Tablets are an amazing tool. The first time I used one, it changed my life. I can’t imagine how anyone could draw without them. It is so much faster and easier to draw on a tablet than it is with a mouse that it’s hard to go back. But not everyone can afford a tablet or a wacom. There are ways to make do with what you have.
The workaround for drawing with a tablet is to use your regular mouse and some special software. You need to set up your mouse buttons so that they mimic the pen function of the tablet (you should be able to do this in your control panel). There are many different options but the best one I’ve found so far is a freeware program called Mousepad (google it). With Mousepad, you can set up as many different “brushes” as you want and manipulate them however you want–it feels just like working with a real tablet. You can also change your brush size, width, opacity and other settings on the fly using hotkeys. If you want to see an example of what you can do with Mousepad, you can check out my blog here (with pics):
Drawing on a computer monitor is another option. I find that this does not
Addison Barnes is a professional illustrator and designer from the United States. In this post he shares his experience of sketching with a Wacom tablet – is it really a good choice?
Addison draws digitally and uses Photoshop for almost everything, but still prefers to do some of his sketches on paper. For example, he likes to take a napkin, or a piece of plain paper, and sketch quickly with his hand. He also draws straight in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop as well.
Trying out different mediums is important in any artist’s development, even if they stick to one main thing. For example, Dan Whitehead , an artist who created the famous ” The Death Of Superman ” artwork told me that he has always used traditional art, but it still made sense for him to try digital art too in order to improve as an artist.
“I am not saying that I am stuck to one medium or anything like that,” Whitehead said. “I can do both equally well. I have been using traditional art for years now but it doesn’t mean that I don’t try digital art from time to time because I do.”
When you have tried many different ways of creating artwork, you will get more confident about the choices you make
I am a newbie to the world of art and for the past year have been dabbling in it. I draw a lot of stuff from my imagination but also from real life. I do a lot of sketches and paintings of mostly nature and wildlife (which is quite popular here in Australia).
I have recently purchased a new Wacom Bamboo Sketch Pen & Touch tablet for doing my sketches on and I have to be honest with you, it has been an uphill battle from the start, especially since I have been using this tablet as my main tool when drawing.
The reason is because I find that sketching on a tablet can be quite tricky if you are used to traditional media such as pencils and paper. The thing that concerns me is the fact that the lines you produce are not clean which causes the illusion that your work looks unfinished. But the problem with digital sketching is that if you want clean crisp lines, you will probably end up having to go over them again and again which can become tedious especially if you are working on a large piece..
A wacom tablet and stylus are excellent tools in the hands of a skilled artist. I know, because I am a skilled artist. Using a pen tablet is like using your finger on an iPad or other touch screen device; it’s just more precise.
If you’re not a skilled artist, then don’t use a tablet. You will hate it. It is possible to use one without learning how to draw well, but it will be frustrating.
I’ve been using a Wacom tablet for digital drawing for over a decade now. It’s changed over the years. The original Intuos (which I still own) was a bit cumbersome: it still had an external power cord, the battery life was short, etc. The current models are smaller, lighter, and battery-powered.
I’m not a professional artist. But I do appreciate that “digital sketching” with a tablet can improve your hand-eye coordination and overall understanding of form and perspective (at least as much as drawing in regular books). And I also enjoy being able to easily save my work and make changes to it later on.
But I’m still just an amateur artist, so I don’t do this for money. If you’re considering getting into digital sketching, you may be wondering whether you should go with a cheaper model like the Bamboo or the Intuos Draw, or splurge on the higher-end Intuos Pro. Here’s what I think:
With the huge amount of graphic tablet on the current market, it’s hard to decide which one is best for you. Some artists swear by Wacom, while others are happy with Huion or Yiynova.
Truly, the decision is difficult. And we’ve got the experience and skills to help you choose.
The first question is, do you really need a graphics tablet? If you’re only doing hobby work, it might be worth your time to just try your hand at a traditional pencil and paper. But if you’re doing this seriously, then you should consider getting a tablet.
In this article we’ll talk about drawing tablets and how they can improve your drawing skills, what to look for when buying a tablet, and finally our reviews of some of the most popular brands on the market today.**
Yes, these styluses and tablets can help you create better art. But they are not magic. You still need to learn how to use them, and practice is absolutely necessary. Still, if you decide that the risk is worth it and want to buy one of these devices, here are a few tips from my experience.
The Wacom Intuos 5 is a good choice for beginners because it’s cheap and has a small enough area that you won’t feel overwhelmed by it. The small size also makes it easy to take with you wherever you go so that you can draw anywhere, anytime. It’s also small enough that your hand won’t get cramps after long periods of drawing.
To make the most out of this tablet, I recommend using a program like Manga Studio Debut or ClipStudio Paint Pro (formerly known as Anime Studio). They’re both cheaper than Photoshop but offer similar features and work well with the Wacom Intuos 5.
