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Ambient
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Quote Ambient Replybullet Topic: Tablet Questions
    Posted: 13 June 2010 at 9:02pm
   Well, I've been eying tablets of late, and if I was to get one, I would certainly want it to integrate well with pixel art... seeing as that's the only digital art I can do so far. But a nice perk is that some of what I've seen- Wacom's Fun and Craft- come with Photoshop Elements, Corel Essentials, and something else.
   Wacom's tablets integrate with some programs with gestures, etc, but do Bamboo Fun/Craft fit with programs such as Graphics Gale (what I use) and Grafx2? If all else fails, can PS Elements and Corel Essentials be used for pixel art with the tablet? Are there programs that work well with tablets and pixel art that are under $60?
   I am currently a student in high school, are there stores with education discounts?
   What I'm willing to spend is less than $300. The tools I most use in Graphics Gale are: Pencil, Line, Spline, Fill, and Color Replacer.
   I know there's a lot of tablet users out there who fit it with pixel art, how does that work for you?
   On a side note, I think there should be a pinned topic of Pixel tools, but there probably is somewhere and I haven't found it.
   I tried to underline my key questions; thank you for reading that wall of text. :)

Edited by Ambient - 13 June 2010 at 9:03pm
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jalonso
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Quote jalonso Replybullet Posted: 13 June 2010 at 9:22pm
I pixel with a tablet only. Actually I do everything with one. I can't live without them.

Since you don't yet know if you can live without it I suggest you get something from Wacom, for sure,. Start with the cheap one since for pixelling you only need 1 pressure (100%), the Bamboo I think has 512 levels of pressure. Its cheap, brings Elements which is great for pixelling and can do animations, etc. A tablet works with every program in your compy (its just ike a mouse).

I you find you love them then wear that cheap one out (your first tablet will likely get all messed up as you don't know hard hard you'll press. So you ruin the cheap one in about 2 years time, and then when and if you're ready to move up get into the Intous line which is da best!

E: tablets from Wacom come with a wireless mouse so your crutch remains there :)


Edited by jalonso - 13 June 2010 at 9:23pm
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Ambient
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Quote Ambient Replybullet Posted: 13 June 2010 at 10:19pm
Should I look into the Bamboo Pen for the basics, or go further into Craft/Fun for the screensize/software. My resolution on my monitor is 1900x1024, and figuring out how to use a tablet should be easier with something bigger for relation right?
I'm looking forward to NPA paintings too for which I don't have software, which makes Fun/Craft more appealing. Should I wait until I wreck the Pen (assuming that's what I choose) or go for the Fun/Craft?
Edit: If I start with the Bamboo Pen and graduate to Intuos, I wouldn't have the software that comes with Craft/Fun. I don't know how to work that out with keeping the costs at the minimum.

Edited by Ambient - 13 June 2010 at 10:22pm
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greenraven
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Quote greenraven Replybullet Posted: 14 June 2010 at 7:57am
Originally posted by Ambient

Are there programs that work well with tablets and pixel art that are under $60?


MSpaint.

Also, there was a topic pinned for tools. It just done do did vanished somehow.
"pwnage comes with patience, practice and planning." ~ Jalonso   
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Ambient
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Quote Ambient Replybullet Posted: 14 June 2010 at 8:38am
Well, I'd have to download a different version because the one I've got that came with 7 is like MSPaint and PS had a 1-night stand- using it for anything drives me crazy.
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Blueberry_pie
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Quote Blueberry_pie Replybullet Posted: 14 June 2010 at 8:49am
Peeter posted a link to the XP version of Paint in the chatterbox a few days ago. Download it here.

The pixel art tools thread greenraven speaks of can be found here. GraphicsGale is popular among pixel artists, though I don't know how well it works with tablets.
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Ambient
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Quote Ambient Replybullet Posted: 14 June 2010 at 6:18pm
Thank you for those, delayed response because I wanted to have something else to say too.
It seems to me that the Bamboo Fun is better than the Intuos Small and Medium, and the Intuos XL is better than the Cintiq 12WX when the screen size is concerned. Is that just me, or would it be a better deal to go with the examples I listed?
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jalonso
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Quote jalonso Replybullet Posted: 15 June 2010 at 8:12am
Tablet size on all tablets are proportional to the screen so its not that critical.
I have or have used 4x5 tablets and they work fine. I do like 5x7 best.
Maybe there is a store near you where they have working tablets you can play with before you purchase.
Be aware that tablets have a learning curve and it takes a bit to get used to them.
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Ambient
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Quote Ambient Replybullet Posted: 15 June 2010 at 9:13am
Is there a specific tablet you recommend to start with?
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