No, I don't need new medication...well, opinion on that depends on who you speak to, but that's a different topic entirely! (And how many times has that 'joke' been cracked?)

 

No, it is far worse than that, my old faithful Wacom Graphire (yes, it really is that old), is on it's last legs! I'm starting to get dead spots on the tablet and some areas are feeling 'scratchy'. So with Christmas around the corner I'm contemplating spoiling myself with a Christmas treat and getting a new tablet.

 

With that in mind, I'm asking the community for purchasing advise. My current tablet has an A6 work area and I'm thinking of expanding to at least A4, possibly A3, so my first question is; what does the added size offer that a smaller tablet doesn't? Would an A3 be better than an A4 or should I save some cash and just go for an A4? Also, these new-fangled tablets seem to have butons all over the shop (mine just has a pen holder...and at the time I felt privileged to get that), so are there any essential 'functions' I should look for or do most products offer the same basic options?

 

Obviously I can't talk about tablets without mentioning the Cintiq. However my Cintiq-fu is disappoinintly weak and I have a couple of idiot level questions I hope somebody can answer. First up, are they worth the hefty price tag? A close second is, do they replace a monitor or do you still need a monitor for everyday computer (and gaming) use? My home work space is quite small, so considering the 'hands on' philosophy of the Cintiq, do you need to go larger to get the most out of one?

 

Finally, are tablets something likely to appear in the January Sales or will it make no difference if I get one now or New Year?

 

Well, thanks for your time and your advice.

 

Z

theres a thread lurking around here somewhere that would answer most of your questions but here's a summary.

Tablet area wise it all depends on your style of drawing and the space you have, i personally draw quite controlled and small so my A5 is perfect but if you use larger sweeping strokes you would probably prefer an A4. I think A3 would be way too big for most peoples working area.
I don't have the funds for a cintiq so can't really comment on them personally but some people love em some find them too hot to work on, again its down to personal preference i suppose. 

An A4 is a great large size if you have room for it. If you have room and the funds, A3 is pretty awesome. You can proportion the screen to tablet size and if you have a widescreen monitor the A3 really give you room to work with since your tools will be to the side.

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Thanks for the replies folks.

I don't mind using my A5, but I do find the constant zooming in and out can get a little tiresome after a while, so I'm hoping going larger may result in less zooming. A4 also seems more of a natural paper size to me, so perhaps that's the way to go. I'd love an A3, but I think it's just my gadgetmania kicking in, although extra room for tool bars is a good point neeko. I use a widescreen at work and the extra space is indeed a godsend for docker-heavy applications. Does the extra size of an A3 tablet make a big difference if you map the screen, or is it just a nice addition if you can get it?

If, and that's a very big if, I went for a Cintiq it would be the entry level model, which is why I was wondering if it was perhaps a little too small. I suppose it's a question of either buying a top end gadget in an old technology or a bottom end gadget in a new technology. I never thought about it running hot, so thanks for bringing that up. My small work space can get warm, especially in the summer months so it is certainly something to keep in mind. Not sure if I could get into the habit of wearing one of those bizzare golf-glove things people seem to recommend using with them either.

Well thanks for the input so far folks. As much as I would love one, I don't think I can justify a Cintiq at the moment, so I guess I'll have to check out the specs on a Bamboo or Intuos.

Yeah Zinc, the A3 almost brings a 1:1 ratio between you and your monitor where an A4 made me move the stylus on the drawing area then sometimes use the mouse for the tools. But since you have a widescreen putting the tools to the side really opens up your drawing space. Now imagine using that space on a 1:1 ratio on your tablet. It's pretty sweet.

Do you meant the 12wx cintiq? It's pretty small. Is it cool? Yes, but very small. If you want a cintiq you could try to find a 15x or 18x for the same or up to half the price of the 12x. But you may want to get a tablet first then sell it once you're ready to move and afford a cintiq. It'll make all the diffence later.

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seriously i have one, it's not very small! it's like drawing on an A4 sketchpad, you use the same area pretty much. I say if you have the money, go for the cintiq, you wouldn't regret it.

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Sorry, it's not that small. It is 12". I just meant it was small when it's next to an A3 pad.

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Aah, dag nabit! I'd just managed to talk myself out of a Cintiq and know you guys go and give a good case for getting one.

While I have a widescreen monitor at work, I only have a regular monitor at home (18" I think) and the tablet will be mostly for home use, which is where I'm trying to get to grips with painting. After hearing your words of experience, I think I'll get an A4 tablet and if I eventually manage to crack this painting malarky, I'll consider upgrading to a Cintiq then.

Thanks a lot for your input folks, it's been most helpful.

Don't forget to post when you get it in and tell us all about your experiences!

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