graphics tablet and paint.net

[Fusiomax]

Hi i was just wondering how many people here use paint.net and also if any of you use graphics tablets.

im getting a graphics tablet soon and was wondering if they work well with paint.net.

also what graphics tablet have you got and how do you use it? i.e just to make games or digital art(manga, landscape anything else)

i use paint.net and find it really useful also best of all its free 

my mate keeps telling me i should get photoshop because its a lot better, now i dont think thats true. so whats your opinion on that?

Fusiomax

[Misj']

photoshop can be better for your purpose...or worse.
I prefer Corel Painter for many things (or Sketchbook), because I like a more natural feel to the media (I do use PhotoShop for certain tasks though).
Always use what feels best to you, and not what's advertised 'as the best'.

and have two wacom tablets attached to my computer for different purposes.


ps. Oh, and tell your mate that if he buys a  legal copy for you that you will use it just to make him happy.

[ThreeOhFour]

I tried using Paint.net and didn't have much luck with it - compared to other programs it just felt underpowered. I had more luck using GIMP (which is free as well, hooray!) and even more luck using Photoshop Elements (because it's waaaaay cheaper than stupid expensive full Photoshop and still does everything I want it to).

I also have a little Wacom tablet - it's not huge and doesn't have a screen or any of that whiz-bangery but it's fine for my moderate needs.

I have tried using Painter as well but had a hard time getting used to the very different feel of the program.

[Mr Flibble]

I use Paintshop Pro, just because it's what I'm used to really. Legal copy, too. Using more advanced software won't make you better at drawing though. Infact, the lure of easy cheats like gradients, textures and filters will probably hinder your artwork significantly until you break through it.

I have an A5 Wacom Intuos2 which I use for everything, I don't use a mouse anymore.

[Questionable]

I just bought two Wacom Intuos 3s about a month ago:

I have a 4x6 and a 9x12    I typically use it with Photoshop because i'm the most familiar with it, although I have used (and like) GIMP. I use Painter X sometimes but I just haven't used it enough to feel comfortable with it yet.

I never used Paint. NET with the tablet but I have used it. I prefer GIMP, but Paint.NET is sufficient for probably 70-80% of users.

[2ma2]

MyPaint's interface is confusing at first, since there basically is none. But it's free and the brush engine is well written. It's well worth a try. I use it with an Intous for Vampires Suck nowadays.

[Fusiomax]

why do you all have such expensive software and tablets?

do you use them for work or just because you can afford them?

i was thnking of getting this tablet:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wacom-Bamboo-Pen-Graphics-Tablet/dp/B002Q4U4AE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1271005195&sr=8-1

can anyone recommend one that isn't to expensive?

Corel painter 11 at £200 compared to the GIMP how do they really compare?
Corel painter looks really, really, really good but £200 if your not going to use it professionally is it is it really worth it?

i was looking at the GIMP but it doesn't seem to have a community and that's what i really like about paint.net the fact that people create all these plugins and show you how to do all these different effects using specifically paint.net.

for those who do use photoshop are there any real benefits?

Fusiomax

[Anian]

i was looking at the GIMP but it doesn't seem to have a community and that's what i really like about paint.net the fact that people create all these plugins and show you how to do all these different effects using specifically paint.net.

...Gimp has an ok community, it's a bit scattered though, I gave up on it cause for some reasons I didn't have some options in it (that were meant to be there), also I got used to PS interface and menus and Gimp for some reason had some useful functions unoptimized to select, couldn't get used to it. And since I had an original copy of PS, gave up on Gimp. The reason it has less plugins is because it has more in it's core.

Not to be too obvious, but a lot of people use cracked software, you know that right? Also some colleges provide you with a version or, like me, you practice on it at college so you can use it.

About tablets, well majority says Wacom rules, even though it is more expensive, it seems to last far longer and is of better quality. It's an investment. And if you want to look around, even getting a used one can be ok (because people buy a new version while the old one is still working fine). If you don't need it to actually professionally work (and even if you do) buy the Bamboo versions, because price goes up almost exponentially with size and models.

[Mr Flibble]

I have an expensive tablet because it has the pressure sensitivity, tilt sensitivity, and reliability that I want. The cheaper models are usually unreliable, I know, I had one. Though I got mine for about half of its worth through clever eBaying.

As for the software, Paintshop Pro is quite cheap, especially compared to Photoshop. I like it mostly due to familiarity with it after using the demo years ago. But it has all the functionality I need and I like the interface. I tried GIMP but hated the interface. I'll re-emphasise that better software doesn't lead to better drawing, it's really about convenience during the creative process.

