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Author Topic: Want to buy a drawing tablet. Suggestions?  (Read 953 times)

Mesa

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Want to buy a drawing tablet. Suggestions?
« on: January 29, 2014, 06:24:33 am »

I want to get into mildly professional, or at least not-amateur digital art.
But I'm no wizard so I can't draw with a mouse.

For the time being I've got about 150$, soon more seeing as my birthday is coming up.
Got any suggestions as to what tablet I should buy?

Thanks in advance.
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LordSlowpoke

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Re: Want to buy a drawing tablet. Suggestions?
« Reply #1 on: January 29, 2014, 08:53:48 am »

this?

wacom's pretty good overall and within your price range.
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zombie urist

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Re: Want to buy a drawing tablet. Suggestions?
« Reply #2 on: January 29, 2014, 10:09:37 am »

I have a wacom tablet and it is pretty good.
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Knight of Fools

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Re: Want to buy a drawing tablet. Suggestions?
« Reply #3 on: January 29, 2014, 10:19:25 am »

Wacom's definitely the best quality out there, and their prices are decent and cover just about every budget. From what I understand the only major compromise you'll be making with cheaper Wacom tablets is size and the number of features you get.

I have one of their mid range tablets and couldn't be happier with it.
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freeformschooler

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Re: Want to buy a drawing tablet. Suggestions?
« Reply #4 on: January 29, 2014, 01:00:44 pm »

Wacom wacom wacom. Even the tiniest ones are amazing.
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Mesa

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Re: Want to buy a drawing tablet. Suggestions?
« Reply #5 on: January 29, 2014, 01:09:17 pm »

I get it, I should get a Wacom. :P

I think I'll go with Intuos Manga, and use it for everything but manga. *shrug*
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Shook

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Re: Want to buy a drawing tablet. Suggestions?
« Reply #6 on: January 29, 2014, 01:15:58 pm »

Welp, should've gotten that Intuous thing instead of this older Bamboo model. :v
Oh well, just goes to show that even the cheapest thing Wacom has is entirely passable. If this was the only tablet i had, i doubt i'd have any problems with it at all, despite the comparatively tiny active area.
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freeformschooler

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Re: Want to buy a drawing tablet. Suggestions?
« Reply #7 on: January 29, 2014, 02:32:23 pm »

Wacom continually changes out their current line, but the tiers remain similar, so the cheapest Intuos probably isn't much different from the older cheapest Bamboo. Looking forward to seeing your ASCII games spiced up with some artwork, DarkDXZ.
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Mesa

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Re: Want to buy a drawing tablet. Suggestions?
« Reply #8 on: January 29, 2014, 02:33:35 pm »

Here's the thing.
An artist I'm in touch with says that I should get a medium-sized Intuos instead of a small one like Intuos Manga, but even with those educational discounts (for students etc. like me) going on in the Polish Wacom store, medium Intuos is like 300zł (~100USD) above my (currently) available budget.

Also Intuos Manga is a straight upgrade over a small Intuos, what with all those manga utilities and for the same exact price. (and regular one comes with Corel Painter Lite, which is free *shrug*)

So either Intuos+1 or a bigger Intuos.
What do? :-\

Wacom continually changes out their current line, but the tiers remain similar, so the cheapest Intuos probably isn't much different from the older cheapest Bamboo. Looking forward to seeing your ASCII games spiced up with some artwork, DarkDXZ.

Hehe. I'll make sure to draw ASCII on my new tablet (whichever one it's going to be) the best I can!
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freeformschooler

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Re: Want to buy a drawing tablet. Suggestions?
« Reply #9 on: January 29, 2014, 02:37:27 pm »

So either Intuos+1 or a bigger Intuos.
What do? :-\

Don't even factor the packaged utilities in with your purchase. There's tons of good, free, or at least cheap programs that professional and amateur painters alike love and use. From GIMP to Inkscape to Paint Tool SAI, you'll have no shortage of options. Focus on the hardware itself.
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Mesa

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Re: Want to buy a drawing tablet. Suggestions?
« Reply #10 on: January 29, 2014, 02:44:06 pm »

I guess you're right.
Though that means I'll have to wait until I have more holla.

Also I have Gimp and Paint.NET (biased towards the latter, though), so I guess that's also a factor.
Plus software can always be gotten through slightly more shady means, unlike hardware.

Well, hardware can be, too, but it's far harder and riskier. :P
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Mesa

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Re: Want to buy a drawing tablet. Suggestions?
« Reply #11 on: February 02, 2014, 07:32:33 am »

Alright, my Wacom Intuos M should be here in a few days.
Good birthday present as far as I'm concerned (in part funded by my family, in part by myself).

Thanks for the advice guys! :D
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Knight of Fools

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Re: Want to buy a drawing tablet. Suggestions?
« Reply #12 on: February 02, 2014, 11:20:59 pm »

Enjoy!

Swing by the Random Things you Drew thread some time if you want to show off some stuff you've made.
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Moogie

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Re: Want to buy a drawing tablet. Suggestions?
« Reply #13 on: February 03, 2014, 09:00:01 pm »

My many-years-old Intuos 2 has survived countless drops, excessive heat (I used to be lazy and plonk my dinnerplate on the tablet instead of moving the damn thing out of the way first...), bangs, knocks and dust. Every time I plug it in, I'm amazed that it still fully works. Never had to replace the pen or nib, either, despite it suffering similar abuse!

In fact, only last month I discovered it has tilt detection. I had no idea! I never use it, mind, but it's good to know.

What incredible build quality, seriously. Best £75 ever spent. Especially compared to the train-wreck that was my first tablet, which was a Trust brand.
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