Graphics software users have some special requirements when it comes to hardware. Whether it be a pen and tablet, monitor, video card, scanner, or other hardware peripherals, here's where you can learn more about the hardware that graphics software users need.
Next to gamers, graphics people seem to have the most tricked out work spaces. Here's your chance to show us where the magic happens. Post a picture of your graphics workstation and tell us a little bit about the equipment and workspace you use for your graphics work.
Introduced in September 2009, Wacom's latest family of Bamboo tablets offers both pen and multi-touch input capabilities. The new Bamboo product line includes 5 redesigned Bamboo tablets, each with unique capabilities and benefits. Explore all five Wacom bamboo pen and Touch tablets in this visual review.
The Adesso CyberTablet 6400 is a small, low-cost, pressure-sensitive graphics tablet for home users, students and educators. The CyberTablet is intended to help you draw and paint more comfortably by allowing you to use a pen rather than a mouse.
MaxiVista provides an inexpensive and hassle-free way to extend your desktop onto the monitor of another computer on your network such as a laptop or tablet PC that's not always being used. MaxiVista can also clone screen content to a second display for demonstration or training purposes, and can even work across long distances in a wireless LAN environment.
PC Hardware Guide Mark Kyrnin has created a top picks list of monitors that are well-suited to graphics or photography work and render the most accurate color.
Wacom's newest professional pen tablet, the Intuos4, features a second-generation tip sensor which brings improvements in precision, sensitivity, and durability, while the tablet itself has been redesigned for better ergonomics.
Introduced in March 2009, the Intuos4 is the newest professional graphics tablet in Wacom's product line. This photo tour provides a detailed look at the features and functions of the Wacom Intuos4 professional pen tablet.
The Wacom Cintiq is basically a graphics tablet and LCD monitor rolled into one. Yes, it is a computer monitor on which you can draw! I had a chance to work with the Wacom Cintiq 12WX for several days and thought I would share my thoughts on that experience with you.
The new Bamboo Fun tablet from Wacom is the successor to the Graphire4 series of consumer level pen tablets. Improving on the Graphire4 model, Bamboo Fun has an updated look, a wide-format active area, a new textured feel to the tablet surface, and a finger-sensitive touch ring for zooming and scrolling. Unlike the Bamboo standard tablet, Bamboo Fun comes with a mouse and a bundle of creative software.
Wacom is the leading graphics tablet maker, and Bamboo is the latest consumer-level tablet in the Wacom product line-up. Bamboo is intended to be used with the built-in pen features of Windows Vista, Microsoft Office, and Mac OS X for marking up documents, jotting notes, and writing your signature.
The DigiPro drawing tablet is an inexpensive, yet capable, pressure-sensitive pen tablet for budget conscious users.
OEM stands for "original equipment manufacturer" and OEM software is a phrase that refers to software that is sold to computer builders and hardware manufacturers (OEMs) in large quantities, for the purpose of bundling with computer hardware. In reference to software, there is much debate and confusion surrounding the direct sale of OEM software.
The main computer I work on daily is a custom-built, dual-core Athlon running Windows XP, but there is a lot of additional hardware and gadgetry that helps me out in my job as the About Graphics Software Guide. Here you can learn about some of my favorite gear -- the computer hardware and gadgets I use most.
The Logitech NuLOOQ navigator is a unique productivity-enhancing control device for anyone who works with creative software on a regular basis. It works alongside your keyboard and mouse, trackpad, or graphics tablet while you control it with your other hand. Logitech NuLOOQ Navigator increases user efficiency by taking some of the load off of your mouse hand and reducing the time spent looking for keyboard shortcuts.
Find out if a graphics tablet is right for you and learn which features to look for in the pen and tablet you choose.
These are the most popular brands and models of graphics tablets available in the US. The pressure-sensitive graphics tablets featured here are well-suited to both professional and home users who will be using the tablet for photo editing and digital art, or as a mouse replacement.
If you've got an old, rarely-used laptop or idle computer laying around, MaxiVista can enable you to use the PC as a second monitor for your primary PC, without additional hardware. MaxiVista works with any combination of desktop, laptop, or TabletPCs, to extend or mirror the primary PC's screen content
Beginner's suggestions and guidelines for using your scanner. Includes scanning resolution for email and the Web, saving your scans, and printing digital photos and scanned images.
