6D Art Pen Piece of Crap

[stark3d]

6D Art Pen Piece of Crap

Do not waste your money please

works the same as the grip pen

rotation is worthless

please do not waste your money >:{

[flip the master]

6D Art Pen Piece of Crap

Do not waste your money please

works the same as the grip pen

rotation is worthless

please do not waste your money >:{

ok what is it we shouldint waste our money on and it would be a whole lot better if you showed us

[stark3d]

wacom 6D art pen sorry
if you got suckered into buying one you can get a 30 day money back

[Aberrant]

Gosh, what an informative and in depth analysis of this tool. It's a shame I didn't read your insightful review before I bought mine.

Your first 2 points are worthless opinion backed by nothing. The next 2 points are outright falsehoods, and the last point is just repeating the same bullshit you mentioned earlier (like it would make it any less bullshitty).

Painter has some bugs that cause out of memory errors when rotation expression is used on a lot of brushes, other than that it kicks ass. I'd like it to have some buttons on it, that's my only gripe with the pen itself, the software limitations suck hard right now but I have a feeling that'll be cleared up eventually. For painting I didn't like it quite as much as I thought I would but it was still well worth the money. FOr anyone that enjoys calligraphy this would be a super great big time buy.

[Zaknafain]

:nohope:

I'm thinking about buying one. Can someone who owns one and paints with it (no I'm not interested in calligraphy) tell me if its an improvement for painting? So who uses it regulary to paint with it, and wich brushes do you use it with?

[stark3d]

well it was late i'm more an artist than a writer

First of all does it make you a better artist or even help
answer is no compared to the grip pen that comes with the tablet
there is no reason to buy this pen.

I am sending mine back today.

I love Wacom products the intous 3 is the only pad you should ever buy.[I][U]
but do not waste your money on the 6D art pen please.

and if you want you can try it for 30 days and send it back.

[Zaknafain]

and if you want you can try it for 30 days and send it back.

I'm seriously considering that... thx for the information.

[Aberrant]

I tend to use it as a blender with a wide flat brush shape. The rotation expression isn't particularily useful for this, but I use it anyway because it just provides a different feel to the tool. So mostly I just use it as another tool not necessarily as a 6d art pen.

If you're familiar with controlling line weight by rotating a chisel point pencil on paper like I am then you might find it nice to be able to do the same with a wacom. Yes you can do line art with a grip pen and control line weight with pressure, but it's NOT the same. It doesn't look the same, it doesn't feel anything close to the same. For me it's a more natural way to vary line weight. If nothing else it'll make you a better artist to practice this technique, and the only way to do it with a wacom is with this pen. It will give your lines a much more uniform and smooth curve in transitions from thick to thin. It makes it look like natural media because it emulates it SO much better.

When painting (real acrylics/oils) have you every made short little dab type strokes? With a flat brush you get a thin flat dab, right? With this tool the dab will be oriented how you want it, whereas without this tool it won't be unless you make a stroke long enough that it can rotate the brush to follow the direction you're moving.

Anyone that says this tool is a waste of money just doesn't have the skills or experience to understand it, period. I like it better than the airbrush, and I use an actual airbrush almost every day.

[Zaknafain]

Thanks Aberrant. That was really what I was looking for. A review from someone who actually painted with it. (And has the skills to tell me if its of any use).

I think I will buy one as soon as I got some money.

[Alex Jenyon]

I spent a while looking for reviews/info on the 6D art pen before I bought mine, and didn't really find anything except glowing reviews going on about how 'revolutionary' it was.

So I bought one.

It's not quite as good, or as revolutionary, as I hoped it was going to be, but I'd say it's still easily worth the money. As Aberrant says, it changes the way the tools FEEL, rather than the 'rotation' being particularly noticeable.

The actual obvious, visible difference in strokes between using the 6D pen and the normal stylus with a rotation-enabled brush (such as the soft flat oils Art pen brush) is not that great. But the subtle differences that ARE there really help the tools feel like 'proper' brushes. I probably use it for about 70% of my painting, changing back to the normal stylus (with spring tip) when I use a detail tool where the wedge-tip makes it confusing to paint (like a tiny digital airbrush, or the scratchboard tool).

