Wacom: Cintiq

If you own or use a Wacom Cintiq tablet I’m looking for your opinions, feedback etc. Actually, if you have experience with any brand/line of tablet I would be interested in hearing about it. I’m starting a preliminary search and would welcome any insight, particularly if you’re a high-end 3d software user (C4D, Maya, Modo, etc.) or architect.

Thanks,

Todd

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On 13 Jun 2008, at 18:30, Todd wrote:

If you own or use a Wacom Cintiq tablet I’m looking for your opinions, feedback etc. Actually, if you have experience with any brand/line of tablet I would be interested in hearing about it. I’m starting a preliminary search and would welcome any insight, particularly if you’re a high-end 3d software user (C4D, Maya, Modo, etc.) or architect.

I’ve used basic, bog-standard Wacom A6 Graphire tablets for years. I don’t like the bigger ones, even A5 I find awkward, but maybe that’s just me. My current Graphire recently died, and I bought a Wacom ‘Bamboo’ A6 tablet. The difference between this and the previous Graphire is staggering, built in buttons, scroll wheel on the tablet, sexy black finish. Thoroughly recommend it, although it’s not really high-end and cost around £50.

best wishes,

Paul Bradforth

www.paulbradforth.com

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On 13 Jun 2008, at 18:30, Todd wrote:

If you own or use a Wacom Cintiq tablet

Oh, I wish.

Like Paul, I’ve had a Graphire A6 for years, and the place I’m currently freelancing at has just invested in a rather nice pair of the A5 “wide” tablets. And they are very, very, very nice - if damned expensive!

Never had an issue with Wacom, aside from the odd driver update problem - and that’s been very rare, if I’m honest.

Heather

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www.softpress.com

“Freeway - Web Design for All”

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Not the Cintiq, but I use a Wacom Intuos and find it superb. Anything from illustration and photo retouching through to normal everyday mouse use, no problems except for once in a while there may be a slight lag. But no more than once every couple of days. I wholeheartedly recommend anything Wacom On 13 Jun 2008, at 18:30, Todd wrote:

If you own or use a Wacom Cintiq tablet I’m looking for your opinions, feedback etc. Actually, if you have experience with any brand/line of tablet I would be interested in hearing about it. I’m starting a preliminary search and would welcome any insight, particularly if you’re a high-end 3d software user (C4D, Maya, Modo, etc.) or architect.

Thanks,

Todd

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On 13 Jun 2008, 5:31 pm, Todd wrote:

If you own or use a Wacom Cintiq tablet I’m looking for your opinions, feedback etc Thanks,

Todd

Hi Todd,

I work at a clients producing their website and I do it on a Cintiq. bit overkill for web design really but they sell them and have a demo unit which I work on.The screen is very good but I do find it difficult to work on images in PS when it is at an angle as occasionally the cursor is not directly under the tip of the pen when it touches the screen, bit disconcerting, I presume it can be adjusted though. you can obviously work at different angles even flat and the design is very good as it stays put once you move it.

I have not had chance to do any other type of work on it but overall it is very good.

I have a new Intuos 3 wide special edition with pen and airbrush at home and I love that, my old one was an original graphite Intuos A5 but with the new monitor I intend to get, the new A5 wide will be perfect. I actually prefer it to the Cintiq. and it is a lot cheaper, personally not convinced about the Cintiq for what I do but they have sold quite a few and the customers who bought them love them.

Whichever you choose using a mouse is impossible now

Hope this helps a little

Gary

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Thanks to Everyone, you’ve be quite helpful.

It seems that Wacom has a very loyal user-base for good reason. I’m constantly amazed at how much people seem to universally love using a tablet, even if it’s only for general day-to-day use. I always knew I was missing out but now I feel it even more so. ; ) I look forward to ditching the mouse.

The Cintiq line appeals to me on several levels but I do have some reservations that need to be resolved first. I’ll need to take a very close look before throwing down long green for one. Gary, which Cintiq model do you use?

Todd

On Jun 14, 2008, at 7:07 AM, diarbyrag wrote:

I work at a clients producing their website and I do it on a Cintiq.

I have a new Intuos 3 wide special edition with pen and airbrush at home and I love that, my old one was an original graphite Intuos A5 but with the new monitor I intend to get, the new A5 wide will be perfect. I actually prefer it to the Cintiq. and it is a lot cheaper, personally not convinced about the Cintiq for what I do but they have sold quite a few and the customers who bought them love them.

Whichever you choose using a mouse is impossible now

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On 14 Jun 2008, 2:25 pm, Todd wrote: Gary, which Cintiq model do you use?

Hi Todd,

it is the 21UX Model, I spoke to andy about it earlier ( my client contact ) appears they might be selling it next week, so I will be back to normal tablet and screen by the looks of it.

they did have the smaller version 12WX which is very pretty, a little small for everyday use perhaps, but I have not seen it in action.

I could always try and find out the names of the people who bought one and ask their opinion for you or any questions you may have, Wacom here in the uk are very helpful, so perhaps if you call wacom in your country they may tell you where you can try one out in your local area maybe ?

It is an expensive purchase and not one to buy without a test run I think ! although I notice they have just reduced the price considerably $1900, nearly half of what it is in the UK at the moment.

www.wacom.com/cintiq/21UX.cfm

Gary

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Hi Gary,

Thank you for offering to ask around but that’s not necessary. I did notice the significant price drop yesterday on the Wacom site which certainly doesn’t hurt. You’re absolutely right, I would not spend that kind of scratch without a serious hands-on demo and I’m sure I can find a retailer that has one up and running. I look forward to getting one (whatever model it is). I just can’t (and don’t want to) work with a mouse any longer, it’s proving to be increasingly counter- productive for creative work.

