Suggestions for Drawing Tablet/Software?

Looking at all the artwork in this forum, I'd like to get back into drawing/painting again. I havent done any art since college.

Any suggestions for an inexpensive pc drawing tablet and painting software?
I have Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 (bundled with my PC), which I consider to be royal pain to use even touching up photographs -- I'd like something a bit easier to use and with more functionality.

If your looking for something with decent features that's cheap, you might want to check out artrage. It's got some good functionality. It's main drawback is a lack of scaling/transformation tools, but if you can survive that it's pretty good.

I'm a Photoshop man myself. Steep learning curve, but afterwards it's easy.

My tutorial - http://juggertha.deviantart.com/art/...-art-121031549

Any suggesions on a tablet? Wacoms appear to be the most popular choice on Amazon - but fairly expensive.

I, too, would be interested in purchasing a tablet. If anyone could offer suggestions that work well and aren't incredibly expensive it would be much appreciated.

I think it depends on size, as far as tablets go. I have a small (teeny, actually) Wacom, because the smallest size was all I could afford at the time. I haven't used it much, partly because I have trouble getting the settings I want with Corel Photopaint, but from my limited experience, I've found that you can get the job done nicely with a small one (ok, stop that now..

I would love Photoshop, but the last time I looked, CS4 was $1000 on the Adobe site. That's just stupid. Can you, Jug, or anyone else who might know, enlighten me regarding Photoshop Elements - Elements is considerably less expensive than the full monty, but nowhere have I seen a description of the functions available under Photoshop Elements. Is it a painting package in it's own right, without all the video-editing etc that comes with the full CS4 deal? All I want is the painting bit, so if Elements has that, I can maybe realistically plan to get it one day...


(EDIT: edited to counter Typing Debuffs )

Not that I'm really using it for drawing exactly (I'm more getting into the whole graphic design side of things, so the application is a bit different) but I'm quite happy with my (old style) Wacom Bamboo Fun (the small one). EDIT: Correcting this bit. The new Bamboo line is 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity.

But it's pretty inexpensive and I'd consider it a good starting point if one is on a budget. They just came out with a new line so the Bamboo line is now split into a bunch of different products. One with multitouch sensitivity (fingers), one with pen and multitouch sensitivity, and your standard pen tablet. Then there's the Bamboo Fun itself which is pen and touch enabled, with a larger active area.

Wacom is pretty much the gold standard when it comes to tablets. When I was researching my purchase, none of the other brands even seemed to come close to them.

Yes the Bamboo line is great, not the old Bamboo which is fine for starting on, but since Wacom has upgraded the line, don't waste your money on those...

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PRESSURE LEVELS.

I wouldn't settle for anything less than 1,024 which use to be only available on a pricier model (the Intuos 3 and up). Now the starting Bamboo, the Bamboo Fun and Bamboo craft all have 1,024 to start with... check here to make sure you are looking at the NEW BOXES and DESIGN.

I'm not sure about the Bamboo Pen or Bamboo Touch on that line, cause the specs for pressure levels aren't given. But maybe in the store you can ask, or test it. Make sure you are talking to someone who knows more than you do, and not some seasonal punk there to sell whatever...

Also because this is a new line, a lot of stores will sell their floor models for ridiculous prices, shop around. Even the Bamboo Fun which is $199 is cheaper than the Intuos 3 of the same size. Now why are pressure levels so important? Well it's the difference of the tablet picking up a thick to thin line, which is normally how most people draw depending on how hard they push down on the pencil. Same thing here, the tablet with 1,024 levels will recognize your attempt at making lighter lines.

You would think that a tablet with half that could do it, BUT IT CAN'T! So if the box says it has 512 levels of pressure, put it down unless it fell off a truck. Then try it once, save up for a real tablet and use that thing as a door stop!

EDIT: yeah did some more clicking on those $69 Bamboo Pen & Bamboo Touch models, 512s both... run from them, give your $69 to me if you want to throw your money away. These two models are just like the Bamboos of old, so what have we learned kiddies? Always check the box, listen to your Uncle LJ, and eat your veggies!

^^ what she said