Well I got a WACOM for my birthday, and after some getting used to it, I did a sketch.
So heres my first try at graphics tablets in general (done in Photoshop)
(http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/1614/ididasketch6ax.png)
(http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/6475/beta2yv.png)
Mooch beta.
!!!
I have a wacom tablet too! What feature do you use in photoshop to get a pencil effect?
Looking good!
How big is your tablet? Mine is A5 but it's all I need for what I use it for.
For a 'pencil' effect, just use a regular round brush on your preferred hardness level. From brush styles give the thickness of the line a configuration named pen pressure, which means the thickness will vary according to the pressure you apply. You also need a tablet driver to get this to work. But you probably have one installed. The whole idea for it is to get a drawing feeling and this is very well simulated with the configuration. The pen pressure for thickness is still more of an ink setting than pencil. There are different configs to try.
Yeah, I was using a brush set to 2 for that last pic, the top one I didnt realise i was sketching in 60% zoom level. Wacoms detect pressure really well and loads of programs use it, Opencanvas is another good one.
I'll will never abandon the mouse! :) Those look very good.
*Draws Garfield*
Hey yeah that's cool, thanks!
that's very effective for fuzzy fur!
More
(http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/6271/rgcopy9gf.png)
i have a wacom tablet too! but it took me quite a while to be able to draw properly. these are the latest drawings i've done:
(http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/5200/docksentrance1sb.png)
(http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/2649/jonathanharker022wq.png)
(http://img452.imageshack.us/img452/4736/indianvillage4ob.png)
I've heard of these tablets(I think they have a pen you use to draw with or something?) but could never find one in the store to buy.
http://www.wacom.com
It's not just WACOM that make them, although they are regarded as being the best.
You have a slate and a fake pen. Try not to get one with batteries in the pen!
If I 'hover' a mm above the pad I can move the mouse around, and by pressing on to the surface, it will select, or draw, depending on what you are doing. (Basically simulating a left mouse click)
They vary in size, from a stupid A6 to a size of maybe A4.
Actually there is one Wacom tablet that's 21-inch. It pretty much serves as a real-time canvas, since it can show the computer screen at the same time. But alas, it costs 3350 euros.
http://www.verkkokauppa.com/productimages/orig/21872_01.jpg
I see..... BLOODY HELL!
Step one: Get rich.
Step two: Buy tablet.
There! Easy!
Yeah, but no one needs a tablet that huge. And why is size A6 stupid? It's just fine! Have you even tried it? :P
Cluey: Nice pictures, very nice. Though I hate anime/manga... But you seem to be very good at drawing it. And congrats on your wacom (and your birthday)!
I use an A6?
You do? SORRY!! (Sarcastic)
You can make things precise with something so small?
It's just when I saw the A6 one in PCWorld looking so tiny and costing MORE than my A5 one I thought it was stupid!
No, I have not tried it. Have you tried a bigger one?
In hindsight, I wouldn't really want one that big, I'm happy with A6, and a 21inch wouldn't fit on my desk.
I'm sure professional artists would have use for such a screen. Just imagine, you could literally draw straight on your image. I, myself, have an A5 tablet. I've used an A6 before, and I felt that it was a little small. Now the bigger one is very much comfier. But still, if you are an amateur (and I am one), you really don't need a tabler larger than A6.
Those sketches (especially the Unknown Soldier ones) are looking great Cluey. You seem to have picked up on using the tablet quickly - some people find it hard to adapt to drawing on such a different surface.
Have you tried using different layer settings when colouring? Adding a noise filter (like you did) can be a quick way to get a bit of texture into a drawing, but if you want a more hand-drawn effect then putting a texture onto a layer above the colouring & setting it to overlay can also work.
(http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/4717/pstexture6eo.jpg)
I feel like an idiot.
I am in fact, using an A6 tablet.
What I meant to say, was the stupid A7 tablet!
Sorry. (Sincere)
i use an A6 tablet and they are very precise.....depending on the dpi. mine is 2987dpi
I use an A6, its fine for what I use, I wasnt aware they did anything smaller though.
As regards to using noise to simulate texture, I'm not really, I'm using it to gain a Wind Wakeris effect.
You seem to be pretty good with your strokes - either firm strokes with definite purpose or miscellaneous less-defined lines for form or volume.
One thing you've got to try (if you haven't) with your new tablet is vectorization. Yeah, it's cool to have a sketch done on a computer that resembles what you used to do on paper, but with vectors, you can tweak the hell out of it without degradation. Even with SVG drawings (I muck with Inkscape sometimes) it has definite potential as you can tweak the lines later as you see fit.
On size, I think an A6's about perfect. I used a 3x4 Graphire 2 for awhile and did quite a few drawings, but didn't like the inability for long strokes and difficulty with fine detail. I'm now using an Intuos 12x18 and hardly use it. It's so bulky I haven't got convenient space for it and it doesn't rest comfortably on my lap so I think I've used it three, four times.
Well, I tried drawing in flash, and I phail without sketcing it out first on photoshop, by which time Im too tired to do the rest.
I heard good things about illustrator though :P
"vectorization."
Huh?
Drawing as a vector (shapes) instead of a bitmap (pixels). Allows for scaling without pixelization, like in Flash videos and whatnot.
Ooh would that be good for making a MI3 style game? I'm gonna look inot that!
