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What tablet should I get?

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#10

I hadn’t realized the small cintiq were meant to be used portably. It makes sense.

Okay so drawing on the screen should be a priority for me with sculpting over visual quality. My situation then becomes, do I save for a good cintiq or get the Ugee. I’m not someone to sell myself short in terms of buying the best hardware and I’m over eight thousand already into my PC. Could you simplify the real differences between an Ugee and a Cintiq? To me, the Ugee seems a bit cheapy and doesn’t offer great support and doesn’t even have a display port (WTH) or a great resolution. Is the Ugee fast and responsive? It’s not going to glitch out every time I lift my pen out of range and struggle to relocate the position when I bring it back down?

Thank you for the link on organizing my windows.

#11

The small cintiq’s can also be used in a desktop scenario, but yeah - the idea is that you can easily transport it, say take it to the library or coffee shop. There are different versions, including one that is a proper tablet (no additional laptop/desktop required).

Well, I haven’t used a Ugee so I can’t say whether you’ll experience the pen range issue, but based on the reviews I’ve read it sounds as though in general people like it better than the Huion. You should do your own extensive research though.

The Ugee’s resolution is no worse than that of a 22 inch Cintiq (1080p), and though it has no display port it does have both hdmi and dvi, either of which are perfectly adequate. It’s a fallacy to suppose that your losing anything significant from the lack of a display port. The first Cintiq competitors only had a vga output, now THAT was ridiculous!

Provided that there are no weird issues like the pen-range thing, the only feature that you are very clearly losing by not selecting a Cintiq is the pen tilt sensitivity, and as I’ve explained before there’s a very good chance that you wont miss that, especially if you primarily expect to work in ZBrush where that feature has no effect at all… Well you are also missing out on the monitor side buttons, but I have never felt inclined to use those when I had use of a Cintiq and I know many other’s never use them either.

Just remember that yes - there’s a good chance you’ll encounter some finicky behavior from a non-wacom product, but you will likely be able to figure those out and work productively with the item anyway. You are taking a gamble - that’s the price you are paying to save a good chunk of cash in the short-run to tide you over until you can justify the more expensive purchase of a Cintiq. Ultimately, only you can decide whether you can better afford the gamble or the premium product. For myself I think the gamble worked out for me, but it may well be that putting off the purchase, using a regular tablet in the interim (go cheap on this), will be the better route for you. that depends on how quickly you can raise the money for the sure bet of a Cintiq. Anyway - I should stop now before I start going in circles:)

Out of curiosity - what are the specs on your $8000 system?

#12

A tip: get a screen protector for your tablet monitor (I can tell you where to get one that will work for either the Huion or the Ugee)

#13

Two gtx titan x graphics, 1tb ssd, 1500 watt ps, Intel i7 8 core, ASUS rampage v extreme, 24 DDR 3 CORSAIR. These are the main components, not all the accessories.

I’ll certainly use all the information you’ve given me to help me decide on a product. Before recently I never imagined getting one and I never thought of color calibration either so I will be picking one of those devices up as well.

#14

Also, when choosing a tablet, is it important that it supports multi touch?

#15

Cintiq touch is a touch screen. So in addition to being able to control applications with your pen, you can interact with them with your fingers… as long as the application supports that technology. Mudbox does, so you can use your one hand to move and zoom the camera while the other sculpts, theoretically speeding one’s workflow. Before going that route though you should find out what applications actually support that tech. If the one’s you will use do not then there’s no point. You should also look up video’s of people demonstrating it’s use to see if you think it’s something that appeals to you personally. For myself, I suspect that for most of what I do I wouldn’t use it, and where I might I doubt it would add significantly to my workflow, plus it would dirty my screen much more quickly, so it doesn’t appeal to me.

Side note for anyone reading this who is interested in getting a Huion or Ugee tablet monitor: You can buy screen protectors for these 22 inch models from Here:

Check out their film-type comparison sheet: http://www.photodon.com/Screen-Protector-Types.pdf

I got the 6HS film-type and have been quite happy with it. There are anti-glare options as well. An added bonus is that it eliminates the squeeky sound that some people report hearing on these models when using the pen on the glass monitor surface.

#16

You asked earlier: what is the difference between a cintiq and an intuos for painting and sculpting?

In my opinion, if you presently have neither a graphics tablet (intuos and the like) or a tablet display (cintiq and the like), it is far more important, and far less costly, to get a graphics tablet.

Tablet displays are fantastic, but they do have downsides: they are comparitively expensive, and the LCD panel quality, even in the most expensive displays, leaves a lot to be desired.

Once you are experienced using a graphics tablet, then you can think about whether you want to invest in a tablet display (and by that time the tablet displays will hopefully be using better display technology).

#17

Well, you’ve worked with them in the industry and you never used it? You use zbrush with a tablet, do you use your fingers to zoom? How do you zoom in zbrush without that function on a tablet? The Ugee supports it multi touch, do you find yourself using that function?

Also yes, I am considering a display tablet. Between the Ugee and a cintiq narrowed down at this point

#18

I want to add that I’ll be working with other software as well. I suppose I can look up other applications myself so you don’t need to address this. I’m just wondering if you believe it’s really worth it if I ordered a cintiq. It seems like zbrush users have been asking for multi touch for years. For a couple hundred it seems like a good idea if it’s actually worth it.

Also what screen protectors do you suggest

#19

The Ugee does not support multi-touch. Only some Wacom tablet monitors do - none others… though I’ve heard a rumor that Yiynova is planning to release one.

