best tablet for use with Illustrator and photoshop

[jan]

I'm new to the forum (got my firm to buy the year membership) :)

I work in textile design and have been using Illustrator for about two years but I think the time has come for me to purchase a tablet to use for drawing (in Illustrator and photoshop).

My question is: What's the best tablet right now that will be precise enough for detailed Illustrations and have the functionality to take advantage of all the feature that adobe software can offer? What's the best format A5, A4 etc? (the price doesnt play a major role but I'm aiming for something in mid-range not top of the line like an LCD tablet)

Thanks in advance

[MKO]

Jan, there's pretty much one brand: WACOM
http://www.wacom.com/intuos/index.cfm

I have an Intuos2 6x8 tablet (A5 I think) and never felt the need for a larger size.

[jan]

thanks for the prompt reply MKO

I'm stuck between two choices the INTUOS and GRAPHIRE, I like the option with the GRAPHIRE where I can place images under a transparent casing and trace them otherwise I don't know enough about tablets to differentiate their benefits? Are pressure levels and resolution very important?

[MKO]

Intuos is the professional line and very well supported by Adobe products. Pressure levels and resolution are important.

I don't own an Intuos3 but on my Intuos2 I can also lift the plastic sheet and place paper beneath it.

- Martin

[rookie]

I own an Graphire and was attracted to it because of the plastic cover I could use to trace on... but with the "place" as a template option in AI, I've never needed to use that feature. I simply place as a template and draw (trace) over... probably with better results.

[vmagic118]

I'm new to the forum (got my firm to buy the year membership) :)

I work in textile design and have been using Illustrator for about two years but I think the time has come for me to purchase a tablet to use for drawing (in Illustrator and photoshop).

My question is: What's the best tablet right now that will be precise enough for detailed Illustrations and have the functionality to take advantage of all the feature that adobe software can offer? What's the best format A5, A4 etc? (the price doesnt play a major role but I'm aiming for something in mid-range not top of the line like an LCD tablet)

Thanks in advance


I do not think you can go wrong with any Wacom ... it actually depends on space and budget..

here is an address where you can compare 3 side by side

http://www.wacom.com/productinfo/differences.cfm

[MKO]

with the "place" as a template option in AI, I've never needed to use that feature. I simply place as a template and draw (trace) over... probably with better results.

I second that. I never trace on the tablet. I scan the sample and place it "as a template" into illustrator just as rookie said. There I can zoom in which is not possible when tracing on the tablet.

[chanson87]

I am also in the textile design and looking into buying a new laptop. I was wondering if anyone knew if a Tablet PC laptop would react the same way a tablet does to a desktop.

[Scott Weichert]

They make other tablets besides WACOM??? :D

[NorCal Chuck]

WACOM . . . I have a larger one. Sure makes it easy to use. Just push my chair back and place the top edge on the table right below my keyboard. Now I have access to the keyboard, my mouse and all while using the tablet. Of course it all really depends on the project . . . but there are those times when I am going back and forth between the mouse, keyboard and tablet and this larger tablet makes that real easy to do.