DeeDoo's Digital Do's and Don'ts - Number 1

Welcome to the first in a series of weekly articles on the technical issues of digital scrapbooking. We intend to answer questions, provide useful links, give our honest opinion, and make some recommendations in the weeks ahead.

First up is a topic we see come up over and over again in many forums - tablets and pens. The tablet is an input device that looks just like it sounds... a drawing tablet laying on your desktop. The new models are usually connected to the computer via USB, but some older models like the Intuos2 that I prefer, connect through the serial port. And Wacom™ has a new model that connects via Bluetooth (wireless technology). Most come with a mouse (that uses the tablet as a mousepad) and a pen or stylus. I have to say that the mouse that came with mine just gathers dust. It is stored away and never used since it is not as comfortable or as user friendly as the wireless mouse I regularly use. The pen, however, is used often. The tablets generally come in different sizes - the most common being 4" x 5", 6" x 8", and 9" x 12". This refers to the drawing area. The area it may take on your desktop is usually several inches larger, so keep that in mind when thinking of it on your desktop.

The Wacom Intuos3™ in three sizes

Why would you want to use a tablet and pen? Ease of use, convenience, extra features, health - all are good reasons. It's often been said that trying to draw with the mouse is like trying to draw with soap on a rope. The pen and tablet is much more natural, much more responsive, and is much more comfortable. One of the benefits of using the pen is the reported reduction of repetitive stress injuries. Some who might not be able to draw at all are able to use a pen and tablet to continue being productive ( read here how Scott Adams is using a Wacom™ to continue drawing Dilbert).

Using a pen and tablet in many of the paint and photo programs allows you greater control over your creation. The pens are pressure sensitive which means you can vary the boldness of a line by how hard you press on the tablet - or use the pressure sensitivity to control transparency or brush size. The more sensitivity levels the pen has, the better. The Intuos3™ has 1,024 levels pressure sensitivity for smooth control. Turn it over and it becomes a pressure sensitive eraser! In addition, some tablets have programmable buttons that can help you work faster and more efficiently.

You may have noticed that Wacom™ is mentioned in this article often. There is good reason they are the number one graphics tablet company in the world. There are other makers - Aiptek™ , for example, makes tablets that are quite a bit less expensive than the Wacom™. However, I have used Wacom™ for years and do not hesitate to recommend them - the Intuos™ model in particular. There are toys and there are tools - the Intuos™ is a tool. One of our Intuos™ tablets has had six hard years of use and is like new. The Wacom™ pens are not tethered to the tablet - a big plus, in my opinion. The pens are not burdened by needing batteries like some models. The Intuos™ has 1024 levels of sensitivity, while others may only have 512 or 256 levels. When it comes to tablet size, it's a Goldilocks situation, in my opinion. The 4" x 5" tablet is too small, the 9" x 12" tablet is too large, but the 6" x 8" tablet is just right! You can use this TabletWizard to find out which Wacom™ tablet might be right for you.

Update: Wacom™ released version 4 of the Graphire™. For under $100 for the 4" x 5" size, it makes a great introduction into the world of tablets. If you do anything related to visual arts, a tablet will definitely make you more productive - and, I believe, happier at the computer!

Update: Wacom™ also now offers two wider versions - 6" x 11" and 12" x 19". The 6" x 11" was designed for wide screens or multiple monitors and the 12" x 19" is the largest tablet Wacom™ offers - also good for large high resolution monitors or multiple monitors.

We hope this article has answered most, if not all, the questions you may have had about pens and tablets. If you have further questions, don't hesitate to contact us! See you next week with another DeeDoo's Digital Do's and Don'ts!

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