Should I upgrade to a fancy Intuos tablet from my Graphire4?
February 7, 2008 12:30 PM Subscribe
Graphire4 vs. Intuos: should I stay or should I go (upgrade?)
Mine is a 6x8" tablet-- apart from having to wrap the stylus in electrical tape (the grip started coming off) it works fine. But only 'fine'... I don't draw with it at all, merely color because linework pressure is a bit jumpier than I'd like. Also it's a very slick surface, so the feel kind of throws me off.
What I'm wondering is whether an upgrade is a good idea-- I know there's double the sensitivity and tilting in the Intuos, but how does that translate? Are lines more smooth? More of a pleasure to draw with/ more natural? If I had the green I'd get a Cintiq, but I know that's not happening.
If I did upgrade, I'd probably have to get a smaller tablet or buy refurbished (though I see none on Wacom's site right now) or perhaps an earlier model (I can't really swing $330 for a 6x8" at the moment). Would there be much difference in an Intuos vs. Intuos2 or 3? Would an Intuos (the earliest model) be better than a Graphire4? And would the 4x5 size likely drive me nuts if I stepped down? I'm on a 19" iMac and have been using the 6x8 for a couple of years now... so I'm wondering how it might affect me. Of course, I could probably keep the Graphire for coloring and just hang onto the wee Intuos for linework...
Your thoughts, hivemind?
Mine is a 6x8" tablet-- apart from having to wrap the stylus in electrical tape (the grip started coming off) it works fine. But only 'fine'... I don't draw with it at all, merely color because linework pressure is a bit jumpier than I'd like. Also it's a very slick surface, so the feel kind of throws me off.
What I'm wondering is whether an upgrade is a good idea-- I know there's double the sensitivity and tilting in the Intuos, but how does that translate? Are lines more smooth? More of a pleasure to draw with/ more natural? If I had the green I'd get a Cintiq, but I know that's not happening.
If I did upgrade, I'd probably have to get a smaller tablet or buy refurbished (though I see none on Wacom's site right now) or perhaps an earlier model (I can't really swing $330 for a 6x8" at the moment). Would there be much difference in an Intuos vs. Intuos2 or 3? Would an Intuos (the earliest model) be better than a Graphire4? And would the 4x5 size likely drive me nuts if I stepped down? I'm on a 19" iMac and have been using the 6x8 for a couple of years now... so I'm wondering how it might affect me. Of course, I could probably keep the Graphire for coloring and just hang onto the wee Intuos for linework...
Your thoughts, hivemind?
I haven't used them extensively, but I used a Grapphire 2 and an Intuos 2 in fairly rapid succession a couple of years ago, and the Intuos just seemed smoother and more responsive. I'm sure it's possible to demo them somewhere...
posted by Magnakai at 5:44 PM on February 7, 2008
posted by Magnakai at 5:44 PM on February 7, 2008
Hey Meg! the Intuos is what I use and it's a big difference, the Graphire doesn't have the sensitivity levels to do more painterly or delicate things (in my opinion), and it's worth the dough, you can write it off on your taxes and mine NEVER broke! Had it for 7 years going on 8 now!
posted by mrs.pants at 12:25 PM on February 8, 2008
posted by mrs.pants at 12:25 PM on February 8, 2008
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re the stylus being wrapped in e-tape: why not order a new stylus?
re the surface being too slick: why not place a piece of 8x11" paper over the tablet, held against the tablet by one little piece of Scotch tape, on the top end of the tablet? I put a sheet of paper on the tablet to increase traction between the stylus and the tablet. This works very well, and also acts as protective cover against dust and other desk incidentals.
posted by seawallrunner at 2:51 PM on February 7, 2008