Question to all CLEANERS (Tablet)

[MXC]

Hi to all, am an amateur cleaner working on my third Air Gear chapter, to those who know Air Gear, it is a VERY frustrating manga to clean due to so many details (and LQ RAWs)

I have been wondering if my job could be easier by using a Tablet to do the cleaning, but I have never used one and know virtually NOTHING about them.

If any cleaners around MH DO use them, would you mind sharing some insight?

Like:

*What brand/model/type is best
*How exactly does it work? if you just have a pad but the image is not there but on the screen, how do you know where to place the pen to edit what you want..
*Any tips/recommendations/notes

Thanks to those that reply, I am getting quite frustrated cleaning the current way with my not so high skills, so I'm looking for anything that will make it easier for me :P

MXCorp

[distorted]

Since you're a newbie at cleaning. you shouldnt try to clean using such shitty raws right at the start.

start with working on leveling and inking.

then practice EASY redraws/cloning on TANK, high quality, raws

after u get enough practice, then move on to LQ raws and work urself up >.>

dude... don't practice with LQ raws right at the start like me. I spent 2 and a half hours on one frkin LQ page and the dude tossed it out cuz i was overleveled.

but if you have to... i'd say just stick with photoshop or gimp or whatever you're using now.

You're probably more used to it.

[MXC]

I don't really have a choice, I am the only cleaner working on Air Gear for the group, and those LQ raws are all that's available for now :S

[NymphStealer]

*What brand/model/type is best

i cant say whats best, but mine is a wacom bamboo fun small version
(http://www.wacom.com/bambootablet/bamboofun.cfm). its relatively cheap and serves it purpose. though i wish i could have gotten a bigger/better one, but im cheap.



*How exactly does it work? if you just have a pad but the image is not there but on the screen, how do you know where to place the pen to edit what you want..

with the pad you can hover bout 1/2 inch or so from the tablet to move the cursor to the spot ya need it to be in. once its where ya want it to be touch the pad and it does what ya need. if you pick the pen up further than the sensor can tell and move it to the opposite side of the pad the cursor will automatically move to the location you have the pen on the pad. not like a mouse where you have to constantly pick it up just to get the cursor to go where ya need. also it doesnt require batteries if you wonder its just usb hook-up. more info in the link above on how it exactly works.




*Any tips/recommendations/notes


pen pressure (stashed off in the brush properties of Shop). its one of the best features to me. whether its coloring manga pages or recreating some of the finer line art that should look like strokes.
if decide to get one it will prolly take some time to get used to it. i believe it took me a 1-2mths to fully transition from mouse to pen. i no longer have any use for a mouse or now the pad on the laptop i had to switch to.

so for question if itll be easier to clean w/ one, most likely but itll take time to get used to. also as time goes by w/ or w/o gettin a pen, cleanin will get easier. check out the various tuts that are out there. question people bout their techniques on how they get things done and eventually youll find the workflow that works for you. im still constantly modifying my workflow and testing out new techniques even after over a year now of cleaning manga.

anyhow hope this helps some. :)

[1211]

Pretty much the same as mentioned above except I use the normal bamboo from wacom

[MXC]

Thanks a lot for the info guys, I will sure check out the bamboos at best buy next week and try it for myself :)

@nymph: I always ask around for techniques, problem is, most people seem to guard theirs as a top secret and only hint at them :(

[NymphStealer]

Thanks a lot for the info guys, I will sure check out the bamboos at best buy next week and try it for myself :)

no prob. glad to help. :)



@nymph: I always ask around for techniques, problem is, most people seem to guard theirs as a top secret and only hint at them :(

well i don't guard mine as top secret. i just have a problem at explaining exactly what i do. there are always cases where one technique works and it doesn't on another and have to improvise on the spot. that mostly shows up when i've been given a colorspread to work on. i've been messed w/ many of times by few on how i'm being elusive on how exactly i recreated such and such effect. for always just giving a general idea but not fully explaining it. LOL. it's just i don't know how to explain it most of the time. so that might be what is happening w/ some of the people you've talked to. just cant put it into the right words on how something was done so only are getting a hint at the direction to start.

[MXC]

I'll make sure to pay more attention then lol ;)

[Dubby]

I used a Wacom Graphire. However, they stopped making those about a year ago, didn't they?

Don't waste your money on a tablet if the only purpose is scanlating. IMO, it's a stupid move and waste of money.