The Malum ([info]the_malum) wrote,
@ 2008-04-30 21:41:00
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Current mood: contemplative
Entry tags:ramble

Stylus?
I'm considering picking up a cheap stylus so I can transfer some drawings into a vector graphics application. Looking around online, it looks like there's a range of prices available. So, I summon the knowledge of my Friends' List -- what do you think? Get a nice tablet for graphical drawing (better chance to resell it for some amount) or get a cheap ePen (might be difficult to use), or give the whole thing a pass?


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[info]ryoushi_ha
2008-05-01 04:26 am UTC (link)
Transfer real world drawings to vector? A scanner and mouse work fine for that. Tablets are more useful for raster art.

However, if what you're transferring is especially large, those mouse-pens might have a use. I've never used one though.

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[info]the_malum
2008-05-01 04:55 pm UTC (link)
I'd like to clean them up, though. My thinking was, I could scan them in, but then I'd have to deal with artifacting and smudgey lines. If I trace them in with a stylus, I can bypass that task.

You do more art than I; do you find it easy to "fix" art you've scanned in?

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[info]ryoushi_ha
2008-05-01 06:42 pm UTC (link)
Normally, adjusting image threshold (along with other filters) to get a good b&w for the lines leaves only minor problems to be touched up -- easily mousable. If the source is a wreck, I'd get out some tracing paper or a lightbox and do a redraw with cleaner lines. (If you have a scanner around, it's certainly worth a shot.)

Of course, depending on what you're drawing, the tablet could very well be the simpler option, but most of the work will still be in the final curve adjustments.

I've actually had very little time with graphics tablets. Everybody who spends more time with them seems to love the Wacom Cintiq, but I imagine that's a bit much for what you're doing, eh?

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[info]chaiamrge
2008-05-01 11:38 am UTC (link)
I agree with the first poster. The newer versions of Adobe Illustrator have some really great auto trace tools.

However if you're still looking for a tablet, then I've used wacoms before and liked them. They have different version from consumer level to pro so it's a range of prices.

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[info]the_malum
2008-05-01 05:04 pm UTC (link)
I went looking around, and found the following interesting products:

Ezonics ePen - this looks like a cheap alternative to the others. Not sure how well it works, though; some user reviews indicate that it's a bit sensitive.
Wacom Bamboo -- seems like a mid-range product for consumers as opposed to professionals. Not as expensive as other tablets.
Wacom Intuos -- these are high-end tablets. Way more than I'd use, and too pricey for my budget.

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