Pixelation

General => General Discussion => Topic started by: emerald_crystal on August 26, 2016, 01:26:49 pm

Title: Graphics tablet for pixel art?
Post by: emerald_crystal on August 26, 2016, 01:26:49 pm
HELLO!

Recently I was looking at some graphics tablets and wondering if I would be easier (after practice) to make pixel art than to use a mouse

Little background: I've been programming for almost a year now and have been working on pixel art for about 5 months the game development team I'm apart of has an artist whose been working for longer too....

I was looking at this http://www.amazon.com/Ugee-Drawing-Tablets-Memory-Card/dp/B00KHL5PV6/ref=aag_m_pw_dp?ie=UTF8&m=A1FSEUG2W17R1Xhttp://
I know it won't make my art better I'm wondering if it is worth the cost

Title: Re: Graphics tablet for pixel art?
Post by: yrizoud on August 26, 2016, 03:10:53 pm
Don't hesitate to do a search on "tablet" in the forums, you'll see plenty of feedback.
Generally speaking, a graphic tablet is mostly useful to convey your pen-and-paper drawing skill to the computer.
For pixel art, it's mostly useful at the beginning, to get the right proportions and movements, before the pixel-by-pixel detail. It may be a small part of the work time, but it's important - it's very frustrating when you have a clear idea in your head and you can't do it with mouse.
Even if you use it less than you intended for pixel work, if you're like me you'll discover a second usage by experimenting and having fun drawing with art programs which simulate watercolor, charcoal etc. This is very good for motivation (and possibly discover a new passion!)
Note that if you live in a high-population area, you may find a lot of used tablets in the classifieds (be sure to search for "GRAPHIC tablet" or "wacom", to filter out the ipads). Near me, I can see used entry-level Wacom tablets for 25$-50$. If you find one that looks physically in perfect condition (no scratches, stylus point doesn't look "used up"), it's good to go.
Title: Re: Graphics tablet for pixel art?
Post by: emerald_crystal on August 26, 2016, 04:15:29 pm
so what your saying is its helpful for big sprites/project but not for pixel by pixel detail

is it a possibility that I could use a tablet then for smaller parts of the image I could use mouse
Title: Re: Graphics tablet for pixel art?
Post by: eishiya on August 26, 2016, 07:27:55 pm
I use a tablet for sketching and blocking in colours, and I use a mouse for detail, so yes, you can do that.
Title: Re: Graphics tablet for pixel art?
Post by: emerald_crystal on August 26, 2016, 10:21:59 pm
thanks
Title: Re: Graphics tablet for pixel art?
Post by: 32 on August 26, 2016, 11:19:25 pm
I use the tablet for everything. Only touch the mouse when I'm drawing to do stuff on my other screen. Or if I'm feeling too lazy to sit up straight ::)

Definitely get one if you're even a little bit serious about digital art.
Title: Re: Graphics tablet for pixel art?
Post by: emerald_crystal on August 27, 2016, 01:51:21 am
Alright going to get one only question is which one I like the Ugee G5 but Wacom comes up ALOT, any recommendations I would like to keep it under $300  ;D
Title: Re: Graphics tablet for pixel art?
Post by: yaomon17 on August 27, 2016, 03:31:15 am
I have an intuos, it is nice.
Title: Re: Graphics tablet for pixel art?
Post by: 32 on August 27, 2016, 03:39:09 am
I'm using an intuos (4) also. They're great. Wacom is pretty much the standard and you can expect it to work for everything. Don't need much in terms of sensitivity to do pixel art though so really any tablet is going to function more or less the same. Main advantage of the wacoms is no battery in the pens.
Title: Re: Graphics tablet for pixel art?
Post by: yrizoud on August 27, 2016, 11:28:49 am
Battery-free stylus is very good, because it is as light as a pencil.

By the way, has anybody tried the tablets with added "touch" functionality ? (Wacom "Pen and Touch", etc.) I've wondered if it was actually good when drawing, or an expensive gadget which gets in the way.
Title: Re: Graphics tablet for pixel art?
Post by: emerald_crystal on August 27, 2016, 03:21:27 pm
any thoughts on this one https://www.amazon.com/Wacom-Intuos-Tablet-Medium-PTH651/dp/B00EN27SHY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1472309248&sr=8-4&keywords=intuos+tablet
Title: Re: Graphics tablet for pixel art?
Post by: Curly on August 27, 2016, 04:45:12 pm
I have an old Wacom Bamboo medium size (I bought it for 60€) and never use the mouse for pixelart, it's more comfortable to me even when placing single pixels. Also I don't think I need anything more expensive or bigger than this, it works fine.
Title: Re: Graphics tablet for pixel art?
Post by: Yuushia on August 29, 2016, 07:36:47 am
By the way, has anybody tried the tablets with added "touch" functionality ? (Wacom "Pen and Touch", etc.) I've wondered if it was actually good when drawing, or an expensive gadget which gets in the way.

I have a Wacom Pen & Touch Medium, and to be honest I didn't ever used "touch" function. Mostly because the drivers are bugged on windows 8 and windows 10, so I didn't have the opportunity to put it in practice. But I don't feel like I am missing something tbh.
Title: Re: Graphics tablet for pixel art?
Post by: jalonso67 on August 28, 2020, 04:21:45 am
I use the XP-Pen Star G430 https://www.xp-pen.com/product/46.html drawing tablet all the way through most of the time. sometimes I'll switch to mouse for details but not often. tablet is much more efficient for sketching out a piece though.
 I can't live without it and have use it for years almost exclusively. They do everything a mouse can do and more and your hands don't ever hurt.
There is a slight learning curve, which is small. Imo, a cheap pen beats the best mouse. The common opinion that using a pen to rough and mouse to detail is and will always be confusing to me. Especially for pixel pushing.