The Squirminator2k Super-Wacky Tablet Fun Hour

[Squirminator2k]

Having just bought a 6x11 Wacom Intuos3 tablet, I'm not beginning the arduous task of learning how to draw with a tablet. It's tricky, but I've managed to knock this out:

31644

There are, of course, problems with this - the skin is too pale, the eyes look odd, the shading isn't right and the shape of the head is a little squiffy, not to mention the fact that he's apparently eating his top lip, but I'm using this mostly as an exercise to learn how to use the Tablet and hopefully get back into drawing regularly again... maybe even get back to a point where I can say I'm genuinely happy with my art.

For those of you who are interested, here is the picture in layers:

31645

I'm more interested in tips that'll help me use the Tablet as best I can. For instance, I drew this at 1:1 scale, and I think it shows. I'd like to try drawing on a larger canvas next - does anyone have any tips for that or am I doomed to failure? I'm concerned my lines might be a little wibbly when I zoom in. Also, can anyone recommend any brush settings - taking into account that I'm using Paint Shop Pro 7. I have PhotoShop CS3 installed on this machine but I'm not overly confident using it (although I'm willing to learn).

Thanks.

[Pigbuster]

I haven't seen you draw stuff in... forever.

I'd give you advice, but I honestly hate drawing with my tablet, so I haven't bothered to get good at it. :p

Ah, I remember when I used to say how I never made any grammar mistakes. Har Har! "Get good at it", indeed.

[Akuryou13]

holy crap it's been a while. I'd forgotten you draw stuff.

I think you tagged all the problems, but even those are arguable. I actually kinda like the mutant sort of style you've got there :p

[Kelster23]

Did you install the drivers?
When I was using mine on XP and I finally decided to install the drivers it became SUPER accurate... sadly I can't get the driver to work on Vista.
As for advice... practice on iscribble.net

[Squirminator2k]

Drivers installed and working fine.

[Kelster23]

Drivers installed and working fine.

Good job, me too.
You'll get it used to it in a week, max.

[Melon]

It might take a while, but if you use your tablet as often as possible, even for general usage of the mouse (I'm using it to browse), it'll become second nature.

[shadowman]

Do they make tablets you can use your left hand on?

Generally I end up smudging everything I write because of my left handedness.

[Kelster23]

Do they make tablets you can use your left hand on?

Generally I end up smudging everything I write because of my left handedness.

In all honesty, I don't imagine it would make a difference whether you were left handed or right handed when it comes to tablets.

[Squirminator2k]

It really doesn't make a difference, no.

[MtlAngelus]

In all honesty, I don't imagine it would make a difference whether you were left handed or right handed when it comes to tablets.
This is true.


edit: oh right, the art.
I think it's great, reminds me of Vader's style. :p

[Akuryou13]

This is true.


edit: oh right, the art.
I think it's great, reminds me of Vader's style. :pTHAT'S what it made me think of! thank you!

[Gardy Looo]

You have a tablet? Awesome. And it's an Intuos.
Anyway, you probably shoud've deleted/disabled/whatever the first layer, the one with purples.

[Liketyspli]

I think the tail is too fat, and I think Worms 2D-style tails are better. But meh, that's a choice of your own.

[Akuryou13]

I think the tail is too fat, and I think Worms 2D-style tails are better. But meh, that's a choice of your own.the tail is skinny as hell. it's longer than average, but it's rather skinny compared to the size of the head.

[farazparsa]

Isn't 'wacky' spelled 'whacky'? Or is it like 'organize' and 'organise?'

[SgtFusion]

No, it isn't. Wacky is the standard spelling.

[Akuryou13]

Isn't 'wacky' spelled 'whacky'? Or is it like 'organize' and 'organise?'not putting forth any effort, I found the following:
Although the original spelling of this word meaning “crazy” was “whacky,” the current dominant spelling is “wacky.” If you use the older form, some readers will think you’ve made a spelling error.
http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/whacky.html

[Slick]

Not bad at all. But your doing it the harder/longer way.

What I've found out is when it comes to using a tablet, it's best to just kinda... add on to something... and then add on to another. You can do stuff twice as fast, and it doesn't look half bad.

So instead of drawing a whole base and where you want stuff to go in a lighter color, then just to build on top of it... Just make a base and fill it in with details. Now I'm not saying this is the best thing to do all the time, or at all... but it does save time, and once you get good at it... it a whole lot easier. (Especially if you don't really know what you want something to look like. This makes you make smaller decisions that are easy to make, rather than one hard big decision that you don't like over and over.)

For example.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/VirusMan/Untitled-2-1.gif

So, just mess around, and see if you like it. :cool:

[Squirminator2k]

I'll keen that in mind, thanks.

I recently drew [this (http://squirminator2k.deviantart.com/art/Vanderbeam-91331770)] using the tablet... actually using the method Slick mentioned above, now I come to think about it. It's not Worms fanart but it's Fanart all the same. Let me know what you think.

[Kelster23]

It has a rather neat look to it! :D