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NZ Macguide Issue 8From the moment we start drawing (whether it be pencil on paper
or crayons on the wall) whatever we create appears where we draw it. Until
recently, drawing tablets for computers have been unable to recreate that experience,
resulting in the detachment of drawing in one place while having it appear
in another.
About this time last year Wacom brought us the 15?? LCD display
tablet and Chris Knox, artiste extraordinaire, looked at it for Macguide,
Wacom has gone several steps larger and now brings us the 18SX - an 18" version
of the display tablet. Does Wacom's great reputation with graphics tablets
continue with this latest incarnation? Let's see ??
The display sits in an ingenious stand that allows the screen
to lie almost flat or almost upright. After some use I found myself checking
that it was as upright as it would go. I prefer my screens a little more vertical
than the 18SX would allow. Not a major problem though. If you like to work
on a completely horizontal surface, the screen lifts right out of the stand
and can be placed on your lap without any problems. The connection cable is
long and sturdy enough for most situations.
Setup is not just a case of plug it in and away you go. It is
well worth spending the time at this stage to get familiar with the Wacom options.
Software installation is required. This may seem a bit unusual for Mac users
nowadays but the Wacom utilities are necessary - indeed, indispensable.
The default settings are initially used for all applications but it is very
easy to add applications and then create sets of customised tool settings for
individual aps. If you have different compatible input tools you can also create
custom settings for each tool.
One of the first things to do is calibrate the tablet to the LCD display. It's
no use having a tablet and display in one if what you draw appears elsewhere
on the screen. Calibration is as simple as selecting the display (yes, you
can have multiple displays connected) and clicking on the crosshairs. If you
change the angle of the display or remove it for on-your-lap work it is worth
repeating this procedure to ensure accurate calibration.
The 'UltraPen' has its own tip-protecting stand and requires
no batteries. It gains its power from the tiny amount of electro magnetic radiation
(EMR) transmitted from the screen. Brilliant. There are many options to customize
the feel and use of the pen. These can be universal or specific to individual
applications. The tip pressure feel can be altered depending on whether you
are heavy or light handed. I found it more useful to bump the pressure up a
bit so I had more control over lighter strokes. It's easier to maintain pressure
when pressing harder rather than lighter. The pressure feel can be altered
using a slider bar, entering percentages into a graph or by drawing strokes
to set maximum force.
The other end of the pen holds the eraser and the pressure feel can be altered
in the same way as the tip. This time it felt better to soften the eraser pressure
feel. Of course, it is completely up to each user how it is set up. There is
even a setting for left or right-handedness.
I could not find a way of saving different settings for different users of
the same application. This seems a bit of an oversight as I'm sure there would
be users sharing the Cintiq on one machine.
The pen and eraser have configurable double-click settings including
speed and distance of second click from first click. These can be set manually
or by actually doing it on a bullseye-like target.
More clever stuff
The eraser, tip and two side buttons on the pen are all customisable. The eraser
offers plenty more than just the obvious functions with modifier, keystroke
and macro options as well. The side buttons can be used for clicking functions,
all of the eraser functions, pressure hold for constant pressure plus several
operational shortcuts to reduce pen travel. The tip also has much more functionality
than simply a pen tip.
Wacom have concentrated on functionality with the 18SX and have done a great
job. The display controls are on the top rear of the case and are operated
out of sight, which means getting up and down a few times until you get the
hang of where they are. It is not the most attractive display I have come across
but I certainly wouldn't hold that against it.
The 1280x1024 (maximum resolution) display is good (not the
best, not the worst). The size of the tablet allows full arm movement, not
just wrist action, and I was soon creating Picasso-like artwork on-screen.
Brush strokes can be longer and smoother. Highly-detailed technical work can
be magnified and worked on with ease. The benefits of having a display and
tablet in one soon become obvious, especially one this size, though the price
will slow you down.
If creativity is the ultimate driver in your studio, then get
one of these. Otherwise, a good talk with the bank manager may still be justified.
I like it.
© Parkside Media 2003
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