[Questionable]

Well Photoshop came free from my University. Painter X came free with my small tablet.

I saved my money to buy a large tablet similar to the one that I was used to using at University and I had it for about 2 weeks before my I came home and found that my dog had eaten my mouse and pen...

A replacement for the pen was $50 and a replacement for teh mouse was $60... a small tablet with a mouse and a pen was $90. So I bought the extra tablet. I rarely use the small as I prefer making larger strokes (it feels more natural to me.) However it's nice for travel to be able to have it.

My school has a bunch of different tablets in its various computer laboratories and so I tried several. The Intuos most closely mimiced the feel of drawing on paper and seemed to be the most sensitive. Another feature that I have discovered since buying it is that it doesn't require batteries.

[Fusiomax]

Painter X came free with my small tablet.

what is your small tablet?

[Questionable]

Painter X came free with my small tablet.

what is your small tablet?

A Wacom 4x6 Intuos 3

[Snake]

@Benji
I'd like to get myself a Wacom thingy-doo myself. Seems like they work pretty good.

whiz-bangery

lol!

[ThreeOhFour]

@Count Snakula

I know people who've bought them and gone "Wait, this isn't like painting or drawing" and packed them up and not used them again. The best idea is to try and borrow one or visit a friend who has one and muck around with it for a fair while (give it a good go to make sure) before you make the final decision.

Still, I use mine so much that I've considered buying a second one just as a backup in case this one ever breaks. I use it all the time now.

[Questionable]

Still, I use mine so much that I've considered buying a second one just as a backup in case this one ever breaks. I use it all the time now.

4x6 Wacom for Sale!  =P

[Ghost]

I've recently got myself a Wacom Bamboo (the small one), and it's really good enough for me. I'm still getting used to it, and that itself is a lot of fun, no idea how much I will use it once I've come to grips with the mechanics.

As for software, it's Photoshop (3.0) and ArtRage. Photoshop is NOT the ideal tool if you are aiming at your tablet stuff looking as natural as possible, but it IS powerful, and it IS very stable. ArtRage really is great, and I recommend trying it out (in addition to that, a stripped-down version is available for free at http://www.artrage.com/artragedemo.html).

I used to think a tablet is really nothing more but "unlimited paper", but it's amazing how much having a pen with an undo button changes your habits

[ThreeOhFour]

@Questionmark:

Thanks for the offer, but I think I'd go for an A5 again if buying another. It seems to work perfectly for me.

@Ghost:

I use the undo function so darn much that I assigned it to a single button macro .

[Snake]

@304

The best idea is to try and borrow one or visit a friend who has one...

Good idea, but I don't know anyone who owns one :'(

What kind of Wacom do you have? I just did a quick search and there looks to be quite a few, and they are a bit pricey (which was expected for such a device anyway). Do the pens need a tablet to work or do they work on there own? The reason I ask is because I saw a bunch of pens sold without the tablet.

[ThreeOhFour]

Mine's a Graphire - mainly because that was what was suggested by a friend. It also seems to be the one model nobody has - a bit better than the Bamboo and not quite as good as the Intuos, I think . As far as the pens go, mine won't work without the tablet. I couldn't say for other tablet models though.

Yeah, they're pricey. I saved up the money and then ummed and ahhed about buying one for about 6 months before actually taking the plunge. Most gadgety type peripherals that I've tried on a PC have left me very unimpressed, but not in this case.

If you're shopping around, I'd say make sure you at least get one that supports pressure sensitivity. I couldn't say about tilt sensitivity, and I never use the extra buttons on the actual tablet, and only use the pen and eraser tips on the pen (never the little thumb buttons that seem a bit fiddly for my big clumsy hands - seriously, my hands are enormous, how am supposed to deal with that tiny little switch thing?). But pressure sensitivity is awesome and I love it and makes blending colours and getting better line thickness variations and such way easier.

Sorry for infodump, hooray again for tablets.

[Ali]

Just to add to what Ben says, I use an Intuos 3 (A5) which I had no trouble adapting to. Though I ummed and ahhed for twice as long as him.

Unlike Ben's experience, I find the Intuos's additional buttons very helpful. They allow you to zoom in and out and pan in Photoshop much more quickly. If you're working on a large image (and a small monitor like me!) they're a great help.

For all tablets I'm aware of, the pens only work with a tablet. I think the individual ones you saw will be replacements.