A few questions about the available art programs.

[P8RSON]

Warner, if Pressure Sensitivity is what you seek, you are going to be disappointed.
The SHIM file that can be downloaded from the Finepoint site is for CS2.
I don't think they have released one for CS3.

As to other programs that support Pressure Sensitivity, ArtRage is the only one I can think of.

[kureshii]

Hi kureshii, along with others who have Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005,

Have you tried disabling the Right click function when you hold down the pen on the screen?
There is another solution, where Chad Essley provides a fix, called TabTip-Tamer for those using Windows XP Tablet PC Edition and experiences cursor lag, for more information visit this website here.

Yup, just did that last night. Lag is much less noticeable, and only for right-click. I can live with what little lag's left =) Thanks.

[wermerskoch]

P8RSON,
I've read elsewhere (somewhere on these forums, I think) that the shim on their website does indeed work with CS3. I haven't tried this myself, but someone else aparently did. Oh well, I guess I'll find out for sure soon enough.

I'm not experienced at all in sketching with a tablet... So can anyone else maybe give any input as to how important pressure sensitivity is with sketching? Will it ruin the experience completely? Thanks again!

Warner

[P8RSON]

P8RSON,
I've read elsewhere (somewhere on these forums, I think) that the shim on their website does indeed work with CS3. I haven't tried this myself, but someone else aparently did. Oh well, I guess I'll find out for sure soon enough.

I'm not experienced at all in sketching with a tablet... So can anyone else maybe give any input as to how important pressure sensitivity is with sketching? Will it ruin the experience completely? Thanks again!

Warner

You can find the Shim for Photoshop here.

Note it does say "Valid only for Adobe Photoshop CS2" but yes, that may be an error on Finepoint in not updating their site.

As to the importance of pressure sensitivity with sketching...
In real life, when you apply a stroke on paper/canvas, be that a pen or brush, the harder you press down on the paper/canvas the bigger the mark is left.
It is the natural way in drawing.

Now take away that ability and no matter what kind of pressure you apply and all you get is the same thickness of stroke, it wouldn't feel natural.

[ships10]

Which is a better program ArtRage 2 or photoshop CS3 extended?

It may sound silly but I am new to the art programs.
I would like to start drawing and "painting" for fun and
perhaps make some art for my kids and for teaching purposes.

Thanks.

[P8RSON]

Photoshop is more a 'tool' than a painting/drawing experience.

For the sheer 'fun factor' ArtRage is much better.
It's easy to grasp (which makes it fun) and individuals with little experience can achieve some really nice paintings/drawings.

[ships10]

I have been using ArtRage now for about 2 weeks, and it is really cool!
Especially for a beginer.
I made several drawings for my kids and they love the drawings...it is
bringing the artist in me out and I am no artist!

Thanks P8RSON .

[???????]

For the initial sketch, use ArtRage 2 free and that is all. Then if learn as much of Photoshop as you can. Because Photoshop is just a set of tool which you can use to create great effect as you desire, but out of the box, it is not very usefull. But once you master it, you can do wonders with it. ArtRage is good cause the pecil tool lets you sketch like you are sketching on paper.

I have tried Corel Painter X, it is a great program if you are familiar with traditional art using paints charcoal and various types of papers , canveses etc. It emulates all those digitally. But the program with this program is 1. you need to know traditional art fairly well first. 2. To emulate all those stuff like lighting, how the materials mix and all, it uses alot of processing power and RAM.