I haven’t worked with any of the multi-touch Cintiqs, only the regular kind. Zooming in Zbrush is the same as usual - keyboard hotkey (cntrl) + right-mouse-button (RMB) while hovering and moving the pen above the screen. You simply map the two side buttons on the pen to the right and middle mouse buttons and then you can execute commands with it in any program the same way you would with a mouse (Tip: I recommend mapping the lower button (also called a side-swtich) on the pen to the RMB, as this is the one you will use most often and it’s easier to reach on the pen).

#20

I’ll keep this thread in mind to configure my pen and tablet when I get them. Are there any other things I should know?

#21

The difference between the 22 hd and the 22 hd touch is $550, which is almost the cost of a Ugee. If you are thinking of spending that much, honestly I’d suggest going straight to the 27 inch. The 27QHD is bigger and has better color than either of the 22 inch models and costs less than the 22 hd Touch. You’re getting way more value for your money imo. Of course if you’re going to go that far then maybe you’d might as well go all the way and spend the extra $550 for the 27QHD touch to be sure you’ve got everything you can possibly get. My personal experience makes me hesitant to conclude that the touch functionality is worth it, but I do not have any actual experience with a multi-touch Cintiq so…

Incidentally, NWoolridge brings up a point worth commenting on. Cintiq’s have actually been criticized for not being bright enough and having a low contrast ratio. In the past their contrast ratios were an abysmal 500:1, but I checked out their new specs and it seems the display’s have been greatly improved.

The contrast ratios are (bigger is better):

22HD: 1000:1
22HD Touch: 900:1
27QHD: 970:1
27QHD Touch: 970:1

Brightness values (bigger is brighter):

22HD: 230 cd/m2
22HD Touch: 210 cd/m2
27QHD: 330 cd/m2
27QHD Touch: 330 cd/m2

By comparison, the Huion GT 220 has a contrast ratio of 1000:1 and a brightness of 250 cd/m2. I have absolutely no complaint about how bright it is and am also satisfied with it’s contrast. A higher contrast ratio is always better, but the need for greater brightness… not necessarily so. You’re going to find that a monitor which is calibrated for film and print work is dimmer than you’d expect. These on-paper values for the Cintiq’s brightness should be completely adequate.

Something good to read about this stuff: http://www.eizo.com.tw/support/wp/pdf/wp_06-001A.pdf

Having said that, NWoolridge’s point is still worth considering.

#22

Well,to be honest, I was looking at getting the 13HD sintiq. I don’t doubt that having a bigger monitor is very important. Perhaps I don’t have the most professional mindset for this but I’d much rather have a small quality tablet than a larger monitor of less quality. One thing that is making me think this way is that people do buy and use the small 13 and they do review it highly, they do extensive art on them as well. I don’t want to come across stubborn, you have convinced me of the importance of a display tablet as well as concepts I hadn’t considered like color correction. Things you have explained actually make me favor getting a cintiq product though. I do want a quality tablet above all else. I think for me and the space I don’t have it will do alright, at least I hope.

What benefit does a high contrast ratio provide for sculpting? Is it just an extra thing like higher resolution or can it cause me to miss out detail on my sculpts?

#23

There’s no doubt that the right choice for me wont necessarily be the right choice for you. Do what feels right for your scenario.

Though your monitor can display so many milliions or billiions of colors, it can’t show them all simultaneously. Contrast ratio describes the range of colors, from bright to dark, that can be shown simultaneously on your display. The greater the contrast ratio, the less likely you are to encounter a situation where colors are being incorrectly represented on your display. One of the most common places to notice poor color range and other color flaws is in very dark regions of an image (shadows). Poor quality displays will “crush” these dark regions into nothing but black, eliminating details that are visible on better displays. You find the same scenario in very bright regions of images.

#24

When you looked at my monitor did it have a good contrast ratio? Also, how is the contrast on the cintiq and do cintiq screens need to be color corrected? What screen protrector should I order? Lastly, this may be kind of irrelevant, should I order a 3 year protection plan? Do I need to worry about it breaking?

#25

I ordered the cintiq 13. What screen protector do I get

#26

I have no advice on screen protectors for a Cintiq. I’ve never had to buy one. I’d ask around with people who own a Cintiq to see what they suggest. Actually, refer to the link I posted earlier for screen protectors for the Huion, that same company sells screen protectors for Cintiq’s too.

Yes, Cintiq’s need color calibration too (even if it’s properly calibrated out of the box, which there’s no garauntee of, color calibration deteriorates over time on all monitors), though I suggest contacting wacom or the reseller you buy from for advice on color calibration just in case there are some unique considerations with Cintiq’s.

I don’t recall the contrast ratio of your monitor. In general 1000:1 is standard. The highest I’ve seen is 3000:1 but that’s quite uncommon and quite expensive. A moderately better than average monitor will probably have a ratio of 1500:1.

#27

I did take your advice and I got the Cintiq without touch functions. Also, when you mentioned the screens being dim on cintiq I read that you can simply fix this by going to the NVidia control panel. Also, it’s probably dim because it’s color calibrated.

Also, on a different, since you work in this field, what other programs do you use for design or recommend?

#28

Also, there seems to be a lot of options for screen protectors. Do I get anti glare or clear or shock absorb or what? Do I need a screen protector at all? I’m not taking it anywhere

#29

I just read through a thread on “which tablet to get”. It answered a question I already assumed…digital art work requires a tablet. For the record, I am not really interested in doing animation work, so colors and shading are not important. I am considering Zbrush to produce 3D stl. models to be produced on my CNC machine. Would someone give me a “learning curve” on becoming somewhat proficient with this software? Currently my main focus is in decorative architectural carvings…corbels, panels, moldings. I have been building mesh objects with EnRoute Pro for years now, but the really complicated models I have been sub contracting out. I am interested in an overview of the intuitiveness of the software. Any thoughts or suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks.