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Last time you heard me, I was quite computerless because my ten-year-old machine had just yielded the spirit. I expected to remain computerless for about three weeks, because though I had ordered a new machine shortly after new year, it wasn't estimated to arrive before 15 February. But look what sight greeted me last Friday evening: a big box from Dell with a treasure inside! Yesterday I had it all set up, transferred my backup files and started a first tour of Windows 7. And of course I had to try out my very own Wacom Bamboo tablet :D. Because I have Plans with it *g*.
One thing I am forced to do without at this moment is my cherished Photoshop Limited Edition. I couldn't instal it because my new system is 64 bit and my little Photoshop is 32 bit only :/. That's a bit annoying. I have to try and figure out to what extent I can use the Corel software that came with my tablet to replace my Photoshop. The functions I use a lot are simple things like cropping, resizing, cleaning up and enhancing contrasts - just to make my scans more presentable. Hopefully I can manage with Corel for the the time being.
The tablet is fun. As far as I can tell after just a few hours, I seem to manage reasonably well with it. It's only the second time I'm *touching* a tablet, but I have already overcome the odd sensation of drawing in one place and seeing the lines appear in another. The tablet's active surface does live up to its promise of having a paper-like texture; it's quite pleasant to work with. HOWEVER - I am wrestling with Corel Draw something terrible. I have no idea how I can get the programme to allow me to draw in a reasonably natural way. With every line that I draw, the programme insists on selecting it, so before I know it I've dragged it somewhere else. Very annoying, and I don't know how to switch this function off. I have also failed to discover how I can select a line colour *before* I draw a line - every type of line has a set colour that apparently you can't simply switch by clicking a colour before you start drawing. What I *can* do is select line per line and change colour - a process that drives me quite crazy -_-. This cannot possibly be right, so I guess I'll be looking for some basic tutorials...
That reminds me, I was going to make a post about the future of the comic and ask your opinions. Forthcoming :).
One thing I am forced to do without at this moment is my cherished Photoshop Limited Edition. I couldn't instal it because my new system is 64 bit and my little Photoshop is 32 bit only :/. That's a bit annoying. I have to try and figure out to what extent I can use the Corel software that came with my tablet to replace my Photoshop. The functions I use a lot are simple things like cropping, resizing, cleaning up and enhancing contrasts - just to make my scans more presentable. Hopefully I can manage with Corel for the the time being.
The tablet is fun. As far as I can tell after just a few hours, I seem to manage reasonably well with it. It's only the second time I'm *touching* a tablet, but I have already overcome the odd sensation of drawing in one place and seeing the lines appear in another. The tablet's active surface does live up to its promise of having a paper-like texture; it's quite pleasant to work with. HOWEVER - I am wrestling with Corel Draw something terrible. I have no idea how I can get the programme to allow me to draw in a reasonably natural way. With every line that I draw, the programme insists on selecting it, so before I know it I've dragged it somewhere else. Very annoying, and I don't know how to switch this function off. I have also failed to discover how I can select a line colour *before* I draw a line - every type of line has a set colour that apparently you can't simply switch by clicking a colour before you start drawing. What I *can* do is select line per line and change colour - a process that drives me quite crazy -_-. This cannot possibly be right, so I guess I'll be looking for some basic tutorials...
That reminds me, I was going to make a post about the future of the comic and ask your opinions. Forthcoming :).