I actually cut out a nice worn fluffy nib from one of my old Tria markers, now gathering dust since I bought my mac, and glued it into one of the plastic nib holders. Really makes the tool feel a lot nicer, since I didn't have to wait for the brand new felt nib to wear down. They fit PERFECTLY - presumably the ones Wacom uses came from Letraset in the first place...

Only real gripe is that (for some reason, Corel...), the default angle of a tool seems to be 90 degrees from where you think it ought to be. I think this has already been touched upon else where in this forum, but to explain:
When you drag the wide nib sideways (i.e. an old-fashioned design marker would give you the fattest line), you get the thinnest line in painter. When you twist the nib sideways, so a marker pen would give you a thin line, most tools in painter give you their fattest. It is a little confusing at first, and I haven't worked out how to change it... wonder if Corel will do a patch, or will we have to wait for Painter X?

If you like Painter's natural media brushes, instead of being a digital airbrush fiend, I'd definately recommend it. It'll make the painting experience much more pleasant, but it's not QUITE as groundbreaking as a lot of publicity (admittedly most of it from Corel or Wacom...) is making out

I actually signed up to conceptart.org to write this post, so I'm afraid you won't find any paintings of mine on this site to prove my credentials. I'm a freelance pre-visualisation artist working in the UK, and if you're interested, you can find most of my work not under various aggrevating confidentiality agreements at

www.aj-concepts.net

Take care all

AJ

[stark3d]

Zaknafain
DID YOU TRY IT YET?
IF SO DID YOU LIKE IT?

[Zaknafain]

No still don't got enough money (spend all my money on an Intuos 3, gotta wait some weeks for money)

The thing with the wrong angle Alex Jenyon mentioned is something that bothers me most at the moment. Really have to think about it.

[Edwood]

well it was late i'm more an artist than a writer

First of all does it make you a better artist or even help
answer is no compared to the grip pen that comes with the tablet
there is no reason to buy this pen.

I am sending mine back today.

I love Wacom products the intous 3 is the only pad you should ever buy.[I][U]
but do not waste your money on the 6D art pen please.

and if you want you can try it for 30 days and send it back.


You are correct, a better tool does not make one a better artist instantly.

Did you talk to Wacom, or RTFM? Unlike Corel, Wacom does not charge you more money for their tech support. There is this thing in the Painter Brush preferences called "Expression".

And if you pull the menu down, you can see this thing called "Rotation". Works for not all but many of the brushes.

And there is a set of new brushes that you can download and install for Painter 9.

You are using Painter 9, right?

Rotation expression is only available in version 9, in case you didn't already know.

The 6D Art pen is not perfect, but it feels so much like using markers. I wish they had made a nib available that is not angled/chiseled like it is now. (so it can feel more like using a paint brush)

One major problem I can see with the 6D Art Pen is a problem with the software (Corel and Adobe) rather than the hardware (Wacom).

For one, zero support with Adobe at the moment. Painter's brush ghosting does not work with rotation, so you cannot visually see what angle your brush is.

But this does not matter to me as I turn off brush ghosting. I have no need for it since I use a Cintiq.

The 6D Art Pen was primarily designed for use with the Cintiq 21UX. But since it uses the same sensor technology and pen frequency as the Intuos 3, Intuos users can use the 6D Art Pen too. But it's just another learning curve for the fact that you are drawing on a different surface than what you are looking at. It should take some getting used to. After all, was it so easy to draw/paint the very first time you used a tablet? (non-Cintiq and PL series, of course)

-Ed

[Jin]

The new Wacom 6D Art Pen only works with the Intuos 3 tablets, not with earlier Intuos tablet models and, as Edwood says, with Painter IX.

The Painter IX 9.1 Update, when installed, provides Rotation support for several more Dab Types. If you haven't already, you can read about the Painter IX 9.1 Update changes and installation instructions here:

Painter IX 9.1 Update: Installation Instructions and Changes (http://www.corel.com/painterix/lp/91_update/readme_en.html)


Jinny

[stark3d]

I'm Just Glad I got my money back.

