Thread: Drawing tablet? Anime program?

Originally Posted by Merlock

Maybe it's just me but I can't imagine drawing on anything but paper with a pencil. o.o

Only a philistine deprives himself of the wonders of MS Paint. For shame, Merlock.

Digital inking! Illustrator power!

I can't believe I've been turned away from drawing all this time due to not being aware of it...
I kept thinking that I'd have to trace the sketches by hand or whatnot...
Oh, the injustice of my own ignorance.

What makes it better than sketching by hand and scanning?

Sketching and scanning is still recommended. The tablet is most valuable when doing the coloring or airbrushing because you can control things like size and opacity of the stroke depending on the pressure you apply.

Aye, but it's a...tablet! This awkward...thing, lying there...and making you look to the screen instead of your drawing space...

It's just another tool that you learn how to handle. Didn't you find it awkward the first time you tried using a brush (compared to a hard-tipped medium like a pencil)? Ever try calligraphy?

it's really weird at first, but you eventually get the 'feel' of the pen on the tablet and it's effect on the screen. Only thing that can get tricky is if your tablet is at an angle while you draw - it's accuracy suffers a bit.

So I should still sketch and scan? But then color and do everything else with a tablet?

As far as I recall seeing, colouring and shading is done in Photoshop with a mouse. Various effects and tools for shading, burning (light glints) and so on.

This is why I've so actively posted against the use of tablets in here. Not because I want to dissuade you or any such. I'm as curious of the matter as you. But I just don't see a use for a tablet in the case of drawing anime and such. Sure, it's a matter of preference but...aye, just thoughts out loud.

*ceases to hi-jack this thread*

I just find it hard to get something just write with the mouse, like when your writing your name. I find it much easier to do that with a pencil. Because a mouse is big and the pencil is small...

Well, aye, thus sketching with a pencil on paper and colouring/shading in Photoshop with a mouse since that's not something you actually use strokes for but rather effects of various sorts and such.

Apparently, the digital inking can be done either with or without a tablet. So I imagine if you have the money for a tablet and you want one, why not get it. To each their own.

When you use the mouse, do you look at the mouse or at the screen? Using a pen & tablet is the same learning curve.

I just wanted to add that if the OP wants to draw animations then pencil: http://www.blendernation.com/2007/06...tion-software/ is a free 2D vector animation application. It's still in beta (the bucket-fill tool really only works on bitmap layers) but it's in active development and I've had a lot of fun playing about with it.

xx
P

TJ, I'm looking at getting the Wacom 12 CintiqWX. Little pricey, but probably be worth it. I could never get used to drawing with my tablet and having to look at my laptop screen. I think it would be so much easier to be able to look at where I'm drawing.

So yeah...I'm going to find the cheapest one I can. Probably find something good on alibaba. =)

Hey that's awesome! I'm due for a new tablet myself (I'm still on my old dinky 4x6). I've been going back and forth trying to justify the purchase of a new mac (again, still using my old dual G4!). Figured once I decide(and get the proper fund$ ), I'll upgrade my entire 'office' in one painful swoop.

They still seem a bit pricey, but hopefully by now they got all the bugs out of the technology for these devices.

Cool, now I'll have someone I can get an honest review of it from

Use this with a piece of cardboard as a remote tablet or on a LCD monitor as an interactive tablet (best to have a monitor that you can remove from the stand and lay down). 40$. Spend rest on something useful.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5s5EvhHy7eQ