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Digital art tools? Emptyby Kynale Fri Nov 18, 2016 6:01 pm

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Digital art tools? Emptyby sky665 Thu Jul 16, 2015 11:56 pm


 

 Digital art tools?

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Duskglass
sky665
Kynale
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Kynale




Art Gallery : DeviantArt
Join date : 2012-09-01
Location : Ontario, Canada

Digital art tools? Empty
PostSubject: Digital art tools?   Digital art tools? EmptyWed Oct 02, 2013 1:51 pm

So I was curious: what do you guys use for digital art tools, specifically drawing tablets if you have them?

I think my tablet needs replacing. I have a very old bamboo fun, and it worked great for my needs for a long time, but lately it's just driving me insane. Every time I want to draw, I have to reinstall the driver and restart my laptop or it won't work at all. This includes if I take a break and and let the laptop go idle at any point.

It's too much of a hassle to have to do this every damn time I want to draw. I can't even take a break without having to do this.

So I'll be getting a new one soon hopefully. Curious what other people are using, and if you have any recommendations? I also really want to find one with tilt control, since that's something I never had on my old one. I don't know how hard it will be to find one like that though. x.x

Anyway, feel free to talk about other digital art tools and programs you use too, if you like!
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sky665

sky665


Art Gallery : DA
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Join date : 2012-11-15
Location : USA

Digital art tools? Empty
PostSubject: Re: Digital art tools?   Digital art tools? EmptyWed Oct 02, 2013 3:10 pm

Oooh! My old one was bamboo until it eventually died on me XD For a while I was able to replace the cord and keep it goin' longer but theeen it started getting to a point where if I TILTED it a certain way, it'd stop working. And I had to TILT it back the right way. So I'd have to stay FROZEN in a position if I got it working XD

So that was too troubling and I gave in and now I've got a new wacom/bamboo tablet! (At first I wanted to just reorder the exact same one as before - but that one was WAY more costly for some reason XD; )

It's this one here!

At first I was worried because it's sooo much smaller than my last one. Even if it is technically about the same drawing space as the older one was? But I've gotten use to it and now it's become a very nice little tablet! :3

Not sure about tilt control though, because I don't know what that is! What is tilt control?
(Is that why my old one died? XD It didn't have it so when I 'tilted' it it would die on me? Hahah - it didn't start doing that till years later though)
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Duskglass

Duskglass


Art Gallery : tumblr artblog
Join date : 2012-10-19

Digital art tools? Empty
PostSubject: Re: Digital art tools?   Digital art tools? EmptyWed Oct 02, 2013 6:31 pm

I have a Bamboo too; not the same one Sky linked (the back says 'Bamboo Pen model CTL-460'; the linked one is CTL-471). It's about 4 years old. The only problem I've had is that it sometimes glitches out in Sai but I think that's an issue with Sai, not the tablet (since it's literally ONLY in Sai).

I know most people are all about those fancy larger tablets (intuos or cintiq) but I've never felt a need to upgrade... I'm used to drawing small anyway so the smaller draw area doesn't bug me xD And I like the small size that fits nicely in my computer bag; my laptop is smallish and the biggest tablets wouldn't fit in the bag with my computer and scanner. (Some of the fanciest tablets have draw areas bigger than my whole computer.)

There was a non-wacom tablet that people were praising on tumblr a while back; I've never used one but it was a lot less expensive than wacoms so if you're tight on funds it could be worth a try.

No idea what tilt control is though... do you mean that fancy gimmick in newer versions of PS that changes how brushes act based on the angle of the pen to the tablet? That's the only thing I can think of... I've never tried it (I only have CS2 and the feature was added recently) but I've been told it's not that great/useful.
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twocue

twocue


Art Gallery : http://two-cue.deviantart.com/
Join date : 2013-01-22
Location : California

Digital art tools? Empty
PostSubject: Re: Digital art tools?   Digital art tools? EmptyWed Oct 02, 2013 7:51 pm

Haha I would very highly suggest a monoprice tablet. I've had mine for 2 years now and it's been great! It's probably the cheap one Dusk mentioned^^

Mine is a decent size (10x6.5 I think?) and only costed me $50, the smaller ones are even cheaper! Then there's their really huge special one for 100 something.

