Wacom intuos instructions for use. How to set up a drawing tablet

Modern market Technology is rich in a variety of devices that differ in functionality, purpose, and price. One of them is a graphics tablet. The device allows you to enter a drawing with your hands and a pen onto a special surface with further display on the computer. The main thing is to know how to use a graphics tablet. Instructions are presented in this article.

How does the device work?

The tablet is presented in the form of a workspace that transfers the result of touching it to the computer. Using a stylus, you can perform actions similar to those of a regular computer mouse, but there are many more possibilities when you consider drawing and writing.

You won't be able to accurately work out the thickness of the drawing lines with a mouse. It turns out that the pen will be used as a full-fledged control tool. A person draws as on ordinary paper. But the result is immediately visible on the monitor. There is another useful benefit. For example, for precise drawing a certain area You won’t be able to scale a sheet of paper, but this can be easily done with the image on the monitor.

The difficulty may not be simply getting used to the fact that pen movements are performed on a tablet, and the result is visible on the computer. To do this, you need to constantly raise your head to look at the screen. High-quality electronic pens or pens respond well to pen pressure. Some devices are combined with a display; the result of the work is immediately displayed on them. Each technique comes with instructions on how to use a graphics tablet.

Preparation

How to use a graphics tablet? This procedure is simple:

1. You need to connect the device to the PC.
2. Then you need to make sure that the OS has detected the tablet.
3. Then you need to install the drivers that are included with the device. If the equipment is used, then it is unlikely to have documentation, that is, drivers must be downloaded from the Internet.
4. It is necessary to adjust the operation and sensitivity of the pen.

Drawing

After completing the above settings, you can start drawing. Many people think it is difficult. But, in fact, it is as easy as with a piece of paper and a pencil. The difference is that you have to work with an electronic device.

The user may need special programs. Then you need to install them yourself. For example, the Photoshop application is considered a drawing program.

Choice

When purchasing a tablet, you need to consider the following nuances:

1. Size. It is measured in the same format as sheets - A4, A5. The comfort of drawing depends on the size of the sensitive area. But, as the size of the device increases, the cost increases. If a professional needs A4 format, then an ordinary user can purchase a compact model.
2. Proportions. It is best that the aspect ratio of the equipment matches that of the monitor. Now there are drivers that automatically adjust the dimensions to the width of the computer screen. But, if it is wide and the tablet is not, then one of the parts of the graphics device may be inactive. And when the image is stretched, it becomes distorted.
3. Permission. The dots per inch (DPI) determines how precisely the pen's touch will be perceived. Therefore, the higher this parameter, the better. For home use, 2 thousand dots per inch will be enough. For professional use, higher values ​​are required - 5080 dpi.
4. Sensitivity to pressure. This parameter indicates how much pressure the device recognizes based on the pressing force. For normal use, 512 pressures are required, and for professionals - 1024.
5. Tilt angle sensitivity. This feature may only be required by some users.
6. Method of connecting to a computer. The tablet connects to via USB, Bluetooth or wireless interfaces.

Who needs it?

How to use a graphics tablet may be of interest to people of different professions:

1. Artists and designers. The work of these people is related to drawing. Web designers also carry out creative activities on the computer. Graphic drawing with a pen on a digitized sheet makes the procedure easier, more enjoyable and precise. The process will be much more natural. If you are interested in how to use a graphics tablet for drawing, the above procedure will help.
2. For photographers. They need such a device. The device is used for photo processing - the pen allows you to remove various errors, perform frame correction for each pixel.
3. Businessmen and office workers. They also need to know how to use a graphics tablet. Although they will not need photo retouching, it is still advisable to master the basic nuances of the work. A tablet of this type is required to create an electronic signature, which can be done with a stylus. Although it is not profitable to buy a device for one purpose, it can also work with other tasks. For example, a tablet makes it convenient to edit documents, make edits, create presentations and other work.
4. Children and youth. The child will be interested in mastering drawing with the help of new technologies. It is enough to familiarize him with the principles of operation.
5. Individuals who want to develop and spend a lot of time at the computer. They would do well to know how to use a Bamboo graphics tablet or another brand of device. Even if a person is not a designer, technology will help if you constantly have to work with a computer. The device will allow you to take a break from the mouse and keyboard. In addition, it can be used by those who simply love to draw.

Conclusion

People of all professions who have to deal with such devices need to know how to use a Wacom Intuos graphics tablet and other brands of equipment. And non-specialists can have a good time with them.

