[Quinnbeast]

Well hello all, I stumbled across the site only a few short days ago and thought I'd come in and make my presence felt

I'm currently battling my way through my 1st year of an art degree, after spending a couple of years doing pre-degree/foundation courses (dunno what the US term is) in order to get a portfolio together and improve my basic drawing skillz.

Anyway, I've never done any digital based work, up until now it's all been more traditional stuff - oil/acrylic painting, drawing, and so on. Without trying to blow my own trumpet (*fnar*) I think I've got enough basic knowledge to be able to give this digital drawing lark a go. The only thing that lets me down is my knowledge of the equipment and software involved.

There seems to be two �levels� of drawing tablet about atm, the home user version and the professional line. Me being a lowly student and all, the funds are always a problem So would I still be able to do detailed work of a decent size on the 4"x5" tablet, or does the size of active drawing area regulate the size of work? Having never even seen one b4, I don't quite know how the size of tablet relates to what you get up on yer monitor.

Also is there much noticeable difference between the work created on the home and professional tablets? i.e. quality of tools and so on?

Sorry if this doesn�t make any sense, but I�m still recovering from the festivities

Thx in advance guys,

Quinnbeast

[Jezebel]

I have a little tablet (graphire) and I think it works great. It's very easy to find a spot for it on my desk, it's light and doesn't get in the way. I don't see any reason to break your wallet to get a hyooge one, unless you really want to. But just about anything is better than the mouse

-Beth

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Take off your clothes. It's OK - I'm an artist.

[url=http://div.dyndns.org/FOO!]http://div.dyndns.org/FOO![/url]
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[el tigre]

whatcha doin in aberdeen? where you originally from?

Graphire tablets are cool and at sub 100quid prices. Your student loan should be coming through soon, no?

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arse, my pen just ran out. *shakes furiously*

[Jenn]

a large one means you need to draw bigger... small one there is less space to cover.

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DarkChyld
http://asylum.wibble.net

[Quinnbeast]

Thanks for the replies ppl, I think I've just about persuaded myself to go for a graphire one, but I�ll hang about for any other replies

Woohaa, a fellow Scot I've lived here since birth actually, but the rest of my family is basically English. I'm at Grays school of Art (part of RGU) doing Fine Art/Craft and Design.

And yeah, my student loan will be in shortly, but a fair whack is going on my Amsterdam "study" trip in march (notice the quote marks ) - I've still got �175 left to pay.

So where abouts are you from then, hmm?


[This message has been edited by Quinnbeast (edited January 02, 2001).]

[el tigre]

Dunfermline, Fife.

First year Amsterdam trips are usually nothing to do with art *raises eyebrow*

I've got a few mates up at Grays but they're all in 3rd & 4th year. I was talking to a blonde lass in one of the local clubs who just started in first year though, missed her name but.

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arse, my pen just ran out. *shakes furiously*

[Blind]

Quinn,

You can do great with just a small tablet. I don't know much about graphires, but I've got a 6�8 and a 4�5 Intuos, and I can't say I prefer one over the other. They're both great. You don't need to go spending large $$ to get a big pad.

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- Blind
[email protected]
Clan Shred Company

[This message has been edited by Blind (edited January 02, 2001).]

[faustgfx]

my opinion is, the smaller the better. (no genitalia jokes, thank you, don't get me started..:P) the 12"x12" intuos is just way too big. it takes alot of space, can't be moved around alot if your desks look like mine, and you end up with a wacom elbow. (tennis elbow.) and with alot of stressed and worn out skin.



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sky high with a heartache of stone you never see me 'cos i'm always alone

[email protected]
icq#35983387
http://faustgfx.0wns.org

[Frost]

If you're short on money, then a 5x4 is good enough to get you going. I personally own and use a 5x4 here at home from where I do all of my drawings - some would say that be looking at my work the size of the tablet has little relevance. However, it is a little small and I would suggest a 9x7(?) or 12x9... those are great sizes if you ever get into money. In short, 5x4 is plenty good.

[Quinnbeast]

Okay then, in order�

el tiger � small world though innit? I know a handful of third year students from my initial year at Aberdeen college (97-98). Where as most the ppl out the class left for Grays and Edinburgh � I carried on at college for a year or so, because I knew I wasn�t read to dive in with the big boys (i.e. I sucked due to being a lazy sod)�Having said that, I doubt I�ll know anyone from down Fife way...

balistic � that�s what I was thinking about m8, my work has slowly been increasing in scale over the last few years, but I�m fairly *cough* flexible when it comes to different sizes of work surface. As I said, I�d love to try one of the larger ones, but due to me having the average student�s back balance I�ll have to make do

Hell, I�m known for being a bit of a detail freak at times anyway, so I may get away with a little one for the time being.

Thanks for the advice guys, that helps me tons


Quinnbeast

[balistic]

As a traditional artist, you might at least try a large Wacom tablet before deciding to go with a tiny one. If you've been brought up to draw with your arm instead of your wrist, a 4x5 Graphire will feel really cramped. I hated tablets until I got my hands on a 12x12.

If you're used to doing large paintings, or gesture sketches on 24x36 newsprint, a big tablet will feel a lot nicer.

Welcome to the forum.


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"What we're hearing, techno, is the process of trying to create something of the future." - J.M.

Brian "balistic" Prince
3D Artist
Eggington Productions
www.bprince.com