skinners a question i've wondered

[the_ultimate_evil]

aside from myself does anyone else on here make use of a wacom/tablet for there skinning

i'd say a good 90% of my work is now done using it. anyone else :huh:

[Volsung]

I do!

[Tomato]

I did for awhile, but now I'm running everything on a laptop and I've gotten into the habit of changing rooms every hour to avoid people. Plus, the crappy drivers I was using for awhile (I think I found the one I used on my old computer that didn't have this problem, but I haven't checked) keeps vanishing every time I disconect the tablet, or every time the tablet moved wrong, so I had to reinstall it every two seconds.

I need to get back into the habit though. using the tablet is much eaisier then trying to fiddle with this rediculous mouse pad

[The Pwime]

I've got a really crappy tablet sitting around somewhere...maybe I should give it a shot?   :huh:

[Carravaggio]

I use it for all aspects of skinning. i doubt i'd bother if i didn't have my wacom.

[Arlecchino]

Ive been wanting to get one for a while now. What sizes of tablets do you guys use?

[murs47]

Having a tablet speeds up the process and allows me to add my artistic stroke to my skins..... if I didn't have it, I probably would have never started skinning again. That's how great it is.

I have the Wacom Intuos 6x9, but I don't think size really matters.

^ all just my opinion.

[vamp]

but I don't think size really matters.

Keep it family appropriate!  :P

You know i've actually never tried using a tablet before. I have a few lying around the house. Maybe i'll try it one of these days

[Podmark]

No tablet for me. I wouldn't mind trying it. It'd probably allow me to do some different things with skins.

[AfghanAnt]

I've tried using a tablet once and it was terrible, I'm strictly a mouse-guy.

[Lionheart]

I'd like to try a tablet. I just don't have good enough mouse control to do the detail work, especially on custom faces. I've thought about penciling faces and scanning them in, but I'd prefer working in Photoshop to get the colors to blend better.

[The Hitman]

If I had the money to by a wacom tablet, the time to learn how to use it well, and the overall artistic ability to justify me buying a wacom, I'd try it. But I'm happy with my "mouse- ing."

[Figure Fan]

I have a WACOM tablet, but I rarely use it. Sad but true..

[BatWing]

aside from myself does anyone else on here make use of a wacom/tablet for there skinning

i'd say a good 90% of my work is now done using it. anyone else :huh:

whats a wacom/tablet thingy?

(sorry for threadjacking)

[Lunarman]

It's like a piece of magic paper. (no kidding) that when you write on it using a special pen the lines are transfered to photoshop. In simple terms it's like drawing direct to the screen. Therefore you can use it to get better details for things like custom faces and such, becuase hand control is better than mouse control.

They're expensive though, otherwise I'd own one :)

[Carravaggio]

Ive been wanting to get one for a while now. What sizes of tablets do you guys use?

4x6 inch wacom, a friend sold me his old one for $50 AUS about six years ago and it still works like a dream. best purchase i ever made.
Of course he promptly went and bought a model which had a cost into the four figures...but it does the same job.
I see what IPS is saying, the Wacom is too touchy for me to do a lot of lassoing and selections that is done with a mouse, but when i paint anything
like this
then i use the wacom. it helps me blend colour and create shapes better than using a mouse. i remember those days. i have a lot of respect for people who have to use a mouse and still create quality skins.
I knew IPS was a mous-o-phile, but AA I find it very hard to believe that you only use a mouse. I'm even more impressed with your work than ever.

[Volsung]

I don't think size really matters.

True , I had an 9*12 before discovering FF1.
And now I got a 4*6, too much space is just a waste, that's why photoshop got a zoom.

Wacom Tablet are incontrovertible.You buy it once, and you use it for years.
That's not like other computer parts you got to constantly upgrade.(unless you stupidly drop and damage your wacom pencil)

[murs47]

unless you stupidly drop and damage your wacom pencil

or your dog snatches it out of your hands....... :rolleyes:

[Tomato]

unless you stupidly drop and damage your wacom pencil

or your dog snatches it out of your hands....... :rolleyes:

Or you lend the tablet to your sister for some art project and she loses it

[AfghanAnt]

but AA I find it very hard to believe that you only use a mouse. I'm even more impressed with your work than ever.

Thanks. I have one (somewhere) I tried skinning and drawing with it and got frustrated and gave up. I use to use your ordinary run-of-the-mile mouse but I went out and bought a tricked-out one which really helps once you play with the setting for various programs.

[Renegade]

Like anything else, you just have to adapt to it. Honestly, once you get over the initial hump, it will change your life. Not that you'll totally forsake the mouse, but using them both in conjunction to do what they are best at will save you time overall. This is 12 years of experience with a Wacom speaking. Once I made the switch I never looked back.

Of course these days I'm fortunate enough to use one of these, which is pretty much a dream come true:



Seriously, it's the single best art tool I've ever used since I first picked up a pencil and started drawing as a toddler. I have the older 18 inch version and right after my family, I love this thing most in the world.

[Deaths Jester]

I used to use one almost 100% of the time but then the bloody thing decided to fritz out on me...since then I've been stuck with le bloody mouse...which, while not as versatile as the wacom, I have become quite used to it.

[Figure Fan]

Maybe I should practice more with my tablet. Its just too touchy for me as of now.

[daglob]

I've used a tablet for... TEN YEARS?? How'd I get so old?

Anyway, one thing those who aren't sure about a tablet is go look for one on ebay.

I've got one of the smaller ones, as well as my old Artpad II. My sister gave me and her husband (he draws stuff for the Army) and me each one for Christmas. I fell in love wiht mine and used it constantly. He played with his for a week or two and put it back in th box.

Until about five years later. He decided to just try the thing out for a little while, and now loves it too.

As for Figure Fan's being "touchy" it you might need to go through set up and calibrate the "feel" of the stylus for your hand. If you have already done that, I have a program or two that plays around with the sensitivity. Next time I try to paint a 1px line, it covers half the work area. The only way to get around it is to re-boot. If I knew which ones it was I'd look for replacements, but as of yet I can't tell.

Oh, and you might replace the nib, or if it's new grab it lightly with needle-nosed pliers or tweezers and either twist it or pull it out and gently put it back. Sometimes they get stuck.

[UnfluffyBunny]

I have a 9x12 tablet I love very very much :)

(edit) tho i've never used thois one for FF... i was using a 4x6 till recently

[Arlecchino]

Well you all have sold me on getting one. And there are some good deals on Ebay for them.

[UnkoMan]

Crazy tablets... People tried to get me into them when I did webcomics, and it didn't take. I don't think I'll be getting one any time soon.

Mouse for life!