Photoshop tutorials from Wacom

Setting up brushes in Photoshop when working with a tablet

This lesson is intended for users who have decided to use a tablet for their creativity for the first time and who are not sophisticated in their thorough knowledge of Adobe Photoshop. We'll start with the very basics - how to customize the tablet and brushes to suit your needs, while using the maximum capabilities provided by Adobe Photoshop and supported by Wacom graphics tablets.

Installing the tablet driver.

After connecting the tablet, be sure to install the driver for your tablet model. You can use the driver that comes on the CD that comes with your tablet, but it is best to download the latest version of the driver from the website www.wacom.ru (section Support --> Drivers). The latest driver versions may contain enhanced features compared to the older version, possible bug fixes, and all latest versions drivers have Russian-language localization.

Without the driver installed, you will not be able to use all the features of your Wacom tablet.

(this lesson discusses the version from the Adobe Creative Suite CS 2 package).

Brushes are selected on the left side of the toolbar in the Brush section (1). On the right side of the panel, in the Brushes section, all brush settings are made (2). See picture below.

Immediately open the tablet control panel in parallel (Start --> Settings --> Control Panel --> Wacom Tablet Properties).

Now let's start with the most important thing: adjusting the sensitivity to the level of pressure on the pen. Of course, the tablet's default settings will suit some people, but it's still worth spending a little time to find the ones that work best for you. optimal settings for yourself.

For users of professional tablets of the Intuos 3 or Cintiq series, we immediately recommend making all settings separately for Photoshop applications. To do this, in the tablet control panel, click on the “+” icon in the Applications line and select Photoshop from the list of running programs. Now all the settings made will work only for Photoshop. You can create your own set of settings for other programs:

Users of younger tablet models (Volito or Graphire) will have the opportunity to adjust pressure sensitivity only once - for all programs.

--> New...). In the toolbar, in the Brush section, select a brush with clear boundaries and set its diameter to a fairly large diameter (40-60).

Now, touching the working surface of the tablet with different pressure on the pen, draw several lines: you will quickly determine with what force it is most convenient for you to press the pen in order to get a line of maximum thickness, while being able to draw a line with a fairly small thickness.

Draw similar “leeches” and adjust the “pen sensitivity” parameter until you achieve maximum comfort for yourself.

Well, now let's get to the fun part.

Open the Brushes section and select Brush Tip Shape there.

The most important settings for us here there will be 1) brush shape: parameters Angle and Roundness, which can either be set by values, or simply by visually changing the example of the brush on the picture to the right of these values. This way you can create an elongated and angled brush.

The next most important parameter is Spacing (2). The continuity of the brush depends on it.

The lower the value, the smoother your brush will be when painting.

In the lower window you can immediately observe the result of changing all parameters.

Dynamics.

By opening the drop-down list in any section, we will see several important controllable parameters:

Pressure , you can control the selected parameter by changing the pressure on the tip of the pen when drawing.

Tilt

Pen tilt. Only supported by professional tablets.

Wheel

(additional accessory for Intuos 3 or Cintiq).

Since the wheel has a limited stroke and produces 1024 values ​​of its position, it is convenient for them to regulate not only the diameter of the brush or airbrush jet, but also, for example, to very accurately control the rotation of the tool (although we will consider a more natural way for this later).

Rotation angle of the Art Pen calligraphy pen (optional accessory for Intuos 3 or Cintiq). The most logical option to bind it to is the angle of rotation of the brush (Angle Jitter).

In the figure below you can see an example of using this pen with an oval brush:

Finally, let's look at the last item of interest to us from the Brushes: Other Dynamics section.

By setting the Pen Pressure value for Opacity Jitter, we will be able to change the transparency of the brush depending on the pressure on the pen:

So now you're tech-savvy and ready to create great digital works. Go for it!!!

You can also find other lessons on working with images using graphics tablets on the website

We looked at how to use a tablet to significantly increase the efficiency of retouching.

Today we will talk about the first steps after purchasing a tablet, about what you need to do for comfortable work.

I will illustrate the material using the example of setting up my old Wacom Bamboo tablet.

So, let's move on to the first step.

Step 1. Install the tablet driver.

Do not rush to immediately connect the tablet to your computer after purchase! First you need to install the driver so that the tablet works correctly and all its settings become available.

The driver for any tablet can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website in the Support section.

Download the driver specifically for your tablet model.

Step 2: Set up orientation and keys.

Find the installed driver in the list of recent programs and run it.

A settings window will open. Its appearance may differ depending on the tablet manufacturer and driver version.

