Does anyone here (artists, photographers) use a Cintiq?

I just ordered one and I'm a little freaked out about it because it's a HUGE purchase, but I'm an Illustrator and 2D animator, and digital is where it's all going. My clients are now asking for my files in layers, and that's not possible when the art is done on gessobord, obviously. I've got to start mastering Corel Painter and Photoshop CS3 (I only have basic Photoshop skills) or I'll be left in the dust. It's intimidating! My hand/ eye coordination isn't good enough for a AWcon tablet, so I'm hoping that the Cintiq will help me get up to speed. For the price it had better! Anyone else have one of these nifty devices?

http://www.wacom.com/cintiq/features_benefits.cfm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMyWNmklFkY

Some samples of my traditionally done children's book illustration. I hope that I can get the same effects digitally:

I am old school myself.
:toast:

Threads that I start in the Lounge always fall like lead balloons, so I appreciate the reply!

Do you have any samples of your own work to share?

I was drooling over one when I was drawing more. the wacom tablet I do have is great, but to actually get the sort of interaction on screen instead of drawing in one area and looking in another must be a whole different ballgame

As you have experienced, drawing on the Wacom tablet while working on the screen takes a lot of getting used to. I've tried to adapt to it for four years now with limited success, so I'm hoping that I'll be able to work far more efficiently on the Cintiq. Right now I can't even rough out a composition comfortably on the Wacom tablet-I just use it for fine tuning finished work.

figures.

You are AWESOME.

I hope that you're right. Otherwise, it'll be a VERY expensive headache!

therfore more affordable.

(Just kidding. I think you're going to be very happy with it.)

Redstone

Outstanding illustrations! I don't have a cintiq and wouldn't know what to do with it; my Wacom tablet only collects dust.

But I always thought that if you already know the basics of drawing/painting, you shouldn't be afraid of the digital age, since you don't need to learn the drawing/painting part anymore, just the technical stuff. And there, a Cintiq looks way more compelling than any other device.

You'll master it in now time, I'm sure.

I'm still learning to use Corel Painter and PaintShop Pro myself.
This site should be useful to you; http://www.paintermagazine.co.uk/

I ran across the first issue at Barnes & Noble and was hooked.
Good luck with the Cintiq. *drools with envy* ;)

I just bought Corel Painter X (found it new for $40.00 on eBay) but I have yet to put it through it;s paces. I only have a basic understanding of Photoshop, so I hope that the learning curve won't be too stressful for me. I kinda wish that I could just stick to traditional mediums, but that really isn't possible for commercial artists anymore. :-(

I'll let you know if the Cintiq was worth it! Still a little :scared: at this point.

And a Cintiq.. <*drools>

And check out http://revision3.com/pixelperfect .. The last couple of episodes have been about Lightroom but he has some fantastic Photoshop video tutorials in there.

I could never get the hang of a wacom myself... give yourself time to figger it out, but obviously don't lose touch with your real technique!

I was born to bezier. :)

I know a few people that are pretty handy with the Wacom, but I'm sure not one of them! They're a decade or two younger than I am, so I worry that my middle aged brain isn't keeping up as it should...still, best to use it so I don't lose it! ;-)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=7199966&mesg_id=7200087
:D

:hi:

Oh what I could do with my photos with that baby!!!!

I financed my MBA by doing graphic design and page layout work. Simple stuff. I really enjoyed it and discovered I had some knack for visual art. I still can't draw or paint and have never had an art class. I've been learning to work in glass. I enjoy the medium and like the fact that it has so many architectural applications. It is as much craft as art and requires traditional skills. Still there are several new methods that require digital skills. I'm pretty comfortable with the CorelDraw package but need to learn Painter and some of the Adobe stuff.

What kind of work are you doing in glass? My mom used to do stained glass, and I worked a bit with it as a kid. Fun stuff.

stained glass (lead and foil) and with warm glass (fused and slumped). I'm wanting to learn glass carving and sandblasting. I'm not a painter but I can use digital imagery combined with laser etching to get more detailed and complex effects than more traditional glass painters. I really prefer to work in mixed media using glass in its various incarnations as the primary medium. I'd love to be able to earn a living doing this someday. I'll probably venture out and add ceramics to my repertoire before I take on that adventure.

but if that's the work you're currently producing, I see no reason to change your methods. It's exceptionally good.

I don't even know what a Cintiq is, but your pictures are BEAUTIFUL!!! You are very talented! :toast:

check out the links on the Cintiq. It's a pretty amazing machine!

:hi:

I just watched the youtube video... what a neat machine!

I say go for it. I'm sure if you get it and don't like it, you could always put it on Ebay or something. But what a fun toy! :D

I do a ton of clipping-path work in Photoshop for silhouetting product photography, and I'd really like to have one for that work.

PS: You are a SERIOUSLY talented artist. I stand in awe, indeed.

Redstone

(it seems to be back ordered). A friends said that Wacom now makes a smaller, less expensive model, but so far it's only available in Europe. :shrug: