Who uses a Wacom Cintiq?

[DawnM]

If you know about them, can you tell me if it matters which one my son gets? He is a beginning animator and will be attending an art school in 2018, but is ready to move to the next level and learn Cintiq and work with it.

If he gets the HD, will that be enough? Or should we spring for he newest (Pro) model?

ETA: His school specifically uses Cintiqs, so that is why I am asking about only that model.

Thanks,

Dawn

 

[mickman1962]

Best bet is to see what the art school uses/recommends

 

[wilkeliza]

Does his school have one the suggest?

It really is personal preference. I have a Bamboo and just used the pad while looking at the screen of my mac. Now I have an iPad pro. If you look at animating videos from all over including what Pixar and Disney put out you'll see there is a mass difference of personal preference on what animators work on.

 

[jetskigrl]

My DD is getting ready to start her second year of Art College (Digital Media major). She uses her Cintiq daily but it was not required by the school (they only list recommendations for computers). So far she has been using it primarily for personal use since her first year was more foundation work. But I'm guessing she will use it more this year (the school also has some in the computer labs though). I believe the model she has is "Cintiq 13 HD Interactive Pen and Touch"

 

[DawnM]

I am fully aware that the school already has them and it isn't required. He wants to start working on one now, 12 months before he goes to that school, to get acclimated to it and to actually start doing what he really wants to be doing. He currently uses a much cheaper pad that has to be hooked up to the computer and he draws on the pad and it shows his work on the computer.

He is ready to move up.

His school uses Cintiqs, and they have the latest and greatest, currently using the 27" HD and waiting for the new ones to come out (Jan I think) and will possibly upgrade next summer. We also toured Dreamworks this summer and they also uses the 27" Cintiqs.

We don't want a 27" right now. We are looking at a 13" or 16" and really just wanted to know about HD vs the newest model and about the size difference.

 

[DawnM]

Does his school have one the suggest?

It really is personal preference. I have a Bamboo and just used the pad while looking at the screen of my mac. Now I have an iPad pro. If you look at animating videos from all over including what Pixar and Disney put out you'll see there is a mass difference of personal preference on what animators work on.

Yes, Cintiq, which is why I am asking specifically about the Cintiq.

 

[DawnM]

Best bet is to see what the art school uses/recommends

Already have, which is why I am asking specifically about this particular model. They use the latest and greatest Cintiq, and the 27".

 

[wilkeliza]

Yes, Cintiq, which is why I am asking specifically about the Cintiq.

That would have been good to start off with in your original post. As you can see those of us who are familiar with arts programs and tablets all asked that same question.

 

[wilkeliza]

So I just looked it up and I actually had the Intuos. Shows how much I actually used that haha.

The difference between a 13" HD and 27" HD won't be much. Maybe some pressure points and of course display size but the processor and such will be the same. He'll probably have to do a bunch more zooming and moving on the 13 if he is doing big stuff but just small sketching and getting into it not so bad. It may not be as fast to respond as what he'll be using once he gets to school but if he uses a pad to a computer right now he is probably use to a lag anyways. The 13 is basically a starter version so it will get the job done but not have a lot of bells and whistles so he can teach himself the base line way to do everything and then when he gets to school and has the top of the line he can learn the short cuts and buttons etc.

 

[DawnM]

That would have been good to start off with in your original post. As you can see those of us who are familiar with arts programs and tablets all asked that same question.

Well, I thought asking specifically about a specific model would have been enough. but I have edited my OP to add that info.

My big question is not about the difference between the 13" and the 27" really, because the 27" is out of our price range right now. I was asking between the 13" and the 16", although I guess that is just size.

But my big question is the difference between the HD and the Pro, which is the newest model. I may even be able to pick up a good quality used HD (last year's model) but am wondering if it is worth it to spring the extra for the Pro (latest) model.

 

[wilkeliza]

Well, I thought asking specifically about a specific model would have been enough. but I have edited my OP to add that info.

My big question is not about the difference between the 13" and the 27" really, because the 27" is out of our price range right now. I was asking between the 13" and the 16", although I guess that is just size.