If you have a dual monitor or triple monitor setup under Windows 2000 or XP, give Oscar's Multi-Monitor TaskBar a try. This free tool adds a second taskbar to the extended desktop on a second monitor and can add a third taskbar if you have three monitors.
Intuos3 is the third generation of Wacom's professional line of graphics tablets. Intuos3 supports tilt control and 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity, the highest sensitivity of any graphics tablet available today (double that of Intuos2). Intuos3 comes in 4x5, 6x8, and 9x12 sizes.
The new Graphire4 is the fourth generation of Wacom's personal line of graphics tablets. Graphire4 includes a pressure-sensitive pen, ambidextrous and cordless mouse, and a bundle of photo editing, creative, and digital-inking software.
You really can't go wrong with a Wacom tablet, but some people have a hard time choosing between the professional-level Intuos3 product line and the less-expensive Graphire4 line. In general, Intuos3 is best for graphics professionals and Graphire4 is best for personal use, but the following breakdown of advantages and disadvantages should help make the differences clearer to you.
Do you use the tablet exclusively, or switch between the tablet and mouse?
I recently splurged to upgrade my two 17" LCD monitors to two new 20" monitors and I am really enjoying it. Considering that the monitor is the piece of computer equipment we "interface" with the most, I think the investment is well worth it. It's especially nice having the color match between the two screens now.
PANTONE huey Review from Desktop Publishing Guide Jacci Howard Bear: "It's a simple little gadget (colorimeter) that sits on your desktop continuously monitoring light conditions and adjusting your settings as necessary to maintain a calibrated monitor -- CRT or LCD. Optionally, you can set it for manual adjustments only."
Printers and Scanners Guide Barbara Krasnoff offers buying advice, reviews, and tips for printers and scanners.
PC Hardware and Reviews Guide Mark Kyrnin helps you make informed decisions when buying desktop and notebook computers and choosing which components you need for your system.
Computer Peripherals Guide Shane McGlaun offers reviews and advice about removable storage, video cards, CD and DVD drives, monitors, drawing tablets, keyboards, mice, and more.
All about Macintosh hardware, peripherals and software.
Digital Cameras Guide Michael Carr provides buying advice and tips for choosing and using a digital camera.
I've been using multiple monitors for at least 5 years now, and I couldn't bear the thought of using a single monitor! But if you're still trying to decide if multiple monitors are right for you, check out this article from PC Hardware Guide Mark Kyrnin where he weighs the pros and cons of multiple monitors and tells you what you need to get it set up.
Which monitor is the best to buy?
In word processing and desktop publishing, the portrait or full-page monitor has distinct advantages. The bulk of the material - books, newsletters, fliers, etc. - that we produce has a portrait orientation. With these vertical monitors it's easier to see the entire page without scrolling and without zooming out so far that the content is unreadable.
How to improve your productivity by using a dual-monitor setup.
"Operate all of your computers from a single keyboard, monitor, and mouse."
"KMremoteControl lets you use the keyboard and mouse on one system to 'remote control' other systems."
"Up till now, the only way to get real brushstrokes into a computer would be to paint them on paper, let them dry, and scan them in. Not exactly interactive. Now with the OptiPaint system, you can paint with real brushes in real time. Create expressive designs in seconds that would otherwise take hours to imitate."
"Most Mac users have a spare computer sitting right next to their main computer on their desk. ScreenRecycler now enables you to use this spare computer as second display for your Mac. You can even use an idle machine for that purpose." ScreenRecycler is currently a pre-release beta.
Multiplicity is a new program that lets you control multiple computers with a single keyboard and mouse.
"Synergy lets you easily share a single mouse and keyboard between multiple computers with different operating systems, each with its own display, without special hardware. It's intended for users with multiple computers on their desk since each system uses its own monitor(s)."
"Teleport is a simple utility to let you use one single mouse and keyboard to control several of your Macs... Simply reach the edge of your screen, and your mouse teleports to your other Mac! The pasteboard can be synchronized, and you can even drag & drop files between your Macs."
