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06/15/2011 05:17:10 PM · #1 |
Does anyone have experience with Wacoms?
I am looking to buy a simple Wacom for use in creative graphic design (involving a small amount of illustration) and portrait retouching.
Is the Bamboo Pen and Touch a good option? or perhaps the Bamboo Craft?
I am wondering if these are worth purchasing when the Intuos is marketed towards "creative professionals."
I'd rather spend around $100 and get the ability to paint and draw, specifically with options for touch sensitivity (which I'm not sure is an option with the Bamboo?). |
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06/15/2011 06:37:53 PM · #2 |
I only have pretty old tablets (been using since about 1995), but for retouching and masking any of the Wacoms will probably help a lot. I suggest starting with an inexpensive one, but make note of the features of the more expensive ones, and then see if you turn out to need those features after using it for a few weeks; if so, upgrade then -- you'll know it'll be worth it at that point.
Of course, you could always just bypass all that puny stuff and go straight to the Cintiq ... ;-)
PS: I think they are all "touch-sensitive" but with different numbers of levels of sensitivity, I believe from 256 on the low end to 1024 on the higher-end versions (you can check specs at their site, linked above). How many distinct levels of pressure do you think you'll need?
Message edited by author 2011-06-15 18:40:37. |
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06/15/2011 06:44:50 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by adigitalromance:
Does anyone have experience with Wacoms?
I am looking to buy a simple Wacom for use in creative graphic design (involving a small amount of illustration) and portrait retouching.
Is the Bamboo Pen and Touch a good option? or perhaps the Bamboo Craft?
I am wondering if these are worth purchasing when the Intuos is marketed towards "creative professionals."
I'd rather spend around $100 and get the ability to paint and draw, specifically with options for touch sensitivity (which I'm not sure is an option with the Bamboo?). |
I have the Bamboo Pen and Touch and it's more than enough to get professional results. You get more bells and whistles with the Intuous such as the ability to assign multiple programs and actions to keys, but the nuts and bolts of the tablet such as pen pressure etc. is all there in the Bamboo Pen and Touch including the sensitivity levels of the pad etc.
It takes a little time to get used to working with a tablet, but becomes second nature after awhile...the more you use it. It would excellent for retouching, selections, masking, dodge and burn etc. MUCH more accurate than using a non pressure sensitive mouse.
I recommend staying away from anything lower than the Bamboo Pen and Touch. Work your way up to an Intous. I will at sometime get probably at least the medium sized Intous, but after buying the original Bamboo, and now the Bamboo Pen and Touch I really have the major options necessary in the Bamboo that you'll find in the Intous. You can be very professional and creative without spending the extra money right now.
Dave |
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06/15/2011 06:46:38 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
I only have pretty old tablets (been using since about 1995), but for retouching and masking any of the Wacoms will probably help a lot. I suggest starting with an inexpensive one, but make note of the features of the more expensive ones, and then see if you turn out to need those features after using it for a few weeks; if so, upgrade then -- you'll know it'll be worth it at that point.
Of course, you could always just bypass all that puny stuff and go straight to the Cintiq ... ;-)
PS: I think they are all "touch-sensitive" but with different numbers of levels of sensitivity, I believe from 256 on the low end to 1024 on the higher-end versions (you can check specs at their site, linked above). How many distinct levels of pressure do you think you'll need? |
The Bamboo Pen and Touch has the 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity as well. My original Bamboo had half that at 512 levels. |
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06/15/2011 06:50:59 PM · #5 |
I started years ago with a standard Wacom tablet which my daughter now uses. I changed the nibs when Kita started using it a few years ago and have not needed to change anything since. I have been using a Bamboo for about 4 or 5 years....still the original nibs and all. The coating on the pen is half gone and it looks tatty, but it hasn't skipped a beat. My computers get pushed hard and the tablet is used for an average of 9 hours every day and I have never had a problem. Touch wood!
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06/15/2011 07:01:01 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by Judi:
I started years ago with a standard Wacom tablet which my daughter now uses. I changed the nibs when Kita started using it a few years ago and have not needed to change anything since. I have been using a Bamboo for about 4 or 5 years....still the original nibs and all. The coating on the pen is half gone and it looks tatty, but it hasn't skipped a beat. My computers get pushed hard and the tablet is used for an average of 9 hours every day and I have never had a problem. Touch wood! |
That's awesome that it's lasted so long. Yes, my original Bamboo is still in great shape and works like new, but one of the blue LED's either has a cold solder joint or has burnt out. Not a big deal, and I'm a technician so it wouldn't be hard for me to fix myself. The three reasons I decided to get the Bamboo Touch were 1) The increased sensitivity, but in reality I don't think that's all that major going from 512 to 1024 when you can always adjust the opacity of a brush stroke etc. 2) I liked the ability to use the touch pad for other applications and browsing etc. 3) Three, probably the main reason was my family wanted to know what I wanted for Christmas and I didn't really have any other ideas on things I really could use so I said the Bamboo Pen and Touch. :)
They really are a great product.
Dave
Message edited by author 2011-06-15 19:01:37. |
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06/15/2011 07:02:48 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by Judi:
I started years ago with a standard Wacom tablet which my daughter now uses. I changed the nibs when Kita started using it a few years ago and have not needed to change anything since. I have been using a Bamboo for about 4 or 5 years....still the original nibs and all. The coating on the pen is half gone and it looks tatty, but it hasn't skipped a beat. My computers get pushed hard and the tablet is used for an average of 9 hours every day and I have never had a problem. Touch wood! |
We Yanks "Knock wood" cuz that's just how we roll......
(I usually just thonk a knuckle on my bald scalp) |
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06/16/2011 10:20:06 AM · #8 |
| The Bamboo Pen and Touch is on sale at newegg.com for $79 with free shipping. Sale ends today. I'm going for it! |
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06/16/2011 01:13:33 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by adigitalromance:
The Bamboo Pen and Touch is on sale at newegg.com for $79 with free shipping. Sale ends today. I'm going for it! |
get another $10 off for New Customers (or create a new account) with code NEWCUSTOMER10
Also, B&H has it for $80.56 shipped
Message edited by author 2011-06-16 13:17:05. |
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