First you need to adjust the orientation of the tablet, depending on whether you are right-handed or left-handed. By default, the tablet is configured for right-handed users.

Next you need to configure, if necessary, function keys Express Keys. These keys are programmable. That is, for each one you can assign specific action from the drop-down list.

This is very convenient and helps speed up your work.

Step 3: Set up the tablet pen.

The most important thing here is to check that the tablet is working in pen mode and not mouse mode. Otherwise, you will not be able to use the main advantage - sensitivity to pen pressure on the working surface.

Go to the tab Feather and check the tablet's operating mode.

You also need to adjust the pen sensitivity. For example, to work with wider brush strokes in Photoshop, you'll need to move the Pen sensitivity in closer to the position Soft. Conversely, to work with fine strokes and lines, move the control closer to the position Hard.

Click on the button Display to the right of settings Pen mode. Here you need to enable proportional scaling and uncheck the option Use Windows Handwriting

Step 4: Disable touch input.

Go to the tab Touch options and uncheck the option Enable touch input.

This must be done, otherwise during the retouching process in Photoshop, the tablet will react not only to the pen, but also to hand movements on the surface of the tablet, and in an unpredictable way. By disabling touch input, you will get rid of this problem.

Now you can get to work. Launch Photoshop program, open the photo for retouching, take the tablet pen and try using it instead of the mouse during the retouching process. If you don’t have your own sources for retouching, you can try your hand at this photo.

You can attach the retouching results in the comments, after first reducing the size to 2000 pixels. on the long side, or post it on the forum.

As an example, I suggest looking at the result of retouching a photo with creative makeup. Here, the models applied special makeup that gave their skin a golden tint and emphasized the highlights on their skin. Click on the picture to enlarge it.

I wish everyone creative inspiration and pleasant work with a graphics tablet!

Hi all!
My name is Matt M. Laskowski and I am a graphic illustrator.

STEP 1. NEW FOLLOWERS

:: I don't have a tablet, but I'm planning to buy one.

Great! But first: try to find the answer to the question “why do I need a tablet?” It doesn't have to be Wacom, they just produce probably the highest quality and easiest to use tablets. But if you are completely new to this business, then it is better to first ask yourself why and how much you need this tablet.

And I will say slowly and clearly:

NO GRAPHICS TABLET, WHATEVER BRAND AND MODEL IT IS, CAN MAGICALLY MAKE YOU A SUPER-DUPER ARTIST.

A graphics tablet is a productivity tool that speeds up an artist's workflow to accommodate digital media. It does not multiply your pre-existing skills just because it is an item high technology, connected to Photoshop. Very often everything happens just the opposite.

Although the tablet comes with a stylus, which gives the feeling simple drawing On paper, the actual practical use of a tablet (especially if you've never used one) is a completely different dimension, one that can be reached through a long, winding learning curve. After all, once you install a regular desktop tablet, you'll be holding it in horizontal position on the table or on your lap, and the lines of your pen on the vertically located monitor opposite you. You will have to get used to this and it may take weeks before you stop feeling discomfort from such a system.

I've met many artists who were thinking about buying a tablet for testing, shelling out $350-400 for a mid-level professional model, using it 10 times and never thinking about it again, because getting used to this technique was too much for them. Well, then this tablet could be used as an expensive mouse pad - otherwise, the money could be spent more wisely.

So don't let this discourage you from purchasing a tablet. By any means, buy yourself a tablet if you decide that you really want one. The only thing you really need to remember here is that you need to be smart if you buy blindly on the principle that everything will work out.

:: I want a tablet, but have never used one before

Eat good news for you. Wacom manufacturers know that people buy tablets with different content and for different purposes. If you've never used a tablet and can't tell for sure whether you'll like it after you try it, you certainly shouldn't even think about starting with something big and expensive.

Wacom offers a range of low-budget tablets for aspiring artists, the BAMBOO (as I write this article). These tablets can provide good experience drawing for about 30-40% of the cost of a series of professional INTUOS tablets. (As of this writing, the BAMBOO PEN tablet will cost just $70, compared to the same-sized INTUOS SMALL tablet, which costs $220.)

Plunging headlong into digital world, it is best to buy BAMBOO, because even with the minimum probability that you will like it and continue to use it, this tablet will serve you faithfully for quite a long time. As you become an experienced user of this tablet, you can safely switch to INTUOS. After all, the cost of BAMBOO is negligible and it can be resold to someone else who just wants to try the product, or you can simply store it and use it when traveling or other places. We need to treat it more simply, and not bury our nose in it. (To learn only what you need at the beginning of the journey, and develop as your experience accumulates.)