I really love mine. I could never go to a different brand now. It definitely is good for empty pockets XD
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thewishbunny

thewishbunny


Art Gallery : thewishbunny.deviantart.com
thewishbunny.tumblr.com
Join date : 2012-11-03
Location : California

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PostSubject: Re: Digital art tools?   Digital art tools? EmptyWed Oct 02, 2013 10:20 pm

My first ever tablet was an Intuos3. I loved it, but I found that I was fighting over it with my little sister who suddenly got into drawing at the time. Not literally fighting, but she'd use it more than me xD
I eventually bought myself a new one and gave my Intuos3 bby to my sister. I upgraded to an Intuos5 is is super slick o___o

I've used the Bamboo before and it isn't bad. I've just been used to the Intuos family so when it was time for an upgrade, I just saved up money.

I'd agree with Dusk about the tilt control thing. The tilt control isn't that great and it's even an extra hassle sometimes. I lag occasionally when using brushes that activate tilt control. The tilt control thing is mostly a preference. It emulates how it would be to use a real pencil/brush. For example, if you hold a brush directly upright (coupled with pressure) you would get a certain line as opposed to holding the pencil/brush on the side. This is especially true for traditional media--sharp pencils or long rounded brushes.
All in all, tilt control is pretty cool. You can do a lot of nice tricks and things, but I find it a hassle because I don't really make use of it. I'm sure someone else probably thinks the world of it.

In terms of programs, I use Photoshop CS5. I've used CS3 and CS4 with a mouse before for graphic design type work but never to paint. Since my school utilized Macs, it kinda extended as my preferred workspace for art. However, my super cheapo "gaming" laptop (not really a gaming laptop) has SAI installed on it. I love SAI but I hate that laptop XD;; So I mainly use CS5 but I wouldn't might getting back to SAI if I had the patience to move all my files around...
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Kynale




Art Gallery : DeviantArt
Join date : 2012-09-01
Location : Ontario, Canada

Digital art tools? Empty
PostSubject: Re: Digital art tools?   Digital art tools? EmptyWed Oct 02, 2013 10:37 pm

I didn't know the tilt control thing was a fancy gimmick, since I know a few people with tablets who had told me it was useful. But yes, I mean the way you angle the pen affects the angle of the brush on your program as you paint. But maybe it's not actually as useful as I was told.

Here's a video showing what I mean: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwS_OfjZSkI

My bamboo tablet is also pretty tiny... I think I'd prefer to stay with a smaller one anyway since it's what I've grown used to.

Thanks for the input! I'll have to look into that monoprice tablet, especially since I don't have a lot of spending money at the moment. (It's huuuuge though compared to than my current one! Not sure how I feel about that. xD)

EDIT: Aah sorry wishbunny, I didn't see your post before I made this one. Thanks for the explanation about tilt. That sucks about the lag though. =\ My photoshop lags pretty badly sometimes so I wonder if that would be a problem. Is it possible to disable that feature though? It still seems like it would be pretty cool to have.
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varethane

varethane


Art Gallery : Deviantart Gallery | Webcomic
Join date : 2012-10-20
Location : Canada

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PostSubject: Re: Digital art tools?   Digital art tools? EmptyThu Oct 03, 2013 12:15 am

I've never used tilt control all that much-- for a start you have to have a brush installed that enables it (Photoshop has a few that come with the program by default in... I think CS3 or CS4 and up?? but they're not particularly good).... and I can never remember which of my brushes have it enabled. I just use whichever has a stroke that looks like what I want in the preview. XD

I use Photoshop CS5 for most everything digital, though I've experimented with Sai and Open Canvas before... they're fine programs, I'm just not habituated to them I guess??

