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geekhack Community => Input Devices => Topic started by: Kavik on Mon, 07 December 2020, 10:51:45

Title: Wacom Tablet
Post by: Kavik on Mon, 07 December 2020, 10:51:45
I've been mildly interested in getting one of these for a year or two, but there are so many different products of vastly different prices that I have no idea what to look for in one.

My use case would be sketching and drawing comics.

Does anyone here use one or have a recommendation? What features are important?
Title: Re: Wacom Tablet
Post by: tp4tissue on Mon, 07 December 2020, 12:02:34
Saw a blurb the other day about new model Huion kamvas w/ their upgraded PW517 pen, sumtin sumtin.

IMHO, these off-brands have reached parity with wacom.

You're gonna need a colorimeter to get Top-Colors though. Photoshop is one of the FEW applications which works Super-Gud' with color profiles.

Tp4 recommends i1 studio colorimeter , it's budget friendly, and works on all display technologies.

I believe huion's displays are pfs phosphor panels, so they're wide gamut, not as wide as adobe panels, but p3 wide probably. It'd be good to have a colorimeter to keep things neat.
Title: Re: Wacom Tablet
Post by: tp4tissue on Mon, 07 December 2020, 12:24:40
Oooooo.. they sell this 22 inch one with Quantum Dot.  Get that one.
Title: Re: Wacom Tablet
Post by: Darthbaggins on Mon, 07 December 2020, 13:35:29
I have been looking into getting a tablet as well, that 22" option is one of my dream toys to have for editing my photos and ink based works.  Also would like to start my inks in digital rather than transfer/scan etc.  I know it would open up alot more possibilities for my Illustrator work flow as well for when I work w/ fonts or want to create/mod a font to my client's needs - also the IT company I'm with has started getting me to do more graphic based work once they realized I could work w/in Corel and Adobe's suites (not letting them know I can work in AutoDesk yet - also working on learning Blender as well). 
Title: Re: Wacom Tablet
Post by: tp4tissue on Mon, 07 December 2020, 13:47:27
I have been looking into getting a tablet as well, that 22" option is one of my dream toys to have for editing my photos and ink based works.  Also would like to start my inks in digital rather than transfer/scan etc.  I know it would open up alot more possibilities for my Illustrator work flow as well for when I work w/ fonts or want to create/mod a font to my client's needs - also the IT company I'm with has started getting me to do more graphic based work once they realized I could work w/in Corel and Adobe's suites (not letting them know I can work in AutoDesk yet - also working on learning Blender as well). 


why dream toy, make wurk buy one, they're only $500 , wurkplace wouldn't hesitate.
Title: Re: Wacom Tablet
Post by: Kavik on Mon, 07 December 2020, 16:33:22
TP4's mention of the screen and color is another factor to consider. Some have screens for drawing directly on the tablet and others have a black surface, and the drawn image appears on the computer screen. I don't think the latter would be super hard to get used to as long as there isn't any latency.

Maybe I just need to seek out some videos to get some background. Looking at the website is just confusing me more.
Title: Re: Wacom Tablet
Post by: tp4tissue on Mon, 07 December 2020, 17:51:23
TP4's mention of the screen and color is another factor to consider. Some have screens for drawing directly on the tablet and others have a black surface, and the drawn image appears on the computer screen. I don't think the latter would be super hard to get used to as long as there isn't any latency.

Maybe I just need to seek out some videos to get some background. Looking at the website is just confusing me more.

On screen is obviously better, the huion 22 plus,  uses laminated glass w/ antiglare etching now on that quantum panel, it's fantastic.

The budget 13inch ones, they use a plastic coat, but it's still laminated, so there's virtually no visual detach/ parallax error.

Still the glass is much better for durability.
Title: Re: Wacom Tablet
Post by: Darthbaggins on Tue, 08 December 2020, 12:57:39
I have been looking into getting a tablet as well, that 22" option is one of my dream toys to have for editing my photos and ink based works.  Also would like to start my inks in digital rather than transfer/scan etc.  I know it would open up alot more possibilities for my Illustrator work flow as well for when I work w/ fonts or want to create/mod a font to my client's needs - also the IT company I'm with has started getting me to do more graphic based work once they realized I could work w/in Corel and Adobe's suites (not letting them know I can work in AutoDesk yet - also working on learning Blender as well). 


why dream toy, make wurk buy one, they're only $500 , wurkplace wouldn't hesitate.

