Question for digital/graphic artists or computer folks

[Dover]

If you were going to give a friend the best professional drawing/painting/writing pad/pencil available to use with graphic software (or that comes with painting/drawing software) what would it be?

I've got a very important graduation gift coming up and I think this would be a great gift to send them on their way. But I'm fairly uninformed about such things so am looking for opinions...but mainly from those with experience in their use.

Many thanks!

[BattyDem]

1. Wacom makes great tablets

http://www.wacom.com/

The Intuos is for pro use. The price ranges from about $200 to $800, depending on the size of the tablet. (Check the web site to see what software is included.)

The high-end tablet, the Cintiq, is phenomenal (you draw on the screen), but it's smallest model is $1,500 .... so that's not a realistic gift, unless you're rich, in which case you should go for it. ;-)

I have the Graphire 3, which is the consumer-based model for hobbyists and semi-professionals. Even though it's the "cheap" model, it's still a great product! I am amazed at what I can do with the Graphire 3 and Paint Shop Pro 9. (It comes with Adobe Photoshop Elements 2 and a couple of other programs.)

Anyway, that's my two cents worth. I hope I helped you in some small way. :-)

[Dover]

2. Thank you for that thorough response! I will go take a look at the link.

Sounds like a good product.

[Dover]

3. Found exactly the right one. Thanks again for your help!

And that's a really great web site the way it's set up to help people understand the product based on their specific needs. That says alot about this company. And there's a nice range of prices and levels of sophistication too.

Feeling really good about this choice.

[DS1]

4. I have a wacom

It's great.

[BattyDem]

6. I'm glad you found what you were looking for.

When I was in the market for a tablet, I found the Wacom web site to be very helpful, too. You're right ... it's set up in a way that allows you to choose exactly the right product for your specific needs. I wish all companies had such intelligently designed web sites for their products ... shopping would be so much easier!

I hope your friend enjoys the gift. :-)

[grace0418]

5. I have a huge wacom tablet at work and I love it so

freaking much. I don't use my mouse at all anymore. I want to get one for my computer at home. It's the best ever.

[China_cat]

7. I have both a 12 x 12 Intuos

and a 3 x 5 Graphire. I end up using the graphire more as it fits more easily into the space I have.