~ Tao's Sketches ~

[Tao]

I've pretty much got two things I want with this thread.

(1)
The Sketches

Spoiler

Spoiler: Gizmo

Spoiler: Other's

Spoiler: Vanellope

Aside from the one of Vanellope they're all original characters.

I usually only really get feedback from my best friend since I don't often show my stuff to people, so it would be nice to have other people's opinion for a change.

I do draw a lot more than just people and the occasional bear but these are just a few I had scanned at the library a few weeks ago with the intention of practicing coloring etc digitally (which I've obviously not done).



(2)
The Other Thing

I want to start doing things digitally for a few reasons (mostly the convenience) but I know there's a few options out there and I'm kinda clueless on what I should try or what is the best option. I've tried using a mouse and that just frustrated me.

So what else would be recommended? I'm guessing most people will say a tablet, is there anything in particular I should be looking for with them? I'm sort of considering a tablet already, so it would be nice to know of things I should look for if I buy one, especially since I've not properly used one before.

 

[Pokemanz]

Is everyone I know like secretly talented at art? Meanwhile I'm over here like drawing stick figures o-o

I'm not an artist so I wouldn't know much about tablets, but I do know there's loads of 'em that you'll probably either love or hate with a passion. I hear different artists talking about different tablets all the time. I guess it really all just depends on what you're planning to do with it and what your computer might be able to handle. I'm not much help though lol

Can't wait to see you do some digital stuff though. x:

 

[Pharaoh]

Digital, there are some nice programs out there to play around with! Any version of Photoshop is a good start. Paint Tool Sai has a very nice, user-friendly interface with all the fundamentally important functions, such as a pen stabilizer to create clear and concise linework, and some basic layering. Some people rather like GIMP but I've never personally used it. CLIP also seems to be turning a few heads. As for tablets, Wacom is usually the go-to. Their tablets have given me a little bit of trouble through the years, but when they DO work, they work well. Don't go for a small sized tablet, they're essentially useless, go for a medium at least. I think the Intuos line is very nice, but many people might recommend a Bamboo as they are good for first-timers, as well as cheaper.

 

[pengutango]

Since people still get it mixed up, the Bamboo line IS the Intuos line now. What was originally the Intuos line is now the Intuos Pro line. I don't get Wacom changed the name of the Bamboo line.

It's confusing as hell and people mix it up all the time... -___- You can't recommend the Bamboo line anymore anyway since Wacom no longer makes them. If you want a Bamboo, you have to go to 3rd party sellers. The main differences between the Intuos and Intuos Pro lines are the levels of sensitivity (1024 vs 2048) and there are extra buttons on the Intuos Pro version that you can configure to your liking.

For a beginner, go for the Intuos line since it's cheaper than the Intuos Pro. I honestly have the small Intuos (this is the one I have: [x]) and it honestly works fine for me. While I don't really draw these days, I use it for rendering and graphics sometimes and works perfectly fine for that.

You can move up to the Pro model when you get better OR you can invest in it now, assuming you're gonna use it. I wouldn't recommend getting anything more expensive than the Pro line, like the Cintiq line, unless you are SERIOUS about art and you intend on making a career out of art.

I mean, if you have money to burn, feel free to get a Cintiq, but for the beginner/hobby artist, it's honestly stupid to get a Cintiq off the bat. The only person I know on TBT who has a Cintiq is UtopiaJ, who's a pro illustrator, so makes sense that she has one.

Paint Tool Sai is really good for drawing/painting since that's what it was made for, but otherwise, it's not useful for anything else. Photoshop can do pretty much everything, but there might be a higher learning curve since there's sooo much that it can do. Between the two, at least to me, I feel like SAI has better sensitivity.

Keep in mind SAI is Windows only so if you have a Mac, I've heard FireAlpaca is a decent alternative to SAI. I've never used it, so I dunno how good it really is compared to SAI.