  In my case the workplace that would use it would be out of my own pocket - the IT company wouldn't even want to mess with it unless I could show a use for it other than the handful of times I've restructured a client's image/logo for us to print or laser etch.
Title: Re: Wacom Tablet
Post by: tp4tissue on Tue, 08 December 2020, 15:33:28
I have been looking into getting a tablet as well, that 22" option is one of my dream toys to have for editing my photos and ink based works.  Also would like to start my inks in digital rather than transfer/scan etc.  I know it would open up alot more possibilities for my Illustrator work flow as well for when I work w/ fonts or want to create/mod a font to my client's needs - also the IT company I'm with has started getting me to do more graphic based work once they realized I could work w/in Corel and Adobe's suites (not letting them know I can work in AutoDesk yet - also working on learning Blender as well). 


why dream toy, make wurk buy one, they're only $500 , wurkplace wouldn't hesitate.

  In my case the workplace that would use it would be out of my own pocket - the IT company wouldn't even want to mess with it unless I could show a use for it other than the handful of times I've restructured a client's image/logo for us to print or laser etch.

Doesn't that already count then ? surely the billable hour greatly exceeds $500, it's a tool ur not taking it home to play vidya on it, lolol
Title: Re: Wacom Tablet
Post by: katotaka on Fri, 18 December 2020, 11:39:40
Was long term user for using on photoshop - basically the exclusive pointing device at my previous job.

IMO you don't really need to get the ones with monitor unless you're hardcore about drawing with actual pen while looking at it (and love how your pen blocking your view), especially you're paying with your own money, in fact I used those huge ones and hated them.


Title: Re: Wacom Tablet
Post by: Leslieann on Fri, 18 December 2020, 20:39:28
I've used both on screen and touchpad style, on screen is faaaaar better, however cost is an issue, but there's a handy trick to get them a lot cheaper.

Find a used laptop with a Wacom screen, you can often get these for a couple hundred bucks and are only a couple years old. Still plenty powerful to run Windows plus Photoshop, and don't be scared to go clear back to Intel 2nd gen Lenovo tablets, these are cheap and can handle 16gigs of ram and because they aren't U-series cpus they perform like a 4th or 5th gen U-series and you can upgrade them to something quite powerful. Beware some of the newer stuff because often these had limited ram upgradability.

Just be sure it's an actual Wacom screen, and not just a touch screen, some companies switched back and forth. Even if it's got more pressure sensitivity the glass can be quite far from the pixel causing accuracy issues if you aren't looking at it just right. Also, while older Wacoms had less sensitivity, even pros have a hard time telling the difference.
Title: Re: Wacom Tablet
Post by: tp4tissue on Fri, 18 December 2020, 21:28:21
It depends on the workflow.  Tablet screens are better because they're designed for drawing work, they have color management options, and the stylus is now on a laminated screen so there's almost no parallax error.

old wacoms had alot of problems, i wouldn't go that route with these screens at $200 starting.
Title: Re: Wacom Tablet
Post by: Kavik on Sat, 16 January 2021, 17:05:55
I had some Amazon rewards points, so I got the Wacom Intuos S (no screen) to see if this is something I'm even interested in. So far I've only used it with the free trial of Clip Studio Paint Pro. It's basically a big laptop touchpad with a big stylus, obviously with a few extra features.

I think I'll have some fun with it, but I'll definitely have to put in some practice to make anything worth looking at. I haven't done much regular sketching in a long time, so my overall skill is already low at the moment. My only real gripe with it is that there's a very small bit of lag between pen movement and on-screen cursor movement, but it is noticeable.
Title: Re: Wacom Tablet
Post by: Lazesummerstone on Wed, 12 May 2021, 14:35:05
Ok ok ok maybe you have had enough recommendations etc to answer the questions since you posted way back in December. But if you haven’t pulled the trigger on getting one yet I’d ask you to consider this: get and iPad Pro. I have been a cintiq user for about 20 years making illustrations and comics, and I do love the cintiq. But since I bought a iPad I have just been blown away by how useful a product it has been. And with the program Procreate it can do pretty much everything photoshop can do. Also a lot of comic artists swear by clip studio pro which is also on iPad! The Apple Pencil works perfect and also the portability and the speed of iPads nowadays.
Anyone looking for a graphics interface tablet situation, I always now have to say to consider iPads even if you’re not an Apple user. (Which I am not)
Title: Re: Wacom Tablet
Post by: Kavik on Thu, 13 May 2021, 15:06:25
Ok ok ok maybe you have had enough recommendations etc to answer the questions since you posted way back in December. But if you haven’t pulled the trigger on getting one yet I’d ask you to consider this: get and iPad Pro. I have been a cintiq user for about 20 years making illustrations and comics, and I do love the cintiq. But since I bought a iPad I have just been blown away by how useful a product it has been. And with the program Procreate it can do pretty much everything photoshop can do. Also a lot of comic artists swear by clip studio pro which is also on iPad! The Apple Pencil works perfect and also the portability and the speed of iPads nowadays.
Anyone looking for a graphics interface tablet situation, I always now have to say to consider iPads even if you’re not an Apple user. (Which I am not)