But my big question is the difference between the HD and the Pro, which is the newest model. I may even be able to pick up a good quality used HD (last year's model) but am wondering if it is worth it to spring the extra for the Pro (latest) model.

There are some big differences between the HD and the Pro but I don't know if at this stage if I could confidently tell you it is worth the extra price.

Just off the bat the pro has the pro 2 pen is going to feel more like pencil on paper. The color gamut on a pro is 10% better so the display can display more colors than the HD version. The graphics inputs are different between the two. The pro is multi touch where as the HD is not. That means the pro will be easier to navigate on by using motions he may already be familiar with like the 2 finger pinch, 2 finger double tap, etc.

I think if you can get your hands on a decently kept HD model used then just go with that. I honestly don't think the Pro is worth the extra money at this time so early in his education.

 

[DawnM]

There are some big differences between the HD and the Pro but I don't know if at this stage if I could confidently tell you it is worth the extra price.

Just off the bat the pro has the pro 2 pen is going to feel more like pencil on paper. The color gamut on a pro is 10% better so the display can display more colors than the HD version. The graphics inputs are different between the two. The pro is multi touch where as the HD is not. That means the pro will be easier to navigate on by using motions he may already be familiar with like the 2 finger pinch, 2 finger double tap, etc.

I think if you can get your hands on a decently kept HD model used then just go with that. I honestly don't think the Pro is worth the extra money at this time so early in his education.

Thanks. That is what I was wondering. I am reading the differences but I honestly don't know what I am looking at. He knows more and is telling me to get the HD, but I also know he is worried about us spending the $$. He is fine with it being his birthday and Christmas gift for a year or two as it is worth it to him.

Still waiting to hear back on the used one.

Just read that Best Buy had a $400 deal in April....half price on the 13HD. Dang it. I wish we had known he wanted one back then.

 

[wilkeliza]

Thanks. That is what I was wondering. I am reading the differences but I honestly don't know what I am looking at. He knows more and is telling me to get the HD, but I also know he is worried about us spending the $$. He is fine with it being his birthday and Christmas gift for a year or two as it is worth it to him.

Still waiting to hear back on the used one.

Just read that Best Buy had a $400 deal in April....half price on the 13HD. Dang it. I wish we had known he wanted one back then.

They do it often so unless he needs/wants it now hold off. I got mine on a discount similar to that.

 

[DawnM]

They do it often so unless he needs/wants it now hold off. I got mine on a discount similar to that.

Who does? Best Buy?

 

[wilkeliza]

Who does? Best Buy?

Yeah. Best Buy is pretty consistent in their discounts so if I have seen something on discount before and I don't need it immediately I'll wait to see if it goes on discount again before I need it.

 

[DawnM]

Yeah. Best Buy is pretty consistent in their discounts so if I have seen something on discount before and I don't need it immediately I'll wait to see if it goes on discount again before I need it.

Huh. I am looking online and another forum post popped up and they said they have never seen a Wacom half price before and they were very surprised. So, you have see this item on sale for half price in the past, other than this past April?

Or are you saying just in general?

 

[wilkeliza]

Huh. I am looking online and another forum post popped up and they said they have never seen a Wacom half price before and they were very surprised. So, you have see this item on sale for half price in the past, other than this past April?

Or are you saying just in general?

Just in general terms not specific to that item. I know that I got my intuos from them for like half off near Christmas but not sure if the HD and Pro screen ones were on sale too. Best buy also does good coupons that we get once or twice a month but we spend a lot at best buy so it could be that we get them because we are "valued" customers so it isn't the norm.

 

[DawnM]

Just in general terms not specific to that item. I know that I got my intuos from them for like half off near Christmas but not sure if the HD and Pro screen ones were on sale too. Best buy also does good coupons that we get once or twice a month but we spend a lot at best buy so it could be that we get them because we are "valued" customers so it isn't the norm.

Gotcha. We will need to go ahead and get something soon, otherwise I would wait until Christmas. He is fine with taking it as an early Christmas present and just not getting much for Christmas.

 

[DawnM]

Stopped at BB today and thought I would ask. Not only does their online system show they are out of them, but the guy said he thinks BB is going to discontinue them and just get the new one in.......At least now I know.