graphics tablet

R
Posted By
Ruth
Nov 21, 2003
Views
1808
Replies
40
Status
Closed
I’m considering buying a graphics tablet – I find myself drawing more stuff freehand these days, and also want to reduce the stress on my wrist.

I’ve never used one before and I’m looking at the Wacom Intuos2.

Can anyone tell me how "integrated" this is with Photoshop and/or CorelDraw? I’ll be using it for freehand vector drawing and also painting. Does size matter a great deal – I’m looking at A4/A5?

Or can anyone recommend a better one? Obviously I have a budget but I’m prepared to pay more if there is something a great deal better.

Any help in this area greatly appreciated – thanks.

Ruth

[cross posted to alt.graphics.photoshop and alt.corel.graphics]

Must-have mockup pack for every graphic designer 🔥🔥🔥

Easy-to-use drag-n-drop Photoshop scene creator with more than 2800 items.

A
a
Nov 21, 2003
Ruth,

There’s a short thread over in the Draw 11 newsgroup
(corel.graphic_apps.cdgs11-draw) that you might want to look at. The Intuos seems to get two thumbs up. You also might want to look in the Adobe user forums http://www.adobe.com/support/forums/main.html
(registration required), lots of Wacom users there. It seems to be the choice for high-end use.

Craig

"Ruth" wrote in message
I’m considering buying a graphics tablet – I find myself drawing more
stuff
freehand these days, and also want to reduce the stress on my wrist.
I’ve never used one before and I’m looking at the Wacom Intuos2.
Can anyone tell me how "integrated" this is with Photoshop and/or
CorelDraw?
I’ll be using it for freehand vector drawing and also painting. Does size matter a great deal – I’m looking at A4/A5?

Or can anyone recommend a better one? Obviously I have a budget but I’m prepared to pay more if there is something a great deal better.
Any help in this area greatly appreciated – thanks.

Ruth

[cross posted to alt.graphics.photoshop and alt.corel.graphics]
J
Joe
Nov 21, 2003
"Ruth" wrote:

I’m considering buying a graphics tablet – I find myself drawing more stuff freehand these days, and also want to reduce the stress on my wrist.
I’ve never used one before and I’m looking at the Wacom Intuos2.
Can anyone tell me how "integrated" this is with Photoshop and/or CorelDraw? I’ll be using it for freehand vector drawing and also painting. Does size matter a great deal – I’m looking at A4/A5?

Or can anyone recommend a better one? Obviously I have a budget but I’m prepared to pay more if there is something a great deal better.
Any help in this area greatly appreciated – thanks.

Ruth

[cross posted to alt.graphics.photoshop and alt.corel.graphics]

I don’t do sketching to know the difference between different model’s, but I have gone through 3 different sizes and companies I started with 12×14" (or something like that) then Up/Downgrade to 12×12" (or 11×11" can’t remember) and I found it was still too big for what I need so I replaced it with the Wacom Graphire II about 2 years ago.

Wacom Graphire II, the drawing area is MUCH smaller 3.5"x5" comparing to 11×11, but the board is only about 3.5" smaller (the drawing area of other boards are almost all the way to the edge). I switched to Wacom because it’s a smaller size, and they have driver to all OSes and the driver works well with all OSes and applications.

The thing I don’t like much about Wacom is their cheap design and materials. If you go for Wacom then I suggest to get a cheap CLEAR plastic folder (around $1 at Wal-Mart, Targer etc.) which you can cut and cover the drawing area, cuz Wacom uses very cheap and soft plastic which will be scratched so easily.
LS
Lon Stowell
Nov 21, 2003
Approximately 11/21/03 05:21, Ruth uttered for posterity:

I’m considering buying a graphics tablet – I find myself drawing more stuff freehand these days, and also want to reduce the stress on my wrist.

Once you try it, you will wonder why you didn’t buy one years ago.
I’ve never used one before and I’m looking at the Wacom Intuos2.

Very good pads, after you load the driver, check their website to see if there is a newer version available.

Can anyone tell me how "integrated" this is with Photoshop and/or CorelDraw? I’ll be using it for freehand vector drawing and also painting. Does size matter a great deal – I’m looking at A4/A5?

I actually used the small 3×5 for years, mainly due to lack of desktop space. The bigger ones are fantastic.

Draw and Photoshop use the pressure sensing, dunno if current versions can handle the tilt or not. The Wacom website had a "Pentools" download that worked as a PhotoShop/PhotoPaint plugin that did some tilt sensing.

A mouse is still nice for drawing straight lines and geometric figures IMNHO, but nothing compares to a Wacom for touch ups, freehand editing etc. etc. The Wacom also integrates nicely with your mouse driver allowing you to use both.

Plus you have different Wacom pens, including a nice crosshair style if you are doing drafting…in which case the Wacom combined tablet/display is worth looking at.
Or can anyone recommend a better one? Obviously I have a budget but I’m prepared to pay more if there is something a great deal better.

