Graphic Tablets?

[Shadow Major]

Hey guys, I just wanted to ask a question. Of this day and age, what's usually the best graphic tablet to buy? Or are there different kinds of graphic tablets to suit the needs of different people?

[PJCzar]

I have the intuos4 tablet by wacom, it cost me $250 and I like it very much. There are appearently different versions of tablets in repect to the touch sensors. some you use use your finger on, some a pen tool is needed like mine, others can do both. I chose the pen tool because i dont want to have to wear a glove when i draw like some arts do.
Personally im very happy with my tableta nd would recomend it to any onelooking to get a good well rounded tablet. It even came with some drawing programs, as if there arent enough free ones already.
hope that helped?

[Shadow Major]

Yep, thanks for the reply. I was actually thinking of using one with a pen tool rather than your finger. And it also sounds pretty cheap (perhaps 400-500 $NZ)! Can all tablets support any type of drawing program?

[PJCzar]

i would think so. since the tablet is a human input device, like your mouse is, just more complex. that said some programs dont like to work with all tablets, examples whould be overly squiggly lines instead of a straight line you meant to do. i havent run into this problem yet but I am useing cheap, simple or old programs, fireworks 8 and flash 8 and painttool SAI.

[Shadow Major]

Okay, so I am considering purchasing a tablet now, although I have some queries. First of all, which tablets allow you to draw directly onto them just like pencil to paper, rather than connecting them to a monitor first then drawing from there? Secondly, is Wacom the only brand for graphic tablets, or is it just the most preferred?
Additional info: I found "Wacom Cintiq" and the way how you can draw so freely on it amazes me. However, they look too large and expensive; I just want something small, simple and inexpensive, and of course be able to draw on it just like you do with a pencil to paper. Any simple advice is appreciated!

[mangakaryan2]

There are other brands, i have a wacom graphire tablet, its pretty old but works well. if you want to buy one, i would look at wacom bamboo or their other cheap line of products, there are other tablet companies but wacom is the biggest and most trustworthy. if you buy a cheap one from a different company, make sure you feel confident in it by looking at reviews and such.

my graphire is a bluetooth model, which means you need a pc with a bluetooth adapter (otherwise you need to purchase a dongle device) and it needs to be charged. its really freaking annoying. i suggest a usb tablet, thats what i would get if i was looking to buy one (i didnt buy my tablet myself)

mine is a 4x8 inch tablet and i find that its large enough, if you want a bigger one its gonna cost alot more. the pressure sensitivity is important to look at too.

it takes getting used to, drawing digitally, i just started, but its not too hard, the hard part is not being able to angle the surface or really get close and feel your lines, but theres lots of benefit to doing it digitally.

also you need to aquire some sort of software to draw with, i use manga studio ex 4 its great.

[mangakaryan2]

oh i wouldnt recommend a smaller size tablet for drawing than the one i have

i think it would be really frustrating to work on an even smaller suface