 

[Pharaoh]

Since people still get it mixed up, the Bamboo line IS the Intuos line now. What was originally the Intuos line is now the Intuos Pro line. I don't get Wacom changed the name of the Bamboo line. It's confusing as hell and people still mix it up. The main differences between the Intuos and Intuos Pro lines are the levels of sensitivity (1024 vs 2048) and there are extra buttons on the Intuos Pro version that you can configure to your liking.

You can tell my age! Last tablet I got was the Intuos 4, so at the time, Bamboo was its own separate line. Someone told me the equivalent of mine would be considered the Intuos Pro 5? Think that's right.

 

[pengutango]

You can tell my age! Last tablet I got was the Intuos 4, so at the time, Bamboo was its own separate line. Someone told me the equivalent of mine would be considered the Intuos Pro 5? Think that's right.

Haha. I used to mix it up a LOT myself when I first heard about the change. WTF were you thinking Wacom?! *flails*

They were always separate lines, but now, both lines been re-branded or whatever you call it. XD I have really no idea if the Pro line even does the numbers anymore. Haven't bothered to really look deeper since I don't have an intention of buying another tablet. Though, from what it looks like, in terms of design, the Pro line doesn't really look any different. The now Intuos line has changed a lot, even when it was the Bamboo line.

 

[Tao]

Digital, there are some nice programs out there to play around with! Any version of Photoshop is a good start. Paint Tool Sai has a very nice, user-friendly interface with all the fundamentally important functions, such as a pen stabilizer to create clear and concise linework, and some basic layering. Some people rather like GIMP but I've never personally used it. CLIP also seems to be turning a few heads.

Well I have GIMP installed but I've never really done much with it. I just got it because it seemed like a 'free Photoshop'. Since it was free, I'm unsure of how good it actually is compared to other software (I usually expect 'free' to be 'not very good').

The main differences between the Intuos and Intuos Pro lines are the levels of sensitivity (1024 vs 2048) and there are extra buttons on the Intuos Pro version that you can configure to your liking.

What are the 'levels of sensitivity'? Is that more like mouse sensitivity or pencil pressure? I would assume that a higher number is overall better either way?

Yea, I'm that clueless about all this...

You can move up to the Pro model when you get better OR you can invest in it now, assuming you're gonna use it. I wouldn't recommend getting anything more expensive than the Pro line, like the Cintiq line, unless you are SERIOUS about art and you intend on making a career out of art.

I did a quick search for Cintiq, I think ?600+ a little out of my current price range

Looking at the Intuos and Intuos Pro lines though, I would say the pro might be a bit expensive to consider for now (though I would like to make that investment in the long run), especially with something I have very little experience with. It's always something I can upgrade to though once I've had some experience with them.

 

[pengutango]

What are the 'levels of sensitivity'? Is that more like mouse sensitivity or pencil pressure? I would assume that a higher number is overall better either way?

Yea, I'm that clueless about all this...


I did a quick search for Cintiq, I think ?600+ a little out of my current price range

Looking at the Intuos and Intuos Pro lines though, I would say the pro might be a bit expensive to consider for now (though I would like to make that investment in the long run), especially with something I have very little experience with. It's always something I can upgrade to though once I've had some experience with them.

The levels of sensitivity is for the pen since you use that to draw on the tablet's surface. Yeah, the move levels, the more variation of pen strokes you can have. I will say that it is interesting to draw on the surface, but you have to look at a separate screen to see what you're drawing. That's the advantage of the Cintiq since it has a built-in screen.

Yeah, the regular Intuos line is a good idea when you're starting out since you can always upgrade. Besides, in case you hate using the tablet, you won't be down that much money, versus if you get the Pro upfront. It is a learning curve to learn how to not look down at you hand while you're drawing, you get used to it over time.

 

[Tao]

It is a learning curve to learn how to not look down at you hand while you're drawing, you get used to it over time.

Yea, my grandad used to have one years ago (like, 15+ years ago now) and the having to look up to see what I was doing put me off since I didn't have the patience at that age to get used to it...

It's something I'll likely be able to get used to now though since I actually have patience xD