Cintiq Wacom Tablets

[chimpburgers]

Even the small ones are kind of pricy, but has anyone ever used them before? If so, would you say that they're worth the money and are there any better alternatives out there?

I still have my old Intuos tablet stored somewhere that costed me around $250 but I personally would feel a lot more comfortable being able to look directly at what I'm trying to draw. I'm currently using a MacBook Air in addition to all of this along with a bunch of Adobe programs and some others.

 

[VJ 343]

I actually have a Cinitq 24HD. I got it on the cheap by not sleeping with someone (that's a story for the not-art section). And it was the best investment of my life - things are much easier and much more natural, and I struggle a lot less with transferring my skills from digital to traditional media. If you are interested, have a quick look at the art summary I did in 2014. You can literally see the month I got the Cintiq (November) - obviously the tools/brushes/fancy screen doesn't make the artist, but if you got the skill, it will amplify them.

I have not used any alternatives, but so far I believe Wacom has a patent on the magnetised system that the pen+screens use which is what sets them apart from battery operated pen+tablet systems. You do notice the difference; I have used both and by far prefer the magnet version to the current based one. If there are alternatives that use the same technology as Wacom tablets let me know I'm looking for one for a friend.

I do not know how well they synergise with Apple products; I have only ever used mine on a Windows OS and it has worked fine. Given Apple is supposedly the "artist's medium" in this digital stuff, it had better at least fucking work. It works with all of Adobe Creative Suite, Sai, and Manga Studio. Mine does not like FireAlpaca but that's more due to me having issues with my pen than the Cintiq itself.

My general summary is if you are super fucking serious business art is something you are sinking hours a day into, or you have a spare two and a half grand go for it, you really won't regret it, but is it necessary? Not really. Intuos tablets have all the functionality you need, and then some - it's a lot of personal choice and circumstance.

 

[John Titor]

Well...I tried one at a demo. Cintiq is definitely a good investment if you're doing professional stuff. If it's just for a hobby, stick with Intuos. Unless money's no real object. My opinion is, you're going to have to learn how to draw without looking at the "paper".

 

[chimpburgers]

I actually have a Cinitq 24HD. I got it on the cheap by not sleeping with someone (that's a story for the not-art section). And it was the best investment of my life - things are much easier and much more natural, and I struggle a lot less with transferring my skills from digital to traditional media. If you are interested, have a quick look at the art summary I did in 2014. You can literally see the month I got the Cintiq (November) - obviously the tools/brushes/fancy screen doesn't make the artist, but if you got the skill, it will amplify them.

I have not used any alternatives, but so far I believe Wacom has a patent on the magnetised system that the pen+screens use which is what sets them apart from battery operated pen+tablet systems. You do notice the difference; I have used both and by far prefer the magnet version to the current based one. If there are alternatives that use the same technology as Wacom tablets let me know I'm looking for one for a friend.

I do not know how well they synergise with Apple products; I have only ever used mine on a Windows OS and it has worked fine. Given Apple is supposedly the "artist's medium" in this digital stuff, it had better at least fucking work. It works with all of Adobe Creative Suite, Sai, and Manga Studio. Mine does not like FireAlpaca but that's more due to me having issues with my pen than the Cintiq itself.

My general summary is if you are super fucking serious business art is something you are sinking hours a day into, or you have a spare two and a half grand go for it, you really won't regret it, but is it necessary? Not really. Intuos tablets have all the functionality you need, and then some - it's a lot of personal choice and circumstance.

My situation is as follows. I'm trying to get right back into drawing. I have the skills and everything that I've learned on my own over the years and have no formal art training whatsoever. From my perspective, I could finance a smaller Cintiq if I wanted to. I'm in some debt right now but am nearly done with my studies, so I'm at a crossroads with what I want to do. Going into something where I'd actually be drawing for a living isn't out of the question for me despite studying something completely different.

I still find it easier to draw on paper but my stuff turns out a lot better when I can fully ink and do clean up and I want to be able to experiment a lot more with coloring. I'm much more limited when I have an idea I really want to flesh out and I have to resort to getting it down on notebook paper. A lot of what I'd want to do would extend to cartoon stuff and maybe some caricatures and more realistic studies.

I have read mixed reviews on Amazon about the particular one I'm looking at but a lot of positive reviews from those who were able to get warranty on them. I might just stick with the Intuos for now but maybe save up for a Cintiq anyway.

Well...I tried one at a demo. Cintiq is definitely a good investment if you're doing professional stuff. If it's just for a hobby, stick with Intuos. Unless money's no real object. My opinion is, you're going to have to learn how to draw without looking at the "paper".

Yes, I can actually do that and it hasn't really affected my work too much when I do it on the computer, but I've always found trying to ink in Photoshop to be a pain in the ass. Illustrator and Manga Studio I've had a better time with.

 

[Jewelsmakerguy]

Yes, I can actually do that and it hasn't really affected my work too much when I do it on the computer, but I've always found trying to ink in Photoshop to be a pain in the ass. Illustrator and Manga Studio I've had a better time with.

I'm in the same boat really. Though I only own Photoshop, not the other two programs. Been wanting to try Manga Studio, though.

For the record, I own an Intros as well, but I've been dreaming of owning a Cintiq at some point. But the cost (and lack of space around my computer) is kinda scaring me away from getting one.

 

[DangerousGas]

Wacom's patent lock expired last year. I bought a knockoff one off Amazon by a company named Yiynova, and it is pretty much an identical product at a quarter the price. Yeah, it doesnt have the Wacom badge or the ott driver package that's full of animations or anything, but it does an identical job, and it does it well.

Just something to think about.

 

[chimpburgers]

Wacom's patent lock expired last year. I bought a knockoff one off Amazon by a company named Yiynova, and it is pretty much an identical product at a quarter the price. Yeah, it doesnt have the Wacom badge or the ott driver package that's full of animations or anything, but it does an identical job, and it does it well.

Just something to think about.

I've never heard of them but I just checked out the one that's selling for $450 on Amazon. Lot of great reviews for it and there are even some longtime Wacom users who swear by those too. I will be looking into buying something like that instead in the future. Thanks!