At the same time, if in the end you didn't like BAMBOO and never used it again, you won't be too upset, because... it costs nothing - and by keeping it, you potentially increase your chances of using it again.

:: What about the CINTIQ tablet series? Are they easier to use?

CINTIQ tablets, for those who don't know, are WACOM's professional grade products. CINTIQ has a screen built into the tablet body itself. This means that when you draw on it, you get an instant visual feedback on a scale of 1:1. It's as if you were drawing on a regular piece of paper, without taking into account the work in Photoshop. Due to the stand, functionality and ease of handling, it is very expensive. The small model (the 12-inch Cintiq 12WX at the time of writing) retails for $1,000, while its larger 21-inch brother, the 21UX, costs $2,000. As you can tell by these prices, it's too early for you to even think about such tablets until you have a very good reason to do so.

For the working professional, CINTIQ tablets are... steamed turnips. They allow professional artists to work faster and more accurately. Final result, which is created by a professional artist on a Cintiq tablet, will most likely be no better than the picture he drew on a regular Intuos, but the mere fact of the 1:1 scale makes any investment worthwhile. Let's take professional photographers for example. If you are just starting out in photography, will you buy expensive equipment that professionals use? Most likely not, because expensive equipment does not make you good photographer, just as it doesn’t make a professional a good photographer. Of course, you can buy the latest technology, like from famous photographers, but you will only use it as much as your knowledge of this technique. Thus, a beginner, having purchased professional equipment, will still produce work at the level of a beginner. Professionals are only interested in the latest technologies, because it almost always improves their performance.

This, of course, does not mean that you should not think about it and buy a tablet like the Cintiq. They are created not only for professionals and the artistic elite. Cintiq tablets are easier to use than traditional Intuos or Bamboo versions because they're the format you're most used to (pencil and paper), but they're not perfect. Aspects such as cursor lag, pen line jitter, pen calibration, and bulkiness of Cintiq tablets may be unacceptable to some, but can be minimized with appropriate use of the tablet. Some newcomers (and even professionals) to digital art may find it impossible to get used to traditional tablets like Intuos and Bamboo and refuse to work on them. However, when you give them a Cintiq, they can do anything with it and the results will be top level. These people are ready to pay one, or even two thousand dollars for such equipment.

For most people, it will make sense to start with a basic level tablet and work your way up to the Cintiq, especially if you spend a ton of time working on the tablet. When you really understand that the features that the Cintiq has are exactly what you need, then without a doubt, go for it.

:: Tablet personal computer (tablet PC, Tablet PC)? What is this fruit?

Tablet computers have been around for quite some time, but there have been issues with hardware and usage that have made working with programs like Photoshop problematic. In recent years, the development of higher power, lower voltage processors and simpler electronic circuits have allowed tablet PCs to take a higher position in the world of personal computing, now being as powerful as larger, non-tablet systems.

As the name suggests, a tablet computer is a tablet that is inserted directly into a computer monitor. Most Tablet PCs with pens are made by Wacom, using a technology called "Wacom Penabled". The "Wacom Penabled" Tablet PC has all the same specifications as the Bamboo Tablet in terms of tracing and pen pressure sensitivity, with the exception of the LCD screen. However, they are a little more similar to the Wacom Cintiq series, but are not high enough in terms of standards technical characteristics. Most tablet PCs are rotating, which means they are usually 12 or 13 inches laptop computers, and the screen can rotate around an axis and fold onto the keyboard, thus turning into a thin PC with only one monitor. Unlike Cintiq tablets, tablet PCs are much more convenient, more powerful, and completely autonomous (work wirelessly). However, unlike the Cintiq, the tablet constantly works in conjunction with the computer. So when your computer gets old and deteriorates, so does the functionality of your tablet. Cintiq tablets gain their functionality by connecting to a computer, so your Cintiq will work as well as the computer it's connected to will work. So, it can be said that generally Cintiq tablets are more durable than tablet computers due to the fact that its hardware lasts much longer.

One of the main differences, however, is that tablet computers are rarely designed for true artists. Most Tablet PCs are designed for end consumers who want their computers to be faster in a smaller space. Their bulk of target consumers are in hospitals and warehouses. Since Tablet PCs are not 100% a product for artists, their functionality can sometimes lead to frustration. Not all software will be compatible with this computer, and calibrating the pen may be a complicated process.