Go Wacom. You’ll fall in love.


Still a Raiders fan, but no longer sure why.
J
Jannie
Nov 22, 2003
Go Wacom. You’ll fall in love.

I have bought a Wacom Graphire3 XL just this week.
I really like working with the pen; I don’t like the Wacom-mouse that came with the package.
My Logitec-mouse works better; (far less.heavy)

Jannie
H
Hecate
Nov 22, 2003
On Fri, 21 Nov 2003 10:17:40 -0600, (Joe) wrote:

The thing I don’t like much about Wacom is their cheap design and materials. If you go for Wacom then I suggest to get a cheap CLEAR plastic folder (around $1 at Wal-Mart, Targer etc.) which you can cut and cover the drawing area, cuz Wacom uses very cheap and soft plastic which will be scratched so easily.

Not true on the new Graphire 3 which has a hard plastic cover.



Hecate

veni, vidi, relinqui
H
Hecate
Nov 22, 2003
On Fri, 21 Nov 2003 13:21:29 +0000 (UTC), "Ruth" wrote:

I’m considering buying a graphics tablet – I find myself drawing more stuff freehand these days, and also want to reduce the stress on my wrist.
I’ve never used one before and I’m looking at the Wacom Intuos2.
Can anyone tell me how "integrated" this is with Photoshop and/or CorelDraw? I’ll be using it for freehand vector drawing and also painting. Does size matter a great deal – I’m looking at A4/A5?

Wacom is good, in fact the only one worth buying.

Integration – very. PS reacts to pen pressure and angle.

I have an old artpad II which is A6 and it’s great. Prehistoric with a serial connection, but it’s bulletproof. And unlike a lot of peripheral manufacturers, Wacom constantly update the drivers so that even those using old kit can still work with it.

Personally, I wouldn’t go bigger than A5 and there’s now a Graphire A5 which you might like to consider as it’s cheaper than the Intuos A5.

Or can anyone recommend a better one? Obviously I have a budget but I’m prepared to pay more if there is something a great deal better.

There isn’t a better one unless you can afford a Wacom Cintiq and that’s definitely not for anyone on a budget 😉

Any help in this area greatly appreciated – thanks.
One thing I would say though, consider the included mouse as a free paperweight. 😉



Hecate

veni, vidi, relinqui
J
Joe
Nov 22, 2003
Hecate wrote:

On Fri, 21 Nov 2003 10:17:40 -0600, (Joe) wrote:

The thing I don’t like much about Wacom is their cheap design and materials. If you go for Wacom then I suggest to get a cheap CLEAR plastic folder (around $1 at Wal-Mart, Targer etc.) which you can cut and cover the drawing area, cuz Wacom uses very cheap and soft plastic which will be scratched so easily.

Not true on the new Graphire 3 which has a hard plastic cover.

I don’t have the new Graphire 3 to have and comment on it, but the plastic of Graphire 2 is so bad (it’s thick too but cheap material). The plastic of the other tablets I had not only thicker, much better material, the surface also had special designed (have tiny micro dots) to feel like drawing on paper instead of glass.

Anyway, if you see any change to the plastic (suppose to be no slightly mark or fading) then it has stronger, better material else you may want to get extra protection before too late. My others, I used for years without a single scratch mark.
J
Joe
Nov 22, 2003
"Jannie" wrote:

Go Wacom. You’ll fall in love.

I have bought a Wacom Graphire3 XL just this week.
I really like working with the pen; I don’t like the Wacom-mouse that came with the package.
My Logitec-mouse works better; (far less.heavy)

Jannie

I guess later when you get used to with the pen you can retired the mouse for good. I use pen for everything, and haven’t touched the mouse for years (yeah! I am having the pen in my hand while typing this message).
R
RTM
Nov 22, 2003
Depends which model you get. The Graphire 2 isn’t worth the plastic bubble its packed in.


Ron.

Hecate wrote in message
snip<

Wacom is good, in fact the only one worth buying.

more snip<
E
Eliska
Nov 22, 2003
On Fri, 21 Nov 2003 21:59:39 -0600, (Joe) wrote:

"Jannie" wrote:

Go Wacom. You’ll fall in love.

I have bought a Wacom Graphire3 XL just this week.
I really like working with the pen; I don’t like the Wacom-mouse that came with the package.
My Logitec-mouse works better; (far less.heavy)

Jannie

I guess later when you get used to with the pen you can retired the mouse for good. I use pen for everything, and haven’t touched the mouse for years (yeah! I am having the pen in my hand while typing this message).

I use both. I’m left- handed but right-moused : )
So when I draw, I use the left hand w/pen and make other changes like color, undo, etc.with the mouse hand.
Just need to remember to move the pen a bit away from the tablet.

