My Transformation into Digital Geekdom-inatrix.....
If I were to own a retail business, there is only one kind I would opt for: art supplies.
To say I LOVE art supplies and art supply stores is like saying I love to breathe. Whenever I go into town for paints I m always full of wonder and dying to try just about anything they carry. And sometimes I actually convince myself that I WILL find time to give new methods and materials a try, so I actually buy them.
I am STILL waiting to try my hand at crackling my painted illustrations.Got that crackle stuff. And gessos--I have a ton of different gessos with all kinds of textures, from sandy to gravel. Plus papers-can never have too many kinds of Hot Press laying around. Don't even get me started about my gazillion dollars worth of scrap booking crapola...
So, in keeping with my love of new materials, and ways to create images, I have become enamored of my computer, since I also do some work digitally. I love digital cameras, printers, scanners and so on. And what better "material" to covet and get than the new CINTIQ by Wacom? I just bought the 20 inch wide screen and I am in digital heaven. This is about as close to feeling like I am working on real paper with real materials as I have ever felt on a computer.
If you are not aware of the Cintiq then check out the videos available. I am telling you--this thing is as good as it looks.
This is NOT me below, of course, but I do feel as cool as this Youtube Video sounds....
This is very cool. Hope you're getting alot of work done!
Posted by: Vivian | March 12, 2008 at 09:07 PM
I bought one of these a few months back and it has changed my life!! I love it!! Congrats!
Posted by: Sherry Rogers | March 13, 2008 at 02:46 AM
Luckily I'm immune to wanting one... I still like just plain paper, pencils, paints and Photoshop combined.
And I never wanted a laptop computer either!
Also I am sooo relieved that I don't have to upgrade to a new computer for years now. I was afraid I might have to... but it turns out the old PowerMac can handle everything I need so far!
:0)
jn
Posted by: john nez | March 14, 2008 at 06:39 PM
Hi Barbara -- I keep coming back to watch this demo of the Cintiq. I am feeling bewitched by it, but I'm leery of the cost... because what if it doesn't really work for me -- what if I can't draw on it? Is there a way to test-drive a Cintiq?
(love your blog, btw....thanks!)
rebecca
Posted by: Rebecca | March 15, 2008 at 09:42 AM
Hi Guys--Vivian, Sherry, John, Rebecca! Thanks for stopping by. Sherry, isn't it the best thing to come along in a long time? It really has changed the way I work, too.
Rebecca, I wish I knew how to tell you the way the try one out. That is what my husband thought I should do. But, I am impulsive and I also knew I had to get to work on a job that I needed to do digitally: the next Bones book (the last 2 of the 6 out so far were done in PAINTER) , so I dove in.
One thing I did know: friends of mine who bought it before I did absolutely SANG its praises.
Do you work on a Wacom tablet now? This is infinitely better. I find that I am actually sketching right on it, as opposed to sketching on paper first, scanning, then cleaning up on the computer. This has a more natural feel than the Intuos Wacom tablet.
Feel free to ask me any questions.
Posted by: Barbara Johansen Newman | March 15, 2008 at 04:04 PM
One more thing: one person I know who ordered the 12 inch ended up getting rid of it. The main reason? Too small.
I find I use the entire surface of the 20 inch. I would not want it smaller.
Posted by: Barbara Johansen Newman | March 15, 2008 at 04:05 PM
Wow -- thanks so much for that extra info! You've said exactly what I thought was probably true. Downside, you can't try it out first; upside, it's great to be able to draw right on the tablet. THAT is what appeals to me. I do have a wacom table (a teeny little "graphire" model with a six inch drawing surface) and my biggest challenge is "finding" the stylus on the screen. I have to make a random mark just to see where the stylus "is" , then erase that and try to get my drawing going again.
So (because you were so kind to offer!) one more question. Did you find it difficult to adjust to drawing on the surface of the screen -- as opposed to paper? I have yet to feel as if my drawing via wacom has the response to my hand that I need, and consequently what shows up on the screen doesn't look like "my" drawing -- it looks awkward and contrived.
Okay, so now I have to think about how to be able to afford this... Where did you get yours?
Thanks so much, Barb!
Posted by: Rebecca | March 18, 2008 at 09:56 AM
Rebecca, I ordered it directly from Wacom. I think there was a site where you might be able to save about $70, but it was back ordered and I am an impatient person--surprise, surprise. BTW, you CAN return it, although there is a restocking charge.
I also always had problems drawing on my Wacom because there was not enough surface tension, as there is in paper. I did put a sheet of vinyl over it for a while and that helped. The surface of the Cintiq seems better, but maybe it is my imagination. I have flirted with trying the vinyl again, but so far I am pleased.
You can order different pens, though, and some of those might give you a better feel.
I bet you will find that the Cintiq looks much more like your own natural drawing. Mine sure does.
Keep us posted as to what you do and whether you like it. Good luck!
Posted by: Barbara Johansen Newman | March 18, 2008 at 03:23 PM
my god! I´m the same! don´t give me money in an art supplies store cause I´ll spend it for sure!!!!!
hot pressed paper??? neeeeever too many... you are right!!! jejeje
found you through jacketflap... I'm happy I did, great blog...
come visit me some day, mine is about children illustration...
www.caracarmina.blogspot.com
ciao! and the tablet... I want one!!!!!
Posted by: pajara pinta | March 22, 2008 at 04:23 PM
That is so excellent, I am jealous. I want one of those, I am still stumbling along on my 6 inch Wacom Graphire. Although, I find the 6 inch easier than the 20 inch when you are having to guess where you are on the screen and not as cumbersome.
Posted by: Casey G. | March 27, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Barb! I just ordered mine! Woohooooooo! I got the 20 inch. I am WAY excited. Although, yeah, I have to WAIT -- they say "ships in 2+ weeks." Argh. But in the meantime, I'm doing as much work as I can with my little graphire tablet, just to get that stylus mojo workin'.
I'll let you know how it goes once it arrives and I've played with it a bit.
Thanks for all your info and advice -- it was YOU who got me inspired to do this! (And I'm really hoping it will speed up my process in the 26 alphabet books I have to do before August 1st.) thank you, thank you!
Posted by: Rebecca | April 01, 2008 at 03:06 PM