When you are creating artwork... do you use a graphics tablet?

I thought i would reach for it daily... but when i do, i find myself wiping the dust off it. my mouse has become a stellar extension of my hand over the years... second nature really.

i have a Gaomon tablet PD1161. It was already a little older by the time i got it... but seemed to be a good tablet to feel out if i could/should invest in a higher end device. I was so excited when i got it!!!!!

it seems cumbersome to use but perhaps that is just the learning curve, and/or my inability to adapt to it.

If you do or DONT use a graphics tablet.... what is your reasoning?

Do you have any suggestion or tips for applying this tool to the craft(s)?

I find myself using it for my planning/drawing up thoughts and/or taking notes more than anything.

It also is nice as a third monitor but it just feels very "wrong" to use it as so.

What do you use for your artwork????

paper and "utensils"?9%
graphics tablet?64%
keyboard and mouse?27%

    I bought one of the cheapest graphics tablets (Wacom One, <40 bucks) to try if that's something I'd like to use.

    So far I tested it only for a couple of minutes. It does not have a screen. Using it felt just wrong because the tablet is pretty small and I use it with a 32" 4k screen.
    Maybe I will get used to it when I use it more, but I imagine tablets with a screen are a lot better to work with. But currently I'm not doing much that would benefit from a graphics tablet. So mouse and keyboard it is.

      Been a wacom user for over 20 years. Only times I use mouse and keyboard is when I construct vector graphics (illustrator, Inkscape etc). Other than that, I find it close to impossible to draw, paint, sculpt with a good flow not using a tablet.

      Back when I worked professionally as an artist in the games and VFX industry, I used the tablet daily. These days, as I transitioned to programming and architecture, I don't use it as much naturally.

      However, I have found myself enjoying analog pen and paper more lately. There's a more direct feel to it, and it's nice to step away from the screen.

      These days I think Wacom has some strong and cheaper competitors.

        For simple edits I use a keyboard and mouse, for "actual" art I use a tablet. Also a cheap small one without a screen :-) If you're new to graphic tablets it definitely takes a while to get used to, but it's a great skill to have in the long run. If you wanna draw non-pixel art or anything that looks vaguely traditional, pressure sensitivity is a must.

        Id say for sculpting and fine detail control you need tablet. I got myself https://huion.com/products/pen_display/Kamvas/kamvas-13-gen-3.html before that i had old wacom bamboo, but its kinda redacted to use it.. i could not get used to looking at screen and drawing stuff.. its far more satifying to draw on th esurface and see results.. as for drawing 2d stuff, cant say.. im just a bum on the internet with no skills

        im not a shill but huion has really good windows driver support with customization and it works 😃.. i had trouble with wacom bamboo as it is more than 10 years old.. huion also have some linux drivers, the kamvas, while works on linux, you cant customize the buttons at all.. just use the pen functions on the screen itself.

        IF your style is just rough block out thing then you cant beat mouse and keyboard combo.. Very fast and precise..

          Well this has convinced me to approach using my tablet MORE... and to treat it as a skill i need to perfect.

          Thank you for the reply's... there is SO MUCH to learn on my tech venture that i have a VERY tough time deciding where i need to put my efforts.

          I do use mostly 2d projects so far... but have dabbled in trying to put what i "can" on paper into its digital counterpart. It is certainly a unique feel comparatively.

          I also feel my knowledge of digital software is part of my issue*.

          I use paint.net, Krita, blender, AND gimp... with paint.net my go to simply due to its simplicity. Krita is amazing, but like blender, it feels like such a steep learning curve to make work flow... flow.

          @MikeCL you have a pretty interesting resume! i have done a fair bit of drafting (in the trades my entire life), and i find that drafting anything with paper/rulers is far more accurate in the long than the software counterparts, however sincerely slower. it was very rare to find architects who's prints (software) didn't put point loads in between joists (non load bearing points). sure it "works" but to me that was always the difference from building a house vs a home.

            REVBENT you have a pretty interesting resume! i have done a fair bit of drafting (in the trades my entire life), and i find that drafting anything with paper/rulers is far more accurate in the long than the software counterparts, however sincerely slower. it was very rare to find architects who's prints (software) didn't put point loads in between joists (non load bearing points). sure it "works" but to me that was always the difference from building a house vs a home.

            🙂 Hehe, just to clarify, when I say architecture, I mean software/systems/web, etc, and not buildings...

            I would say using one, it's a matter of context and what works for you. Transitioning from pen and paper to digital with a tablet does take some getting used to. Then, as for the software, the more you use it, the faster you get that muscle memory in with the features, hotkeys, etc.

