it was months ago, but I'm sure that's what I did. Beats having to go to a store imo.

[Senoska]

Wacom Bamboo, best buy ever. Its cheap as shit and I was in the same situation, I didnt think I would use it that much but I use it every day, I use it over a mouse. Very nice looking, I have the black one with blue back lights.

[Sigi]

I lurv my Graphire (8xish). VERY handy if you want to do graphics or flash. People were always surprised to see me pull it out and work on it... till they notice that I'm left-handed XD

it's

[Saphirea]

Just to agree, yes the Wacom rocks. Mine is the smallish 4x6 and now I'm wishing I had purchased the bigger one, I use it all the time for pretty much everything graphics / flash related.

[zoobernut]

This might be a bit late but Wacom is the best and only option for tablets. I have one and use it a lot in photoshop and 3d programs and everything.

[Shuemue]

I ordered this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wacom-Bamboo-On ... B000VZZCSO

If she likes it, I'll buy her a bigger, better one and gank this little one for myself.

[zoobernut]

if she likes it and you are going to get her a bigger better one I highly recommend the Intuos3 line it is the one I use. Mine is 6x11 inches made for widescreen monitors. They have several different sizes in the Intuos3 line.

[Isiolia]

I ordered this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wacom-Bamboo-On ... B000VZZCSO

If she likes it, I'll buy her a bigger, better one and gank this little one for myself.

Looks like you get less of a software bundle with that, but I would have to assume she's got software of some kind already anyway if she wants a tablet. Quite a bit less expensive than the Fun too.

[Shuemue]

Yeah we have whatever software she needs.

[Lordwafik]

Get get get. Here was my tester pic after getting one and playing around for a bit :

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/3...h003mc4.th.jpg

Examples of what professional people can do with them :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S84s5OQIKg8

I got a Wacom Graphire A4 size one. The difference between them will only shine once a) you know about pressure sensitivity, and b) if you used the lesser one in the series.

If she's a serious drawer/painter, don't get a Bamboo, they're junk, they're maybe good to doodle on but that's about it. The bamboo was designed for Vista expressions mainly, sure they can do a job, but not the job the better ones can.

Graphire is the next step up, it's ok for people who are beginners to graphics tablets (I'd reccomend this to someone who wants a tablet to do somewhat serious drawing and it's their first time over a bamboo). They don't have the amount of sensitivity that the top end tablets have, but they have a good amount for you to fluidly draw, however quick strokes you'll start noticing sharp lines.

Intuos series is the best of the non monitor tablet series, it has the highest sensitivity levels, including pen tilt, and come in a plethora of Sizes. This one is the best one if you're not going for a Cintiq, both the pen and the pad have feedback (which means you'll feel a grip against the surface rather than just floating by which doesn't feel natural).



I got the last one after having years of Graphire.

[attachment=0:3uvie0d9]TAblet!.jpg[/attachment:3uvie0d9]

Hueg!


PS : If she can't draw IRL, she won't be able to draw with this. But drawing is not unteachable, buy her the book "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" by Betty Edwards- it's amazing and can help people who can't draw a straight line to drawing reasonably. A big misconception is that drawing is for people who are born gifted, but it's actually a skill just like reading and writing, however modern education doesn't deem it as worthy to be taken seriously hence why it's not in our curriculum.

[levish]

bought a used 12x12 Wacom tablet off Ebay for about 225$, it's serial (not usb =P) but it works and is hueg-r