Wacom Graphire3 or Intuos

[AjP]

hey guys, anyone use Wacom pen tablets??? I'm trying to decide with one to get, price are 2x between Graphire and Intuos and I'll be really appreciate for an advice. or may be there are better alternative?
thx

[CyberDyneSystems]

Just my humble opinion.. but when I did CAD work we liked the large tablets for the added functions they offer CAD programs...

However,. I found these very very pricey large tablets are in fact LESS workable than the smaller more afrodable tablets for PS and pen computing in general. I use the smallest graphire with my 24" Sony monitor in PSCS and prefer it to a 12" Intous I used to use.

Now.. some like the medium sized tablets,.. they may make sense.. but don't worry about those big 12" tablets.

To me the Graphire offers 99% of the functionality for less than half the cost.

[Mernya]

Seems this comes up a lot, you should look in the forums. I mostly agree with CDS...

As someone that's used them for 9 years, and varying sizes, get the most expensive/biggest one you can that will work for you. They last a long time, so whatever you put into it will be yours for at least 5+ years. My current one is an Intuos 6x8 I got in 1999. My first was a serial ArtZII that I got in 96. It still works, it just needed to be powered with another cable.

There's also no viable alternative to Wacom. If you want a real tablet, this is what you get.

Get an Intuos, if you are serious. If the price tags look too much, get an Intuos 1 or 2 from ebay. Just be a cautious shopper. Some serious color managers don't like the Intuos 3 because they are too shiny. Do not get a serial tablet and make sure that you get all the parts. Don't be too afraid if it is used, like I said, they last forever.

As far as size goes, start at 6x8. The tablet is about the size of a notebook and gives you enough real estate on the tablet so that it is more meaningful. If you draw/write with just your finger tips, you may be ok with a 4x5, but most people move their wrist and a 6x8 is the place to start. I currently use a 6x8.
I will be upgrading one size next time I get one (years?) because the larger monitors do better with a slightly larger tablet, however, the super big ones tend to be more for the CAD users or 'elbow artistis'. By that, I mean painters and the like who tend to make their strokes from the elbow in large sweeps.

[R1 Kid]

I think this has helped me also. I was going to get the biggest most expensive one out, but it doesn't seem like it would be that much more of an advantage.

Who says this forum can't save you money... ;)

[Mernya]

Good to hear. Like CDS said, the larger ones are less workable. That's how I felt when I tried a 12x12?(16?)

You don't have the space for it and your strokes have to be very large to cover the distance on the screen without remapping. Not very user friendly when just working in Photoshop.

I will throw a question to the other tablet users, though. I run a dual monitor set up and currently lock the tablet to one display because the mapping was way screwy when across two monitors. Does anyone have a better way?

[CyberDyneSystems]

I did the same thing Mernya.. I do all my PS work on the larger monitor..

[AjP]

I went to Fry's yesterday and spent about an hour, standing there and thinking, huge tablet are great but so freaking expancive, so I think to get 6x8. and I agree, forum is an incredible help with making decisions on huge purchases, like lenses, camera, equipment!!!!

[Mernya]

Then comes the fun part... getting used to it.

Seriously, it will be awkward at first, but you will get it. You'll prefer it to the mouse, too. You'll revel in the fact that people will wonder how you can use the tablet without looking at it.