Eliska

www.ArtChik.com
portraits of pets and people
caricatures
R
Roberto
Nov 22, 2003
The Intuos 2 isn’t worth the cash. The Graphire 3 is the best deal and is a lovely tablet and mouse. The 6×8 is the size you want especially if you plan to use the mouse. Using a regular size mouse which is what comes with these tablets including the 4×5 on a 4×5 tablet is not a good way to go. The 6×8 works out to the size of a good sized mouse pad which makes using it easier. Well, worth $199.

The only thing I don’t like and I can’t figure out why Wacom did this is that the Graphire 3 tablets do not use the same drivers as the other tablets. Currently, they don’t seem to have any new drivers up. This kind of bothers me. But I trust Wacom enough to think that if updates are needed they will be made available. That said I haven’t had any trouble with what came with the tablet.

Robert
R
Ruth
Nov 22, 2003
thanks everyone for your help.
now i need to have a little study and see whether i should get the graphire or the intuos.
seems from the comments that it will work ok with my current mouse. at least until i can ditch it 🙂

ruth

"Ruth" wrote in message
I’m considering buying a graphics tablet – I find myself drawing more
stuff
freehand these days, and also want to reduce the stress on my wrist.
I’ve never used one before and I’m looking at the Wacom Intuos2.
Can anyone tell me how "integrated" this is with Photoshop and/or
CorelDraw?
I’ll be using it for freehand vector drawing and also painting. Does size matter a great deal – I’m looking at A4/A5?

Or can anyone recommend a better one? Obviously I have a budget but I’m prepared to pay more if there is something a great deal better.
Any help in this area greatly appreciated – thanks.

Ruth

[cross posted to alt.graphics.photoshop and alt.corel.graphics]
J
Jannie
Nov 22, 2003
"nospam" wrote in message
The Intuos 2 isn’t worth the cash. The Graphire 3 is the best deal and is
a
lovely tablet and mouse. The 6×8 is the size you want especially if you
plan
to use the mouse. Using a regular size mouse which is what comes with
these
tablets including the 4×5 on a 4×5 tablet is not a good way to go. The 6×8 works out to the size of a good sized mouse pad which makes using it
easier.
Well, worth $199.

Agree; but the price was EUR 224,= (for 6×8)
( that about $ 267,= )
LS
Lon Stowell
Nov 23, 2003
Approximately 11/22/03 12:04, Ruth uttered for posterity:

thanks everyone for your help.
now i need to have a little study and see whether i should get the graphire or the intuos.

The Graphire’s are better bargains. Unless you need something in the Intuous series, save the bucks.

I still have an old ArtPad 3×5 that works great and still offers the tilt/pressure stuff and works with PenTools. [Support/download]

seems from the comments that it will work ok with my current mouse. at least until i can ditch it 🙂

I dunno, some things I still prefer a Mouse for, YMMV.


Still a Raiders fan, but no longer sure why.
PR
Peter Reid
Nov 23, 2003
thanks everyone for your help.
now i need to have a little study and see whether i should get the
graphire or the intuos.
seems from the comments that it will work ok with my current mouse. at
least
until i can ditch it 🙂

Hi Ruth —

Just in case you’re thinking of tablets other than Wacom, make sure that the resolution of the one you’re looking for is high enough. Some of the cheaper tablets only sense the position of the pen in a crude way, so that — as you move the pen smoothly across the surface — the cursor appears to move in a series of little horizontal and vertical steps. This is even more noticeable if you scale a part of the tablet to represent the entire screen, since it effectively degrades the resolution even more. All of the Wacom tablets I’ve used (an old A3 Ultrapad at home, and an Intuos 2 and Graphire 2 (both A5) at work) are fine. (We’d bought a "bargain" tablet for work, but it had to be replaced when I couldn’t get a smooth diagonal line out of it!)

The other thing I found: once you’ve got the tablet set up, make a note of its coordinate settings (if you map a portion of the tablet to the screen, that is): once you’re used to the feel of the device it’s a nightmare if you lose the values (through file corruption, say), and have to try to reset the active area.

But once you get used to the tablet, you wonder how you ever managed with a mouse. (Apart from the obvious dexterity bonus — a bit like comparing the use of a pen in the normal way with having all your fingers chopped off, and a pen taped to the stump… — the other advantage is that you can shift from using the tablet to using the keyboard, while still having the pen in your hand (as I’m doing now, typing this message), then back to the tablet, all in one motion. Wonderful.)

Cheers,
Peter
R
Ruth
Nov 23, 2003
Thanks Peter.

Actually I am not considering any other tablets besides those made by Wacom. I’ve got my heart set on the Intuos2, and just wondering if its perhaps too high spec for me, and I should perhaps get the new Graphire.

I see you use the Intuos2, do you mind if I ask you if it has the problem mentioned by some – that it gets easily scratched? Are there any other little bugs you think you could tell me about?

Or could you sing its praises and then I’ll rush out and buy one?

Thanks for your help.

