For the modern graphic designer or illustrator, there’s only one hardware device that is a must-have in the workstation: and it’s not even a pencil. It’s a tablet like the Wacom Intuos4, a pen and tablet station for computers that allows you to “draw” directly onto a computer monitor, creating your images in real-time and with full capability with vital software like Adobe Photoshop.
The Transition to Paperless Illustrator
It wasn’t long ago when almost all illustration was still done on a form of treated wood and pulp known as paper; today, our lives are utterly transformed not only by the technology of computes, but by their availability. Products like the Wacom Intuos4 are actually relatively easy to acquire, and if you have a specific need that they can fill, they’re necessities around the office or home workstation. Going paperless means that you don’t have to worry about one stage of your designs unless you – quite simply – want to include paper drafts as part of your routine.
Is it a little disconcerting to give up the absolute control of the pencil-to-paper medium? It can be, but it’s not necessary. You’ll find that the pressure sensitivity of the Wacom Intuos4, as well as the overall interaction with the product, make it ideal for anyone who’s used to the pen-to-paper style of illustration. And once you’ve used a tablet, it will feel odd to illustrate on a computer any other way; after all, a mouse simply just doesn’t do it.
The Touch Ring will also give you access to features you can’t get on paper, such as zoom-ins and zoom-outs. You’ll also be able to change the degree of pressure it takes to make a line on the tablet, which is essentially like being able to change the kind of pen you’re using – without changing your tablet pen. It’s that cool.