JL.Alfaro
November 20th, 2007, 05:36 PM
Here is the review I promised for the Bamboo tablet.
Special thanks to my colleague who let me borrow it so I could do this.
and sorry for the crappy pics guys:dead:
Wacom tablet Bamboo 4x6 (http://www.wacom.com/bambootablet/bamboo.cfm)
First impressions:
When I first saw the tablet, I was taken back by the size of it. It is tiny, very slim and light. It feels like a fragile toy, like holding an egg. I didn't drop it, but I am sure it would shatter into five pieces if I did. Its definitely not built like its big brother Intuos or even the graphire. It is pretty tho, black mirror gloss finish makes it look like a Lamborghini. More so when you plug it in and the blue lights light up..made me go "oooohh, aaaaahhh" but they don't really do anything other than look pretty and tell you where the buttons are in the dark.
http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/8994/dscn2325mq5.th.jpg (http://img49.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn2325mq5.jpg)http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/8418/dscn2299nn3.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn2299nn3.jpg)
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/7691/dscn2301yw8.th.jpg (http://img404.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn2301yw8.jpg)
http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/8987/dscn2327zg4.th.jpg (http://img119.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn2327zg4.jpg)http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/7378/dscn2329md8.th.jpg (http://img49.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn2329md8.jpg)
As you can see in this pic the size compared to my intuos 6x8 makes it look like a dwarf.
The size of it made me pull out a ruler and measure the work area. It is defined as a 4 x6 but as you can see on the pic, its a bit short of the 4 inches promised (heard that before). The width does deliver the whole 6" but I still felt I was being short changed here.
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/7827/dscn2324wu8.th.jpg (http://img232.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn2324wu8.jpg)
Something else that bothered me was the fact that the USB connector detaches from the tablet. That means that when and if I placed it on my lap, as I usually do my intous, it could detach while working. not only that but if you do this enough the plug would become loose over time. Of course that would not be a problem if you plan to use it flat on a table/desk in a stationary location- (like normal people should).
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/2474/dscn2310sk5.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn2310sk5.jpg)
The buttons on the top are fully customizable, like the larger tablets. Only instead these are located at the top with a circular touch sensitive scroll.
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/9220/dscn2312im9.th.jpg (http://img232.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn2312im9.jpg)
As you can see the customizing window looks a lot like the other wacom properties and very easy to customize and understand. A+ on that.
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/8110/72560097pw1.th.jpg (http://img88.imageshack.us/my.php?image=72560097pw1.jpg)
Now for the big test: Performance
Even though the area is pretty small, I still managed to work fairly well on a 17" monitor and this 3.75 x 6 inch tablet. There was no lag or anything of the sort when clicking, navigating through Windows (Vista bleh).
I tried out the soft brushes in PS first.
At first I didn't notice the difference when I started painting with a large brush. My opacity was set low and everything was ok, until...
i switched the brush properties to "pen pressure". Here you can see the abrupt end of a size into another as well as the darkness levels as I released some pressure. It really didn't bother me that much, it just took a little getting used to it. The pressure sensitivity is a bit lower than the regular Intuos, about half I believe. So that means that when you try a brush with pen pressure set, you will not be able to extremely light, and the pressure variations will be more pronounced. http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/8688/test1ig1.jpg
I tried a hard brush, with some low opacity. Pen pressure again. Here you can see the pressure variations again, and by having the stroke distance set a bit apart, you can definitely tell the difference between a smooth stroke and a bamboo stroke. At the bottom of the pic is where I tried some more freehand movements as I went full pressure to the least pressure possible. That is clearly noticeable here.
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/2519/test3fp9.jpg
I tried another hard brush, this time with a smooth stroke and at 100% opacity. Pen pressure set again. Being as careful as I could to make to smoothest transition in a single stroke, I created several lines. Again the pressure sensitivity is clear, and at this setting it is the most pronounced of all.
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/1079/test4sc1.jpg
Being a big fan of the pressure sensitivity settings, this did not impress me at all. and I can now appreciate my other two Wacom tablets for the great piece of hardware they are. But don't be too alarmed- The tablet works fine using the opacity as a way to set tonal difference. I created a sketch (crappy on my part- my bad) here using the opacity and some of the pressure sensitive brushes. I had no problem getting the results I was looking for. The difference was minimal between my Intuos and the bamboo, mainly the pressure sensitivity. But the Bamboo's sleek design, portability and its customizable buttons make up for the lost sensitivity.
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/7854/test5xy1.jpg
If you are a fan of the pressure sensitivity provided by the bigger Wacoms, this is not the tablet for you, as you will notice the difference. But if you are a student or looking for your first tablet; this is the perfect tablet for you. Not only will you not be able to tell what I'm talking about, but when you finally take the leap to a bigger Wacom, you will appreciate the newer one , and fall in love with it once again.
In conclusion: This tablet is not for professionals, it is a learning tool made specially for that and priced accordingly to the needs of the student. Students and new Tablet users alike will fall in love with this powerful little toy, and hopefully transition you from mouse to a more natural way to draw and paint.
PS: for those who use a laptop, the software comes with the writing recognition software, if you choose to install it- a little hand will pop up everywhere you open a menu window...always close by the tip. it has a keyboard and a writing area, I kept clicking the damn thing and it kept coming up.