🙂

Ruth

"Peter Reid" wrote in message
thanks everyone for your help.
now i need to have a little study and see whether i should get the
graphire or the intuos.
seems from the comments that it will work ok with my current mouse. at
least
until i can ditch it 🙂

Hi Ruth —

Just in case you’re thinking of tablets other than Wacom, make sure that
the
resolution of the one you’re looking for is high enough. Some of the cheaper tablets only sense the position of the pen in a crude way, so that — as you move the pen smoothly across the surface — the cursor appears to move in a series of little horizontal and vertical steps. This is even more noticeable if you scale a part of the tablet to represent the entire screen, since it effectively degrades the resolution even more.
All
of the Wacom tablets I’ve used (an old A3 Ultrapad at home, and an Intuos
2
and Graphire 2 (both A5) at work) are fine. (We’d bought a "bargain"
tablet
for work, but it had to be replaced when I couldn’t get a smooth diagonal line out of it!)

The other thing I found: once you’ve got the tablet set up, make a note of its coordinate settings (if you map a portion of the tablet to the screen, that is): once you’re used to the feel of the device it’s a nightmare if
you
lose the values (through file corruption, say), and have to try to reset
the
active area.

But once you get used to the tablet, you wonder how you ever managed with
a
mouse. (Apart from the obvious dexterity bonus — a bit like comparing the use of a pen in the normal way with having all your fingers chopped off,
and
a pen taped to the stump… — the other advantage is that you can shift from using the tablet to using the keyboard, while still having the pen in your hand (as I’m doing now, typing this message), then back to the
tablet,
all in one motion. Wonderful.)

Cheers,
Peter

H
Hecate
Nov 24, 2003
On Sun, 23 Nov 2003 21:49:28 +0000 (UTC), "Ruth" wrote:

Thanks Peter.

Actually I am not considering any other tablets besides those made by Wacom. I’ve got my heart set on the Intuos2, and just wondering if its perhaps too high spec for me, and I should perhaps get the new Graphire.

In the days when I first bought a pad, I bought the Artpad II thinking I’d upgrade to something bigger and with more street cred 😉

I’m still using it though, and thinking of upgrading to the Graphire 3 simply because I’d like an A5 rather than an A6 pad. So, my advice is, buy the Graphire – I’ll bet you never want anything bigger, or need anything more powerful. (I don’t know why Wacom sells the Graphire – apart from a few specialist applications, it must cost them a fortune in lost Intuos sales <g>).


Hecate

veni, vidi, relinqui
PR
Peter Reid
Nov 24, 2003
"Ruth" wrote in message
Thanks Peter.

Actually I am not considering any other tablets besides those made by
Wacom.
I’ve got my heart set on the Intuos2, and just wondering if its perhaps
too
high spec for me, and I should perhaps get the new Graphire.

Well… this is something which, once you buy (IMHO), will be _the_ central means of communicating with your machine. You’ll use it every day, for years and years, never needing to upgrade (my A3 pad’s still going strong after six years of very heavy use). So if you spread out the cost of either of the tablets over that kind of time, it works out to be a pretty decent purchase either way. (Don’t scrimp…:-)

I see you use the Intuos2, do you mind if I ask you if it has the problem mentioned by some – that it gets easily scratched? Are there any other little bugs you think you could tell me about?

I’ve been using the Intuos all day every day for over a year, and so far it doesn’t have any scratches or pits at all [though now I come to look at it closely, it _is_ pretty grubby, ugh]. I don’t think I’m excessively brutal with it; perhaps others are more, um, heavy-handed. (You can turn the pressure sensitivity of the tip right down, so that it needs but a featherlight touch to go from nothing to full pressure, as far as PS etc are concerned.) I recently had to turn over the clear inlay for my Ultrapad, because it had become pitted over a small area of the tablet (since most of the clicking was in a restricted region), but that was only after over five years of use. (So I’ll get over ten years out of it, before I need to get a piece of acrylic to replace it; not a big issue.)

[Perhaps the scratches referred to by others are to do with moving the tablet around (and bashing it), or placing rough objects on top ("got to store that sandpaper _somewhere_"). The material probably isn’t up to that kind of treatment, but if treated properly I think it’s fine.]

Or could you sing its praises and then I’ll rush out and buy one?

For me, it’s one of those "if the building was on fire what two things would you take when you jumped out of the window?" items. That and the cat. Ah, and the girlfriend. (Wait, that’s _three_ things…)

Cheers,
Peter
J
Joe
Nov 24, 2003
"Peter Reid" wrote:

[Perhaps the scratches referred to by others are to do with moving the tablet around (and bashing it), or placing rough objects on top ("got to store that sandpaper _somewhere_"). The material probably isn’t up to that kind of treatment, but if treated properly I think it’s fine.]

Not deep scratches but the clear plastic no longer clear, and I don’t press hard but very gentle (just move the pen over without pressing)
MR
Mike Russell
Nov 25, 2003
Joe wrote:
"Peter Reid" wrote:

[Perhaps the scratches referred to by others are to do with moving the tablet around (and bashing it), or placing rough objects on top ("got to store that sandpaper _somewhere_"). The material probably isn’t up to that kind of treatment, but if treated properly I think it’s fine.]

