#Dig Tablets
37 messages in this thread
I'm currently in the market for a digitizer (with stylus) for use with
Photoshop and Fractal Design Painter (to make texture maps etc to use with 3D
Studio). Ideally, it will need absolute as well as relative capabilities, is
simple to set up and will allow me to switch between it and a mouse easily. In
the past, Wacom was a major hassle to use for a variety of reasons. I'm
looking at Summagraphics as a front-runner right now, but would like advice
from experienced dig users here. Thanks in advance for any help.
Regards, Connie
Hiya Connie:
Perhaps I'll get some flak for this, but I really like my CalComp
Drawing Slate. _Perfect_ mouse emulation (something I haven't found
in any other dig.) as well as great tablet functionality. It does
have both absolute and relative modes. I particularily like the
cordless 16 btn puck for both AutoCAD and 3DS and the pressure sensitive
stylus for Fractal Design Painter (& X2) and Fauve Matisse.
One of the most cool things about it is that it's only 1/8" thick all the
way around … meaning that it really takes no desk space. You can write
on it without fear … it's really durable. Setup is a breeze … I just
installed one for my partner, the setup for _all_ modes and programs
takes about 5 minutes and all work perfectly (whew !).
Hope this helps … fire away if I missed anything you need to know !
|-\\/ (another Wisconsinite ! <g>)
Hi, Todd. Thanks for the fast reply!:) Your info/recommendation is good
enough for me. I've used CalComp plotters and have been happy with their
function. You didn't mention cost — this could be a barrier if much above
$450. Also, you mentioned thickness, but not x-y size…I figure 12×12 is
large enough for my purposes. Also, I don't need a 16-button puck.
From Wisconsin, huh…I still miss the snow…alas…:) Gooooo, Badgers!!
Regards, Connie
Connie:
As far as cost goes on those CalComp Drawing Slates … I've put
in a few, and the cost is _well_ under $450, street price is in the
low to mid $300's, depending on all that marketing stuff. X-Y sizes
you can get are 6×9, 12×12, and 12×18 (I think). I use the 12×12.
Gotta tell ya … the 16 button puck is _really_ nice in Windoze for
remapping functions. For example, I have button "1" mapped as a
double-click. No more messing around, uncoordinated as I am, trying to
get the right rhythm for the mouse/puck. Maybe, someday, we'll have that
in 3DS … gee, imagine for a second … wouldn't that be neat !
Badgers to the Rose Bowl, Packers to the Super Bowl, now about those
pesky Brewers … sigh.
cheers,
|-\\/
Thanks a lot, Todd. Appreciate your knowledgeable advice!:).
As for the Brewers, all I can say is: I'm STILL a Braves fan!<g>. Ahh, takes
me back to the 1958 Series — we got to watch it on TV in school!…What a
blast that was…Oooops, slipped away for a minute…must be senility setting
in…wow, long day…later.
Regards, Connie
Hi Connie,
I'm going to waaaaay out on a limb and mention my experience with tablets.
For about six months I had been using a El Cheaporino "AceCat" non-pressure
sensitive, corded-stylus tablet. It costs about $120. I have recently bought
and installed a Wacom "ArtZ" tablet and while the Wacom is certainly superior
in every way, I'm not sure it is three times better than the AceCat (which
costs about $350.)
Of course I should mention that I was very eager to be able to produce art via
the computer and so some time ago I bought Fractal Painter. I quickly realized
that I just couldn't draw using a mouse so I bought the AceCat. When I still
couldn't draw anything really well, I realized that the cheap tablet was
holding me back. I then bought the fancy ArtZ and now I've found that I still
can't draw worth a darn and the worst part is that now that I've got all the
right software and hardware, I'm all out of excuses!
It _might_ just be my lack of talent and/or training. <g>
My point is that the fancy tablets will work much better for someone who knows
how to really use them. If you want to just trace lines and point at things,
the AceCat may be acceptable. But I do know that you have some real artistic
talent and you might get full use of a better tablet.
Alec Jason
Hey, Alec, long time!!:)<g> How's tricks? Thanks for your fast reply — I
appreciate it. I'll probably go a different way, but I am glad to hear from
you.
Kindest regards, Connie
I have a Calcomp DB II. It does NOT work in absolute mode in 3ds. Also the
pressure sensitive support is far less than with a Wacom. ie not pressure
suport with ani pro. Also the pen eats up hard to find baterees. Had I to do
it over again I'd spend the extra bucks and get the Wacom.
Ian.
Thanks, Ian. Appreciate your advice. The only problem with the Wacom is it's
notoriously been a major hassle to configure…but maybe these problems have
been cleared up in newer versions…I'll check it out.
