Pen/Graphic Tablet - G-Pen F610

[samuelmosc]

This post goes out to the designers out there. I need some tutorials or instructions on using Pen Tablets.
I have been using and training intensively ~5h/day Photoshop for alot of time now and i decided to buy a
Pen/Graphic Tablet. It's horrible . it crushes my nerves very quickly, tried to find some good tutorials
but nothing. i am not ready to give up on it just yet so i am asking for some pointers and directions
if anyone has any as to learn to use it. the tablet is running fine i just find difficult,
for example to make selections. it seems way harder to me than just using the mouse. Any help? Thx

[CurrentlySober]

Wacom FTW!

[mavruda]

Okay - you're good to go then - there's no proper instructions of how to use Pen Tablet.
It's like using a normal pencil - but you do it on tablet and the result goes to the screen.
Tutorials for using tablet does not exist, but tutorials how to use effect or how to make some certain techniques using software - do exist.
Every guy has it's own preferences. I can give you example with myself and my own preferences. I was using the following programs:

1. Photoshop - good powerful engine, strong filters - without doubts a good software with many abilities. The good stuff with it is it's ability to download and create by yourself custom brushes. It's good for photo editing, - and most of the artists I know passed through this program and admits it's good sides, but they went to other products for drawing - as I did too.

2. If you buy Wacom Pen Tablet - most of the people would say this is the best product and they are right. I'm using Pen Tablet myself too and I'm happy. It's cool and reliable. The size depends on what you're dealing with. For professional deeds - the bigger size - the better. If you're making a living from it, then the usage of Cintiq should be a part of the whole thing. Check the pricing of Cintiq though - it does not cost 20 dollars :-)
So wacom tablet usually if it's in promotion comes with a software - Art Rage. I've used it for a while - it's light, loads faster - and the screen of it's interface is HUGE. Giving you some certain idea of freedom. It's not that powerful as the next product though, and I don't know many guys who uses it.

3. A time ago a friend gave me advice to go with Corel Painter. It's powerful software- every single tool has it's own settings, and you're able to tweak it according to your needs. It's advantage is the pencil tool - it looks realistic, and basically it's cool. I was using it for a very long time - and still I'm doing it. So it's good for sketching. If you're good with mixing colors and fine with using Oils or other similar to it - this is the right software for you. It has color mixer, different canvas effect etc.

4. And Paint Tools SAI - that' software I was trying to avoid for a very long time. It's japanese - light and yet that word "powerful". It's good sides are the ink tools. Again very close to the realistic ink pen - it gives option to the comic drawer to make lines - from thick to very thin - and of course it varies with the pressure of the pen. The final result of the drawing looks clean and sharp to me - with the lines and the colors are cool too.
It's Airbrush tool is cool, but COrel Painter's airbrush tool is better.

There will be guys who would advice you to use some of the open source products, like GIMP or something, but it's your call and matter of choice.

In short you don't need tutorials of how to use the object - pen tablet, but tutorial how to use one of the mentioned products or similar - again with paint tablet.
I know a guy who's not using pen, but a mouse and still the results are amazing.