Quote from: ManicMatt on Mon 05/12/2005 22:42:57
Ooh would that be good for making a MI3 style game? I'm gonna look inot that!
That depends. Are you wanting to make the characters as vectors or the backgrounds. Because, CMI backgrounds are far from vectors. It is possible, if you have the right modifiers for each vector, but I'm thinking it would very very difficult. Also, keeping track of all the vectors and their modifiers would be a strenuous task. Plus, it would be totally unnecessary. On the other hand, if you're creating characters, and they're simple cel-shaded (or not shaded), it is very wise. Basically for drawing characters, logos or anything simple you might want to make a larger copy of, you should always use vectors. However, once you input it into the game, it'll be raster. That is, unless you come up with a complex vector engine for your game.
Most importantly, vectors will give no additional talent. If you can't draw CMI now, you probably won't be able to draw it with vectors and a tablet. You should always start with a pen and some paper.
I am absolutely in love with my Wacom. Everything you see on my sketchblog (http://penguinx.org) was done with it.
WOW, now thats some impressive work my friend. Hope I get that good someday.
Thanks! I've had mine for about six months, and it really has changed the way I work. For lineart, I'd recommend Open Canvas or Painter before Photoshop (even Painter 6 which can be found on the cheap). I get much, much cleaner, less-jittery lines out of Painter.
I have open canvas, tis very good as you can quickly customise pressure settings.
Do you have the networkable version? It'd be fun to collaborate!
No, What version is that then?
also
(http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/1156/mandefloat1hr.gif)
I phail at flash
Well, it's as easy as can be to customize pen pressure in Photoshop. But I don't get why another program would produce less jittery lines, unless it has some smooth function on. I get a lot of jitter, because I can't hold my hand so well, and it is a problem.
OpenCanvas 1 (http://www.terran-x.com/al/OC11B72.EXE) (networkable).
I have always found Painter/OpenCanvas easier to draw in, never managed to get that kind of line quality in PS. And I simply love painting in Painter.
Sadly, my tablet broke a few weeks ago (somehow managed to drop it while drawing). I'm currently saving up for a Wacom.
Ildu, I can't explain WHY. I think it may just be that Painter takes up less system resources than PS.
Try drawing with a locked wrist with your movement coming from your shoulder. It helped me!
I guess PS uses more of the pressure points in the tablet than this Painter. And yup, I gotta try different techniques. I'm always too pressed for time to practice.
*Looks at penguinx's drawings*
Ildu: Yeah! I basically want my next 3rd person game (after my current in progress and the photo game thingy after that) to have that "drawn" effect like seen here! I tried it on photoshop but when it comes to filling in the colour it leaves lighter black bits everywhere inside. Is there a way to avoid this?
Layers, my good man. Use layers. And by the way, there is no lighter black. There is only black, white and shades of grey.
(http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/6030/newsketch1ud.jpg)
This will eventually Im hoping turn into a proper finished drawing.
Well, I took the plunge and bought myself a Wacom Graphire 4 XL (A5 size) last tuesday. I'm loving it! I can't believe I've drawn on the computer for years without one. Here's a picture I did today:
(http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/7971/balesmall2mv.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
Whoa, the shading on that kicks liberal amounts of arse!
While that picture is GREAT! You have made one eye smaller than the other...
A mistake I have made myself before!
Ok. everything I've seen in this thread is very very good. And I have udnerstood this:
If I go and by a WACOM tablet (A5 or A6), I will automatically do better pictures. Is this true? Should I go and buy one?
bush_monkey I like your picture very much.
Quote from: Nikolas on Wed 07/12/2005 18:10:39
Ok. everything I've seen in this thread is very very good. And I have udnerstood this:
If I go and by a WACOM tablet (A5 or A6), I will automatically do better pictures. Is this true? Should I go and buy one?
bush_monkey I like your picture very much.
If you are actually talented and you've found pencils and other methods to be either too annoying or lacking, the tablet will probably help in becoming a better artist. On the other hand, if you've never drawn anything in your whole life, it probably won't magically give you mastery abilities. What is most exciting is that colouring and painting is really easy.
Is there a way of makng the cursor darker in photoshop? I can barely see when I'm drawing! I can make into a brush instead, but that's hardly accurate.
Well, your cursor depends on the brush you're using. If you're using a brush that imitates pencils, it may seem hard to see the one-pixel cursor. There are ways of customizing the cursor, but I've never screwed with it myself.
Whereas it's true that a natural ability to draw is a must, I've never been so good at painting. I've just never been able to blend colours very well without turning the whole picture into brown :P But it's an absolute dream in Painter!
Quote from: ManicMatt on Wed 07/12/2005 20:30:27
Is there a way of makng the cursor darker in photoshop? I can barely see when I'm drawing! I can make into a brush instead, but that's hardly accurate.
I use a size 3 brush, for finer lines and a 5 for larger lines.
Quote from: Cluey on Thu 08/12/2005 17:41:04I use a size 3 brush, for finer lines and a 5 for larger lines.
Well, that depends entirely on the the size of your canvas. I usually draw on over 2000x2000 pixel canvases, so my minimum for a brush is probably around 10.
here's a more finalised version of my pic:
(http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/8771/balepsycho7rh.jpg)
Nice, the eyes are still off though :P