Not deep scratches but the clear plastic no longer clear, and I don’t press hard but very gentle (just move the pen over without pressing)

I missed the start of this thread. Most, if not all, Wacom tables have a replaceable writing surface.


Mike Russell
http://www.curvemeister.com
http://www.zocalo.net/~mgr
http://geigy.2y.net
J
Jannie
Nov 25, 2003
I missed the start of this thread. Most, if not all, Wacom tables have a replaceable writing surface.

The start :
"Ruth" wrote in message
I’m considering buying a graphics tablet – I find myself drawing more stuff freehand these days, and also want to reduce the stress on my wrist.

I’ve never used one before and I’m looking at the Wacom Intuos2.
R
res0r89p
Nov 25, 2003
Hi,
The Intuos 2 4×5 is just fine. I use one without any problems in Photoshop. Peter Cowie
www.petercowieartnportrait.com

"Ruth" wrote in message
I’m considering buying a graphics tablet – I find myself drawing more
stuff
freehand these days, and also want to reduce the stress on my wrist.
I’ve never used one before and I’m looking at the Wacom Intuos2.
Can anyone tell me how "integrated" this is with Photoshop and/or
CorelDraw?
I’ll be using it for freehand vector drawing and also painting. Does size matter a great deal – I’m looking at A4/A5?

Or can anyone recommend a better one? Obviously I have a budget but I’m prepared to pay more if there is something a great deal better.
Any help in this area greatly appreciated – thanks.

Ruth

[cross posted to alt.graphics.photoshop and alt.corel.graphics]
J
Joe
Nov 26, 2003
"Mike Russell" wrote:

Joe wrote:
"Peter Reid" wrote:

[Perhaps the scratches referred to by others are to do with moving the tablet around (and bashing it), or placing rough objects on top ("got to store that sandpaper _somewhere_"). The material probably isn’t up to that kind of treatment, but if treated properly I think it’s fine.]

Not deep scratches but the clear plastic no longer clear, and I don’t press hard but very gentle (just move the pen over without pressing)

I missed the start of this thread. Most, if not all, Wacom tables have a replaceable writing surface.

I just told the original poster to make sure to use some heavy clear plastic to cover the tablet because the Wacom uses very cheap clear plastic which can be scratched easily. I think it can be replaced as it’s just a piece of plactic.
LS
Lon Stowell
Nov 26, 2003
Approximately 11/26/03 09:51, Joe uttered for posterity:

"Mike Russell" wrote:

Joe wrote:
"Peter Reid" wrote:

[Perhaps the scratches referred to by others are to do with moving the tablet around (and bashing it), or placing rough objects on top ("got to store that sandpaper _somewhere_"). The material probably isn’t up to that kind of treatment, but if treated properly I think it’s fine.]

Not deep scratches but the clear plastic no longer clear, and I don’t press hard but very gentle (just move the pen over without pressing)

I missed the start of this thread. Most, if not all, Wacom tables have a replaceable writing surface.

I just told the original poster to make sure to use some heavy clear plastic to cover the tablet because the Wacom uses very cheap clear plastic which can be scratched easily. I think it can be replaced as it’s just a piece of plactic.

Y’all are correct.
< http://wacomdirect.wacom.com/wacomdirect/tab_accessories.asp ?>

Not listed yet for the Intuous2, but listed for the other models, including even the old Artz series, about ten bucks for the small ones up to $50 for the big ones.

I haven’t had any problems with a 10 year old Wacom with scratching mainly because I picked up two packs of the replacement tips and change them before they pick up edges….however it is nice to know that the surface can be replaced. My first Wacom did get scratched, mainly due to not changing the tip.


Still a Raiders fan, but no longer sure why.
J
Joe
Nov 27, 2003
Lon Stowell wrote:

Approximately 11/26/03 09:51, Joe uttered for posterity:
"Mike Russell" wrote:

Joe wrote:
"Peter Reid" wrote:

[Perhaps the scratches referred to by others are to do with moving the tablet around (and bashing it), or placing rough objects on top ("got to store that sandpaper _somewhere_"). The material probably isn’t up to that kind of treatment, but if treated properly I think it’s fine.]

Not deep scratches but the clear plastic no longer clear, and I don’t press hard but very gentle (just move the pen over without pressing)

I missed the start of this thread. Most, if not all, Wacom tables have a replaceable writing surface.

I just told the original poster to make sure to use some heavy clear plastic to cover the tablet because the Wacom uses very cheap clear plastic which can be scratched easily. I think it can be replaced as it’s just a piece of plactic.

Y’all are correct.
< http://wacomdirect.wacom.com/wacomdirect/tab_accessories.asp ?>
Not listed yet for the Intuous2, but listed for the other models, including even the old Artz series, about ten bucks for the small ones up to $50 for the big ones.

