cheap graphics tablets

[RefractedAhav]

Does any one know where I can find a good graphics tablet at a low price?

[shooraijin]

I like the Wacom Graphire2 ($99 list) which comes with a pen, drawing surface and cordless mouse. I think Gypsy has one also. It works with Windows and Macintosh, has pressure-sensitivity and multiple configurable buttons, and includes a nice software suite to get you started.

[inkhana]

I got mine from outpost.com. Periodically they offer refurbished tablets for around $60, if you don't mind that they're refurb. Mine was a Graphire 2.

[Mave]

I got mine from outpost.com. Periodically they offer refurbished tablets for around $60, if you don't mind that they're refurb. Mine was a Graphire 2.

What size was it? 4x5, 6x8?

I'm also thinking of investing in such a similar item but I'm still deciding.

Say, Inky...do you use this to make Steelblood? If so, can you tell us how you use this tablet? I've never used such an product and am seriously wondering whether it'll help me my graphic works. You know pros and cons....stuff like that.^_^

[inkhana]

What size was it? 4x5, 6x8?

I'm also thinking of investing in such a similar item but I'm still deciding.

[color=darkgreen]Mine is a 4x5. I've gotten so used to it that I think that a larger one would probably be unwieldy to me.

Say, Inky...do you use this to make Steelblood? If so, can you tell us how you use this tablet? I've never used such an product and am seriously wondering whether it'll help me my graphic works. You know pros and cons....stuff like that.^_^

Yeah...^^ I do use it on SB (mostly because I'm scared that I'll mess up my pencils and I've never been much of an inker). Once you've properly installed it and configured it to your liking, operation of the tablet isn't much different than using a normal pen. The main thing to remember is that a tablet is not like a mouse - your position of the cursor is relative to the position on the tablet, not like a mouse where you keep having to "push" it to the new position. Also, you have a great deal of control over the width of line, pressure, etc, so the airbrush suddenly becomes a much cooler tool...]

[shooraijin]

Ironically, I mostly use my Graphire in mouse mode ...

[JediSonic]

the reeaallly cheap tablets you can find for about fifty bucks

[Angelchick]

i have a wacom tablet from Sams Club or Costco that i think cost about $50. i pretty sure i got Photoshop Elements with it.

[Fsiphskilm]

I saw one at AL

[RefractedAhav]

wow, that is cheap. I've used a tablet before, but it's been a while. Can you get the Wacom tablets to work with linux?

[RefractedAhav]

this is sort of off topic, but does any one know where I could find good computer parts at a resonable price? My computer is outdated and I don't think that the cpu will last much longer.

[Saint Kevin]

If heard that newegg.com is pretty good for parts.

[RefractedAhav]

If heard that newegg.com is pretty good for parts.

thanks, I'll look there.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Sorry to bring this up. I've had my Graphire 3 6X8 tablet for about 10 months now. I've tried using it for various applications, tried to get the feel for it. I don't use it often (though I should). But I was wondering what's the best way to use it?
I put a piece of paper over the tablet so the pen glides better but it seems so makeshift. What do you other tablet artists do? Any tips?
Much thanks!

[CreatureArt]

Ironically, I mostly use my Graphire in mouse mode ...

Sad. ]But I was wondering what's the best way to use it?[/quote]
I haven't used my tablet a lot for the last little while, either, and I'm no expert but I've had mine a little while, now.

I've only really ever had the one way of using my tablet pen which is straight on the tablet. When I'm drawing, I just do quick rough lines, then zoom up and start clean on a new layer to go over it more neatly in detail. I'm not quite sure if that's the answer you're looking for, though, sorry. ^_^

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

That sort of helped but not directly. (lol) Um, I use the pen directly to the tablet. I was wondering if there was surface between? Or do you mean directly like pen surface to tablet surface, no paper or anything? It just seems to glide to easily and its too slippery or something without the paper there. Do you have a Graphire 3, CreatureArt?
Thanks for the help still!

[CreatureArt]

Yep - I use the pen surface directly to the tablet surface, without anything between. I'm not sure whether I have a graphire 2 or 3... its the 'sapphire' model, but it doesn't tell me any more on the back.