[stuter]

It would only suck if you "DON'T" own the following:

- Wacom Intuos 3 Tablet
- Corel Painter 9
- Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator CS 2

The only fallback is the dual button functions from the "GRIP PEN" which isn't included on the Wacom 6D Pen

Overall I LOVE IT!!!!
It's awesome on cloth folds, shading (especially those who love and are inspired with the work of ASHLEY WOOD!!!!) I can go on 'n on with all the "ADVANTAGES" the 6D Pen has

Those who own Intuos 2 and under are pretty much forced to upgrade their tablets (very costly) cuz you have to purchase

- Wacom 6D pen
- Wacom Intuos 3 Tablet or Cintiq 21UX, 17SX
- Adobe CS 2
- Corel Painter 9

Anyways, I hope this helped.... :shrug:

[Jin]

Hi,

Obviously, we don't have to purchase/own all three applications: Corel Painter IX, Adobe Photoshop CS, and Adobe Illustrator CS.

We can own only Painter IX, for instance, with the other requirements, Intuos 3 and 6D Art Pen and have the 6D Art Pen advantages.

It is an expensive set of requirements, I agree. That's why I don't own and use a 6D Art Pen, having just purchased my Intuos 2 less than two years ago. I expect to be able to use it for a long time, as I did my old Wacom ArtZ II tablet (still working, though I used it for 8 or 9 years!).


Jinny

[stuter]

I didn't mean you "HAVE" to purchase all three, that's not exactly what I meant (sorry bout that), I was mearly suggesting that those 3 major programs support the 6D pen and show it's full potential :painting: :shrug:

this goes out to the artist who love flat brushes :^^:

[Jin]

Hi Stuter,

I knew that's what you meant. The reason I posted my last message is that so often people don't know enough to understand what's said.

Thanks for pointing out the good things about the 6D Art Pen! It's a shame when people don't bother to learn how to use something, then call it "crap". Your post and others like it, including the one from John Derry, help to get the facts straight.

Cheers!


Jinny

[stuter]

No problemo! :)
:uzi2: 6D PEN ROOOCKS!!!! :uzi:
:coke:

[Pigumon]

HI,

I posted in another related thread, but I was wondering where a good place to buy the 6d pen is online.

I'd like to check it out... it seems the pros outweigh the cons.

It does seem a bit pricey. I'm thinking of getting a second wacom tablet (4x5 intuos3) since I use my powerbook away from home a lot... and keep my 9 x12 nice and safe at home. But... I'd rather try out the 6D pen now!

I have Painter 9 , but I only have PS & I CS, not CS2. Is the rotation only supported in CS2?

Thanks!

[spillway]

There is so little written about this pen online, I was hoping someone could help me.

When I use the 6D Art Pen in Illustrator CS2 with a calligraphic brush and the Angle set to Rotation, it rotates in the wrong direction! When I turn it clockwise the brush rotates counter-clockwise and vice versa.

In PhotoShop CS2 it rotates properly.

Wacom said that is just the way Illustrator does it.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Adam

[Odds]

This is something that I've wanted since I got my Wacom. Glad they make it; I'll try and order one when I get the money. :)

[nordmark]

What does the "6D" stand for?

[Jin]

nordmark,

I believe it stands for six dimensions:

X axis
Y axis
Pressure
Tilt
Bearing
Rotation


Jinny

[bokuza]

I see there are tons of reasons for a person who paints quite a lot to own a 6D pen. I think I would like the flatness.

I don't do it enough but when I do I am simply and utterly annoyed with the default grip pen that I use.
It's much to thick, like one of those expensive gold pens my Dad gets as 'trophy' when they hand out awards in the annual company meetings! >:< HMMPH~

But more than anything I enjoy a good sketch, especially in CS2.
Oh it's my favorite to use the very 2 brush on the default CS2 list. Mmm Hmm.
And a thin tip pen is also best for that. Despite the trophy grip.

How exactly can you do that with a 6D? It...its flat!
And will the grip change? will it feel as thick as the grip pen?
I've heard not a word of the eraser, what of it?
Does it even posses an eraser, it seems invisible!

Does the website allow you to try it, or was that somewhere else?

[kookookrayzy]

I'm glad this thread got started, because it was hard to find much info on this tool before I took the plunge and bought it.
I like the feel of it, the oval barrel has a bit of tooth to it, definitely a nice change from the grip pen. I really miss the eraser and tool buttons (no forward click for eyedropping! DOH!).
My only gripe with it is the craftmanship; it clicks alot because it's not as solidly built as the Grip pen. Also, the rotation function doesn't sample very smoothly, when you rotate you can see the steps fanning out. Im looking forward to the next design iteration of this tool.

BTW Tool ID in Painter is great with this one; set your grip pen to a detailing brush like the Scratchboard tool, and set the 6d pen to a broad stroke tool, and you can switch them back and forth, it's pretty cool.
I like to drop in rough gestures with the 6d, then tie them down with the grip pen. Lots of fun!

[kookookrayzy]

I also wish they had a nib for the 6d similar to the Stroke Nib on the grip pen... something with a spring mid-way might help minimize all the clicking I hear from it, damping the pressure on the way up.

[Dile_]

haha, funny that people expect to get better artists by buying a tool :)

[Jin]

Dile,

What tools do you use to create your art?

Can you create visual or any other art without using tools?

Even your mind is a tool and it helps a lot to use it even if it came to you free. ;)


.

[Dile_]

Alright, I'm gonna buy that 6D pen, and I want my money back if I don't become as good as sparth.

Right Jin ?

;)

----
You and I have completely different opinions about what a tool is. So what is your mind a tool to ?
----

I think you misunderstood my original words.

but to put it simple, and to say what a wise person once said ( haha )

"a 6d art pen does not make the difference between a novice or a proffesional artist" -Unknown old art master.

[Jin]

Dile,

I doubt anyone thinks all it takes to become a great artist is a 6D Art Pen.

All the 6D Art Pen does is allow us to use all the capabilities of Painter and/or other programs that support painting in six dimensions. Painter X has the new RealBristle Brushes and RealBristle Brushes palette, a whole new painting system and to take full advantage of its capabilities, we need to have a Wacom Intous 3 tablet and a 6D Art Pen.

Traditional media artists prefer the best they can afford that does what they want.... brushes, pens, pencils, chalk, charcoal, pastels, paint, canvas, watercolor paper, a good easel, etc.

Photographers prefer the best camera they can afford that does what they want, the best filters, the best tripod.

Woodworkers prefer the best tools they can afford that do what they want.

I'd prefer to have a new computer with a whole lot more RAM and processor speed, and a second monitor, and a new keyboard that doesn't squeak.

None of these tools alone make the person better at their craft but they can make it easier to accomplish the task.

You know all this, already, and you just want to take a stab at someone for the "fun of it", right? ;)

Now go work at becoming a great artist!

.

[Dile_]

A tool makes stuff go smoother and faster, but for an artist it doesn't necessarily improve the speed of your mind etc ! Might fresh up, and increase the fun part ( which in the end would make you improve though, )

And no big deal, I was just skimming through the thread seeing people complaining about not becoming a better artist with this 'tool' :) I wasn't taking a stab at anyone.

And afterall, you're a very smart person, and it seems like ( after the newest reply ) that we have the same look at tools.. I think that you just misunderstood my orignal sentence :)

-Dile

[Improv]

A tool makes stuff go smoother and faster, but for an artist it doesn't necessarily improve the speed of your mind etc ! Might fresh up, and increase the fun part ( which in the end would make you improve though, )

And no big deal, I was just skimming through the thread seeing people complaining about not becoming a better artist with this 'tool' :) I wasn't taking a stab at anyone.

And afterall, you're a very smart person, and it seems like ( after the newest reply ) that we have the same look at tools.. I think that you just misunderstood my orignal sentence :)

-Dile

You either have a grasp of the blatantly obvious or else you are trolling. Neither reflects well on you. So give it a rest already! :rolleyes:

[Justin.]

FIRST OFF; Let me quote Stark3d from earlier in the thread:
First of all does it make you a better artist or even help no

Obviously at the time stark had the idea that it would help make your art better or 'more natural' or something, and THAT is the kind of thing Dile is pointing out.

Improv, he is defending himself, and Dile is most definitely not a troll. If you looked at his work you might know that. Have you drawn 8-12 hours a day for an entire month while in high school?

And your post doesn't contribute at all to the topic anyways.

[Dile_]

Improv, I don't think you read my posts at all ... :S and If you did, I must apologize for my very crappy english that might have gotten you misunderstanding my words.

:S

[Fredbt]

Tools will not make you better at anything, but they can have a direct and noticeable effect on the final result of what you produce. Jin's woodworking example is right on. I'm a woodworker myself and I have some very nice tools that help tremendously in speed, accuracy and the final outcome of my work.