I haven’t had any problems with a 10 year old Wacom with scratching mainly because I picked up two packs of the replacement tips and change them before they pick up edges….however it is nice to know that the surface can be replaced. My first Wacom did get scratched, mainly due to not changing the tip.

I didn’t pay much attention to the nib til today, and it seems to get worn out a little bit now (I have to look real close to see a little worn out on 1 side of the very tip). I use pen to replace the mouse so I use it on everything, but just lightly touch the smooth surface and still get wear out.

About the scratch, I noticed it the first few minutes I got my Graphire II, and I read quite a few others reported having the similar problem too. I had used 2 other 12×14 and 12×12 tablets from other manufactures before and never had any scratch and wear out nib problem like Wacom.
R
RTM
Nov 27, 2003
You can replace the nib for free by exchanging it for the one in the eraser end of the pen. A worn nib in the eraser end won’t matter because it has a cover over it anyway.
Remove the rocker switch on the side (it just clicks out) and pull the pen apart, swop nibs and re-assemble.
(Found that out when my Graphire 2 pen fell on the floor so often it fell apart.)


Ron.

Joe wrote in message
Lon Stowell wrote:

Approximately 11/26/03 09:51, Joe uttered for posterity:

I didn’t pay much attention to the nib til today, and it seems to get worn out a little bit now (I have to look real close to see a little worn out on 1 side of the very tip). I use pen to replace the mouse so I use it on everything, but just lightly touch the smooth surface and still get wear out.
LS
Lon Stowell
Nov 27, 2003
Approximately 11/26/03 18:35, Joe uttered for posterity:

I didn’t pay much attention to the nib til today, and it seems to get worn out a little bit now (I have to look real close to see a little worn out on 1 side of the very tip). I use pen to replace the mouse so I use it on everything, but just lightly touch the smooth surface and still get wear out.

If you look at your nib under a microscope or heavy magnifier, it probably has some modestly sharp edges on the sides of the flat spots. These do scratch. As does any dirt from not keeping the nib and tablet face squeaky. No biggie, a set of 6 nibs is $10 from Wacom or most Wacom resellers.
About the scratch, I noticed it the first few minutes I got my Graphire II, and I read quite a few others reported having the similar problem too. I had used 2 other 12×14 and 12×12 tablets from other manufactures before and never had any scratch and wear out nib problem like Wacom.
Yeah, but the nibs are cheap, and now that I discovered that the replacement faces are cheap and come with install instructions, may just refurbish the old original serial ArtPad.


Still a Raiders fan, but no longer sure why.
J
Joe
Nov 28, 2003
"RTM" wrote:

You can replace the nib for free by exchanging it for the one in the eraser end of the pen. A worn nib in the eraser end won’t matter because it has a cover over it anyway.
Remove the rocker switch on the side (it just clicks out) and pull the pen apart, swop nibs and re-assemble.
(Found that out when my Graphire 2 pen fell on the floor so often it fell apart.)

Hahahaha it’s an interesting discover and thanks for the information. And since I am very gentle with it so I guess the current nib would last for many more years yet.

Ron.

Joe wrote in message
Lon Stowell wrote:

Approximately 11/26/03 09:51, Joe uttered for posterity:

I didn’t pay much attention to the nib til today, and it seems to get worn out a little bit now (I have to look real close to see a little worn out on 1 side of the very tip). I use pen to replace the mouse so I use it on everything, but just lightly touch the smooth surface and still get wear out.
JJ
Jay Jhabrix
Nov 28, 2003
"RTM" wrote in
message
You can replace the nib for free by exchanging it for the one in the
eraser
end of the pen. A worn nib in the eraser end won’t matter because it has a cover over it anyway.
Remove the rocker switch on the side (it just clicks out) and pull the pen apart, swop nibs and re-assemble.
(Found that out when my Graphire 2 pen fell on the floor so often it fell apart.)

Ron…

Have a Graphire (not the Graphire 2)… any idea how to open the eraser end? Tried the rocker number… doesn’t seem to slide out…

Cheers…

JJ
R
RTM
Nov 28, 2003
Be aware the design may have changed between versions. The graphire 2 is the only model I’ve had.
On mine, when the rocker switch is removed, the pen pulls apart in the middle. (Pull it apart, DO NOT try to unscrew it!!) The small circuit board slides out and the eraser tip is accessible.


Ron.

Jay Jhabrix wrote in message
Have a Graphire (not the Graphire 2)… any idea how to open the eraser
end?
Tried the rocker number… doesn’t seem to slide out…

Cheers…

JJ

J
Joe
Nov 29, 2003
"RTM" wrote:

Be aware the design may have changed between versions. The graphire 2 is the only model I’ve had.
On mine, when the rocker switch is removed, the pen pulls apart in the middle. (Pull it apart, DO NOT try to unscrew it!!) The small circuit board slides out and the eraser tip is accessible.

No good! I dropped mine on floor months ago and it cracked right in the middle, and I put some super-glue on the crack <g>

Ron.

