Dungeon Master Forum

So far I've Been somewhat impressed with it...But I didn't realy think I had to learn how to draw all over again

It's kinda tough to make a picture without lifting the pen up too high to where it'll jump across the screen.but I think i'm getting the hang of it.

I know I could've gotten it cheaper online but my paranoia gets the best of me and I ended up buying it at best buy for $100 (I'm guessing is because It comes with some stuff and a mouse).

Well to keep this post from being pointless I was just wondering if anyone here who has a tablet knows any good tips on how to make my re-learning(heheh) a bit easier if not faster and what neat stuff I can do.

well, I have a graphire3 right now.. upgraded from my graphire1. I find I just got used to using it. the first few things I did I didn't take as a big production. It was only as a process of learning to operate with it. Once I started being comfortable with it I moved on to legitimate drawings. Things I would want to keep.

You can draw a sketch first one paper and then trace over it on the tablet. that's one of the many uses. however, it really is about just taking time to get accustomed to it.

first thing.. take the mouse.. and put it elsewhere.. don't use it. You get into the habit of switching back it will only take you longer. Then.. go to the options and reset your pen buttons. I have my 3 mouse buttons set up on my pen. Tip set to left click, lower button set to middle and upper set to right. The eraser left as is. I use it for nearly everything now. if you are used to using the wheel mouse just remember that you can middle click and it then allows you to scroll up and down the web page too.

if you get accustomed to this then you won't have a problem. The other thing is don't set your pen to mouse mode. Some people do this and it makes no sense to me.. it increases your learning time for hand eye coordination for actual drawing. you want to make the easiest transition from paper to screen as possible so you should be able to "pick up" the mouse cursor and put it back down anywhere you like on the screen as you would pencil to paper.

anyway.. what did you get? Intuos? Graphire?

i'm been using a graphire 2 since several years (a nice orange one ) and i know what you mean by "relearning" ! my first impression was "ahhhh ohhhhh argh ctrl-z uhhhhhhh ? arghhhhh ! ctrl-z" because i'm used to draw very fast on paper. now, i'm using my pen only for coloring the roughs i made on paper and scanned... this is fast and accurate/precise.

Ah Thanks for the tips.

I've gotten the graphire tablet(it was the only one I was able to buy in the store). Yeah it takes a bit to get used to but soon it'll be nice to have since it is easier to use then the mouse.

I'll remember that scanning idea though when I get the hang of this.