For those who are interested in Tablet PC, I present for your attention the following models:

Amazing! From now on, I'll only be focusing on Wacom tablets and not Tablet PCs - but there's still plenty here for you, fellow Tablet PC users. useful information, so keep reading.

- Check your drivers!

The first step, of course, is to make sure that your drivers are working properly! Many new tablet users often forget to install drivers completely, and then wonder why some functions, such as pen pressure, do not work. The best way to find out if your drivers are installed and functioning is to hold the stylus to one corner of the tablet, then remove it and move it to the other corner. If the cursor automatically jumps to the second corner where the pen tip is, you can be sure that everything is working perfectly. Without installed drivers, the cursor will not move.

- Disable Tablet PC services on Windows

This step does not apply to: Mac users, Tablet PC users, and Windows Vista/7 handwriting recognition and flicks users.

Windows 7 and Vista have a feature called Tablet PC Services. By default, this feature is enabled when a tablet connected to the computer is detected. Tablet PC Services, as the name suggests, should only apply to tablet computers– not in any way to your laptop or personal computer to which the Wacom tablet is connected. These Windows features will only get in the way if you intend to devote yourself entirely to drawing.

To disable Tablet PC services, click the Windows button on the taskbar and type “Services” in the search box. A shortcut called “Services” should appear in the search results. Label in the form of two small mechanisms.

Click on it, and an even larger window will open in front of you with a list of other shortcuts. The list is alphabetical, scroll down to "Tablet PC Input Service".

Double-click on it, a small window will appear showing the current status of the services, as well as the option to enable (start), stop (stop), or disable (disable) these services. We are only interested in stopping and disabling these services.

First, click the “stop” button. Wait for the program to stop running, then click Apply at the bottom of the window.

That's all! Tablet PC services are now disabled. From now on, you can get 100% pleasure from working with Wacom, forgetting about the “glitches” of Windows. For artists, this is simply an ideal condition, because... this ensures that the pen responds as quickly as possible.

(If some Tablet PC services are still running, try restarting your computer.)

- Prepare a good work area!

The way you sit and hold your tablet has a huge impact on how you use it. For many people, placing the tablet at an angle is most convenient, because... this minimizes the difficulty of transferring horizontal motion to vertical motion, and also simulates a drafting table. Many people place the tablet on their laps, resting the corner of the tablet on the edge of the table (this, of course, can only be done by those with sufficient large tablet). Other people use things like coolers and laptop stands to somehow keep their tablet at a certain height. For those who have the opportunity to visit an IKEA store, I want to tell you that they have a great laptop stand for $2 that is also great for tablets of any size.

Of course, you can always place your tablet vertically on a table surface. Just remember to keep the monitor a little closer to the tablet, and if your monitor has height and tilt controls, lower it and tilt it towards you.

It may seem to you that Cintiq tablet users have it much easier in this regard, because... They have built-in pull-out stands that automatically give them the most comfortable position for working, but you can still improve your work area with the tools at hand.

:: Everything seems to be going well! Now what about actually using the tablet?

So, regarding the use of the tablet, the first thing you need to do is open the Tablet Properties window and think about how you would like to configure it with certain software. I know, I know, you want to start working right away with maximum settings and capabilities - but trust me, you need to first understand how to use your tool effectively!

Windows users can find tablet properties in two places:
- Start ( Start menu) – All programs – Wacom Tablet (sometimes Pen Tablet) – Wacom Tablet Properties
- System control panel control panel) – Wacom Tablet Properties
Users Mac computers can find the properties of their tablets directly in the System Preferences menu.

When you open this window, you will see the following:

Please note that in order to change settings on your tablet, it must be connected to your computer. The program for changing parameters will not work without a tablet. Also please note that if the tool you want to edit is such as a pen or mouse with increased accuracy, is not displayed under the Tools list, you probably haven't registered it in your tablet yet. Wacom tablets register all the tools it interacts with by simply bringing it within range of the tablet to detect the signal. This means that you can use more than one pen, or any other tool, and each will have its own settings. The Features tool relates directly to the tablet hardware, such as ExpressKeys and active work areas, etc.

However, each person will have their own preferences regarding the settings of their tablet, so I won't say much about what is best and what is not - simply because if one thing is true for me, it does not mean it will be true for you that's right. In addition, all tablet models differ from each other in their capabilities and settings. However, I will tell you, as an example, about the settings that I usually use myself. We will look at just a few of them. The rest will be touched upon in one way or another later in this article, but to a lesser extent.