                MikeCL
                That worked up an actual "LOL" from me.... I am glad you enjoyed it too!

                Context is so important 😛 !

                I was recently having a conversation about how someone's life experience influencing what it is they hear/read, and thus how they experience life. This was a perfect example!!!

                HOTKEYS!!!!! They seem so very important to production but i am weary to map out features (ones i think i need) bc i am just so "green" to this still.

                That's where the Krita art wheel is AMAZING in my opinion, using a pen especially... one right click and you get nearly anything you need to use.

                I suppose i will try to create one new piece everyday i can. Practice, practice, practice....

                  kuligs2
                  i will say that this Gaomon has been very weird how it effects other programs. It was easy to get drivers/support to work, but idk if my issues are a tablet/software issue... or a windows issue.

                  This one has to be plugged in to the computer and when i open some programs, it will screw up the layout and text sizing BAD. Probably the most annoying aspect i have experienced.

                  I got this for a good deal... but i dont think i would recommend it compared to some of the other tablets i have seen.

                  Those dial controllers on your tablet look very, very cool. I would guess they would help with other apps as well... playing with sound mixers etc???

                      I find myself using it for my planning/drawing up thoughts and/or taking notes more than anything.

                      Pencil + paper for me.

                      But if you want to try digital drawing you should get the screen tablet instead of the one with just drawing pad. It costs more but worth it. You can also buy cheap regular tablet with large screen and download some drawing app. Krita is popular but the one I got is called ibisPaintX which is simpler I guess, just to play around with it.

                      Some thoughts on Graphic/drawing tablet:

                      • If I had the money I would get the largest screen possible.
                      • Research response time and latency when buying. You don't want lag while drawing, it's so annoying.
                      • I find it a bit cumbersome to use pen to select icons since you have to move the whole hand to them (as with mouse you'd just bend your wrist).
                      • You have to have "tablet gloves" (or whatever they call it) otherwise your palm will trigger whatever on screen when drawing.
                      • I'd guess it would be extra steps to transfer your drawings to Godot on PC.

                        REVBENT

                        REVBENT This one has to be plugged in to the computer and when i open some programs, it will screw up the layout and text sizing BAD. Probably the most annoying aspect i have experienced.

                        This happens on my tablet too, but then the driver software provides calibration tool, you just recalibrate the screen so that the position an sizing is relative to screen and everything is good.

                        In your case they might have dropped support for the device as you said its very old, just like with my old bamboo..

                        REVBENT Those dial controllers on your tablet look very, very cool. I would guess they would help with other apps as well... playing with sound mixers etc???

                        No, they are more like scroll wheels, they have clicky scroll feel to them.. yes you can bind any button, button combo, or even macro on to any button on the tablet, via the driver software..

                        I went with this model of the tablet for 2 reasons - those scroll wheels to use as zoom in or out or change the size of a brush in blender, and the size - 13inch, it fits in my daily backpack, so i can haul it wherever i need/want to use it... ofc, you need a PC to run it, its not battery powered. It is just a screen.

                        Oh and i forgot, this tablet does not have touch support. Only the pen can move stuff around the screen. Pen is passive, no batteries in pen.

                        If you get a tablet i would suggest one with touch screen. Its more intuitive to zoom in/ pan around with fingers rather than holding keyboard buttons combo and dragging pen. Annoyyance if youre cheap but you get used to it.

                              Gowydot

                              Gowydot Pencil + paper for me.

                              Gowydot I'd guess it would be extra steps to transfer your drawings to Godot on PC.

                              It would and very extra step to transfer from paper to godot..

                              Gowydot You have to have "tablet gloves" (or whatever they call it) otherwise your palm will trigger whatever on screen when drawing.

                              Yes, they are cheap, no biggie, it also make your hand slide better on the surface of screen.

                              Gowydot I find it a bit cumbersome to use pen to select icons since you have to move the whole hand to them (as with mouse you'd just bend your wrist).

                              That is why you get tablet with touch support, or, software that lets you put custom controls on screen closer to your "wrist/hand" or tablet with bindable buttons.

                              Gowydot Research response time and latency when buying. You don't want lag while drawing, it's so annoying.

                              If you buy now, there are no laggy tablets that i have researched so far.. tech has evolved and its good. Ofc, higher Hz screen is better, feels more fluid. 60hz that i have is decent for my hobby practice.

                              Gowydot If I had the money I would get the largest screen possible.

                              Yes and no. Better to find screen that youre comfortable using, and it has the best resolution/refreshrate possible, along with color gamut.

                              Its not fun drawing on 65inch screen if you ask me. Or A0 paper size..

                                              • Tomcat

                                              • Post #13
                                              • Edited

                                              A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away… I bought myself an Asus Eee Slate EP121 tablet and since then I've only taken tablets with a pen that can distinguish the force of pressure. I even have an e-book (with e-paper) with such a stylus. It is an extremely important tool. Paper and pencil are relics of the paleontolith.

                                              kuligs2 Its not fun drawing on 65inch screen if you ask me. Or A0 paper size..

                                              Well, you're wrong. I started my working career as a draftsman. Kuhlmann — have you heard of that device? It's a lot of fun to draw on A0.

                                              MikeCL These days I think Wacom has some strong and cheaper competitors.

                                              I don't know of any Wacom competitors that recognize the tilt of the pen. But Wacom is in no hurry to equip its tablets with OLED, only recently the very small Wacom Movink 13.3” tablet. (I'd buy it, but it's not on sale here.) And I didn't see a model larger than 27” among the new models. There used to be a 32” tablet-monitor.

                                                  kuligs2

                                                  • Yea I meant if it's just to use tablet for planning/taking notes vs. creating Godot assets with it.
                                                  • Larger screen allows you to see more of surrounding area when zooming in to work on small details, so you don't have to zoom out often to see how your changes affect overall picture. (Just from what I tried with my own small tablet vs. bigger tablet at the shop)
                                                  • Your other points are well-noted. I haven't done much digital paints nowadays. I wish I had time to get back to it but 3D is my chosen path right now 🍩

                                                      Gowydot Yea I meant if it's just to use tablet for planning/taking notes vs. creating Godot assets with it.

                                                      Yeah, you can. That's exactly how I use my e-book. But that's where the small format comes in handy — a large tablet is not very convenient for taking notes. They are slightly different purposes, although the functionality may overlap.

                                                        Gowydot Your other points are well-noted. I haven't done much digital paints nowadays. I wish I had time to get back to it but 3D is my chosen path right now

                                                        hope youll post your creations here, im always interested what people create, to learn from 😃

                                                        Also, how big of a tablet you talking about - at the shop and small at home, you had experienced with. For reference.

                                                            i think i had a wacom at some point..i forgot why i hated it, but i did enough to buy a second equally cheap one.
                                                            now i have a refurbished, heavily used XPpen Deco Mini7. i have not figured out how to remap the buttons on it, but i did find buttons for CTRL+Z and CTRL+S: my two most important ones. depending on the stage of development, it will sit in a box for months and months on end, and then asset development or intense note-taking/planning takes place and i spend a good 5-8 hours with it daily.

                                                            trizZzle
                                                            REVBENT
                                                            speaking from experience, if you have a tablet without a display, it does take some time to mentally translate the size of the tablet to that of your display. it takes a little time to establish the difference in your reflexes.

                                                                REVBENT and i find that drafting anything with paper/rulers is far more accurate in the long than the software counterparts

                                                                I've had to deal with both options and I dare to disagree.

                                                                    Tomcat Really, i am surprised to hear that. I am saying it as the person who is drawing up the blueprints (homes/buildings), not as a jobsite foreman reading/constructing.

                                                                    The architect surely can make mistakes with hand drawn prints... however i have always found "building" the home mentally with paper and pen to allow me to find those "little" issues with how to tie points together... vs simply asking software to lay out a floor system... point loads... walls/beams.... the software would do what was "correct" on paper... but not logical for long run error proofing.

                                                                    Those little inconsistencies is what makes a good foreman though... being able to "read" the prints and know how to dynamically adjust each faze of the process.

                                                                    I am SURE the software that is used makes all the difference too! I must admit it has been many moons (8 years or so) since i drew up anything that required a "stamp", and the software we had may not of been the best. My brother and i have drawn all our plans by hand our entire careers, though some times prints need to be recreated digitally (where hand drawn prints were not feasible (wanting to see different layouts/siding/windows at the click of a button)).

                                                                        REVBENT I am saying it as the person who is drawing up the blueprints (homes/buildings), not as a jobsite foreman reading/constructing.

                                                                        Perhaps the misunderstanding is due to “translation difficulties”. I didn't work as an architect. My job is mechanisms. And I don't understand what calculations have to do with it — I'm talking purely about drawing (creating) a drawing. And it is absolutely certain that it is easier "to tie points together” on a computer.

                                                                        I dabbled in architecture only for myself. By the way, as an architect, what is your opinion of Sweet Home 3D?