Thinking of getting a drawing tablet, advice?

[Sanshain]

I've been a traditional media artist for a while, but recently I've seriously debated the merits of breaking out into digital art. The major issue I face is hat I don't have a drawing tablet of any description, and no real idea what kind of programs to use with it. Do any art-focused Kiwis have some advice for a newbie?

I have a fairly large budget, so I'd like to get something reasonably advanced. I've always been a fan of jumping off the deep end when it comes to trying out new forms of artistic expression, on the basis that any entry-level equipment I buy will inevitably be junked the moment I discover something better.

 

[Infidel]

Very quick advice, but it worked wonders for me: use your tablet as a mouse when you're not drawing. It helps you imagine and coordinate the position of the pen on the tablet with the cursor on the screen!

 

[Hollow Cost]

try to aim for one that you can have at an angle (like a drawing table)
easier to manipulate than the flat ones, not as painful on the wrist as the vertical screens

 

[AssRock]

How large of a budget? Like Cintiq or Intuos sized (if you're wanting to go the Wacom route)?
Personally, I've found that screen-based tablets are a lot more intuitive for drawing with, especially for people who do a lot of work with traditional mediums and those of us who don't have the greatest hand/eye co-ordination. i.e. Wacom's Cintiq line of tablets or Yiynova's MVP22U. Granted, if you don't want to go with Wacom (because let's admit, their build quality has gone to shit over the last decade) and aren't all that confident about buying a tablet from an up and coming company, you could also look into a tablet PC or just getting the Wacom pen that allows for you to draw with full pressure sensitivity on an iPad.

Very quick advice, but it worked wonders for me: use your tablet as a mouse when you're not drawing. It helps you imagine and coordinate the position of the pen on the tablet with the cursor on the screen!

This is really, really solid advice if you're using a traditional drawing tablet. It'll feel awkward at first because unlike regular mice, the tablet itself represents the entire screen, but it's easy to pick up and helps a lot.

Good programs to use: Photoshop, Krita, Easy Paint Tool SAI. There's more, but those are generally the three most favored programs within the circles I run with.

 

[Curt Sibling]

Some great advice/pointers already given. But my own little contribution is just to say, stick with it.
Using the tablet is weird at first, but seriously you will never look back once you get into using one.

 

[DangerousGas]

Another vote for the yiynova tablets: for the money, they're unbeatable. Wacom is resting entirely on their laurels at this point, yet still demanding ridiculous money.

 

[Dr.Research]

I have a simple Wacom Bamboo tablet that came with Photoshop Elements. Elements is meant for photo manipulation and working with pictures but it still can function as a drawing platform.

I'm no pro, but I like how it functions and I'm sure someone who's more skilled can really make it work. I don't know if it's too simple for what you want, but it might be worth consideration.

 

[Tea Leaf]

I bought this budget Monoprice thing to replace my broken Wacom Intuos temporarily and I've never used anything else since - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Monoprice-6-25-Inch-Graphic-Drawing-Tablet/dp/B004C4ZT0G

It's cheap, it feels SUPER good to draw on, and the parts are mega cheap to replace too (search for 'Huion' tablets for parts). My asshole dog ate a stylus but it was extremely easy and affordable to replace. I actually bought a second one of this tablet to keep as a spare in case it stopped working because I was assuming that cheap = gonna break quickly, but no it's been chugging along for at least four years now. I know you said you have a fairly large budget for it but give this cheap tablet a try, it's aces.

 

[bloatballs]

Obviously Wacom is still the top tier for tablets, their drivers are fucking aids but the build quality is superb, however Huion are putting out better and better stuff, they're not as solid as Wacoms and their drivers are also pretty crap but they're a reasonably cheap alternative.

I used a Huion every day for around a year before moving up to a cintiq (although I should note that during that time: the pen broke in my massive mongoloid hands and I needed to repair it with tape and cable ties and eventually the tablet itself also broke, although I might've done that myself, in a fit of sperg rage)

For the price though, they are still worth it if you're looking for some entry level kit to see if digital art is for you. (it is, you won't regret it)


I personally wouldn't use it as a mouse replacement, it may help you get used to using the pen but, like Curt says: chances are you'll be over the disconnect after a week or two of use, at which point it'll be second nature and you will never look back.


tl;dr: Get a wacom cintiq 13hd, unless you're not willing to take the plunge, in which case get an intuos or a cheap huion, but you will junk your huion before long and trade up.


[edit]

Personally, I would also advise against using a tablet PC with a third party pen, the range of software you have access to isn't as good and the actual hardware isn't ideal, at least for professional work.

 

[Bugaboo]

Don't buy a shitty cheap one
I bought a Wacom Bamboo Fun 9 years ago and it came with Photoshop Elements and Corell Paint (or whatever it's called, I don't use that program) and the tablet still works perfectly. Also it came with a mouse so you don't have to unplug the tablet when you're finished drawing!