- Profile your software!

Notice how your tablet's properties window should have a [+] button at the end of the Applications list? It allows you to add a program in order to have special installation configurations ONLY for the selected program. This is very useful when you are using several programs in parallel, each of which has its own hotkeys and functions. It may seem like there's no point in profiling your software, but remember, this step will help you improve your productivity.

The properties program allows you to create multiple profiles for each tool, just like the settings for the tool itself. Your pen may have completely different profiles than your tablet's features. So first of all, remember to select the tool for which you want to create a profile.

A good example of things that are most often profiled differently are hotkeys for undoing and redoing an action (for example, in Photoshop the keyboard shortcut is ctrl+alt+Z, and in Painter ctrl +Z), as well as changes to some features that are clearly missing in other software.

A good tip to help you install your software: First open the program you want to profile, and only THEN add it to the list in the Tablet Properties window. Running program will appear in the list of programs you're most likely to want to add.

- Place only the most frequently used functions on the Express Keys!

Your Wacom tablet has an Express panel. Older models such as the Bamboo have at least two of the three buttons on this panel; Cintiq 21UX tablets have as many as 16 express buttons. To make your work easier, you should assign the most frequently used functions to these buttons.

If your tablet has a lot of buttons on the Express panel, don't bother assigning a function to each button. Assigning functions to buttons that you rarely use can actually hinder your work rather than help it. Over time, you may forget which functions are assigned to which buttons, and it is quite possible that you mistakenly press the wrong button, which can lead to undesirable consequences.

If you need to do something, such as Undo, zoom in, etc., there should be a button on your tablet that you press most often - something like home position. . This “subconsciously preferred” button should enable your most frequently used feature. For me, this is the "Shift" button modifier. Don't be surprised if you don't find your starting position right away. You will understand when you discover it for yourself when, wanting to perform a certain function, you press the wrong button on the tablet. If this happens, you need to change the button with which you made a mistake and put in its place the one you intended. Immediately after the starting position should be the second most frequently used function. For me it's "undo". With these two buttons located next to each other, there is no need to guess where to point - everything is already at your fingertips.

Note the picture above - these are the settings I use on my Cintiq. It can be seen that the main buttons here are the two express buttons closest to the center, because they correspond to the Shift function. I also found that I used the bottommost button a lot, so I gave it the Alt function. Note that I also placed my second most used function above Alt - Undo. This allows me to quickly undo my actions if I make a mistake while drawing.

- The only one required setting for your pen:

The Express Bar is great for quickly accessing frequently used functions, but don't forget that your pen also has two buttons. They can significantly speed up the process of working on a graphics tablet.

Unlike the buttons on your tablet, the buttons on the pen should be used as access to certain actions, and not as hotkeys. Therefore, I recommend one of the buttons on the Right click (often used and required function), and the second – Pan/Scroll.

Pan/Scroll is probably one of the best features, because it works in almost all programs. In almost all image-based programs, it allows you to scroll through the canvas—essential for quickly accessing different parts of the canvas to continue drawing. It also allows you to scroll through lists of folders, web pages in your browser, basically anything that can be scrolled down and up.

Although the express panel may be different for everyone, I guarantee you that specifically for pen buttons you will not find more suitable functions than these.

- So, how about real, serious use of the tablet now?

You'll find out soon.

STEP 3: TAKE YOUR SEATS

Please note that this article is not a lesson on drawing, improving your skills, or anything like that. The purpose of this is to supplement your knowledge in the field of your Wacom tablet, and help you find your own style work on it.

Before you begin, you should know that there are some special differences in graphic drawing that you need to get used to. There are many things that can give you some advantages that you can't achieve on paper, so let's look at some of them.

- If you have a tool, make the most of it!

Graphic canvases do not have physical limitations like paper. However, they still have physical limitations in relation to your computer. Try working on a canvas of several thousand pixels. If you have a computer, PC or Mac purchased after 2007, you should not have any problems working with large files until you exhaust the 2GB system memory to the minimum possible.

You shouldn't be afraid to work with paintings that are, say, 5000x3500 pixels in size. You'll be surprised how small this huge file will be when printed, despite how big it looks on your monitor. But remember that it all depends on the scale - if you are painting on a large canvas, reduce the scale by half and use a thicker brush. And then you will see that the canvas is no longer so “deceptive.”

- Use layers. But don’t overdo it so you don’t get lost in them!

