should I get a Cintiq?

Shep · 02-15-2012, 09:50 AM

I'm thinking of taking the digital plunge. I already have a tablet from Wacom but I just feel a disconnect drawing on it and then looking at the monitor. Drawing directly on the screen would be a big help, at least that's what I think, but those things ain't cheap! Anyone have experience with them? Pros, cons?

Kors · 02-15-2012, 09:56 AM

If you can afford it...yes you should...its like wacom to the 250th power!!

JimCampbell · 02-15-2012, 10:58 AM

Save the extra and buy the 21". I owned a 12" and ended up eBaying it at a loss, so unsatisfactory was the experience. In particular, I found the pen tracking on to be absolutely atrocious. I may have had a defective unit, but it wouldn't track a straight line even if you drew one with a ruler. Also, it only uses two calibration points where the 21" uses four to track the pen tip.

And, yes, the difference in size is important. The 12" feels like you're viewing the document through a tiny window, whilst the 21" feels much more like a drawing board. I would honestly advise anyone thinking of getting a Cintiq to save up and spend the extra on the 21".

I recently upgraded to the 24", which sacrifices the ability to rotate the whole unit for a much more adjustable mounting which feels like working at a proper drafting table (and is also designed to give room to slide the keyboard underneath it). It really is a fantastic piece of kit.

Cheers

Jim

V!K · 02-15-2012, 11:02 AM

Don't give up on your Intuos (provided that's what you refer to). It just takes a while to get used to it. I was very disappointed when I first bought it but I changed my mind drastically. It's an awesome tool.

Jeremy Colwell · 02-15-2012, 11:29 AM

I had an Intuos 2 9x12 from 2001?-2010. In 2011 I upgraded to the Cintiq DTK2100. Night and day for me. It is so much more natural and convienient. I didn't like the stock stand though becuase I like my keyboard under the screen for shortcut keys, so I bought an Ergotron LX Arm and allows me to move it all around my desk with ease. Not sure if I wish I'd waited for the Cintiq 24HD (that was announce about 3 months after I bought mine) because I love the arm setup so much and I think the 24HD is too heavy for it, but the bigger screen is very appealing. As for financial reasons, I feel my productivity has gone up a lot. I didn't buy one until I'd earned double the cost so that it didn't hit my biz too hard if it didn't work out, but I wouldn't hesitate to do it again since I think it has made back the cost easilly.

**paul brian deberry** · 02-16-2012, 08:50 AM

yes.

Shep · 02-16-2012, 09:19 AM

thanks for the help. I pulled the trigger on that bad boy and the 21 is on its way!! So excited!

kevinwolff · 02-18-2012, 08:31 PM

There's a learning curve going from the intuos to the cintiq, or at least there was for me. But once I got the hang of it, I never looked back. I have the 12wx, best for the lap. If I need to see more of what I'm working on, I set up a second live window on my apple display ( multiple live windows is an excellent feature of Manga Studio).
In summary, Good gods yes to Cintiq!

kevinwolff · 02-18-2012, 08:33 PM

Or you can get the 21 like I saw u did after I replied, haha. You won't regret it.

**Ray Dillon** · 02-19-2012, 01:07 AM

Yes, you absolutely should. It'll pay for itself in no time.

MBirkhofer · 02-19-2012, 08:15 AM

Yeah, the disconnect between hand and eye with a standard tablet can be painful. I refused to draw digitally with one.

Cintiq goes so far to fix that.

It is an expensive item however. And if just recreational, or learning. not needed.
If you can deduct it on taxes on the other hand as a business expense. nice.

Alex Sollazzo · 02-19-2012, 09:00 AM

How are the newer cintiq's for colour accuracy ? I recall something about the older model having a poor screen.

JuanAlbarran · 02-19-2012, 09:57 AM

One more YES over here!

rocketpig · 02-19-2012, 10:13 AM

I was REALLY tempted by the 24" until I saw its 1920 resolution. The 21" is great (used one at a show) but I currently have a 27" monitor and the size difference was a bit too much for me.

If they release a 2550 or higher resolution 24" model, I'll definitely consider finding a way to buy one (that price... ouch). As it is now, the ppi on the 24" is just too low to warrant $2500. I expect a higher quality screen for that kind of money, especially considering how Apple is going to be moving to 300+ ppi monitors on all their Macs in the next year or so.

Comix Obsession · 02-20-2012, 06:27 AM

What do you guys think are the chances of Wacom drastically reducing the price of the 12 inch Cintiq now that the HD has been released? This may sound like a silly question as the 12(ux/wx?) is the only *ahem* 'budget' version available, but I do wonder. If I could find one cheap for my hobby/attempt at fame cartooning, I'd be very interested. Currently taking myself through traditional inking methods (don't want to lose any skills in the digital transfer) but I'm getting sorely tempted to 'go' digital for my own benefit.

02-15-2012, 09:50 AM	#1
Shep Superman's Pal Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 422	should I get a Cintiq? I'm thinking of taking the digital plunge. I already have a tablet from Wacom but I just feel a disconnect drawing on it and then looking at the monitor. Drawing directly on the screen would be a big help, at least that's what I think, but those things ain't cheap! Anyone have experience with them? Pros, cons?

