Wacom ArtPadII

Matthew A. Clifton

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Jan 8, 1996, 3:00:00 AM1/8/96

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Thanks for the comment, I am in the market for a drawing tablet too.
Torn between the ArtZ II 4x5 or the 6x8. I was initially drawn to the
bigger is better attitude but, like from yourself, have heard that this
is not so. Is the like ratio of a 6x8 tablet and 14inch monitor (approx
1 to 1) a benefit or is the 4x5 babe nifty and swift. I guess the ratio
may be critical as my just turned 3 year old loves drawing, and finds
the mouse limiting!

Thanks, Matthew, Western Australia

Chris Benson

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Jan 10, 1996, 3:00:00 AM1/10/96

to Matthew A. Clifton

Just jumped in on this thread but thought this info. might be of use. The following text is a
response from Wacom regarding my questions about the differences between the 4x5 and 6x6 tablets for
graphic design work using both Photoshop and Painter. FYI: The ArtPad is the 4x5, the ArtZ is the
6x8...

(QUOTE)
The ArtPadII does not support the tilt feature. The ArtZII does support a plus or minus 60 degree
tilt. This means that if you hold it at an angle and draw with it, that the software application if
capable will recognize the angle and draw it as such. Examples are usages of charcol or caligraphy
applications. If you are using Photoshop and Painter I would suggest that you may want to get the
6X8 tablet. Features that it has verses the ArtPadII is that over the working surface of the tablet
there is a plastic transparent overlay, and on the top on the tablet there is a programmable menu
option bar for macro that are already programed in and that you can program in yourself. This
tablet seems to be a very popular item for the applications that you have. If you have any other
question let me know.

Sherry Fosdick
Customer Service
(ENDQUOTE)

Not a wealth of info. but maybe it will help. Of course, the suggested pad is the more expensive of
the two, but if programability and tracing (using the overlay) are in your priorities then it might
be worth it. As for tilt, seems like a nice touch but...

I've used both pads and the size difference didn't seem noticeable, or at least wasn't a factor. If
it's real estate your interested in, 12x12 is where it's at...

And while I'm at it... if anyone knows where to get a cheap (new or used) 6x8, I'm very interested
:-)

Chris
cbe...@saturn.net

Mark Filipas

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Jan 13, 1996, 3:00:00 AM1/13/96

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I've been using the 6x8 Wacom and thought I'd give some feedback.

I spent the extra money for the larger tablet because I thought the
4x5 would be limiting to use for drawing programs. The first thing I
found I wanted to do, though, was to go into the control panel for the
tablet and change the active area from the entire 6.25 x 8.5 surface
to just a 4x5 area, because using the pen over the entire area was
just way too much to move around (a Microsoft mouse will move over the
entire screen with just a 1 inch movement on your average setup). The
DPI of the Wacom is so high (something over 2000 DPI, I forget) that
the reduced active area was more than enough for accuracy in my
drawing programs.

In fact, the active 4x5 area was still making me move around too much,
and I've since reduced the active area to a 1.5 x 2 inch area at the
top of the tablet. I still have a huge amount of room for accuracy in
Fractal Painter and Photoshop for anything, and I can use the pen for
a mouse without waving my whole arm around.

So I'm using a tiny rectangle out of this large tablet! It's a great
tablet, though, and apparently has a few extras that the 4x5 doesn't
have.

I'm curious if other artists have found the required large movements
bothersome, and whether they configure the 6x8 or larger into a
smaller active area.

Mark Filipas
fil...@slip.net