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Graphic apps with tablet (was RE: What graphics tasks do you perform?
Subject:Graphic apps with tablet (was RE: What graphics tasks do you perform? From:"McLauchlan, Kevin" <Kevin -dot- McLauchlan -at- safenet-inc -dot- com> To:Nancy Allison <maker -at- verizon -dot- net>, "techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Tue, 19 Feb 2013 15:50:39 -0500
Oooo! Oooo! <waving hands> (separating this tangent from my other replies to this thread)
I am ->||<- THIS CLOSE to finally deciding to treat myself to a Wacom Intuos tablet.
Is GIMP a good match? I'd like to do a lot of basic photo and bitmap tasks that are painful with a mouse, as well as maybe try air-brush and other effects.
Also, is there a good open-source (and free-or-cheap) VECTOR-drawing tool (so... not AI) that would also go well with a middle-sized Intuos tablet and a small assortment of specialty pens/styli?
I'm a decent sketch-ist with a pencil, and I'd like to transfer that skill to computer (via Intuos and an appropriate application). Yes, I know it's outdated and apps can now render a photo as a "pencil sketch" better than I could do from scratch with a real pencil on paper... or at least as well... but sometimes I want to do things that aren't exactly in an existing photo. We're talking both hobby and work.
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+kevin -dot- mclauchlan=safenet-inc -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+kevin -dot- mclauchlan=safenet-inc -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Nancy Allison
Sent: February-19-13 12:08 PM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: What graphics tasks do you perform?
Hi, all. I hope you can take a minute to help me gather info for a book review I'm working on.
I'm reviewing a book about GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) and I want to be sure that I cover the subjects of interest to tech writers. I'm interested in everyone's response, but especially in the responses from those of us who have no graphics training but have to deal with graphics as part of their jobs.
I have two basic areas of inquiry:
One: What tasks do you perform? Here are the usual tasks I perform -- please add to the list or clarify as needed:
--Making modifications to line drawings --Making modifications to photos --Sharpening elderly graphics --Resizing high-res photos for use in user docs or online help --Creating new graphics from scratch (very rarely)
Two: what are your biggest areas of difficulty (and what tools do you use?)
Thanks very, very much. I'll write a more useful review if I know what kinds of info you are looking for!
--Nancy
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