I'm going to be pouring myself back into my art, but want to do a more digital take this time around. I just bit a decent computer (suits my needs and then some), but I was looking into a tablet so that I can have a slightly more natural feeling when doing art on the computer (which is to say that using a mouse to draw is the complete opposite of natural since I have not mastered using one left handed, but I digress)... So anyway, does anyone have suggestions or advice to offer on tablets that can be used with 64bit Windows 7 and any programs (freeware preferable) that might be useful? I would greatly appreciate anything anyone has to offer. Thank you.
Right now, there are no decent tablet PCs running Windows 7. Microsoft has said that they won't support any until Windows 8 comes out, and the reviews I've seen for the current Windows 7 tablet PCs (what little there are) have been less than stellar, to say the least. The iPad has some excellent drawing programs available for it, but for a variety of reasons, it has more limitations than a full blown PC does. (However, people have drawn covers for things like The New Yorker using the iPad/iPhone, so it can be done.) What you might want to look at is getting a Wacom tablet which can plug into a PC or a Mac, and it gives you a more normal experience. (Its also cheaper than a new PC.) As for software, Gimp is a free Photoshop like program. Google Sketchup free is a pretty popular design program, and Blender is a popular freeware 3D rendering program.
Thank you Tuck, but I was referring to the usb tablets, like Wacom and the like. I thought I'd remembered some people here using them and wondered if anyone had some insights.
Skin doesn't know any of Wacom's stuff from first-hand, but the best reviewed unit right now seem to be their Bamboo devices.
I can't give you any suggestions, but I do know people who use one of those every single day are comic book artists. At the last convention I went to, I overheard several of them talking about it. If you have a comic convention coming up (and convention season is fast approaching) I'd advise going to a show and talking to a few comic book artists and listen to their opinions on which ones to buy and which to stay away from.
