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I'm an architect and in recent years as part of diversion necessary to stay afloat I've done a few graphics jobs for local tourist attraction and community groups.
I've come to really enjoy this type of work and would like to get more skilled at it. I've got reasonable skills in photoshop and indesign but have recently needed to use illustrator and found I'm very limited here. I'd like to buy a cheapish graphics tablet to allow me to progress into more interesting and less restricted styles of work.
Does anyone have any advice they could give me on tablets or on learning illustrator in general? Thanks.
Wacom Pen & Touch Medium (£130) or if you can afford it the Wacom Intuos Pro Medium (£230).
I had a Bamboo and moved to the Intuos 4 and it is miles ahead (the Pro has replaced the 4). Simply superb.
If those are too expensive then look at the small size. Still perfectly useable I just find the medium just that bit more comfortable
You could look at others but I just don't see the need. Wacom are the industry standard and for a good reason.
Huion tablets ... much cheaper than Wacom stuff .. so you'd likely be able to go a larger size for same price point IIRC. Go google them and see some of the reviews.
I have an Huion H610PRO and like it.
Professional graphic designer and frequent illustrator user here; I do everything with a mouse. Lack of tablet shouldn't be a limiting factor for using Illo should it?
Pen & paper.
Then scan/photograph place into illustrator, live trace or out line...
jackthedog - Member
Professional graphic designer and frequent illustrator user here; I do everything with a mouse. Lack of tablet shouldn't be a limiting factor for using Illo should it?
POSTED 47 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST
I'm an illustrator/graphic designer by trade too. I have a fine art background so find a tablet more natural to use. However I have collegues who prefer a mouse. I think this comes down to personal preference and I agree a lack of tablet doesn't limit illo. Op I'd buy a very cheap used one off eBay or borrow one to see if you like it, if your anywhere near Chester I have an old bamboo you can borrow. These really are a marmite thing in my experience and I've seen many people buy expensive tablets only to eBay them later.
Does anyone have any advice they could give me on tablets or on learning illustrator in general? Thanks.
I've taught a bit in learning illo too. My first point of advice is to deconstruct (I'm assuming from your OP your not a novice in CC/CS) look at an image and see how it was put together.
I like these examples of getting started too, they are a good way to getting to grips with the tools:
http://webdesignledger.com/tutorials/11-well-written-character-illustration-tutorials
Thanks for the advice guys, it's all very useful. I buy a lot of bike bits on eBay but hadn't considered looking for a tablet there so that's a good shout. I know what you mean about the use of a mouse not being a limiting factor and I've used live trace before but I felt that using the tablet might encourage me to combine free hand drawing with graphics more naturally. Off to check out the links above now and have a little browse our eBay. Thanks
I don't like live trace....
I have a wacom tablet but I still use a mouse for 90% of work in illustrator.
(IANAGD)
For tablets bigger isn't always better. A5 is a nice balance between being usable and not being a desk hog. Had some clients who went for a3 and ended up reconfiguring them to only use one little corner...