Graphics tablets..
Sep. 25th, 2010 10:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
theducksWith last Friday being my birthday, I felt like getting a present for myself. I had been looking at a macro lens, but with winter coming, I don't see much use for it immediately. Also a Canon 60D body, but they're not out yet. Also an iPad, but there's a better one coming in Jan, and one of my co-workers offered to lend me his for the time we're in Australia, which is when I really wanted it.
So my mind turned to a graphics tablet. But they ain't half expensive. Usually. I did some reading, and some craigslisting, and found someone selling an 12x18 inch one (30x46cm, for those in metric countries..) in not so great condition for $90. But it had problems - wasn't in great condition, was serial port only, part of the cover sheet was bent, and it was old ("Works with Windows NT 4!").
Bought a USB to Serial adaptor for $11, got a GPL driver to use serial Wacom tablets with OSX, cleaned up the case a bit, flattened the plastic sheet using a hair dryer, and hey presto, I have a giant graphics tablet. You can still buy 12x18 inch Wacom tablets (unless you're in Quebec), but they're over $1200 with tax. I'm not sure what I'm missing either - this one has angle and pressure sensitivity, just like the new ones, and connects via USB, just like the new ones.. :)
Word of advice: This is actually almost TOO big. But if I find a 4:3 21 inch LCD, I could make a DIY-cintiq.. hmm :)
Here's a random sketch of a bathroom I did:
So my mind turned to a graphics tablet. But they ain't half expensive. Usually. I did some reading, and some craigslisting, and found someone selling an 12x18 inch one (30x46cm, for those in metric countries..) in not so great condition for $90. But it had problems - wasn't in great condition, was serial port only, part of the cover sheet was bent, and it was old ("Works with Windows NT 4!").
Bought a USB to Serial adaptor for $11, got a GPL driver to use serial Wacom tablets with OSX, cleaned up the case a bit, flattened the plastic sheet using a hair dryer, and hey presto, I have a giant graphics tablet. You can still buy 12x18 inch Wacom tablets (unless you're in Quebec), but they're over $1200 with tax. I'm not sure what I'm missing either - this one has angle and pressure sensitivity, just like the new ones, and connects via USB, just like the new ones.. :)
Word of advice: This is actually almost TOO big. But if I find a 4:3 21 inch LCD, I could make a DIY-cintiq.. hmm :)
Here's a random sketch of a bathroom I did:
