Mouse vs Pen and Tablet

[JWall]

I'm just now experimenting with flash, but had a quick question. I would like to know if hte majority of the 'serious flashers' (haha) use a Pen and Tablet, or mouse. B/c I can do alright with a mouse, but I would think that a P&T would be the way to go. Unless there is some difficulty with it that I am unaware of. Any advice or info would be much appreciated. And thanks in advance.

[Lord-Sonx]

the tablet is what ost profesinals use.. althugh some skileld mousers still exist..

[different]

There's also another alternative - scan in drawings :-)

But I haven't used a tablet before so I can't tell you my experience of one - but you can pick up a decent one for $100 I think - and it would probably be easier than a mouse to draw with!

And the people I know who used a tablet said it greatly improved their drawing on a computer... So if I was you and were serious about graphic design then I'd get one. Worth the money :-)

[Simkiss]

I got a tablet, but i still more than prefer using the mouse. I suppose there isn't really a 'better'. Just what you prefer.. I recommend just sticking with the mouse.

[Lord-Sonx]

At 1/8/06 05:57 PM, different wrote: There's also another alternative - scan in drawings :-)

that;d be so fun for FBF lol

[Jarvid]

I made this with a mouse!

[jmtb02]

At 1/8/06 05:53 PM, JWall wrote: I'm just now experimenting with flash, but had a quick question. I would like to know if hte majority of the 'serious flashers' (haha) use a Pen and Tablet, or mouse. B/c I can do alright with a mouse, but I would think that a P&T would be the way to go. Unless there is some difficulty with it that I am unaware of. Any advice or info would be much appreciated. And thanks in advance.

I personally use both. I use a tablet for drawing, but I find that using a mouse for everything else, such as clicking around the screen and such, seems to be best. Also, the keyboard makes for quick shortcut keys.

I would invest in a Wacom Graphire3 tablet. Very cheap ($100), pressure sensative, high resolution, it works very well for me. I would like a larger tablet, but as most know, as the tablet gets bigger, the cost gets extrodinarily higher. I would recommend Wacom for any type of tablet you get, however. Graphire is a good line. If you like pen tilt, the expensive Intuos are awesome. Those are also made by wacom.

[Lord-Sonx]

At 1/8/06 06:01 PM, jmtb02 wrote: Very cheap ($100)

thats even cheaper over here mwhahaa!!

conversion see ..

thats still alto for me.. kinda poor lol!

[JWall]

Alright cool, thanks for all the responses. I did this with a Mouse (http://i19.photobuck..97/JWall227/test.sw
f) This is just a test, as it is literally my first attempt at anything after viewing a few tutorials. I don't suck at drawing, but I feel the quality of my pictures are lowered with the mouse. Here's some stuff I drew with pencil, etc (http://i19.photobuck..97/JWall227/JGun.jp
g)(http://i19.photobuck..227/HobbitJeremy.
jpg)(http://i19.photobuck..197/JWall227/el
f.jpg)(http://i19.photobuck..7/JWall227/Bo
red.jpg)
Again, not the best work in the world, but I don't think I suck at drawing, lol.
Again, thanks for you input, b/c I'm gonna major in Computer Graphics, so all criticism will be positively accepted.

[TommyGun]

the entire FF: Mixed in Balamb series was done in mouse.

so, yeah, depends on teh artist

[different]

Nice work mate, reminds me a little of Family Guy. You got talent! I'd say you should get a tablet :-)

[kinetic-1]

At 1/8/06 05:54 PM, Lord_Sonx wrote: the tablet is what ost profesinals use.. althugh some skileld mousers still exist..

I'm a mouser.

[JWall]

Yeah, I'm gonna invest in a tablet. Hopefully it makes things easier for me. I might use the pen and mouse combo, b/c it sounds ideal for me, lol.

[caseyo]

It's not the same as drawing on paper, it just seems different. Probably because you're drawing on the table, but you see it change on the screen.

[Rule]

I preer a tablet, but my flash has been more sloppier because of unwnted lines, but I can animate better than that now.

[ZIM106]

i use a mouse and i'm..... ok... at flash.... i'm not sure if the pen and tablet thing would really help but i've never tried it..