Regards, Connie
>> notoriously been a major hassle to configure…
FWIW, configuration occurs only once or twice with a new software package.
Operation occurs almost daily. Regardless of initial configuration hassles,
choose whichever one WORKS the best in your day-to-day work.
I tested two at Siggraph, the Kurta and the Wacom. For my hand, the Wacom had
the best "feel", and being battery-free is a big plus. I've yet to try the new
Summasketch FX. I've had good luck with their other products, so I won't
commit to buying anything else until I try one. Since I just got Painter, I
need to act pretty quickly. If I choose soon, I'll give you my impressions.
– Dave
Dave (and Connie)
I've been using the Wacom for a while and also have the Acecat that JKJ (I
think) mentioned. If you're going to work at extended periods, by all means get
a cordless, batteryless pen. The Wacom is beautiful, Acecat sucks bigtime for
drawing but is ok for 3DS.
The Wacom with Painter is a real treat to use and I find it more natural if I
place a piece of tracing paper over the pad to give the pen some "tooth".
TedB
!^NavFont01F0007MGHHH5F80F0
>> Acecat sucks bigtime
C'mon Ted. Don't hold back! Tell us how you -really- feel. <bg>
– Dave
Hi, Ted. Thanks for sharing your experience!:)…I may end up going this
way…I'll check out the Wacom as well as SummaGraphics Slate & FX.
Connie
Just catching up after hardware fun this week…
>>Acecat that JKJ (I think) mentioned)…
Just for the record, I've never seen an Acecat. I just bought the Kurta
pressure tablet and am very pleased with it. I was torn between it an the
Wacom, and decided to try the Kurta partly because of the quick tablet menu and
how well it worked with Painter. For anyone interested, the Kurta driver
allows the tablet to co-exist nicely with a mouse in Windows – you can use
either, or both at the same time. <g> I've found no incompatibilities.
For the first three days after Siggraph I ignored all life outside of
Pentium/Kurta/Painter! Now, if I could only draw…
JKJ
I agree. The Kurta was my total favorite digitizer. I liked the Wacom, but
prefered the feel of the heavier stylus of the Kurta.
John Tissavary (LUNA cie, inc)
John
Opps, someone was talking about an Acecat being a good digitizer, so I was
expounding. It's a 5"x5" work area unit intended for use with Acad. For that it
works quite well, but for anyone planning to use it with a paint package it's
just not worth the money ($120 or so). The cord tends to hang on everthing
within a mile and it is not pressure sensitive.
Have you opened any Painter files from Composer. I'm getting color shifts,
from gamma I presume, and can't seem to find settings to correct the problem.
TedB
!^NavFont01F0007MGHHHA8DB34
>>Painter->Composer
No, I haven't tried that. I only use AC occasionally – not even enough to use
it efficiently. I wish it had some good drawing/painting tools…
JKJ
Ted –
I have had a similar problem with Composer – only my was 3D Studio Targa
images. I have sent them stuff to look at. Somehow the color values are getting
changed in Composer. FOr examples – purple will look more maroon etc. Some
things I have had wash out all together.
Judy
Judy
Very interesting. I had a series of TGA's that I previewed with Composer
before I sent them to be made into 35mm slides. They looked OK in Composer but
the slides were very, very dark (read, out $400). I'm guessing it's something
with Alpha, but I have no idea what. Maybe Jack P has some insights. Thanks.
TedB
!^NavFont01F0006MGHHHJ8E87
Hi Ted,
PMJI, but after reporting similar problems to Altamira I thought I might advise
you of their policy regarding any type of anomalies when using Composer:
"We Never Make Mistakes: It HAS to be something else in your system"
Their snippy solution to one problem I was having was to "get rid of Qemm." (I
told them I'd be getting rid of Composer before I'd dump Qemm.)
I wouldn't be surprised if they put the blame on Intel or Microsoft or the
motherboard manufacturer or Charles Babbage because whatever happened, it
couldn't possibly be the fault of Composer.
Good luck.
Alec Jason
Alec
I haven't dealt with Altamira, but your comments make me glad I haven't. Not a
good attitude!
Composer works very well for what I use it for but it does have it's quirks. I
always presume I don't know how to use the program first, then never get around
to calling tech support.
Let's all blame it on Babbage<G>
TedB
!^NavFont01F0006MGHHHLEE41
I know that there are times coming when I am beginning to wish I had purchased
PhotoShop instead. I am going to give them a call about the files I sent them.
They even sent me the 1.1 upgrade to COmposer. That did fix some things. Some
object when brought into COmposer from 3DS would have their Opacity changed
from 100% to 40% – at least 1.1 fixed THAT BUG!
