Got My First Wacom!

[bracomadar]

UPS delivered it today. I ended up getting a Graphire 3 6X8 since it was the best one within my budget. This is the first time I ever used a tablet. I went through all the tutorials I could find. I'm trying to get use to it, but it’s going slower than I expected. I know everyone is different, but if you guys have any tips let me know. Also, where is your tablet positioned when you use it? I got mine on a platform thing off to my right where my mouse usually is, but is it much better to have it in front of you. Also, when you are drawing, does it help sometimes to look down at the tablet and imagine drawing on paper, or better to keep your eyes on the monitor? Also, what do you have the sensitivity of the pen in settings? I know this might sound stupid me asking all of this, but it’s a whole different experience than using a mouse. I’d really appreciate some feedback on this.

[rogfa]

Congrats on your first Wacom! Placement is really personal preference and it's really where you feel the most comfortable. I move my keyboard off to the side a little and have my tablet more in front of me. Look directly at the monitor when painting, it will become second nature after a little while. I lowered my pressure sensitivity almost all the way down just to prevent myself from having to press too hard on the tablet and end up scratching the surface. I just trained myself to use a soft touch with the stylus.

Don't get discouraged if things aren't looking that great at the beginning. Just keep at it and have fun.

[Sinix]

You'll haveto use it awhile before you get comfertable with it. I remember the first time I got mine, I was always trying to move it around to hit different line angles and messing myself up. I know some people put a piece of paper over it to make it feel more like drawing on paper, but I haven't found a need for that. I personally can't work off a desk, so I always have my feet up on a table with my tabler/sketchbook in my lap. It doesn't really matter. I've never really fooled with settings except in painter which has a brush tracking setting which will measure your casual pen movement/pressure and adjust everything accordingly. Like rogfa said, I'd avoid pressing to hard, make sure the settings don't require you to be scraping at it to get anywhere. I haven't had a problem with that.

[bracomadar]

Thanks for the help guys. I guess it's practice, practice, practice from here on out :yayca:

[darth massacre]

Just keep trying....you'll get used to it after the first week. It took me only a couple of hours to get the hang of it (at first) but it took over a week or so before the headaches wear off :bashful:

[egerie]

I have it to my right (mostly right handed) and never look down on it. Like everyone said, it takes a little practice to get used to it. Some people even taped a sheet a paper on top of their tablet as they found it too slipery.
Personally, the main drawbaack I find using a tablet is the fact that you can't spin it around for power strokes like you would usually do with a sketchbook. I've grown used to spin my animation disc before and it made me want to throw the tablet out the window a couple of times... BUT you can overcome this by flipping/turning 90o your drawing around in photoshop or spin the canvas in painter.
Good luck !

[thebluepuppy]

thats a fantastic tablet. all i can say is try draw straight lines and boxes and circles with it. you dont neccasarily have to jusmp right into painting with it. just get the hang of it. i had a tablet for like 4 months then got an intous6x8 and im still getting used to tablets over traditional.lol.good luck