laura_seabrook | Tablet Testing (Reply)

OK,I was going to go to bed about an hour ago, but I thought I'd test my graphics tablet again.

From what I've experimented with, it seems that the main bug I have with it is that the battery in the pen isn't held in securely. This means that it will work ok and then stop working, because the battery's not making contact properly. Annoying, but there may be a work-around for it of padding the pen with something to keep the battery in place. Just needs a bit of experimenting, is all.

At least,I hope so. Otherwise I'll need to get another tablet, like a WACOM or something. I saw a copy of Paint Shop Pro Photo XI in Dick Smith's at Glendale, for $A 199.95. It was packaged with a tiny graphics tablet that was designed for a laptop (see left). That was very tempting as I currently use Paint Shop Pro X for my Web Comics and most else. I do have a copy of Photoshop CS too now, but PSP is what I've been using for the last 7-8 years. Photoshop just wouldn't run smoothly on the hardware I used to have.

However, it's not such a good deal for two reasons. Firstly, Paint Shop Pro Photo XII (academic version) is available for $A 125. Secondly, right next to PSP on the shelf was a WACOM table for $A 159. I can probably get one for $A 100 at the markets, and may not need one at all if I can get the one I've got to run smoothly.

Of course the thing I've really been lusting after, since the mid 1980s (since I saw version 1 on a classic Mac) is Corel Painter.

The whole point about painter is that it imitates natural media.PSP has some of this - you can have art media layers and tools - but this is what this program specialises in! Never had the hardware to run it properly until now.I was going to spend my Xmas money on a combination Convection/Microwave oven (which Kevin tells me is wonderful) but Painter has much more appeal!