Most image processing programs such as Photoshp, Painter, Tool/SAI, PhotoPaint, and SketchBook Pro support the ability to work with layers.

Rule #1 of graphic drawing is: never draw on a background layer. The background layer is an unchanged, completely opaque layer. You can't place anything under this layer, so the first step you have to do is open new file, this is creating a new layer on which you will draw. In this case, the lines you draw will be on a transparent canvas, and you can add other details or colors underneath this layer if you need to eliminate any other action or fill a void. Working on new layers is like having an endless supply of blank fields to work with. But know that if you use too many layers, you'll spend more time finding the right layer instead of spending that time painting. Cluttered layers can also lead to incorrect results, which can interrupt all your work.

It's best to keep things simple to a certain level. Break your work down into a series of basic layers, such as "sketch", "detail", "lights and shadows", "base colours", etc. It would be good to train yourself to add new details on new layers, and only then merge the new layer with one of the base layers, if you are sure that everything turned out as intended. So, for example, always reduce all rough sketches to one layer, instead of keeping all 10 with different small details on each of them.

The more you use layers, the more fascinated you become with them. The list of layers in the picture above is one of my more complex paintings. Sometimes, cluttered layers are inevitable, and I agree that I could probably cut 70% of those layers to free up space. However, when creating this painting, I did not want to do this. So it took me a lot of time to find the necessary layers in this booth.

Unlike traditional painting, layers allow you to group elements of your work together to make it easier to correct mistakes later without damaging other parts of the image. But this can significantly slow down the speed of your work if you don't organize your layers wisely. This is why graphic artists must always keep their traditional sensibilities in mind, and remember that a problem area in a painting can be solved by erasing it and painting the detail again, rather than using filters and transformations to “fix” the problem. And in general, in the graphic world, you can erase problem areas as much as you like and the canvas will not suffer from it.

It’s much easier to work with a list like this (picture above). This set of layers allows you to work on the painting more freely, unlike many small groups with layers.

I advise beginners in the field of graphic drawing to use no more than three layers in their drawings, simply because it will allow you to work more naturally. You'll definitely benefit from using layers, but don't overdo them or you'll lose all touch with the traditional approach to drawing.

STEP 4. PENCIL DRAWING LESSON

:: I'M READY. Teach me some techniques!

Glad to see you're still with me. Because this is where your training in techniques for using your tablet to draw with pencil and paint begins. Let's start with simple pencil drawing.

- Move the canvas towards the feather. Not the other way around.

Your tablet, like your monitor, is only a window. It allows you to work on a specific area that is visible at a specific moment. Therefore, learn to move your canvas freely. If you need to draw something in the corner of the monitor, don't move your pen to that corner and draw in that limited piece of canvas—pull that part of the canvas toward the center of the monitor so that you can freely draw on as much space as possible on your tablet. By working in the center of the monitor, you can make larger lines with your pen, and this makes it easier to rotate the canvas if you need to. This is why the Pan/Scroll feature on the pen is so important.

Modifier keys are the names of the keys on your keyboard, such as Ctrl, Alt, Cmd, Shift, etc. These keys modify the functions of other keys and even how tools in the software operate.

The most important modifier operations you need to know for drawing are the same for most image editing programs, and the only modifier you need to know is the Shift key.

- Shift key: Holding Shift key With the Pencil or Brush tool selected, you can get a straight single line. Depending on the direction initially set for the line, the Shift key will switch to vertical or horizontal line. Some programs or tools can also switch by 45 degrees. In Photoshop, you can hold down the Shift key to create a straight line by specifying a start and end point. Click in one place, then in another, and a straight line will immediately stretch from the first point to the second. This is a particularly useful feature when creating perspectives in a freer style of drawing, because... you can create beautiful straight lines from any angle.

- [ and ] keys: Although these are not modifier keys, they are important to know. Most image processing programs use these two keys as shortcuts to change the brush size. Especially for pencil drawing, you may find these keys useful for getting different lines on different parts of your painting. Using [ and ] keys is much easier than opening brush properties every time you need to make changes.

- Be spontaneous, work quickly, don’t be afraid. Everything can be remade.

Graphics work is cleaner than traditional drawing media, but that doesn't mean you should force yourself to create the purest, most perfect work ever created by people.

If you don't manically scribble your idea onto the canvas, you will never make any progress in your drawing. You will simply draw and erase one small part that you are trying to insert and the big picture, and then you will realize that you cannot continue it, because you do not see this very BIG picture. Unlike traditional drawing tools, your monitor can show so much at once. As you work, you can't always see the whole picture, and you may lose sight of how the work will look from afar. That's why you should work quickly and not worry about little things. Work at a reduced scale, then zoom in and clean up when the baselines are complete. This is how you would work on paper, so you should work exactly the same in graphical form.

