Just a shout out to find a friend or two on this program.

[DoobieDuck]

Jack I use the program but not to often. I have a Waycom 8"x8" tablet and pen..mostly for graphic work when creating banners and designs. I am now using Xara extreem for my graphic work..it is to cool. The tablet works great for re-touching images. DD

I was given advice from a Graphics Guy on another site to buy it and it turns out her doesn't use it. I Don't think he was trying to be a friend.

So what is using a "Tablet" Like? Would I get anything out of one?

I am curious on that.. If it makes it easy to do design.

[DoobieDuck]

I'm not sure if you are asking about getting any use out of Xara or the tablet? Jack it depends on how you create your work. You can use a graphic pen and tablet much like an artists brush. Fully adjustable in the sense of brush sizes, shapes, styles..and so on, pressure sensative. I use it a lot for this, but as I was saying, in photoshop for outlining shapes or objects to cut or copy I use it all the time. I have some seed packs and banners I designed in Xara Extreem I will show you as soon as they are released but right now it is a new seed company that has not gone public so I can only keep you waiting..sorry..I don't like to keep you in suspense. I can't really explain the Xara program as it does so so much. I will say I think any graphic designer would find it and the pen very useful.

Here is a link to the Wacom tablet review: https://graphicssoft.about.com/od/hardware/fr/wacomintuos4.htm
and a couple for the Xara Extreem:
https://thephotofinishes.com/xaraxtreme2.htm
https://designer-info.com/Draw/xara.htm
https://graphicssoft.about.com/b/2009/01/05/xara-xtreme-review.htm
There was a learning curve for me with Xara but I'm on my way to getting past that. DD

[FreezerBoy]

Tablet usefulness often falls along generational lines. Those of us with 30-40-50 years of experience with brush, pen, crayons etc truly appreciate the emulation of traditional tools versus drawing with a brick. Younger folks, born with brick in hand, often find tablets clumsy and confusing.

Personally, first thing I do when purchasing a new computer or tablet is to collect the mice and throw them in the trash. I use the stylus for writing, web surfing, games, anything that requires me to move the cursor. Question is: are you an old dinosaur set in his ways like me or, are you more comfortable with a mouse?

I'd try Ebay for a used Bamboo. No where near as professional a tool as the Intuos or Cintique, it doesn't cost anywhere near as much either. If you like it, you can upgrade to Intuos and have a decent backup in the Bamboo.

[DoobieDuck]

FreezerBoy I had never heard of the Bamboo until you mentioned it here. After a bit of research I found a review mentioning "The Bamboo has a really nice feel - grippier than the slick surfaced Intuos, but that actually just makes it feel more precise for general computing tasks." This is the one fallback to my tablet. It has a slick surface and many intricate tasks are hard to acheive. A link for the Wacom Bamboo: https://www.wacom.com/BambooTablet/bamboo.php

I'm a novice who doesn't like the "Brick" LOL it's so true brick..

I will see what I can do to find a happy medium. Pun intended.

Thanks for the info.. I'm not in the know.


Jack

[FreezerBoy]

Originally Posted by doobieduck

This is the one fallback to my tablet. It has a slick surface and many intricate tasks are hard to acheive.

Tablet can be overlaid with the paper of your choice: vellum, 3 ply Strath, poster board, vinyl, cardboard ... Stylus reads through all of it and maybe one of these will provide a more responsive surface. Sometimes slick is good, sometimes you want the surface to fight back.

[DoobieDuck]

Hey FreezerBoy I should have thought of that...thanks for the advise. Actually I do some art with real brushes in hand and that is ideal. I don't think it can be replaced, but some of the work I see coming from the new artists using wacom and some of the new software available is amazing. A lot of talent out there.
Jack...I like the pun intended! DD