wacom tips??

**vigostar** · December 27th, 2005, 11:35 AM

Ok, so I just got my Wacom for x-mas. Can anyone give me some tips on how to work with that thing?? I played around with it for alittle bit.. Def. something that takes time to get used to.. but are there any tips or tricks that can give me a little boost? Thanks in advance..

**figure2** · December 27th, 2005, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by vigostar

Ok, so I just got my Wacom for x-mas. Can anyone give me some tips on how to work with that thing?? I played around with it for alittle bit.. Def. something that takes time to get used to.. but are there any tips or tricks that can give me a little boost? Thanks in advance..

Don't immediately jump into a major piece with it. Start with some simple exercises to get you used to it: color in some scanned line drawings do some simple paintings. Also check out the Digital Painting in PS thread. The exercises are simple and might be just the right thing to get you started.

**vigostar** · December 27th, 2005, 12:12 PM

thanks Figure.. Will do...

**Idiot Apathy** · December 27th, 2005, 04:04 PM

In whatever program you have make sure you check out the new options for pressure and what not, did you get a Graphire or Intuos? Intuos has some more settings, can't help you too much on that (I have an old old Graphire2). Usually I have the pressure set to size or opacity, or a mix of both.

Some people I've heard like to have a piece of paper in between the pen and the tablet to give them some resistance/feel like your drawing with a pencil, I don't really recommend this; seems counter-productive.

Check the settings in the Driver, see how you want it; how hard or soft you want to press etc. I might just ignore the extra buttons for now and figure out what you want them for later. (Right now I have one of the switches set to alt for the color picker so I don't need two hands).

Really just keep noodling with it; you'll get used to it soon.

**vigostar** · December 27th, 2005, 04:07 PM

cool
.. thats some good pointers

**cotron** · December 27th, 2005, 04:39 PM

the paper trick is good for getting straighter lines, I have a hell of a time trying to do any hatching or linework on the slippery surface... but after a day or two the tablet is more natural feeling... but yeah, scanning and coloring stuff is a good start... just sitting down and playing is the best way to get used to it.

**vigostar** · December 27th, 2005, 04:56 PM

ahh. i guess i gotta just play with it.. try the paper and non paper..

**Flake** · December 27th, 2005, 05:48 PM

If you happen to be using Painter 9, make sure you have a play with Edit > Preferences > Brush Tracking after tinkering about with the sensitivity in the wacom drivers.

**Number_6** · December 27th, 2005, 06:10 PM

I just got one too. Try surfing the internet, playing minesweeper, etc using the pen. It'll help you get used to it. You could do something from the colouring book thread too as practice.