I started drawing using paper. For the most of us, pen tablets and tablet
PCs did not come until we started working professionally. I remember using the ball mouse to color my
scanned art work in Photoshop, and create vector art work and animate in Flash. Since the future of artwork, animation,
painting and design will eventually be most reliant with computers, I only
dreamt of that day when it is possible to create something that you cannot
really touch.
My first experience with a Wacom Tablet was
in my first job with Philippine Animation Studios. I found it awesome that I could draw on a piece
(slab) of plastic with sensors and I would directly see it in my tube
monitor. I was so excited. That was only 7 years ago. Three years ago I started working in a
company that provided us with Cintiqs, another Wacom product where the sensors
are mounted on top of a display, making your monitor a huge digital
canvas. The Cintiq is an artist’s luxury
and at the same time, comfort. . It was
even better than a regular tablet, since it allows you to draw directly on the
screen and you’ll see where your pen (stylus) is going, you can see your hand,
and the lines that you’re working on.
Now, I am using a Samsung Series 7 Slate
for drawing, sketching and designing. If
the Cintiqs are screens that you can draw on, this device is a screen that you
can carry around and draw on. The
advantage of this is it does not require a computer to function. It is a full-fledged computer that you can
carry around. This is not your common iPad or Android tablet, this is a PC. It has a full version of Windows and can run Photoshop and Sketchbook
Pro with ease. I find myself doing
crazy artwork and lines with it every day.
Though there is still something special when it comes to drawing on
paper, but the comfort and the convenience of having it in digital form is
something to be appreciated, especially from an artist’s point of view. I guess what I am saying is, artists and
future artists today have it easy.
For all you artists out there, here’s what I have
to say about the Series 7 Slate:
“It is what you need to draw.”
Don’t even worry about your status if other
artists don’t see you using a Macbook Pro.
Efficiency is the key. Why would
you spend $1500 up to get a machine just as powerful as a $600 laptop that has
similar performance? Although I have
been tempted many times to get a Macbook Pro, it was not a worthy investment at
that time. Firstly, I was still making
my way up to the industry so I really do not need luxury. Secondly, I cannot justify the price of getting
a Macbook Pro as an investment. It is
way too expensive for a product that’s going to be refreshed the year after. Lastly, I was unemployed.
Although Macs are very efficient machines, they're really not interested in creating tablet Macs, or Windows just got the patent or copyright. Who knows? They did, however, release the ModBook Pro -- which is a 13" MBP fitted with the Wacom Penabled Screens (found on most Tablet PCs), and costs like $3000. Do you want to get that? And you don’t really need one when you are still trying to pursue art or design.
My advice for aspirants out there (who don't own a MacBook Pro to begin with, grab a
piece of paper, pen or pencil and imagine.
Be creative and unique. And be contented.
So with those reasons and justifications in mind,
I settled for the Slate. It is indeed a
worthy investment. I am a techie and an
artist, so this “Slate” is not the number 1 on my list of machines, but owning
and using it for 2-3 months, I say it’s enough.
The Slate does not come with a keyboard or a
mouse, although you can get the keyboard separately. It’s a touch screen and has a Wacom
screen. It will get you really
productive since the canvas will be all up in your face. The size is decent and the brightness is
enough. It comes with a stylus, and 5
tip replacements.
I cannot recommend this for professional artists
who need to do really heavy artwork or painting. Production work for film and 3d animation is
definitely out of the equation, even 3d modeling. You can do that on your workstation or your
laptop, but not this one. This device is for artists on the go and don’t mind
working on an 11.6” screen.
There will be more tablets on the horizon since
Windows 8 is just around the corner.
Make sure you get a tablet with Windows 8 Pro and at least a Core i5
processor. Do not settle for those Atom
ones since they will not be efficient for all Adobe tools, unless it’s the
mobile version. Yeah, any questions or
comments, I’ll be glad to answer. Let me
know in the comments or send me a message.
My goal is to help the Art Community get
acquainted with the tools and devices that are efficient and worth it at the
same time. Not all artists will move towards being mobile anytime soon, and not all artists are techies,
or know about computers. I am here to
help out.
