Looking to buy a drawing tablet/possibly an iPad?

[TSE]

I am in industrial design and a fellow colleague makes amazing sketches through Photoshop with a Wacom "Pro" drawing tablet. The $349 one.

I know nothing about this technology but I want it!

Can an iPad with a pressure-sensitive pen do the same thing? Is there a better brand than Wacom? Possible refresh coming soon?

 

[CrickettGrrrl]

Well, Wacom has come out with a new $100 stylus for iPad which is supposed to be pressure sensitive. I haven't tried one personally. A regular capacitive stylus for iPad is not pressure sensitive and both styli have large rubber tips that take some getting used to after drawing with a pen/pencil size tip with Wacom etc., digital tablets.

If you already have an iPad, get a regular capacitive stylus for around $20 or so and test it out using apps like Procreate and Brushes. Then you'll get a sense if drawing on the iPad is right for you. You won't have the precision with that as you would with the following types of tablets without a lot of zooming in and out though.

As for digital drawing tablets, there are basically 2 kinds, the sort where you draw on it horizontally on desk or lap using a special stylus while looking up at your computer screen, and then the expensive digital monitors where you use a stylus and actually draw on the screen (tilted +/- horizontally depending on preference).

Wacom is the leader but there are other brands too, usually for less $. For a long time people said that Wacom's models really didn't change much, maybe appearance updates. That no longer holds true. They recently merged the Bamboo (beginner) and Intuos (professional) lines and these are the first types of tablets. Their top of the line Cintiqs are the sorts you can draw on or use as a second monitor. They've come out with the bluetooth pressure sensitive stylus for iPads, and even their new Cintiqs are getting more mobile: smaller & wireless.

When doing your research, I'd recommend you check out Ray Frenden's digital tablet reviews:
http://frenden.com/tagged/review

He's reviewed assorted Wacoms, Bostos, Monoprice, Yiynovas, Huions, etc. Based on his reviews I bought a Huion 610 tablet on Amazon several months ago for $55 (which was half the price I paid for my previous Wacom Bamboo --and the Huion has much, much better pen sensitivity.)

Using a tablet to draw takes a little getting used to at first, but it doesn't take long, and you'll really be glad you got one. Good luck!

 

[960design]

I use my Intuos4 Extra Large for graphic design and my iPad for review and research. I hadn't thought of using the iPad as a drawing platform. I didn't think they would be sensitive enough to handle the delicate stuff. Let me know how it goes.

 

[Rychy]

When doing your research, I'd recommend you check out Ray Frenden's digital tablet reviews:
http://frenden.com/tagged/review

He's reviewed assorted Wacoms, Bostos, Monoprice, Yiynovas, Huions, etc. Based on his reviews I bought a Huion 610 tablet on Amazon several months ago for $55 (which was half the price I paid for my previous Wacom Bamboo --and the Huion has much, much better pen sensitivity.)

Thanks for the link! I might be getting a Yiynova tablet monitor after reading some of his reviews.

 

[CrickettGrrrl]

Thanks for the link! I might be getting a Yiynova tablet monitor after reading some of his reviews.

Yeah, I'm saving up for that!

---From Frenden's twitter feed, he's really loving the new 13" Wacom Companion, he says the mobility wins over screen size. But so expensive

 

[Rychy]

Yeah, I'm saving up for that!

---From Frenden's twitter feed, he's really loving the new 13" Wacom Companion, he says the mobility wins over screen size. But so expensive

A tablet like the Companion would be really nice to have, but yeah pretty expensive ... maybe one day. I need to work on getting a regular tablet monitor first. lol.

 

[CrickettGrrrl]

A tablet like the Companion would be really nice to have, but yeah pretty expensive ... maybe one day. I need to work on getting a regular tablet monitor first. lol.

I recently saw Ray Frenden's tweet about a new 19" Monoprice tablet monitor for $200 less than the Yiynova:
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=113&cp_id=11314&cs_id=1131401&p_id=10707&seq=1&format=2

He's planning to review it, apparently they're not quite for sale yet. He says this 19" Monoprice tablet monitor most likely uses UC Logic tech like the Yiynova. It's nice to have more choices these days with some pricing competition.

I'm totally in love with my Huion H610 and so glad I didn't get an Intuos, putting the $ difference toward a tablet monitor.

 

[ChrisA]

I use my Intuos4 Extra Large for graphic design and my iPad for review and research. I hadn't thought of using the iPad as a drawing platform. I didn't think they would be sensitive enough to handle the delicate stuff. Let me know how it goes.

The difference between an iPad and one of the "pro" Wacoms is that the wacon has a pen angle sensor. SO the shape of the brush changes with angle like a del brush. Or if using an airbrush you can feather" the paint. This is the important for a graphic artist.

I mostly use my Wacom tablet for photographic retouching and restorations so I don't need the angle sensor but for drawing and especially paint you want the angle sensor.

 

[960design]

The difference between an iPad and one of the "pro" Wacoms is that the wacon has a pen angle sensor.

Right, didn't think of that during the post. Makes sense why I'd stick with the wacom. A lot of shading effects are incorporated via the angle of the pencil ( stylus ).

 

[musukosan]

I may get punched for saying this on a Mac forum, but you may want to look into a Surface Pro. My coworker uses it to draw and he has created some amazing pieces of art. He loves it for that reason, and it seems to me like it's a pretty natural experience for him.

 

[fig]

I may get punched for saying this on a Mac forum, but you may want to look into a Surface Pro. My coworker uses it to draw and he has created some amazing pieces of art. He loves it for that reason, and it seems to me like it's a pretty natural experience for him.

I'd think that would have similar limitations to the iPad with regards to pen angle as opposed to a Wacom or other true drawing tablet.

 

[Rychy]

I recently saw Ray Frenden's tweet about a new 19" Monoprice tablet monitor for $200 less than the Yiynova:
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=113&cp_id=11314&cs_id=1131401&p_id=10707&seq=1&format=2

He's planning to review it, apparently they're not quite for sale yet. He says this 19" Monoprice tablet monitor most likely uses UC Logic tech like the Yiynova. It's nice to have more choices these days with some pricing competition.

I'm totally in love with my Huion H610 and so glad I didn't get an Intuos, putting the $ difference toward a tablet monitor.

I'm eager to see what he thinks of it. Hopefully it's pretty good. Maybe we'll be getting a tablet monitor sooner than we thought.

I have an Intuos4 and while I like it, I do agree with Frenden that it's kind hard getting light pressure input out of it. I thought it was just me, so I'm actually kind of glad to see isn't. lol.

I also bought his brushes for Manga Studio 5. Thanks so much for the heads up on his blog / site.

 

[CrickettGrrrl]

I'm eager to see what he thinks of it. Hopefully it's pretty good. Maybe we'll be getting a tablet monitor sooner than we thought.

I have an Intuos4 and while I like it, I do agree with Frenden that it's kind hard getting light pressure input out of it. I thought it was just me, so I'm actually kind of glad to see isn't. lol.

I also bought his brushes for Manga Studio 5. Thanks so much for the heads up on his blog / site.

Hi,

I know! I'm avidly following his tweets about the Monoprice tablet! (With my fingers crossed!) I'm SO hoping it will have respectable performance. Reading about the Bosto gave me cold shivers, it was so horrific.

Right now I'm using a Huion 610 and it has a terrific pressure curve. I never have to press really hard to get a nice variance in line, it's not a steep drop at all. So if the 19" Monoprice tablet monitor doesn't pan out, I still have a pretty decent tablet to work with. But still....drooling about the possibilities of the Monoprice.

If you also use Photoshop, try Ray Frenden's most recent brush set for that too. About 6 months ago I decided to see if I could forgo Photoshop and stick to Pixelmator, Manga Studio 5 & iDraw, so I haven't tested the Ps brushes personally but a lot of other people swear by them.

 

[handsome pete]

If you're looking specifically at a tablet for sketching, then I'd avoid the iPad. It's great for minimal use, but as already pointed out, there are some big limitations for serious drawing/sketching/etc. It looks like the new Wacom stylus addresses some of those issues, but you're still forced to use a thick nub on the tip of it, which in my opinion, is the biggest drawback to the iPad.

I have an Intuos 3 that I've used for years and love it. I'd love to add a Cintiq to the setup, but haven't been able to justify the upgrade yet.

 

[Rychy]

Hi,

I know! I'm avidly following his tweets about the Monoprice tablet! (With my fingers crossed!) I'm SO hoping it will have respectable performance. Reading about the Bosto gave me cold shivers, it was so horrific.

Right now I'm using a Huion 610 and it has a terrific pressure curve. I never have to press really hard to get a nice variance in line, it's not a steep drop at all. So if the 19" Monoprice tablet monitor doesn't pan out, I still have a pretty decent tablet to work with. But still....drooling about the possibilities of the Monoprice.

If you also use Photoshop, try Ray Frenden's most recent brush set for that too. About 6 months ago I decided to see if I could forgo Photoshop and stick to Pixelmator, Manga Studio 5 & iDraw, so I haven't tested the Ps brushes personally but a lot of other people swear by them.

Looks like he's got the Monoprice tablet! Hopefully we'll get a review soonish. And yeah that Bosto tablet sounded like a real mess. I'm quite interested in trying a non-Wacom tablet now just to compare. That Huion 610 sounds nice.

I use Photoshop for pretty basic purposes. I'd probably get by fine with Pixelmator, but I have CS5 ( mainly for InDesign and Illustrator ) so I use Photoshop. Not sure what I'm going to do in the future though, not a fan of the Creative Cloud thing. Use Manga Studio for drawing.

 

[CrickettGrrrl]

Looks like he's got the Monoprice tablet! Hopefully we'll get a review soonish. And yeah that Bosto tablet sounded like a real mess. I'm quite interested in trying a non-Wacom tablet now just to compare. That Huion 610 sounds nice.

I use Photoshop for pretty basic purposes. I'd probably get by fine with Pixelmator, but I have CS5 ( mainly for InDesign and Illustrator ) so I use Photoshop. Not sure what I'm going to do in the future though, not a fan of the Creative Cloud thing. Use Manga Studio for drawing.

Ha! Sooo many people hanging on Ray Frenden's every tweet! With lots of hope for a good review.

He's just compared it to the Yiynova MSP 19U: "About the same overall, save for a better stylus and cheaper price." Early days, though the review is coming out soon.

My fingers & toes are crossed.

Yes --Manga Studio 5 is a dream to draw in, that's for sure! Well, I've got to go smack my brains against Adobe Illustrator again to revise old project files from 2007. I got Inkscape but time is breathing down my neck and I had to go back to my old CS2. Just not doable with iDraw unfortunately, I tried. Boo.

 

[CheekyMonkeyPho]

The difference between an iPad and one of the "pro" Wacoms is that the wacon has a pen angle sensor. SO the shape of the brush changes with angle like a del brush. Or if using an airbrush you can feather" the paint. This is the important for a graphic artist.

I mostly use my Wacom tablet for photographic retouching and restorations so I don't need the angle sensor but for drawing and especially paint you want the angle sensor.

Would you, then, consider Intuos Creative stylus on ab iPad sufficient for retouching work?
I would love to use it instead of my Intuos 3 that just died. Do you know if it's possible to use an iPad with a stylus in the same manner as a Wacom tablet (i.e. - look at the scree, work on the tablet).
Thanks!