I am new to the whole 3d 2d scene. I started with buying Bryce 5.5 on a whim after seeing some work on digitalblasphemy.com. After surfing around looking for more I came across Zbrush2 and bought it. I played with it a little and was hooked. I bought some training DVD’s and downloaded the free manual and have been working thru that page by page. I am thinking of buying Lightwave 9, worlbuilder and Maya but I am moving way to fast, I want to master Zbrush before going any further. Having said all that, I will get to my question now!:lol: Does anybody think that a graphics tablet can be helpful? I know that some of the tools in Zbrush can be used with a pressure sensitive tablet. If so, which tablets are the best?
I started off doing digital art in Photoshop and after my first tablet, I can’t live without them now. They can’t be beat for control. There’s a few cheaper tablets out there, but Wacom is pretty much a standard. I started off with a cheap $100 Graphire 2, and eventually worked my way up to an Intous 3 tablet. (Both Wacom). You mentioned Lightwave and world builder. I looked at several apps similar to worldbuilder, and ended up getting Vue. Lightwave is currently offering a bundle that includes Vue 5 Infinite with Lightwave for $800 or so. The two products are comparable really, just a thought. (Vue is pretty much free in that case.) I’m bouncing back and forth between Lightwave and XSI myself… The tablet is a no brainer though, definatly one of the most used tools I have.
One other thing, you can search the forums here for tablet or wacom, and find tons more information…
Shouldn’t the title of this thread be “Who does NOT use a graphics tablet?” ?
You’d get a smaller number. 
I was using a Kurta tablet for my first, back in the day. That’s before Wacom arrived on the scene. Drawing with a mouse is like sketching with a hockeypuck.
Wacom is the defacto standard now. I’m dreaming of one day buying a Cintiq 21X. (somebody should teach them how to spell. Seriously.).
Maybe by the time they come out with a 30 inch, I’ll have saved up enough for one. 
I thought as much, it’s always hard though when you try something new not to ask a dumb question!:lol: But as we all know the only dumb questions are those that arent asked. When I feel comfortable with the interface I will post my first sculpture no matter what it looks like. My Kurv DVD should be here shortly.
I just checked out the cintiq 21ux and I am very impressed! I just put in an order for one, it better be worth it! :lol: Thank you for all your help!
I hope you do CG for a living or have tons of expendable cash lying around. Ultimatly, it’s like asking if we drive to work rather than walk, then you yourself turn around and buy a Corvette before you’ve gotten your license. Weither you use a Graphire or a Cintiq, you’ll find similar results I think. Cintiq is nice, but in my opinion it’s not going to give you any advantage over the Intous line for example. If you had that kind of cash to throw around you probably would have been better off buying Maya and an intous or an intous and more dvds, or what ever you like. Just my oppinion.
I bought the intuos. Sorry about the confusion. :eek: No I don’t do CG for a living, I am just trying to do it right, from the beginning. I think I have everything I need to dig in and learn. I did bid on some DVD’s on ebay. I should be getting the Kurv Getting into Zbrush in a few days. I calculated it up, I have spend close to $700.00 on the start of this hobby, but I am willing to take the time to learn it right. So I guess instead of buying the corvette I bought the Mustang (I am a sales manager at a Ford dealership so that analogy works for me!!:lol: ). Thank you for the help! Oh by the way, what other DVD’s are recommended?
THe Gnomon dvd’s are pretty good… Human Anatomy is really nice 
The kurv dvd should allready give you enough knowledge of the basics and the knowhow to create an alien head and texturing…
So i would not spend anymore to andy basics dvd’s the new Alpha dvd from gnomon looks cool though… maybe ill order it if i got some more money again… 
Much better. The Cintiq runs around $2k, but you’ll find you have everything you need in an Intous. I’ve got three ZBrush related dvds thus far, all Gnomon and while they are on the pricey side the quality is good. The only ones I don’t have (from gnomon) are the pipeline one from Meats, and the Alphas from Aaron Sims which I ordered and should arrive tomorrow I think. Digital-tutorials does a zbrush dvd as well as Kurv but you’ve got that one. As Pixelsoul stated, you’ve probably got the basics covered, so no real need to get anything else till you’ve played around with what you’ve got. Good luck with your hobby.
I’ve been using tablets pretty much since they came out. Beautiful tools!
I’m demoing a Cintiq 21U supposedly next week with the new 3d pen.
If you order one, expect to wait into November, perhaps December as the back orders need to be filled - BIG seller!
Remember it’s a monitor too!
Since this topic came up, we might be able to get seriously interested parties a deal on a group buy. Email me at [email protected] and make sure the subject is CINTIQ - I’ll talk with my contacts at Wacom.
The lead technical artist who sits next to me had a random box show up yesterday… ta da Cintiq 21X… its awesome… i was playing with it in zbrush… amazing, like reaching in the screen and grabbing and pushing clay… All it needs in feedback like the haptik devices and u might as well be holding clay in your hands. I had to cut myslef off, this thing was addictive to use, didn’t wanna stop modelling in zbrush…
I wish I could afford a Cintiq. Right now I’m using an old Wacom Graphire2 tablet. If I weren’t going to spend my money on a new guitar, I’d probably get a new tablet (not a Cintiq though, it’s hard to believe that anyone can afford it :P).
EDIT: Sorry for the thread necromancy.