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Wacom Bamboo for Logo Sketching.. Worth getting?

Yamcha

Yamcha

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Mar 6, 2008
1,862
287
Hi Guys,

I'm a Web Designer, and I'm now looking to learn how to make iconic logo's aswell as the text based.. I haven't done any sketching, I'm a self taught designer, so I was wondering if the Wacom Bamboo would be worth it? I'm looking to get the one for $129(CAD), basically I want to do Logo sketching mainly, and maybe in the future even character/cartoon sketches..

Would you guys recommend this over the paper and pencil ? I'm actually not fond of doing sketches on paper..

Anyway I'd really appreciate your feedback :]
 
I bought one just before Christmas (the Touch version with 2 finger scrolling etc).

I use mine in Photoshop for retouching etc. Sketching is fairly easy once you get used to it (the co-ordination). For logo design I use Illustrator and prefer to use a mouse. I'd go for it and see how it works out.

By the way, I was very interested in the iPad Brushes app, demoed at the keynote.
 
I was looking for the same about two weeks ago. I had planned to get the Wacom Bamboo Fun Medium, which retails for about 200$, but can usually be found for $170-ish (I believe it is that much on Amazon right now).

I ended up getting the Intuos4 Medium for 300$ after shipping. I figured the extra $100 now would future proof me from finding I like the Bamboo and wanting to upgrade. It usually retails for 349$, but i got it for 50$ cheap because it was the Academic version... I was worried I might be missing something when I opted for the cheaper academic version, but upon receipt of the product, I noticed that an orange academic barcode sticker was just stuck over the retail sticker. SCORE!

The pluses to the Intuos4 are double the pressure sensitivity, tilt sensing, twice the express keys (which also have displays next to them to tell you the function that each serves) and a touch ring that can serve up to 4 functions. Oh, it also comes with a wireless mouse too!

I am glad I made the choice to go for the more pro version of wacom's products. I can't imagine NOT having the touch ring (I use it to adjust canvas zoom, brush size, brush hardness/softness and canvas rotation-- though I am thinking of trading canvas rotation for on the fly opacity changing)... In addition to this the screens next to the express keys really help, especially when using different functions on each key in different programs. You always know what it is!


Wacom Bamboo Fun (Amazon Link)

If you plan to JUST do logo sketching, the Bamboo should work wonders... but if you have the cash to spare and plan to do more complex work with the product in the future, I would go for the Intuos4. I read some okay comments about the Bamboo Fun Medium. Plus it is silver and matches Mac things (this was my initial attraction to it, haha).
 
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The very best way to sketch logos is with a pencil and tracing paper. After multiple refinements, scan and vectorize in Illustrator. There, I just saved you $129 bucks (unless you need a scanner).
 
My future son in law uses one of these on his windows machine it's interesting works quite nice. But I have a preference for using my mouse when doing any touch up work on digital images since I am better practiced at that method. as far as sketching goes no computer I kill trees for paper and charcoal then scan
 
THX1139 said:
The very best way to sketch logos is with a pencil and tracing paper. After multiple refinements, scan and vectorize in Illustrator. There, I just saved you $129 bucks (unless you need a scanner).
Click to expand...

Hmmm, actually. They have a point. Even many people WITH a Wacom, sketch on paper, and then scan in and retrace their line work (this "fact" being based on many video reviews, speed drawing/painting videos from youtube and artist comments on dA). I suppose a tablet is only NEEDED if you want to go beyond sketching and do full color illustrating and painting in Photoshop.

Which-- obviously, if this is something you EVENTUALLY plan to do, then a tablet could still be a relevant and worthy investment. :)
 
THX1139 said:
The very best way to sketch logos is with a pencil and tracing paper. After multiple refinements, scan and vectorize in Illustrator. There, I just saved you $129 bucks (unless you need a scanner).
Click to expand...


You beat me to it..... I can't tell you how many drawings I have of a logo or design before I take it into photoshop or illustrator. Pen and paper still have a place in the design world. IMHO...
 
I have sketched simple web page layouts directly into photoshop using my Intuos, and it works nicely. But, having used wacom tablets for over 10 years, I would consider myself to have a very good grasp of the tool.

A few notes based on my experiences w/ the Wacom Intuos tablets:

1) Creating precise movements with them is tough for beginners. It's relatively easy to learn how to ease on and off the pressure to control line flow in an application like Photoshop, but using them in a vector application such as Illustrator is much different.

2) If your tablet and your screen don't have a similar aspect ratio (squarish tablet, wider screen?), it can take some time getting used to how the tablet tracks across the screen.

3) Even with a 6x11 Intuos3 sitting here beside me, I still prefer to use pencil and paper for my logo ideas. If you have access to a scanner, I highly recommend doing it the "old fashioned" way.
 
Thanks for all the feedback guys.. :], I actually got the Wacom Bamboo Pen + Touch, its quite nice.. But I might just return it.. Honestly I have never actually done a sketch of a logo's before, I would usually just jump into photoshop and get going, but I want to start and create iconic logos instead of just the plain text.. And considering I'm not a great at drawing I figured this might make things a bit easier, since in illustrator when u draw a line it straightens out by it self..

Anyway long story short, I will try sketching logos on paper and see how they turn out, if its better then wacom I'll probably return it, I got it cheap $80CAD, i priced matched it..

Did you guys learn how to sketch logos'? does it even require basic drawing skills? If anyone can link me to tutorials or something that would be nice :]
 
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