Jay Jhabrix wrote in message
Have a Graphire (not the Graphire 2)… any idea how to open the eraser
end?
Tried the rocker number… doesn’t seem to slide out…

Cheers…

JJ
JJ
Jay Jhabrix
Nov 29, 2003
"RTM" wrote in
message
Be aware the design may have changed between versions. The graphire 2 is
the
only model I’ve had.
On mine, when the rocker switch is removed, the pen pulls apart in the middle. (Pull it apart, DO NOT try to unscrew it!!) The small circuit
board
slides out and the eraser tip is accessible.

Thanks for the reply Ron…. but doesn’t seem to work… as you said, maybe the design has changed. Did check when i first got the tablet a couple of years ago and found the spare nib but have forgotten what i did ( anyway….

Cheers…

JJ
N
noreply
Nov 29, 2003
"RTM" …
Be aware the design may have changed between versions. The graphire 2 is the only model I’ve had.
On mine, when the rocker switch is removed, the pen pulls apart in the middle. (Pull it apart, DO NOT try to unscrew it!!) The small circuit board slides out and the eraser tip is accessible.


Ron.

I think there must be some differences in the pen design as I have a graphire 2 and there doesn’t seem to be a way to remove the rocker switch. Even if there was the drawing nib and the eraser are radically different and not interchangeable. The instructions with mine say only to pull the drawing nib straight out to replace it which does work though it’s a slippery little customer to get hold of. If you’re definitely replacing it perhaps a pair of side cutters might help in getting a grip I’ve used strong masking tape to wrap around the tip to get a better grip but as they wear down there’s less to work on.

As far as scratches on the surface, mine shows scuff marks on it but not any ridges or pits that would interfere with use. One thing I did do for a long time was to tape over the active area a sheet of drawing paper so I was working on that rather than the plastic which I found was too frictionless for some things. Working on the paper had a more natural drawing/writing feel to it. And paper is cheap to replace and makes a better drip mat. Never had any problems with lack of function with the pen and paper setup and if anything it has helped preserve the plastic surface, it would be simple to hinge the paper so it can be flipped out of the way when a freer flowing surface was wanted. (In fact I’m going to redo it today)

A question to tablet users, what do you have your rocker and eraser set up to function as or do you just leave them as defaults?

Brian
(the other one)
J
Joe
Dec 1, 2003
(mono) wrote:

I think there must be some differences in the pen design as I have a graphire 2 and there doesn’t seem to be a way to remove the rocker switch. Even if there was the drawing nib and the eraser are radically different and not interchangeable. The instructions with mine say only to pull the drawing nib straight out to replace it which does work though it’s a slippery little customer to get hold of. If you’re definitely replacing it perhaps a pair of side cutters might help in getting a grip I’ve used strong masking tape to wrap around the tip to get a better grip but as they wear down there’s less to work on.
As far as scratches on the surface, mine shows scuff marks on it but not any ridges or pits that would interfere with use. One thing I did do for a long time was to tape over the active area a sheet of drawing paper so I was working on that rather than the plastic which I found was too frictionless for some things. Working on the paper had a more natural drawing/writing feel to it. And paper is cheap to replace and makes a better drip mat. Never had any problems with lack of function with the pen and paper setup and if anything it has helped preserve the plastic surface, it would be simple to hinge the paper so it can be flipped out of the way when a freer flowing surface was wanted. (In fact I’m going to redo it today)

A question to tablet users, what do you have your rocker and eraser set up to function as or do you just leave them as defaults?
Brian
(the other one)

The reason I didn’t use paper because I worry it will wear out the nib <g>. The other tablets (different manufactures and use for CAD) have much better nibs and better plastic which make you feel like drawing on paper instead of smooth plastic like Wacom does.
A
_at_the_bridge
Dec 8, 2003
"Mike Russell" wrote in message
Joe wrote:
"Peter Reid" wrote:

[Perhaps the scratches referred to by others are to do with moving the tablet around (and bashing it), or placing rough objects on top ("got to store that sandpaper _somewhere_"). The material probably isn’t up to that kind of treatment, but if treated properly I think it’s fine.]

Not deep scratches but the clear plastic no longer clear, and I don’t press hard but very gentle (just move the pen over without pressing)

I missed the start of this thread. Most, if not all, Wacom tables have a replaceable writing surface.
Mike Russell

Would there be any advantage in preventing wear or extending the life of the coating by waxing the surface lightly?
Best

Corfield.
WO
Wizard of Draws
Dec 8, 2003
Horatio. wrote:
Would there be any advantage in preventing wear or extending the life of the coating by waxing the surface lightly?
Best

Corfield.

I usually just wipe mine off with my hand and try to keep it as clean as reasonably possible. If I use my optical mouse, I’ll put the pad on top of the tablet. No real damage after 3 years that I can tell. I also try to wipe off the tip of the pen occasionally since it will build up dirt and grime a bit.

