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Using Drawing Tablets

When you design on a computer, you're leav-ing the natural world of oil, watercolor, andcanvas, for the electronic world of computermonitors and pixels (don't worry, it's a rela-tively painless transition). Without a doubtthere are many differences between tradi-tional and digital design; however, it's notnecessary to abandon all aspects of the natu-ral media world. For example, the computermouse has always been a problem withdesigners who miss the feel and control of abrush in their hands. Fortunately, technologycame to the rescue several years ago, withthe invention of the drawing tablet. Drawingtablets incorporate a drawing surface, and abrush-like drawing tool. A designer picks upthe brush and moves it across the drawingtablet surface. In turn, the drawing tabletinterprets those movements as brush strokes.Not only does Photoshop Elements fully sup-

port drawing tablet technology, it also inter-prets the particular drawing style of thedesigner. For example, pushing harder withthe brush against the drawing tablet, instructsPhotoshop Elements to create a wider stroke,or even to apply more color. Drawing tabletshave helped to translate the control of work-ing with real art brushes against canvas, intothe world of the digital designer. Of all themanufacturers, Wacom stands out as theleader in drawing tablet technology. Wacomreturns the feel of designing with a brush tothe digital designer's world, and the softwarerequired to power the tablet works seam-lessly with Photoshop Elements and theWindows operating systems. To check outwhat tablet might be right for your needs,point your browser to www.wacom.com andcheck out the available options.

Drawing pen

Wacom tablet

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