Ah I see what you mean. I haven't found any problems with it being slipper, but I find that you can get really quivery lines to draw something straight off. I either do lines by not drawing one continous line, but by kind of... going over the same line a couple of times as I draw it, if that makes sense. Plus, I use smaller brushes so that I can push hard without making an abnormaly large line and so it doesn't slip as much. ^_^ . I hope that helps a little. ^_^

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Ah! That's exactly what I meant. Thanks for that!
Much huggles!

[mechana2015]

I slapped a piece of paper on the top of my pad after I heard of someone cutting into their tablet after a while. I also found that it added a grip onto the pen and made me feel more confidant while drawing.

[CreatureArt]

Ah! That's exactly what I meant. Thanks for that!
Much huggles!

Awesome. I'm glad I managed to blunder my way into something you were looking for.

after I heard of someone cutting into their tablet after a while

..you know, I have a very visual mind. And, truly, that just made me visualise cutting into my own tablet with a craft knife. It was... awful. @_@ . I can't bear to imagine doing that to my tablet.

It sounds like a good idea - to use a piece of paper - I guess to add resistance to the pen as it moves, am I right? Does it have any severe impact on the pressure-sensitivity, though?

[shooraijin]

I haven't noticed any real issues with my Wacom. For one thing, the sensitivity surface is *under* the plastic sheet on top. If the sheet got scuffed, you could makeshift a replacement and the sensitivity portion would still be okay.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

No, but it does take a little getting used to since the surface feel is different. I'd suggest you try it, especially if you want your graphics tablet to last! (The other option sounds nasty doesn't it?)

[shooraijin]

Nah, you could just use a textured acrylic sheet or something. They're easy to buy.

I keep my pad clean of stuff that will grind into it, and the pen always in its holder. It's lasted several years and besides, I'm looking at a bigger one in the not so distant future anyway ^_^;;;

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Oh sorry shooraijin, my reply was too CreatureArt. I posted about 30 seconds later than you. But thanks for the tip. What does the textured acrylic sheet do? Is it instead of the paper? Is that what you are saying?

[shooraijin]

You could do that, or what I'm going to do is when the top surface wears out (assuming I'm still using it ) is to take it off, and attach a new acrylic sheet to replace it and use that. You can get them at most art supply stores. It just has to be stiff enough plastic that it doesn't bunch up under your pen.

You could also layer it on top as you were suggesting. I don't know how well pressure signals would get transmitted, but plastic's cheap, so ...

[Syaoran]

Sorry to ask but what is a graphics tablet?

[Fsiphskilm]

I wish

[CreatureArt]

Sorry to ask but what is a graphics tablet?

No worries. ^_^
Web definitions: "A device consisting of a flat pad and an electronic stylus which artists can use like a pen or brush to "paint" or create computer graphics just as if they were committing an image to paper. A graphics tablet can accomplish this more easily and accurately than a mouse."

They can make computer drawing a lot easier, and often have pressure sensitivity - so you can change how large/opaque/etc. the line you are drawing (on the computer) is depending on how hard you press the pen down.

get one as big as you can afford, you'll love it.

Yeah, it would be nice to have a bigger tablet. I've seen those huge ones you can get which are the size/larger than a keyboard. That would be awesome - but you'd have to fit your keyboard and everything around it, which could be annoying. . Oh well, I'm kind of used to my tablet now - I dont know if a larger one would make too much of a difference for me... though I haven't tried so I can't know for sure.

[Syaoran]

No worries. ^_^
Web definitions: "A device consisting of a flat pad and an electronic stylus which artists can use like a pen or brush to "paint" or create computer graphics just as if they were committing an image to paper. A graphics tablet can accomplish this more easily and accurately than a mouse."

They can make computer drawing a lot easier, and often have pressure sensitivity - so you can change how large/opaque/etc. the line you are drawing (on the computer) is depending on how hard you press the pen down.


Yeah, it would be nice to have a bigger tablet. I've seen those huge ones you can get which are the size/larger than a keyboard. That would be awesome - but you'd have to fit your keyboard and everything around it, which could be annoying. . Oh well, I'm kind of used to my tablet now - I dont know if a larger one would make too much of a difference for me... though I haven't tried so I can't know for sure.

Thank you for the deffy......I now feel smarter.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Volt, I don't have a job yet. 6X8 is decent sized tablet, although bigger would be great. But 6X8 is far better than 4X6!