Rough sketch. Be spontaneous, don't worry about extraneous things.

Start erasing the excess when you are sure that the sketch is correct.

Come up with a composition, correct it when everything is ready.

Later, refine what fits into the work, then delete the extra lines. Add details.

- Use zooming to your advantage.

When you clean up your painting, the margin of error will decrease dramatically, because... you are trying to make the image look more ideal. If you work at a remote scale, you are likely to encounter some problems along the way. You won't get very far in your work until you zoom in and fine-tune the finer details.

Wacom tablets have a significantly higher resolution than your monitor. This means that when you zoom out, the pixel density of the canvas increases. For example, if an image is 1000x1000 pixels, at 50% scale it will be 500x500 pixels, doubling the density of each visible pixel. If your tablet has a resolution of 2000x2000 pixels on the active area, it will still draw with high precision, as if you were working at 100% scale, even though your screen will not be able to show those tiny little movements. However, if you continue to zoom out, the resolution of the tablet will become much lower compared to the increasing density of the canvas. So when you draw at such distant scales, detail becomes impossible.

This is why you zoom in when you want extreme image accuracy. The more you enlarge your image, the higher resolution your tablet has to work at, giving you a larger margin of error - allowing you to clean up the image more accurately.

As you can see in the picture above, where I tried to draw a circle at different scales, the details of the detected pen movements are lost after 50%.

The image on the left is a screenshot of the canvas at 100% scale.
The image on the right is a screenshot of the canvas at 300% scale.
If you needed to draw the pupils in the eyes of this heroine, at what scale would you do it?

STEP 5. PAINTING LESSON

No, here I will not teach you how to draw with paints, use them correctly color scheme, or something like that kind of compositional curriculum. I have already created enough other lessons to explain these things. Everything I'm going to teach you here revolves around the basic technique you need to master in order to start mixing and manipulating colors for the purpose of painting.

- Know how modifier keys can help you draw.

As before, there are also certain useful modifier keys for painting with paints. One of them that you should remember is the Alt key, or Option as it is called on Mac computers.

- Alt key: When you hold down the Alt key while the Brush tool or any other color tool is selected, that tool changes to the Eyedropper. This is the most useful Alt function when painting with paints, because... it allows you to quickly select a color and use it to blend with a nearby color. You can think of the Alt key as a key that allows you to “dirty” your brush with new tones created by overlaying two colors. The more you use Alt key to select colors in intermediate areas, the more these shades mix, smoothly flowing into each other. You can, of course, use Alt to pick new, unmixed colors from the canvas to use elsewhere. If you paint with paints, the Alt key simply must be on the express panel. Especially because almost all image processing programs use this modifier with this function.

- Use pressure for opacity and low opacity for blending colors.

Most image processing programs with a pressure function can adjust the brush so that when you apply more pressure to the pen, the lines become thicker instead of wider.

In Photoshop, this setting is most easily found in the Other section of the Brush Settings panel. (Although in CS5 this section was renamed Transfer, so keep that in mind if you're on CS5.) With the Opacity Jitter set to Pen Pressure, you'll see that if you press lightly on the pen, the lines will be light, translucent, and a stronger impact on the pen will result in hard, thick lines. I would advise you to disable the section called Shape Dynamics while drawing, because... you don't need the lines to become lighter at the ends. This opacity setting can be applied to any kind of brush and can be very easy to get used to, so try it out and see how it makes blending colors easier. Note: In some programs Opacity is called Density.

Now that your lines have a certain level of transparency, apply some paint to the canvas and choose another paint to paint over it. You will notice that the colors mix as... visible through each other. Changing the pen pressure can help you control things like the gradation and volume of objects. When you pick up a new color from the in-between area you just painted, you can use that new color at a low opacity to further blend the colors in the given area and create shape.

1) In this picture you can see that we are starting with a simple cut where two walls and the floor meet. One wall is yellow, the second is gray, the floor is also gray.

We're going to draw the light coming from the source on this object and apply shadows accordingly.

2) In the next step, I used the Alt key to select the gray floor color with an eyedropper and lighten it a little. I painted a small area of ​​the floor with this color to create the appearance of a falling shadow.
In the same way I picked yellow wall and darkened it a little to draw a continuation of the shadow.