02-15-2012, 09:56 AM	#2
Kors F!@* Symmetry!! Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Antonio TX Posts: 1,304	If you can afford it...yes you should...its like wacom to the 250th power!! __________________ www.lateralmagick.blogspot.com http://planetshadow.thecomicseries.com

02-16-2012, 08:50 AM	#6
paul brian deberry is a MASShole Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: just out of reach Posts: 2,324	yes. __________________ -Twitter - Facebook - My Blog - Email Xbox Gamertag: badPOP -- PSN: Luckybubblegum

02-19-2012, 01:07 AM	#10
Ray Dillon Golden Goat Studios Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Cape Elizabeth, Maine Posts: 7,303	Yes, you absolutely should. It'll pay for itself in no time. __________________ RAY DILLON - Artist/Writer - Golden Goat Studios CLIENTS: HBO's Game of Thrones, Borderlands 2, Ridley Scott / Science Channel, R.L. Stine, IDW / Mars Attacks, Marvel, DC, Archie * Met wife/artist Renae De Liz here in DW! ART: COVERS : COMICS : FILM/GAME : uTube : FOLLOW ME!

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02-15-2012, 10:58 AM	#3
JimCampbell Letterer Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Nottingham, UK Posts: 1,052	Save the extra and buy the 21". I owned a 12" and ended up eBaying it at a loss, so unsatisfactory was the experience. In particular, I found the pen tracking on to be absolutely atrocious. I may have had a defective unit, but it wouldn't track a straight line even if you drew one with a ruler. Also, it only uses two calibration points where the 21" uses four to track the pen tip. And, yes, the difference in size is important. The 12" feels like you're viewing the document through a tiny window, whilst the 21" feels much more like a drawing board. I would honestly advise anyone thinking of getting a Cintiq to save up and spend the extra on the 21". I recently upgraded to the 24", which sacrifices the ability to rotate the whole unit for a much more adjustable mounting which feels like working at a proper drafting table (and is also designed to give room to slide the keyboard underneath it). It really is a fantastic piece of kit. Cheers Jim

02-15-2012, 11:02 AM	#4
V!K vikillustration.com Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Basel, Switzerland Posts: 120	Don't give up on your Intuos (provided that's what you refer to). It just takes a while to get used to it. I was very disappointed when I first bought it but I changed my mind drastically. It's an awesome tool.

02-15-2012, 11:29 AM	#5
Jeremy Colwell colwellillustration.com Join Date: May 2004 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 979	I had an Intuos 2 9x12 from 2001?-2010. In 2011 I upgraded to the Cintiq DTK2100. Night and day for me. It is so much more natural and convienient. I didn't like the stock stand though becuase I like my keyboard under the screen for shortcut keys, so I bought an Ergotron LX Arm and allows me to move it all around my desk with ease. Not sure if I wish I'd waited for the Cintiq 24HD (that was announce about 3 months after I bought mine) because I love the arm setup so much and I think the 24HD is too heavy for it, but the bigger screen is very appealing. As for financial reasons, I feel my productivity has gone up a lot. I didn't buy one until I'd earned double the cost so that it didn't hit my biz too hard if it didn't work out, but I wouldn't hesitate to do it again since I think it has made back the cost easilly.

02-16-2012, 09:19 AM	#7
Shep Superman's Pal Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 422	thanks for the help. I pulled the trigger on that bad boy and the 21 is on its way!! So excited!

02-18-2012, 08:31 PM	#8
kevinwolff kevnwolff.com Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: NJ, USA Posts: 99	There's a learning curve going from the intuos to the cintiq, or at least there was for me. But once I got the hang of it, I never looked back. I have the 12wx, best for the lap. If I need to see more of what I'm working on, I set up a second live window on my apple display ( multiple live windows is an excellent feature of Manga Studio). In summary, Good gods yes to Cintiq!

02-18-2012, 08:33 PM	#9
kevinwolff kevnwolff.com Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: NJ, USA Posts: 99	Or you can get the 21 like I saw u did after I replied, haha. You won't regret it.

02-19-2012, 08:15 AM	#11
MBirkhofer Decks, drums, tablets. Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,117	Yeah, the disconnect between hand and eye with a standard tablet can be painful. I refused to draw digitally with one. Cintiq goes so far to fix that. It is an expensive item however. And if just recreational, or learning. not needed. If you can deduct it on taxes on the other hand as a business expense. nice.

02-19-2012, 09:00 AM	#12
Alex Sollazzo www.alexsollazzo.com Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 169	How are the newer cintiq's for colour accuracy ? I recall something about the older model having a poor screen.

02-19-2012, 09:57 AM	#13
JuanAlbarran Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 126	One more YES over here!

02-19-2012, 10:13 AM	#14
rocketpig Digitally Challenged Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 138	I was REALLY tempted by the 24" until I saw its 1920 resolution. The 21" is great (used one at a show) but I currently have a 27" monitor and the size difference was a bit too much for me. If they release a 2550 or higher resolution 24" model, I'll definitely consider finding a way to buy one (that price... ouch). As it is now, the ppi on the 24" is just too low to warrant $2500. I expect a higher quality screen for that kind of money, especially considering how Apple is going to be moving to 300+ ppi monitors on all their Macs in the next year or so.

02-20-2012, 06:27 AM	#15
Comix Obsession Missing In In-Action Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Southend, UK Posts: 1,891	What do you guys think are the chances of Wacom drastically reducing the price of the 12 inch Cintiq now that the HD has been released? This may sound like a silly question as the 12(ux/wx?) is the only ahem 'budget' version available, but I do wonder. If I could find one cheap for my hobby/attempt at fame cartooning, I'd be very interested. Currently taking myself through traditional inking methods (don't want to lose any skills in the digital transfer) but I'm getting sorely tempted to 'go' digital for my own benefit.