[koshime]

For folks wanting to break into digital art, there are frequent queries about the different tablets. In this initial instance, I want to talk about the WACOM revolution, and then we'll compile information about different tablets.

WACOM

Firstly, I am entirely biased towards the WACOM. Accept no substitutes (would be my strapline if I were promoting wacom, nevertheless, here is why)

Which is the best digitizer tablet?
Wacom Intuos 3

How does a Wacom tablet work?
Extract from tablet4u.co.uk: How the Wacom cordless, batteryless pen works



The Wacom stylus looks and feels like a pen yet contains no batteries or magnets. Instead it takes advantage of electromagnetic resonance technology developed by Wacom Co. Ltd. in which radio waves are sent to the stylus and returned for position analysis. In operation, a grid of wires below the screen alternates between transmit and receive modes about every 20 microseconds.

The electro-magnetic signal stimulates oscillation in the coil-and-capacitor resonant circuit in the pen. The resonant circuit in the pen’s tip supplies the power and serves as transmitter too. The received signal goes through the modulator to the chip. The information of the pressure sensor (capacity) and of the side switch are going to the chip first. The Tool ID is then added and both are sent back to the modulator which in turn sends a signal to the resonant circuit in the tip. The tablet picks up the information in the pen’s tip in order to determine position and other information like pressure and Tool ID.
Since the grid provides the power to the pen through resonant coupling, no batteries are required. Thus there are no consumables inside the pen that will run down and need to be replaced or that would make the pen topheavy.

A simple analogy for this patented technology is that of a piano tuner using a tuning fork to tune a piano. As the tuning fork is brought into proximity of the appropriate vibrating pianostring (if the fork is of the same frequency) it will begin to borrow energy from the vibrating sting and resonate, generating a tone. In much the same way, as the Wacom pen comes close to the tablet surface, it begins to resonate, generating its own frequency back to the tablet. When it hears the pen, it tracks the pen's location with unprecedented accuracy. The tablet then sends location, pressure and tilt information to the computer along with a signal indicating whether the pen point or the eraser is being used.

What makes WACOM different from other digitizers?
WACOM Tablets take advantage of the electro-magnetic resonance technology developed by WACOM Co. Ltd. Japan, in which radio waves are sent to the stylus and returned for pen pressure and position analysis. Other digitizers have to use alternative methods, which normally involve inserting batteries in your pen. Wacom's mouse and pens are entirely batteryless, and run these days via a 1.4 watt USB connection.

They are hassle free and last for years (short of rolling a toyota HILUX over them)

What are the differences between the WACOM tablets?
WACOM: Bamboo - This has a range varying from (Bamboo One) basic DTP/office document usage to Bamboo fun (for graphic applications such as Artrage)

WACOM: Volito - Pitched at the basic or beginner requring use of photoshop/painter. Has 512 levels of pressure

WACOM: Intuos - Pitched at amateur to serious industry professionals in graphic, media , game or movie genre. Has 1024 levels of pressure. Lifetime investment.

What size (Intous range) should I choose?
Sizes and prices increase correspondingly. In europe, we follow the ISO 216 convention. Eg. A4 is the standard size paper:

In the ISO paper size system, the height-to-width ratio of all pages is the square root of two (1.4142 : 1). In other words, the width and the height of a page relate to each other like the side and the diagonal of a square. This aspect ratio is especially convenient for a paper size. If you put two such pages next to each other, or equivalently cut one parallel to its shorter side into two equal pieces, then the resulting page will have again the same width/height ratio.



And thus, in europe we have (from smallest to largest)

A6: Tiny, portable. Now only comes in A6 wide size.
A5: Reasonably portable, fits your laptop bag (but Intuos 3 is larger than the intuos 2 or 1 version from an extra guttersize/touchpads). A5 comes in standard or wide size
A4: Desktop sized. Comes in standard or wide (good for CAD or widescreen digital monitors or twin monitors)
A3: Super widescreen and size. can be hard to use from the amount of arm movement (but simulates real life painting on canvas to some degree)

Cintiq and Tablet PCs will be covered seperately.

Further updates to this FAQ, to be included in the future, pending feedback and product updates. All information, is entirely of my own bias and I have not been paid gazillions by wacom to promote its products, but am happy to promote the only digital tablet worth selling your granny off for.

[koshime]

Special Offer: WACOM 25th Anniversary Special Addition

Supposedly, offers the intuos 3 in either A4 standard size or A5 wide, in black, with free airbrush pen on top of normal package. Which are:

Intuos3 A5 USB tablet
Intuos3 Grip Pen, with:
Standard pen nib (3x)
Stroke pen nib (1x)
Felt pen nib (1x)
Intuos3 Mouse
Intuos3 Pen Stand
Quick Start Guide
CD-ROM with driver and manual
Corel Painter Essentials 3 drawing-package

Is it worth it, I'll let you know, in the next WACOM, there can only be one ...update

[luis-felipe]

Ok. I have the volito and now my next tablet will be the Intuos. But that'll happen only when my Volito2 breaks or isn't enough anymore :D Thanks Koshime for posting this, VERY helpful.

[koshime]

Err. the volito doesnt break....easily

[Arwym Starlight]

I have the Bamboo Fun, since the Graphire wasn't available anymore at their website. At least I couldn't find it. It is a great tool, but I am having trouble controlling the pen. Maybe it is due to the fact that I am left-handed? I doubt it, but I find no other explanation for me to be practicing for a month and still not being able to draw like I would with a pencil or pen in traditional media. I thought that was the point of having a tablet...

[dile]

Which wacom are you on Koshime ? I guess an a4 Intuos 3 ?

Nice thread, thanks for sharing !

[koshime]

An old A4 intuos 2 .

[IGB]

I tried a Volito 2 with my laptop and for some reason it just wouldn't play ball... basically the problem was that the sensitivity was either minimum or maximum pressure - i.e I get a real thin line or fat one - no middle. I tested and tweaked, tried no end of apps that support it - still no change.

Spoke to guy a Wacom, sent him a screenshot of the problem. He told me to delete a specific file and then try again - but just no change. Could be my laptop I suppose - but i have another tablet that works like a dream. I think it may be a software issue perhaps... anyone else ever had that? Would love a nice Intuos but don't fancy risking it to be honest.

[Mull]

I have a graphire4 A6 and a A5 Intuos3, my set up at present is intuos3 and lappy but if I got 'out and about' i take the graphire. Had no problems with either except in a fit I did bounce the graphire off the wall
Next step, Cintiq

[dile]

When that happen shaun, we must have a cintiq challenge ;)

[pixel]

a got the intuos 3 a5 wide and it rocks!! :p

[Andrej]

I got an Intuos 3 A4 :)
I love it :>

[MarkWinters]

Anyone here have any experience with Cintiqs? I hear they're a bit sluggish and getting the cursor and your viewing angle to agree is a fuss. Thoughts?

[IGB]

I did wonder that actually Mark - although they look very stylish - are they as easy to use as you'd think?...hmmm

[koshime]

NO experience, but i think tabletPCs and Cintiqs are on par, until the new cintiq, that might improve the experience somewhat