Fun with Intuos

[Kevin-shopVOX]

For those of you that have been contemplating picking up a tablet (the drawing kind) they are a lot of fun. I have an intuos 3 and have had it for a few years now but I never really had much time to spend with it. Seemed I only used it as another point and click device that was just a little more comfortable . Man was I missing out.

I recently did these drawings of my 2 boys in Photoshop CS5 and love the feel you can get using the pen and tablet. It was almost like I was back using charcoal for my gesture drawings but with more control. One of the slickest features I thought (and i'm not sure about older versions of Photoshop) was the ability to long click and adjust brush sizes and styles easily as well as being able to flip the pen over and use it as an eraser. Real time saver with these 2 features. Pair that with mapping the buttons on the tablet and pen and I was rarely needing keyboard shortcuts.

Anyway, lots of fun and if anyone is on the fence about getting one I would definitely recommend it. They are great. Also I did something similar on my iPad with the sketchbook pro app and a stylus. Not as robust as photoshop but nice none the less.

 

[WildWestDesigns]

If you really like that, try getting the airbrush pen for it. Unlike the other pens though, support is program dependent not Wacom driver dependent. However, Ps has had it since CS2 or CS3.

 

[Kevin-shopVOX]

If you really like that, try getting the airbrush pen for it. Unlike the other pens though, support is program dependent not Wacom driver dependent. However, Ps has had it since CS2 or CS3.

Sweet..i had no idea that they even had that..will definitely have to check it out
Thanks!

 

[WildWestDesigns]

If you do decide to get it and need help setting it up within Ps, let me know.

Only other thing is make sure that you get the grey pen if you are using Intuos 3. The current ones that are out are the black ones. I have to have 2 separate pens, one for the Intuos and one for the Cintiq.

I also like the Art Brush pen as well. Cool to simulate the broader strokes as well.

Now if I could only get a laptop that could have all this functionality built into it.

 

[Kevin-shopVOX]

yeah i just looked it up to see $ range. Then came across the Intuos 4. WOW makes mine look like an antique. I have a Cintiq on my wish list but mortgage always out ranks it.

 

[amw]

yeah i just looked it up to see $ range. Then came across the Intuos 4. WOW makes mine look like an antique. I have a Cintiq on my wish list but mortgage always out ranks it.

Our designer has been bugging us to get the new 24hd Cintiq, he swears he will work off the $2600 price tag and he will work faster then with the intuos 4 that he has now. lol
The price isnt that bad I guess, when you take into account the time savings and what it can do.

Marsha

 

[WildWestDesigns]

I'm not to sure about the 24HD Cintiq. The 21UX is what I have and I just don't know about going with the HD.

If you use it for business, I think it's well worth the investment, if it's for a hobby, then it might be a little harder to swallow the price.

 

[Kevin-shopVOX]

Our designer has been bugging us to get the new 24hd Cintiq, he swears he will work off the $2600 price tag and he will work faster then with the intuos 4 that he has now. lol
The price isnt that bad I guess, when you take into account the time savings and what it can do.

Marsha

I keep saying the same thing about signVOX

 

[cgsigns_jamie]

You know what else works great with an Intous... SignVOX

Seriously though. I've been using a tablet for about 4 years now and I'd be lost without it. I'm so much faster and more efficient at the computer, especially with 3 monitors. (It takes forever to get the mouse from one side to the other)

I do a lot of photo retouching and it's a lot more natural to use the brushes in photoshop with a tablet rather than a mouse. Even my vector work in Illustrator is faster.

I started with a 6x9 Intous3 and have since upgraded to the larger 8x13 Intous4.
For anyone on the fence about getting one... just do it! (Then put your mouse in the drawer and force yourself to use it)

 

[Kevin-shopVOX]

(Then put your mouse in the drawer and force yourself to use it)

I think that was my biggest problem..just didn't force myself to use it...big mistake. So much fun.

 

[WildWestDesigns]

Only bad thing that I have found is that when you find yourself with a Cintiq, it is very hard to go back to the Intuos. I still use the Intuos when I go to send things directly to the printer or embroidery machines or when I'm traveling and I have to be mobile. It is amazing how one quickly gets spoiled. Running 3 monitors at one time is another one of those issues. Oh the trials and tribulations of a tech junkie.