NDA Art Critique Message Boards

Hi guys and gals, I've been drawing for a year or so, and recently started getting into digital art. I love the smooth lines and strong colours of the images painted in photoshop, but at moment I've only been able to scan my images in and colour them with a mouse, and whilst I feel they are fairly good for a first time, they lack the crispness and colour integration I want to achieve. So, I've decided to get a graphics tablet. I think this one looks like a good starter, the Bamboo. http://www.graphicstabletstore.co.uk/ba ... p-100.html
I've heard this mentioned a few times on the net, so thought it'd be a good one to start out with =)

Tnx =)

I would definitely recommend the Bamboo as a beginner's tablet. Heck, I'd recommend the bamboo as a professional's tablet; it's got every and more you need to produce quality digital art, and it's cheap enough that if you decide you don't really like digital art, you haven't lost much money.


Oh, and I removed the image from your post. The Tutorial section is more for general art questions, not posting specific art. But feel free to post your art in either Finished Artwork, Work in Progress, or Art Critique.

thanks for the advice, and I'll repost the image in the finished art section ;D

Also, Is this size of bamboo a good size for drawing? I don't want to feel cramped - never used one of these so don't know what it feels like =S
http://www.graphicstabletstore.co.uk/ba ... p-100.html

I bought a wacom bamboo fun tablet as my first and I love it! (I have it for a year now)

It's a slighty newer version than the bamboo one so it has some extra functions, but the base stays the same.

I would recommend a Wacom as anyone's first tablet.

Oh, and about the size: I find a smaller tablet more convenient, since it covers the whole screen. that way smooth long lines are easier to make. I never felt the urge to buy a bigger one, I absolutely don't feel cramped by it.

thanks =)

I also have a bamboo Fun (Mid size they call it even tough its the smallest).
One of my class mates uses the big one but i find it annoying and inconvenient.

id say :

Bamboo Fun (Smallest one)
I haven't tryed combining it with a mouse, i dont see why you should.

I've got the Wacom Graphire 4 myself. It works perfectly fine for me and it's cheaper than the Bamboo, even at A5 size.



I'd recommend you to get a cheaper Wacom tablet to start with, because for as far as I'm aware, Wacom is just a stupidly good brand and I don't think any of the tablets they offer will be of poor quality. Of course, the Bamboo has a prettier design and it may have a couple of extra options, or it might work a bit smoother. But I strongly doubt that a beginning artist will notice the difference.

I started with an A4 sized Trust tablet, do not buy anything of that brand. Ever. Both the mouse, headset and tablet I had of Trust broke within just a few months and the tablet was of horrible quality, not even close to that of the Wacom.

So yeah, just my two cents.

Actually I'm pretty sure Wacom discontinued the Graphire series and replaced it with the Bamboo. So if you want a Graphire nowadays, you probably have to buy them used.

I've found sites where you can buy them brand new, but they're Dutch. Maybe they had some left in store or something. You just have to look around :3.