Hey, thanks for the recommendation. I had actually wondered if a regular tablet would be a better choice, and the lastest iPad is comparable in price to nicer Wacoms. I ended up getting the most basic Wacom (Intuos S) as a stop gap. I have only used it a few times, and I've found it difficult to draw anything free form; tracing pictures is not too bad though. The main thing I don't like about it is that I have to sit up straight at my computer and make sure everything is perfectly lined up and I have to disable any secondary or tertiary monitor. It would be nice to be able to sit down on the couch or go outside and draw as I would with a regular sketch pad.
Title: Re: Wacom Tablet
Post by: MIGHTY CHICKEN on Thu, 13 May 2021, 22:53:02
Hey, thanks for the recommendation. I had actually wondered if a regular tablet would be a better choice, and the lastest iPad comparable in price to nicer Wacoms. I ended up getting the most basic Wacom (Intuos S) as a stop gap. I have only used it a few times, and I've found it difficult to draw anything free form; tracing pictures is not too bad though. The main thing I don't like about it is that I have to sit up straight at my computer and make sure everything is perfectly lined up and I have to disable any secondary or tertiary monitor. It would be nice to be able to sit down on the couch or go outside and draw as I would with a regular sketch pad.
Regular tablet would be a better choice imo, Ipad pros are absolutely amazing, I usually use a wacom for basic tasks like writing on presentations. In regards to the monitor issues, I disable the tablet from going into other monitors in the software which makes it useable.
Title: Re: Wacom Tablet
Post by: Lazesummerstone on Wed, 26 May 2021, 23:38:47
Oh I think a new generation of Ipad pros just got announced with the M1 chip so they've kinda got way more power then you might ever need. Ack... sorry to sound like a Apple advertisement. But I really find them pretty great.
Title: Re: Wacom Tablet
Post by: MIGHTY CHICKEN on Thu, 27 May 2021, 00:05:37
Oh I think a new generation of Ipad pros just got announced with the M1 chip so they've kinda got way more power then you might ever need. Ack... sorry to sound like a Apple advertisement. But I really find them pretty great.
Ipad is just too lit
Title: Re: Wacom Tablet
Post by: foxieze on Tue, 28 September 2021, 03:18:36
i have an XP-Pen Deco v2 and it works perfectly fine for me - was only £30 when I bought it too so felt like I couldn't go wrong. its not got a screen or anything but the pressure sensitivity has like 8092 levels i think and its a decent size too.
Title: Re: Wacom Tablet
Post by: Harue on Fri, 29 October 2021, 02:59:16
I own a Wacom Intuos Medium and HP ZBook x2 G4 (has Wacom integration). So, one with and without display. Both work find and often switch inbetween.

Recently I started recommending people the latest released Apple Ipads from 2019 and later, or drawing tablets without a display.
One is cheaper, and one is more expensive but with multiple uses. Look for pressure sensitivity, pen accuracy, potential macro buttons when you want to get one, aside from the iPad.

Both take quite a while to become proficient at it since you likely are used to mouse or pen & paper. It is different, trust me.
Title: Re: Wacom Tablet
Post by: Scragg on Wed, 08 December 2021, 14:58:18
I have owned 10 or so wacom/offbrand tablets in the past 20 years or so. Stick with wacom and or ipad pro 12.9.

offbrand tablets don't have as good of a warranty or customer service and typically just feel cheap. (with the exception of xencelabs)
recently I tried a samsung tablet and returned it almost immediately. I have not tried a surface tablet since the second revision however.

long and short of it

Wacom: blender, photoshop, clip (pc)
ipad pro 12.9: procreate, clip (ios)

since you are creating comics I think that the Pc version of clip would be better in the long run, but there is something to be said about the portability of the ipad.

if you get a cintiq save up for the expensive models. I have the 22 inch 1080p model and regret it nearly every time I use it, but it is still much higher quality than any of the xp-pen, huion, or gaomon tablets I have used.
Title: Re: Wacom Tablet
Post by: granola bar enthusiast on Thu, 07 April 2022, 10:15:59
i have used a gaomon s620 before and after upgrading to a used cth 680 it was amazing, despite it being a new grip and area i got a top play in osu in the first 4 hours of gameplay and while this isn't going to be the case for most people, i found it much easier to get used to than gaomon's tablets.

the pen is exponentially thinner and allows you to hold it like you would hold a pencil and while it doesn't have as good of a refresh rate as the S620 it's good enough and you don't notice the lower refresh rate at all.

for drawing, i would recommend one of wacom's tablet's that have screen's but for osu or for basic stuff (like writing out homework, math equations, basic sketches, etc.) their cth series is wonderful