I use an Intuos 3 at home, the Medium size model, and I love it. The tablet and my laptop fit neatly into a backpack together, and it's been my constant companion since... oh man, like 2007ish?? I'm a little worried about it wearing out soon; its performance is still great but a couple of months ago I noticed that the wire was starting to part from the casing, and some of the tiny hair-thin copper wires bundled up inside the cord were sticking out/fraying. I duct-taped it up in a fit of paranoia but I haven't noticed any dead spots or issues.... [crossing fingers]

At work I just got moved onto a Cintiq monitor and OMGGGGGGGGGG it is so beautiful ._. I want one at home now, it just feels so fluid and easy to use and warm and smooth under my hand..... *3* My only (tiny) qualm with it is that the screen resolution is a little lower than it was on the monitor I'd been using previously, so there was a noticeable loss of sharpness, but the colours and vibrance are still great and using it just feels so wonderful...

I gotta start saving so that when my Intuos eventually goes, I can replace it with a Cintiq *3*

Also, the cheaper brands-- MonoPrice makes good tablets that compete with Intuos, and I've heard good things about the Yiynova brand of tablet monitors (that apparently they compete with Cintiqs for less than a third of the cost).
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Duskglass

Duskglass


Art Gallery : tumblr artblog
Join date : 2012-10-19

Digital art tools? Empty
PostSubject: Re: Digital art tools?   Digital art tools? EmptyThu Oct 03, 2013 1:07 am

yeah, monoprice is what I was thinking of xD
(they have a range of sizes, Ky; I googled and found their store.)
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Kynale




Art Gallery : DeviantArt
Join date : 2012-09-01
Location : Ontario, Canada

Digital art tools? Empty
PostSubject: Re: Digital art tools?   Digital art tools? EmptyThu Oct 03, 2013 1:13 am

Aaah okay, thank you! The first one that came up when I googled was huge; I didn't realize there was a whole range in sizes. Good to know.
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thewishbunny

thewishbunny


Art Gallery : thewishbunny.deviantart.com
thewishbunny.tumblr.com
Join date : 2012-11-03
Location : California

Digital art tools? Empty
PostSubject: Re: Digital art tools?   Digital art tools? EmptyThu Oct 03, 2013 6:17 pm

Oh, like Thane, I also heard good things about the Yiynova in its competition with the Wacom Cintiq. If you ever think about getting a tablet monitor, definitely look into the pros and cons of that one.

I have a Intuos5 medium and I really like the size. Any bigger and it would be a bit of a hassle to carry. Also, I've heard of people getting large tablets thinking they'd need the space but it ended up being too much of a reaching game to draw properly. So I'd really recommend the medium too.

You can go for a small if you're used to drawing really small. I've heard from my friends that they get major hand cramps. Others love the small to death, so it really is a preference thing.

Aw man, that makes me really want to get a Cintiq now Thane ;A;
Perhaps in a few more years I'll have to look into it. My Intuos5 is relatively new though. I also got my Intuos3 around 2007ish I think o: They're really sturdy.
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Selini

Selini


Art Gallery : dA, tumblr
Join date : 2012-08-30
Location : USA

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PostSubject: Re: Digital art tools?   Digital art tools? EmptyThu Oct 03, 2013 10:09 pm

I currently use a Bamboo Fun as well. I've had it for a while and it hasn't really given me any problems. But I've been thinking of an upgrade too. I had my eyes on an Intuos Pro, but now I'm curious about the Monoprice.

Oh and I use Photoshop CS3 for digital. And yes, I think the pen tilt option is there in the brush options. At least, I remember I keep seeing it, though I'm never able to use it. I always wondered what it was for. Now I see. =o
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thewishbunny

thewishbunny


Art Gallery : thewishbunny.deviantart.com
thewishbunny.tumblr.com
Join date : 2012-11-03
Location : California

Digital art tools? Empty
PostSubject: Re: Digital art tools?   Digital art tools? EmptyFri Oct 04, 2013 12:48 am

If anyone was looking for a Monoprice tablet, I'd say reviews from other artists is a good place to start.

Finni Chang posted a bit about the Monoprice:
http://finnichang.tumblr.com/post/23181572442/monoprice-tablet-10x6-25-widescreen-w-hotkeys

But she's only one person, so if you're thinking about it keep looking at more. ouob
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