:: your money :: tablet 1, 2, 3

:: wacom tablet is one of the products that is strongly recommended by idgrid crew.
excellent tool, intuitive, precise and easy on your body.

imagine the ability to place your own signatures on digital artwork.
this digital tool is what a fountain pen is for your handwriting.
it improves your stroke and the pressure sensitive pad allows you to use it in the ways “no ordinary mouse will do”.
no batteries required, these pens work like magic
all you need is a free usb plug and suddenly >> you can use your computer >> the way you would use your marker pad or airbrush.

:: recently we had a chance to get our hands on
:: couple of other wacom’s accessories and here are
:: the first impressions:

intuos airbrush >> once the top-mounted finger wheel (to control ink flow) is figured out, this tool might be recommend, however, at this stage, we can’t justify spending your money on it.
(the third double-click button is also missed and the pen lacks the thickness for more comfortable grip)

at this point grip pen would prove to be the best investment.
verdict: it’s basically classical pen pumped up in its form, which makes it more comfortable to use over a long period of time
(location of the keys is the same as its skinnier “standard issue” sibling)

for those of you who can justify dishing out extra $30 >> you can get yourself designer pen.
it’s the same as the grip pen (minus the eraser button on the top >> but then again, we all use shortcuts to select our digital erasers >> so it won’t be missed)
verdict: unless you have a metal fetish >> the grip pen (mentioned above) is your ticket to comfort.

4d mouse is classical cad tool that you will give you standard three mouse layout >> with bonus: two programmable buttons and an fingerwheel.
like the pens, it works like magic - with no batteries required.
you use it with your tablet - as you would use regular mouse with a mouse pad.
verdict: although not as laser precise as more expensive corded mice, this mouse is an good tool to have around.
it’s a great tool for cad programs and especially useful when you have other traditional mouse users - trying to use (or help you fix) your computer.

:: what size of a tablet should you get?
if you will use it on the regular basis as your mouse replacement >> get yourself the smallest 4x5 tablet.
this mighty mouse is small and portable, yet it is as precise and sensitive as its bigger brothers.
however, once you start working with them on the daily basis >> you’ll wish for even smaller footprint.
think of it in terms of finger / wrist control vs. finger / elbow control. it is much easier to spend a day flicking your wrist instead of making long throws with your elbow.

if you decide to use it exclusively as a rendering tool and you like to use long strokes in your technique >> then pick a larger tablet depending on your budget.
posted by [v] at 00:23