[dus10]

i had a tablet for a while, but it was really wierd... its a lot different... but i might get one again... alot of pros use them so i guess its best to learn the technice

[slayer456]

At 1/8/06 09:16 PM, punkidustin wrote: i had a tablet for a while, but it was really wierd... its a lot different... but i might get one again... alot of pros use them so i guess its best to learn the technice

I agree that it is at first, but I got one and absolutely love it. It takes a while to get used to (im not entirely used to it yet) but it is an extremely useful tool. I recommend a Wacom pen tablet, they are well priced and the only manufacturer of tablets that I know of. I got a smaller tablet but it is very accurate and good for tracing pictures. It comes with a mouse that also works with the pad so that is also a useful tool. I think you should definitly buy it, it will greatly help your writing quality. Im not the best drawer either but it feels completely different using the pen tablet (well to me, don't know if thats a good thing or bad thing) but after awhile, you will feel like your using a real pen. A must buy for those who really want to flash. I don't know if it was a good idea for me to buy after only using flash for 2 days, but I love it. I am a noob at flash so everything is my own ramdom opinion cause i haven'y even gotten used to flash. overall, i say get it.

[TXR]

It really just depends on preferance.

[slayer456]

At 1/8/06 09:39 PM, -TXR- wrote: It really just depends on preferance

Very true, you should try one somewhere like maybe a store or even someone elses that has one

[jmtb02]

At 1/8/06 06:40 PM, JWall wrote: Yeah, I'm gonna invest in a tablet. Hopefully it makes things easier for me. I might use the pen and mouse combo, b/c it sounds ideal for me, lol.

Using a tablet for the first time is really difficult. I had a lot of problem getting used to using it, because it was pretty awkward. Having to look at the screen while using a pen below is somewhat difficult. After about a month, I got used to it.

One way to make the transition easier is to tape a piece of printer paper to the tablet. This way, it gives the same friction as if you were writing with a pen. The tablet surface is really smooth, which makes the pen slide easily. Just a suggestion.

[Sugggames]

personally i love my tablet, i'd recommend getting one.

[Moosh]

I personally love the mouse but you need ALOT of practice with it to become very good with it. I've been drawing with the mouse for about 3 months now and I can draw this .

[Edvin]

Yeah tablets are a nice improvement, but it won't make you draw better.. It's not like if going from a mouse to a wacom was gonna make you the next Picasso.

[Luis]

I dont like tablets... ive always been a mouse user and always will.
Theres great pride in being able to make a drawing device out of something that clearly wasnt built to be one.
Plus its economical. If it breaks ill splurge a whole twenty bucks goto wallmart and be back in business.
People sometimes get so caught up in the trying to emulate and use what the 'pros' use spendin all this money when its perfectly possible to master the mouse.

-L

[ImpotentBoy2]

At 1/9/06 01:28 AM, _Luis_ wrote: I dont like tablets... ive always been a mouse user and always will.
Theres great pride in being able to make a drawing device out of something that clearly wasnt built to be one.
Plus its economical. If it breaks ill splurge a whole twenty bucks goto wallmart and be back in business.
People sometimes get so caught up in the trying to emulate and use what the 'pros' use spendin all this money when its perfectly possible to master the mouse.

-L

i dont emulate anyone!!!! i can draw way better on paper than with a mouse( and currently than with a tablet but its easy as hell compared to a mouse.

beside. chuck norris uses art tables and. and he once shot down a plane by pointing at it and yelling "bang!"

[authorblues]

At 1/9/06 01:37 AM, ImpotentBoy2 wrote: beside. chuck norris uses art tables and. and he once shot down a plane by pointing at it and yelling "bang!"

ugh. trend-follower. besides, i heard that chuck norris once brought peace to the middle east by stabbing an israeli in the throat with his penis while juggling a palestinean, a chainsaw, and a stick of dynamite.

[ImpotentBoy2]

chuck norris invented puppies while drinking bleach.
he then counted to infinity twicehe also lost hios virginity b4 his dad did

[authorblues]

At 1/9/06 01:41 AM, ImpotentBoy2 wrote: chuck norris invented puppies while drinking bleach.
he then counted to infinity twicehe also lost hios virginity b4 his dad did

silly impotentboy... he was drinking arsenic. you have much to learn.

[ImpotentBoy2]

At 1/9/06 01:49 AM, authorblues wrote:

At 1/9/06 01:41 AM, ImpotentBoy2 wrote: chuck norris invented puppies while drinking bleach.
he then counted to infinity twicehe also lost hios virginity b4 his dad did

silly impotentboy... he was drinking arsenic. you have much to learn.

no! remember, he was tired of milk so he stepped up to bleach