Jeff ‘The Wizard of Draws’ Bucchino

"Cartoons with a Touch of Magic"
http://www.wizardofdraws.com
http://www.cartoonclipart.com
J
Joe
Dec 8, 2003
"Horatio." wrote:

"Mike Russell" wrote in message
Joe wrote:
"Peter Reid" wrote:

[Perhaps the scratches referred to by others are to do with moving the tablet around (and bashing it), or placing rough objects on top ("got to store that sandpaper _somewhere_"). The material probably isn’t up to that kind of treatment, but if treated properly I think it’s fine.]

Not deep scratches but the clear plastic no longer clear, and I don’t press hard but very gentle (just move the pen over without pressing)

I missed the start of this thread. Most, if not all, Wacom tables have a replaceable writing surface.
Mike Russell

Would there be any advantage in preventing wear or extending the life of the coating by waxing the surface lightly?
Best

Corfield.

I don’t think the wax will help much, but you can just place a piece of thick plastic, or whatever you want to write on will do.
S
shamanjp
Dec 30, 2003
"Ruth" wrote in message
Thanks Peter.

Actually I am not considering any other tablets besides those made by
Wacom.
I’ve got my heart set on the Intuos2, and just wondering if its perhaps
too
high spec for me, and I should perhaps get the new Graphire.
I see you use the Intuos2, do you mind if I ask you if it has the problem mentioned by some – that it gets easily scratched? Are there any other little bugs you think you could tell me about?

Or could you sing its praises and then I’ll rush out and buy one?
Thanks for your help.

🙂

Ruth
I got an intuos2 Platinum 6×8 for Christmas from my wonderful wife and am loving it. The pen gives much better control, and the mouse is nice as well with no ball to clean or cord to get in the way and a nice rubbery scroll wheel. There is a programmable menu bar at the top of the pad, and the driver software makes every function very adjustable so I don’t think it would be too "high spec" for you. I just got it but can not see where it would get easily scratched as the part you write on has a very thick and I assume replaceable plastic overlay. I have used palm handhelds for years and I think they would scratch much easier. The key to them is to keep them and the stylus clean as it is the dirt, not the stylus that can cause a scratch, the same should hold true for the intuos2. This thing is great, and it should last a very long time. You could save a little cash and get the new Graphire but I have read time and time again that the intuos2 is the way to go. The new platinum finish looks really nice (and more professional? lol). Good luck and happy holidays.
shamanjp
J
Jordan
Jan 12, 2004
I’ve got the 9×12 Intuos2, and love it!!!

I’m a pro user and working Corel Draw and PhotoPaint every day. I couldn’t do it without my tablet. Nice and big, comes with both the pen and 4D mouse…just great.

Only one problem, PhotoPaint slows to a crawl when processing and effect (or the like), when the pen is in range of the tablet. Work-around: left the pen. Oh well… BTW, does anyone know if this has been fixed?

Jordan

"Lon Stowell" wrote in message
Approximately 11/22/03 12:04, Ruth uttered for posterity:
thanks everyone for your help.
now i need to have a little study and see whether i should get the
graphire
or the intuos.

The Graphire’s are better bargains. Unless you need something in the Intuous series, save the bucks.

I still have an old ArtPad 3×5 that works great and still offers the tilt/pressure stuff and works with PenTools. [Support/download]
seems from the comments that it will work ok with my current mouse. at
least
until i can ditch it 🙂

I dunno, some things I still prefer a Mouse for, YMMV.


Still a Raiders fan, but no longer sure why.
&$
"L0nD0t.$t0we11"
Jan 12, 2004
Roughly 1/12/04 13:53, Jordan’s monkeys randomly typed:

I’ve got the 9×12 Intuos2, and love it!!!

I’m a pro user and working Corel Draw and PhotoPaint every day. I couldn’t do it without my tablet. Nice and big, comes with both the pen and 4D mouse…just great.

Only one problem, PhotoPaint slows to a crawl when processing and effect (or the like), when the pen is in range of the tablet. Work-around: left the pen. Oh well… BTW, does anyone know if this has been fixed?

Is this a USB pad or a serial port one?
And what speed processor are you running?
And how much memory?

And how big a swapfile and do you regularly defrag your system and recreate the swapfile?

SCSI or ATA disk?

When the pen(s) are in range of the pad, it can thru interrupts at your system at a fairly good clip, even with the little 3×5 pad. On a 200-400 MHz Pentium, the effects were pretty visible on just ordinary menues and such and very very noticeable when a filter was on the processor.

On any reasonably sized image, the filters use a lot of memory which pretty much always results in the need to swap to the disk.

With the pen near the pad, the added interrupts can slow down this swapping in addition to slowing down screen display. SCSI tends to be a bit less affected than ATA, but having contiguous physical space for the swap partition [or a separate drive] helps.

On a 2 gig Pentium with fast I/O bus and scsi, don’t even notice the slowdown much unless a high bandwidth movie is playing at the time.

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