Getting a Wacom Tablet...?

Question

I`m sorta new to the whole 'tablet' instead of pen/pencil/crayon/etc thing so I had a question. Looking at some videos of various tablets I noticed some allow you to draw and see what you`re drawing on the actual tablet (like the cintiq (sp?) while others, you can`t see what you draw on the tablet, you have to look up at the screen like intuos. is this correct? and if so, which is easier for a tablet beginner?

Answer 1

Clearly, being able to draw directly on the surface where the image is being displayed would be much more intuitive. It would most resemble drawing with manual tools on a surface, like a piece of paper.

However, those types of digital tablets are MUCH more expensive, considering that one can purchase tablets similar to a basic Wacom tablet for under $50. A beginner would be less likely to spend hundreds of dollars for a tool they would only be using as a hobby.

With some practice, many professionals do very well with the kind you draw with on the desk, or lap, while the image shows up on the monitor.

If there are budgetary constraints, I recommend purchasing a small, basic tablet to get some practice in, and THEN decide if and when to upgrade to a more serious tool. I say "IF and when," because I have been very happy with my 4 x 6 Wacom Pen Partner for the last three or four years, and haven't felt any need for anything bigger or fancier. As long as it supported stylus pressure sensitivity, it worked fine, for me.

BTW, I use Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Corel, Flash, After Effects and Streamline as my graphic applications.