The casual observer can't tell the difference in the woodworking projects I've done with top of the line, precision, and faster cutting tools and the work I did with crappy, cheaper, underpowered tools, but I know and remember well the frustration of wasted time and materials caused by not having better tools to work with.

"A true craftsman never blames his tools" was my old shop teacher's favorite quote and it's true to an extent. One should be able to develop work-arounds to offset inadequate tools, but it sure makes life easier, and the job go better, with the proper tools.

[Improv]

Improv, I don't think you read my posts at all ... :S and If you did, I must apologize for my very crappy english that might have gotten you misunderstanding my words.

:S

I did read your posts, I have read and understood them. English is my native tongue.

If it was merely a case of you not being able to express yourself, so be it, I understand. But all others can go by is what you write, and that looked like trolling or making fun at an other's expense.

[Dile_]

haha ok, I wasn't making fun of anyone. or trolling for that matter.. I was trying to say exactly what Fred above said.

[Jin]

Alright, I'm gonna buy that 6D pen, and I want my money back if I don't become as good as sparth.

Right Jin ?

;)

----
You and I have completely different opinions about what a tool is. So what is your mind a tool to ?


Sorry, I missed the last part of this post or I'd have answered the rest of it.

Our fingers and thumbs are tools we use to pick up things, to draw, to paint, to scratch a mosquito bite, to play a piano, to pinch, to tickle, to twiddle.

Our minds are tools we use to think, solve problems, create poetry, make decisions, day dream, invent, understand, love, and oodles more.

If we don't use our minds, they can be controlled by others, or they can become rusty and broken from neglect, or like our fingers and thumbs if not used, can become weak.


I think you misunderstood my original words.


I think I may have misunderstood the tone of your comment.


but to put it simple, and to say what a wise person once said ( haha )


Yes, a little chuckle is often the best comment. It can cover a lot. ;)


.

[Improv]

haha ok, I wasn't making fun of anyone. or trolling for that matter.. I was trying to say exactly what Fred above said.

Thanks, that is obvious now , but not before.

Ok-next time you tell Fred, then he can tell us, ok? lol!!! ;-)


:-)

[Pav]

I like 6D pen, I wish it had more brushes designed for this tool in the future version or download

I still learn how to control "flat" side with RealBristle and 6D pen. It doesn't always come up the right side of flat

[PoopSock]

with the angle/rotation ui indicators in painter x, i freakin' love mine.
closest i've ever felt to traditional on a dig. medium, personally.

edit: why they couldn't have put one goddam button on it, though, is kinda lame.

[kookookrayzy]

I'm looking forward to a faster machine and Painter 10 so I can see the icon rotation feedback when I use the 6d. It's fun to switch between the grip pen and 6d with ToolID, so I set the 6d for a "wash" medium and the Grip pen for a line tool.

[kapt]

bought the 6d art pen a very long time ago..so there's no chance i'll be getting any money back...which at the moment makes me sad..

i never use it because the rotation feature does not seem to work...is there a driver i need to download??? or settings i have to play with? i've tried loading the caligraphy brushes..still nothing..

in the wacom settings..it lists the pen as 'marker pen' ..should it say 6d pen? something screwed up?

i'm trying to use it with photoshop CS2..and everyone else seems to have some rotation functionality

[Eloth]

Most people have been saying that you have to download an updated driver. Check out wacom.com to find it. After reading this thread I am considering getting one. Only having a round brush in painter is killing me.

Wow i got the art pen and I got it to work! It is amazing! don't listen to what people say, they don't know how to use it. Just make sure you have the angle range set to 360 in the brush creator if it is angle squeeze that you are trying to rotate. I am so happy I am going to paint all night! It's like a real brush now! Going to miss that eraser though…

[Rune Rask]

well for a lot of things i think this pen is worth it, i have never tried one, so i wouldnt be able to tell right?

but to me anything that feels different in your hands, i.e grip pen/airbrush/6d pen, will make you (if you want it) feel like picking up a different tool, and thus changing your expression within the software wich it operates in.

i really dont care that the rotation isnt that revolutionary working, the barrel on the airbrush also had its punches, but the software is always behind the hardware, this will be fixed no doubt. what matters is that its a another pen, i.e another feeling when being creative, this is way to underestimated for a lot of people.

looking forward to get a intuos and a 6d art pen. really

Rune