Jun 042010
I just wanted to know if there were any differences. Like, is it easier to draw and ink your line-art?
Does the graphics tablet make it easier to color, or is it easier to color with the mouse?
Is it better to draw a pic, then scan it and ink it with the pen tool, or is it better to just draw the pic straight onto photoshop with a graphics tablet?
What are the differences and the pros to a graphics tablet?
A pen tablet allows you to draw more naturally directly on the computer (into Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.). Some artists and designers prefer this method, myself included. I have a Wacom Intuos 3 and I usually do digital painting directly into Photoshop as if I was using paint and a brush. Personally, I hate working with actual pencils and pens and going full digital has a few benefits. I will give you my pros and cons:
Pros:
1) No Mess. No buying materials (paint, paper, etc)
2) Easy and instant corrections.
3) No need to scan art. OR you can still scan hand drawn art and then color it digitally by hand. (much more natural than using a mouse). A lot of people do this.
4) Natural feel, like holding a pen.
5) Easy to make selections.
6) Most good tablets have programmable shortcut keys so you don’t need the keyboard much while working.
Cons:
1) Nice tablets can cost around $300, but there are cheaper options.
2) Learning curve. It takes a bit of getting used to drawing with the digital pen and tablet while LOOKING at your screen, not the tablet. Some people simply cannot get used to this. For me it just felt weird for a couple of hours.
3) You might only use the tablet for certain things. (coloring, selecting, but not drawing) depending on your preferences. This may not make it worth the investment if you don’t have a lot of money to spend.
On another note, you mention using the pen tool. I personally find that I use my Wacom Tablet for everything EXCEPT the pen tool. I find it makes it too hard to place points precisely when I am doing design work. I do however use it for everything else, including moving already completed shapes around, coloring drawings, sketching, and creating original artwork.
I prefer doing any type of drawing and coloring with a Graphics tablet, but when I work in a 3D program, or surf the net, I just use a mouse, it is more comfortable.
Pen tool, I use the mouse, selecting points is easier with a mouse
painting and drawing I use a tablet.
Graphics tablet is much easier to use than a mouse. And I usually draw a sketch on paper (possibly ink it), then scan it in, ink it again on the computer and color from there. Much easier that way. But yes, I would definitely get a tablet if you’re going to do digital art. Worth every penny.