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/5089/test2wb3.th.jpg (http://img217.imageshack.us/my.php?image=test2wb3.jpg)
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/5360/59602566gb9.th.jpg (http://img140.imageshack.us/my.php?image=59602566gb9.jpg)http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/6606/91545162dr3.th.jpg (http://img222.imageshack.us/my.php?image=91545162dr3.jpg)
hope it helps someone! :wink:
Special thanks to my colleague who let me borrow it so I could do this.
and sorry for the crappy pics guys:dead:
Wacom tablet Bamboo 4x6 (http://www.wacom.com/bambootablet/bamboo.cfm)
First impressions:
When I first saw the tablet, I was taken back by the size of it. It is tiny, very slim and light. It feels like a fragile toy, like holding an egg. I didn't drop it, but I am sure it would shatter into five pieces if I did. Its definitely not built like its big brother Intuos or even the graphire. It is pretty tho, black mirror gloss finish makes it look like a Lamborghini. More so when you plug it in and the blue lights light up..made me go "oooohh, aaaaahhh" but they don't really do anything other than look pretty and tell you where the buttons are in the dark.
http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/8994/dscn2325mq5.th.jpg (http://img49.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn2325mq5.jpg)http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/8418/dscn2299nn3.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn2299nn3.jpg)
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/7691/dscn2301yw8.th.jpg (http://img404.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn2301yw8.jpg)
http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/8987/dscn2327zg4.th.jpg (http://img119.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn2327zg4.jpg)http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/7378/dscn2329md8.th.jpg (http://img49.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn2329md8.jpg)
As you can see in this pic the size compared to my intuos 6x8 makes it look like a dwarf.
The size of it made me pull out a ruler and measure the work area. It is defined as a 4 x6 but as you can see on the pic, its a bit short of the 4 inches promised (heard that before). The width does deliver the whole 6" but I still felt I was being short changed here.
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/7827/dscn2324wu8.th.jpg (http://img232.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn2324wu8.jpg)
Something else that bothered me was the fact that the USB connector detaches from the tablet. That means that when and if I placed it on my lap, as I usually do my intous, it could detach while working. not only that but if you do this enough the plug would become loose over time. Of course that would not be a problem if you plan to use it flat on a table/desk in a stationary location- (like normal people should).
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/2474/dscn2310sk5.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn2310sk5.jpg)
The buttons on the top are fully customizable, like the larger tablets. Only instead these are located at the top with a circular touch sensitive scroll.
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/9220/dscn2312im9.th.jpg (http://img232.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn2312im9.jpg)
As you can see the customizing window looks a lot like the other wacom properties and very easy to customize and understand. A+ on that.
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/8110/72560097pw1.th.jpg (http://img88.imageshack.us/my.php?image=72560097pw1.jpg)
Now for the big test: Performance
Even though the area is pretty small, I still managed to work fairly well on a 17" monitor and this 3.75 x 6 inch tablet. There was no lag or anything of the sort when clicking, navigating through Windows (Vista bleh).
I tried out the soft brushes in PS first.
At first I didn't notice the difference when I started painting with a large brush. My opacity was set low and everything was ok, until...
i switched the brush properties to "pen pressure". Here you can see the abrupt end of a size into another as well as the darkness levels as I released some pressure. It really didn't bother me that much, it just took a little getting used to it. The pressure sensitivity is a bit lower than the regular Intuos, about half I believe. So that means that when you try a brush with pen pressure set, you will not be able to extremely light, and the pressure variations will be more pronounced. http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/8688/test1ig1.jpg
I tried a hard brush, with some low opacity. Pen pressure again. Here you can see the pressure variations again, and by having the stroke distance set a bit apart, you can definitely tell the difference between a smooth stroke and a bamboo stroke. At the bottom of the pic is where I tried some more freehand movements as I went full pressure to the least pressure possible. That is clearly noticeable here.
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/2519/test3fp9.jpg
I tried another hard brush, this time with a smooth stroke and at 100% opacity. Pen pressure set again. Being as careful as I could to make to smoothest transition in a single stroke, I created several lines. Again the pressure sensitivity is clear, and at this setting it is the most pronounced of all.
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/1079/test4sc1.jpg
Being a big fan of the pressure sensitivity settings, this did not impress me at all. and I can now appreciate my other two Wacom tablets for the great piece of hardware they are. But don't be too alarmed- The tablet works fine using the opacity as a way to set tonal difference. I created a sketch (crappy on my part- my bad) here using the opacity and some of the pressure sensitive brushes. I had no problem getting the results I was looking for. The difference was minimal between my Intuos and the bamboo, mainly the pressure sensitivity. But the Bamboo's sleek design, portability and its customizable buttons make up for the lost sensitivity.
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/7854/test5xy1.jpg
If you are a fan of the pressure sensitivity provided by the bigger Wacoms, this is not the tablet for you, as you will notice the difference. But if you are a student or looking for your first tablet; this is the perfect tablet for you. Not only will you not be able to tell what I'm talking about, but when you finally take the leap to a bigger Wacom, you will appreciate the newer one , and fall in love with it once again.
In conclusion: This tablet is not for professionals, it is a learning tool made specially for that and priced accordingly to the needs of the student. Students and new Tablet users alike will fall in love with this powerful little toy, and hopefully transition you from mouse to a more natural way to draw and paint.
PS: for those who use a laptop, the software comes with the writing recognition software, if you choose to install it- a little hand will pop up everywhere you open a menu window...always close by the tip. it has a keyboard and a writing area, I kept clicking the damn thing and it kept coming up.
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/5089/test2wb3.th.jpg (http://img217.imageshack.us/my.php?image=test2wb3.jpg)
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/5360/59602566gb9.th.jpg (http://img140.imageshack.us/my.php?image=59602566gb9.jpg)http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/6606/91545162dr3.th.jpg (http://img222.imageshack.us/my.php?image=91545162dr3.jpg)
hope it helps someone! :wink: