“When it comes to scrapbooking, there is one tool I simply cannot live without – my pen tablet.”-Amanda Dykan
When I began scrapbooking digitally, one thing continually frustrated me. I couldn’t accurately write on my pages with a mouse. One day, I read on a digital forum about something called a pen tablet. When I realized that a pen tablet would allow me to not only write on my pages, but also to edit images, doodle, journal in my own handwriting, and clean up scanned elements, I ordered a Graphire from Wacom. I was apprehensive as to how long it would take me to install and get a feel for the tablet, but it only took a few minutes to hook up to my computer via a USB port, and a few hours after that to become familiar with using the included pen and mouse. Eventually, I moved on to a Wacom Bamboo tablet. The smooth writing surface (which has just enough grip to feel like real paper beneath the not-too-sensitive pen) combined with the customizable buttons and silky colors makes digital scrapbooking even more fun!”
In this article, I focus on Wacom pen tablets. (As of press time, Wacom is the only company with a marketing plan geared toward crafters.)
The wireless pen included with the Bamboo Fun tablet
features two function buttons that operate just like
the buttons on a mouse.
Size needs to be considered before purchasing a pen tablet; bigger is not necessarily better. Pen tablet sizes are given for the input surface area (the part of the tablet that allows you to input information), not for the overall tablet size, which can be as much as 5" larger than the input area size. Keep this in mind as you shop or you may be surprised when that 4" x 6" tablet you purchased takes up close to 10" of your desktop!
For digital crafters, the most popular pen tablet sizes are 4" x 5" and 6" x 8". Graphic artists may desire a larger surface area, but keep in mind that price escalates as size increases. Wacom’s Bamboo tablet is priced at $79 for a 4" x 6" work surface, while its big brother, the Bamboo Fun tablet, costs $99 for the same size work area and more cus-tomization features. (For more serious enthusiasts, the Bamboo Fun is also available with a 6" x 8" work area for $199.) The greatest thing about Wacom tablets is that they are pressure sensitive. This sensitivity allows you to control the thickness, transparency, and color of your work. The higher the pressure sensitivity, the more responsive and natural the tablet will feel and the more control you will have.
Digi-Scrappin’ 104: Scrappin’ with a Tablet,
for Design Originals
includes a CD with eight digital kits |
The 4" x 6" Bamboo Fun tablet is perfect
for the digital scrapbooker or hobbyist.
Form and Function
A pen tablet (also referred to as a graphics tablet or pen pad) is an input device that can be used with a special pen and mouse or in place of a traditional mouse, trackball, or other pointing device. Wacom tablets come with a wireless pen (no batteries required) that feels comfortable and natural in your hand. The pen features two function buttons that work like the buttons on a mouse. It even has an erasing end for deleting unwanted data.
Most pen tablets also include a special wireless mouse, which can be used on the tablet surface in the same way you would use a traditional mouse on a mouse pad. Of course, if you prefer to use a different mouse, you should have no trouble using it at the same time as the tablet.
This fun page was created using a Wacom Medium Bamboo Fun
pen tablet to make the “painted” elements and shaped papers
How long will it take for you to feel comfortable using a pen tablet? Not long at all! It took me just a few hours to learn to coordinate my movements and to get used to tapping instead of clicking.
My bottom line? A pen tablet is a digital scrapbooking must-have. It takes the guesswork out of digital designing and puts the power of details back in your hand (literally).
Amanda worked directly with Wacom on her latest book.. You’ll find that her book is an indispensible tool for anyone who is interested in adding a Wacom pen tablet to their creative arsenal. Visit www.d-originals.com or www.getdigiwithit.com for more information. For more about Wacom pen tablets, see www.wacom.com. |
