Entry Level Pen Tablets: Making the Artist's PC-Life Easier
by Laura Wilson on December 6, 2003 9:01 AM EST- Posted in
- Peripherals
Photo Ops
A useful application of tablets is found in photo pop-outs. The method of this action is removing a part or parts of a photo and implementing them in another photo to create a completely new scene. A photo pop-out can be done without a tablet by using your regular mouse to erase a copied background in Photoshop, and then drag to a new photo. However, using the Graphire3 made the whole process quicker, easier, and more attractive. The main down-side of using a mouse is that the erasing process isn't pressure sensitive, so hugging the edges of the picture being cut out is very difficult. Erasing background and fitting pieces of the picture together were simple with the Graphire3 pen. The eraser is pressure sensitive, just like the tip, making the procedure more precise with fewer mess-ups. Using this technique makes for an easy time of displaying the often unnoticed extra cast member of the original Star Trek series: our fearless leader, Anand.
Attempting to use similar techniques with the Hyperpen 8000U proved close to futile. After realizing that the jerking of the Aiptek mouse would not relent, the regular, non-tablet mouse and pad was required to finish the job of depicting Anand with his good buddy Bill Gates.
Truthfully, you shouldn't even attempt this process with the Hyperpen 8000U, unless you have the patience of a rock.
In comparing the Graphire3 pen to the mouse, it should be mentioned that the pop-out time span (the amount of time spent erasing around Anand's head in the original photo) was cut by about a third when using the pen instead of the mouse. Also, to get the right edges when using a mouse, a continuous clicking method was the only way to be sure to keep the lines looking natural so as to make the new photo look less computer-generated. Many errors causing multiple trips to the Photoshop history menu dragged out the time of this task and made it more tedious. The tablet pen works better mostly because you can make larger eraser marks for big spaces and smaller eraser marks for tiny spaces without having to visit the control bar to change dimensions. Wacom's Graphire3 didn't even require using the eraser tool from the side bar — you could just flip the pen over.
The Hyperpen 12000U was more usable than the 8000U in this activity, though still not quite up to par with the Graphire3. The slight dragging of the mouse doesn't have an effect on the pen so much; consequently, the invested time and effort was a bit more rewarding. Here, we can see Anand hanging out with rapper, Snoop Dogg.
If a recommendation had to be made based solely on photography manipulation, once again, the Graphire3 drawing tablet would receive the highest praise. The Graphire3 seems to take every detail of artistic computer interfacing into account, making it much more versatile.
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AMD4ME2 - Sunday, December 7, 2003 - link
cool.. I've wanted one for a long time... continue to explore this avenue.. I would like to see just how good the top of the line tablets all.... Oh and .. what kind of drugs were taken during the testing of these tablets.. cause that creature is "Jacked-Up Like a Soup Sandwich"Adul - Sunday, December 7, 2003 - link
You are close Virge ;) well it is soon-to-beclevere1 - Sunday, December 7, 2003 - link
You can also use tablets as a mouse replacement. I use the Intuos (I think it's the older brother of the Intuos2) for everything I do on the computer, except for 3D games like Quake and such.ivwshane - Sunday, December 7, 2003 - link
I do really hope for a mid level tablet review. I'm considering getting a tablet for casual use and to expand my artistic skills. After talking to an artist friend I got impression that any tablet will do but after this article it appears not to be the case. I would really like to have an accurate drawing tool but I don't know if it's worth the price difference to go with the intuos2 over the graphire3.Tablets have been around for a while and it's about time someone did a round up:D
Redviffer - Saturday, December 6, 2003 - link
Wow, I didn't know Anand knew all those cool people. :)I think that at the prices (sub-$150), they are still a little pricey "just to have", that is unless you can really put this to good use. I know I'd actually like to get one, as I can see my kids really having a blast with drawings. I'll keep an eye out, as with all things, the prices will drop. Thanks for the article.
AgaBooga - Saturday, December 6, 2003 - link
Same as #4ViRGE - Saturday, December 6, 2003 - link
Sorry to go off-topic, but I noticed the new author(Laura Wilson). I take it she's Derek's wife?Doop - Saturday, December 6, 2003 - link
I just bought a Wacom Intuos 2 (model up from graphire) as a Chrismas present for my graphic designing girlfriend, who currently draws then scans in line drawing then touches them up with a mouse in photoshop.I was a little worried that the pen wouldn't be accurate or sensitive enough for her to use comfortably, basically that it wouldn't live up to the hype.
If the Graphire is that good (thanks for the review) then the Intuos 2 I bought should be totally sweet. She'll be so happy there'll be no picky remarks about my heavy drinking over the yule tide period. Nice.
AgaBooga - Saturday, December 6, 2003 - link
Gaming isn't something tablets are designed for. I have one at home and they're really light, easy to draw on, and are very portable with long battery life. Those are the main selling points of a tablet IMO on top of the ability to write on themShalmanese - Saturday, December 6, 2003 - link
Did you try gaming with the tablet?I don't know about 3d games but I imagine games like C&C might benifit enourmously from tablet use.