January 23rd, 2008
by Sergio Ordonez at 8:03 pm on Resources
This article is dedicated to the Newbies, we’ll see what is a graphics tablet, what are they for and how to choose the tablet that fit your needs.
What is a graphics tablet?
It’s a device used mainly to paint with a computer, but it’s also useful to draw, photo retouching or even to design. Imagine that instead of a mouse you use a pencil in a tablet that perceives movement; the big advantage is that it has sensitivity to pressure, the more you press, the thicker the trace will be.
What can i do with a graphics tablet? Is it worth it to buy one?
It’s basically the same thing as using a mouse, the difference is that for some tasks it’s a lot more comfortable:
- To paint: it’s essential.
- For photo retouch: it’s a good help.
- To draw: it helps, but requires practice.
- To design: it wont be very helpful. I normally use the mouse (included in the pack).
- To browse: if you have extra cash…
With which software can i use them?
With any software for image editing slightly professional, for both: vectorial or bitmap: Photoshop, Painter, Illustrator, Flash…
Is it difficult to learn how to use a graphics tablet? Are they comfortable?
The most difficult part is to coordinate your hand with what you see, since when you paint you look at the screen, not the tablet. But it’s just a matter of hours, they’re very comfortables and the pencil is very light since it doesn’t use bateries.
I remember that when i bought my first tablet i felt very dissapointed, luckily it was just the first impression; at the next day i was thinking on what i could do with my Wacom, a week later it was essential for me. Today i’d pay 100 times its value.
What trademark should i choose to buy a graphics tablet?
Without a doubt, a Wacom. It’s by far the best. There are pretty cheap models, they work by resonance (no batteries), without any wires between the pencil and tablet, some of them even completely wireless, they work on PC and Mac, they’re light, nice, and well designed and in many sizes… don’t even look at the rest of the trademarks. If you don’t have money, less beers and save some cash.
What size should i choose?
My advice is to go for the smaller ones, for two reasons: they’re cheaper and more comfortable. If you’re an expert user of any editing program (ie: Photoshop) appart from the mouse you’ll use the keyboard shortcuts, if you have a tablet in A2 size it’ll be pretty difficult to also have the keyboard near your hand.
I have an Intuos3 A6 (the smaller one of the higher rank) and i wouldn’t change it for a bigger one… if you want to make a good investment, do it in one of the higher rank tablets instead of a bigger one.
How much do i have to spend?
There are 4 groups, obviously as they become more expensive, the better they are. If you want it for digital painting get at least a Graphire (512 preassure levels), and if you can afford it go for the Intuos (1024 preassure levels).
- Amateur: from 40€ you have the Bamboo and Volito. If you aren’t sure and want to try.
- Intermediate: from 150€ you have the Graphire. If you want to start, they’re semiprofessional.
- Professional: from 240€ you have the Intuos. The best investment for the ones that know how to use them.
- And for the ones that have extra money, from 1200-3000€ you have the Cintiq: this ones aren’t tablets, they’re monitors where you paint directly, these are great… my dream!!!
The prices are aproximate, if you want more information visit Wacom’s website.
Is sensitivity important?
Sensitivity for me is the main technic requisite at the time of choosing the model, the results will be the same with both (if you hurry me even with the mouse), it’s more a matter of comfort.
As i said at the beggining, the pencil is preassure sensitive, which means the more you press the thicker will be the trace. The lower rank tablets have 512 preassure levels, and from the Intuos they have 1024 levels.
What problems do Wacoms have?
More than problems, they have a few useless functions:
- The have some keys (Express Keys) you can set as shortcuts, although they’re not very useful, i prefer having the keyboard in my left hand and the tablet in the right one.
- They also come with a transparent paper, i guess it’s used to trace a drawing… but it’s not very practical, since it’s impossible to look at the drawing and the screen at the same time. Also with use it breaks and ends up being uncomfortable.
- The pencil has an eraser on top of it (useless because it’s very big, i prefer to use photoshop’s eraser).
- If you have a small tablet it’s a bit uncomfortable using the mouse since it only works in the active area of the tablet.
- There are many accesories: airbrushes, pens, markers… but they’re expensive almost useless; if you use Photoshop you only need the pencil that comes with the tablet.
- With Photoshop sometimes i have problems, it doesn’t recognize the preassure and i have to restart the program many times. I guess it can happen due to my Operating System, the software or the tablet.
- The pencil is very delicate and expensive, so if you break it, start saving.
Related Post:
- Photoshop videotutorial: Save for web
- Vectorial illustration with Illustrator
- Free mascot design (new mascot added)
January 17th, 2008
by Sergio Ordonez at 3:51 pm on Freelancing
2007, a year full of emotions in the professional and personal. I didn’t have much luck in the first part of the year, i lost a client that guaranteed me about 6.000US$ per month; and also one of my designers abandoned me… luckily, in the 6 remaining months i recovered my clients and even exceeded the ammount, and i discovered that i’m good enough in my work to depend on someone. If you want to know how i did it, here’s my year summary!
JANUARY: if you want to survive, be independent
Part of the job i did for Funrise in the last 2 years.
2007 started badly, i lost my best client (Funrise) due to adjustments in the staff and changes in the company policy my contact was fired, my main source of income since the last 2 years dissapeared in just 1 day. I was living in Germany, renting, paying a mortage in Spain and with almost no income… with this rythm of life i needed an income of about 6000US$/month, a tough month.
Month lesson: never depend on just 1 source of income. Even if it’s a good job, abundant and well paid, don’t leave behind the rest of the clients… think in long term.
FEBRUARY: the best attack is a good attack
Design for the launch of POG’s (Discs for the latins)
After regreting for a while, i started again, thanks to the work i did for Funrise i have a very complete portfolio, so i decided to attack instead of waiting for the clients to come.
Measures i took:
- I started to redesign SOSFactory, oriented more to businesses than small users.
- I worked on corporative material to send by mail to my target companies.
- I started this blog to assure income by publicity; a plan B for the future.
- I kept doing the rest of promotion tasks i usually do.
- I sent emails to old clients to say hello and be seen.
- Crossed my fingers…
Month lesson: when things are wrong, stay cold, analize the problem, look for solutions and follow them… after that keep working and hope for the best.
MARCH: if there’s no work outside, work inside
At the right, the new logo and mascot of SOSFactory (under development)
The good (or bad) of being a designer is that you always have work to do in your own corporative material: the portfolio, card, the blog… while clients came i dedicated to this tasks:
- I made a complete update of SOSFactory’s portfolio, i got rid of old works and replaced them with with other of better quality.
- I wrote some articles and tutorials to promote SOSNewbie and i uploaded them to directories and other webs about tutorials. The monthly income of the blog is about 90US$.
- Revised a bit of CSS, i started learning PHP and studied in depth the way Wordpress works.
- I practiced my drawing and searched for new drawers in case i needed them in the future.
Month lesson: if there’s no work, work on your marketing tools.
APRIL: the value of a withrawal on time
Mi girlfriend and I, this month was tough in the personal.
MAY: proximity with the client
Mi friend Chris, a client from Canada whit whom i worked since long ago traveled to Spain for an urgent order. It’s the first time i work face to face with a client, and surprisingly everything was really easy and relaxing, there was even time for fun. I found out i work for people, not for email addresses.
Being freelance and working through the internet has many advantages but it also has it’s negative side, it’s cold and solitary, that’s why it’s important to talk with the client once in a while, even through messenger.
Month lesson: never forget the human factor of your work.
JUNE: search for team mates
He was good huh? what a pity
I had a very good designer in his job, very very good… but also very problematic. He was with me since long ago and helped me grow, the problem was that he demanded commitment at the time to collect, but not at the time of assuming responsibilities.
After many concessions from me, mainly for fear to lose that extra quality, he told me he found something else… he abandoned me. That month was very stresing since i had to work for two.
Month lesson: Bad companies wont stop being a bad company no matter what you do. Look for alternatives and stay alert.
JULY: talent is overestimated
The new designs of SOSFactory, did someone doubt that the quality would decrease?
When the worst happened, i found two designers with the right attitude. Also surprisingly, my quality in that area was getting better more than i thought. Now the 3 of us make the work relaxed, in a more creative way and with the same technic quality… i work more, but i’m happier.
Month lesson: talent is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.
AUGUST: hunting the first client
This was the first design for a professional
In 2007 i discovered a new very profitable market, professional blogger; a blog is a very powerfull marketing tool because of it’s immediacy. Once the order is finished, it’s not hard to convince the blogger to make you some publicity, if the blog has a good audience, other bloggers will see you.
I started designing for Bloggingtips, which attracted other bloggers like Theprizeblog, Tylercruz, Bcmblog, John Cow… and some more.
Month lesson: if you want to introduce yourself into the market, get your first order and try to be seen in the sector. After that it’ll be a lot easier.
SEPTEMBER: take care of the client that takes care of you
Header design for John Cow and it’s Halloween and Christmas versions
The header i designed for Johncow attracted several clients, and to compensate this promotion i designed the Halloween and Christmas versions for free. Which kept attracting more clients; among others Tylercruz, which also gave me more clients.
For the first time since i started this business, i am the one who chooses the clients, not the other way round.
Month lesson: when the publicity that a client makes you attracts more clients, compensate him so he keeps doing it.
OCTOBER: while more expensive you are, the better you are
3 years ago i charged 50US$ for a logo, now i charge 500US$
As i have a lot more work than what i can make, i can afford the luxury of rising the prices, extend the delivery dates, choose the orders… i realized that while better conditions i demand to my clients, they treat me better.
Month lesson: appreciate yourself if you want your clients to do the same.
NOVEMBER: not all is up to you
Designs i made for Inxile-Entertainment, a strange case
I can’t give much information, let’s say that a web of my network, the one i barely work in (paradoxes of life), because of factors totally away from my will, it transformed into an authentic phenomenon, producing about 1300US$/month due to publicity.
Month lesson: in every business extern and uncotrollable factors have influence.
December: the next time will be better
To the right, the new version of SOSFactory
This blog is my second important website after SOSFactory. After a year of intermittent work, the traffic is of about 1300 visits every day, with peaks up to 4000 visits per day, a lot more audience than SOSFactory in the same development stage.
Month lesson: make everything as best as possible, then keep on going, the next time will be better.
Related Post:
- Drunken Monkey Photoshop tutorial
- Sergio Ordoñez Interviewed by PSDTUTS
- How to create a portfolio to sale
