Without a Pen Tablet and Painting in Photoshop

[Dani Duck]

Okay so I'm not at all a newbie to photoshop, I've taken a lot of classes and I know my way around. I'm still having issues making my paintings look good in Photoshop. I do know how to use the pen tool, but it still seems to take quite a long time to get the pen tool to look like my drawing. Part of my problem is I'm not really fast with the pen tool, but I also get this sinking feeling there is a better way. Painting freehand doesn't work well for me, my hand isn't steady enough with a mouse. I have looked at many tutorials and most of them seem to assume you already have a pen. If anyone has some tips for me please let me know.

[TomSawyer]

I shouldn't be giving advice but it sounds like you need a tablet.

[Rage M.]

Your best bet is to invest in a tablet. Really without one it's almost pointless to do digital painting. You can probably still do pixel art and vectoring with a mouse, but you shouldn't be digitally painting without a stylus in hand.

Bamboo is a good way to start, since it's rather affordable. Afterwards you can move on to the big boys like Intuos and the Cintiq.

[rpace]

With the number of people swapping up to the Cintiq, you might get a good bargain on an Intuos 3 with a little bit of looking.

Unless you have real control issues with your hand in general, the tablet is the way to go as the mouse is essentially handicapping your abilities; less fine motor control as you're drawing with your elbow instead of your fingers and no pressure sensitivity. With the pen, you regain drawing dexterity with the whole arm and shoulder.

Pressure sensitivity control is a nice feature, especially for people who already have line sensitivity issues in traditional media as you can change the tablet sensitivity settings. I use the default, but I have a heavy-handed friend who now does everything on the tablet because it's the only way he can make light lines when sketching.

Good luck!

~Richard

[Samuel Gray]

it sounds like your saying you have trouble doing traditional art as well? if so start practicing from that first.