Todd

On Jun 14, 2008, at 11:47 AM, diarbyrag wrote: >

it is the 21UX Model, I spoke to andy about it earlier ( my client contact ) appears they might be selling it next week, so I will be back to normal tablet and screen by the looks of it.

It is an expensive purchase and not one to buy without a test run I think ! although I notice they have just reduced the price considerably $1900, nearly half of what it is in the UK at the moment.

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On 14 Jun 2008, at 18:18, Todd wrote:

I just can’t (and don’t want to) work with a mouse any longer, it’s proving to be increasingly counter- productive for creative work.

I still find a mouse pretty much essential for critical vector editing in Freehand or Illustrator. I try to do it with a pen, but there’s not the granularity that’s needed in some instances.

Heather

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www.softpress.com

“Freeway - Web Design for All”

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That’s interesting and good to know. My hope is that it’ll be a more intuitive process for use with 3d software, especially for someone like me who spent their life drawing on traditional media (they still make paper, don’t they?). I feel ‘removed’ from the process with a mouse, as if I were wearing an oven mitt when [traditional] drawing.

Todd

On Jun 14, 2008, at 12:25 PM, Heather Kavanagh wrote:

I still find a mouse pretty much essential for critical vector editing in Freehand or Illustrator. I try to do it with a pen, but there’s not the granularity that’s needed in some instances.

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On 14 Jun 2008, at 18:39, Todd wrote:

I feel ‘removed’ from the process with a mouse, as if I were wearing an oven mitt when [traditional] drawing.

=oD

I find the pen and tablet invaluable for photo retouching, and “natural media” work in Painter, and it’s okay for general mousing about in the Finder and applications. It can be used happily with Freehand and Illustrator as both support pressure sensitivity, but with actual bezier editing, for me at least, nothing beats a rodent for point-and-click accuracy.

Heather

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www.softpress.com

“Freeway - Web Design for All”

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Sorry Heather, I have to disagree here, I’ve been using a drawing tablet for a long time now and find it much easier than a mouse for all programmes. In fact I haven’t a mouse connected anymore.

On 14 Jun 2008, at 18:52, Heather Kavanagh wrote:

but with actual bezier editing, for me at least, nothing beats a rodent for point-and-click accuracy.

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On 14 Jun 2008, 9:16 pm, Trevreav wrote:

Sorry Heather, I have to disagree here, I’ve been using a drawing tablet for a long time now and find it much easier than a mouse for all programmes. In fact I haven’t a mouse connected anymore.

On 14 Jun 2008, at 18:52, Heather Kavanagh wrote:

but with actual bezier editing, for me at least, nothing beats a rodent for point-and-click accuracy.

I think it may simply be the resolution difference between a Graphire tablet and an Intuos. The Intuos have a much higher resolution which would account for greater accuracy of cursor placement.

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On 14 Jun 2008, 10:48 pm, chuckamuck wrote: The Intuos have a much higher resolution which would account for greater accuracy of cursor placement.

Yes they do and once you get used to working sideways - that is hand and pen to the right ( in my case ) and eye on the cursor on the screen you just adjust to it. feels a bit weird for a day or two but then you just do it, and the extra accuracy is amazing, creating selections or using the path tool become second nature, plus you can customise the functions of the pen globally or you can set different functions on a per program basis - really cool.

in the US some of the Wacom palette deals include mouse pen and airbrush, best of all worlds I think ? in the Uk they seem to exclude the mouse unless you buy the A4 version and to me that is too big. A5 standard or wide is perfect otherwise your arm will ache like hell with all the extra mileage :-)

I helped at a recent exhibition in February for photographers and we sold loads, not one person complained or asked any questions afterwards, they all thought it was a best buy and must have tool and most wondered how they had managed without one.

oh btw you can have extra pens and each one can be customised to have different functions, bit like having different grades of pencils for sketching, and the tablet will recognise the difference.

Gary

I was always surprised that Wacom are the only manufacturer of pro tablets as far as I know - unless anyone knows different ?

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Oh brother, I am stoked! Can’t wait. Nope, can’t wait. Feels like Christmas morning when I was a kid, except it’s June and I’m a ‘little’ past being a kid, chronologically if not emotionally. Whoo-Hoo

; )

Todd

On Jun 14, 2008, at 7:33 PM, diarbyrag wrote:

> plus you can customise the functions of the pen globally or you can set different functions on a per program basis - really cool.

I helped at a recent exhibition in February for photographers and we sold loads, not one person complained or asked any questions afterwards, they all thought it was a best buy and must have tool and most wondered how they had managed without one.

oh btw you can have extra pens and each one can be customised to have different functions, bit like having different grades of pencils for sketching, and the tablet will recognise the difference.

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On 15 Jun 2008, 1:37 am, Todd wrote:

Oh brother, I am stoked! Can’t wait. Nope, can’t wait. Feels like Christmas morning when I was a kid, except it’s June and I’m a ‘little’ past being a kid, chronologically if not emotionally. Whoo-Hoo

Well I think being a kid is good fun !

and Christmas in June why not ?

if you ever lose that buzz you could grow old real fast and I have no intention of dying old, at least emotionally :-)

Cheers

Gary

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