Judy
Dave, my concern about configuration has to do with my needing to also have
the use of a mouse…If I'm using the same port for both, won't I need to
reconfigure each time I switch? Or can I use a different port for each?
(Hardware/config is NOT my strong suit). Please spell it out for me. Thanks
very much.
Regards, Connie
Connie,
I've had a Wacom for two years now and I'm real happy with it. I use a
pressure stylus and a 4 button puck. I have not had a mouse hooked up since I
got the tablet, I just load the mouse emulation driver in my autoexec.bat, and
in any program that needs it, I use the puck just like a mouse (its cordless
too) without having to configure anything. An example would be…. in windows,
the tablet driver is loaded automatically when you start windows, so I can use
the stylus and get pressure support (painter and photoshop) or at any time just
put the stylus aside and start using the puck just like a mouse. When I quit
windows, the mouse emulation driver is already loaded, so any dos program that
is loaded (including 3ds) reads the tablet and puck as a mouse automatically,
no fuss, no switches…. I don't see why anybody would need a mouse hooked up
if they have a wacom and a puck. (although I think that the new tablets allow
you to use the stylus and a mouse at the same time). I don't think you can use
the pressure stylus in 3ds w/ mouse mode… only the puck, but I think a non
pressure stylus would work OK.
The only annoying problem I've really had with the wacom is that you
cant run windows Write with the wacom pressure driver loaded (this is
apparently an MS issue with the Penwin spec), but if you have another word
processor, this shouldn't be a problem. My brother has a Calcomp tablet, and
while he says he's generally happy with it, he's constantly complaining about
having to replace the tiny batteries in the stylus every couple of months. I've
tried his and don't like the feel of it at all.
Whatever you decide to get, try to make sure you can return it if you
aren't happy with it, this way you know you're not going to be stuck with the
wrong tablet. BTW, wacom has a section in the pen technology forum here on CIS.
David
Outrageous reply, Dave!!:). Sounds good — I'll probably go with Wacom. Just
one more lame question: Does the "mouse emulation driver" come with the
tablet? Or should I already have it? Thanks a lot…appreciate it greatly!
Regards, Connie
>>Does the "mouse emulation driver" come with the tablet?
Yes, it comes with the tablet. And you can download all the latest
drivers in their forum. Just a note… make sure you get both the stylus and
the puck with the tablet, because getting both might be an extra option (I
think when I got mine it came with the puck, and the stylus was extra). And
don't forget that return guarantee…
David
Thanks again, Dave! I feel more confident about my decision now.:)
Connie
>> my concern about configuration has to do with my needing to also have
>> the use of a mouse…
My understanding is that when using software that supports both, you would have
each attached to a separate port. No switching required.
Thanks for your quick response, Dave. Appreciate your help…I will save the
info in my (by now very extensive) files!:) Looks like I've got several
options now…Dig it!<g>
Regards, Connie
I'd be interested in hearing your findings on the Summa FX, if you'd be so kind
to post them….
Dave
I also just purchased Painter2/X2 and am looking to upgrade my tablet. I'm
currently using a Summasketch II+ that I purchased for use with 3D Studio &
Animator Pro. I would *not* recommend buying Summa without verifying it works
in the applications you need it for, regardless of claims by the Summa OR the
various software reps as to its compatibility, let alone functionality. Overall
I'd say it is, at best, adequate.
I'm also looking towards the Wacom. I'll be interested in hearing how your
research goes.
JDH
<<I would *not* recommend buying Summa without verifying it works>>
Sorry to here that as I I'm just having a SummaSketch FX over for a test.
I want to use it in 3DS,Anipro and windows. Have you tested this digitizer!?
Any problems with it?
-M.E
>> SummaSketch FX… Have you tested
Sorry, no. I hope that the FX works well for you (or you've bought from
someone with a good return policy).
My experience is solely with the II+. I have seen many comments from
others on this forum who have had problems with II & II+ tablets in both 3DS
(sticking and lock-up problems, especially in absolute mode) and AAP (slow
response, inverted coords). When I tried to resolve problems I got the ol' its
your software, its your drivers, its your hardware runaround. The only DOS
program I have that seems to work well with the II+ is my Targa version of
HiResQFX.
JDH
Just as with everything else in the computer world, what once was, probably
ain't no more <g>. I use a Kurta XGT (really great tablet, flawless support),
but I'm sure the Wacom is great, too. The Wacom does top out at 128 levels of
pressure, though. The Kurta does 256.
John Tissavary (LUNA cie, inc)
Oh, no!! Too many choices/too many decisions!!<g>. Nice to hear from you,
anyway, John!:) Thanks.
Regards, Connie
Connie, Let me know how it goes. I may need to get another tablet and I'd
appreciate hearing your experience.
Ian.
Sure will.
Connie