Advice Needed on Digital Art Pen

[Alexandra]

Hello, Ragers. I upgraded my settings and now there are no downloads for my old wacom. Do you have any advice on an economical pen? It seems when a huge upgrade is needed, out goes the printer and the pen. Not so great for a retired person on a budget.:p

[Chagrin]

When my Wacom failed, and then Huion failed, I purchased the Xp-Pen Deco 03. I have had no problems with it, solid drivers, and find it equal or better than my previous Wacom.

Xp-Pen also recently released a surprisingly high quality and affordable screen tablet.

[Alexandra]

This is good news to me, thank you Chagrin. Really appreciate it!

[DaveRage]

Just checking, which Wacom tablet model are you using, and what is your current operating system? I can check and see if I can find anything which will let you keep using your old tablet.

[Alexandra]

This would be great, Dave. Mine is a Bamboo CTH-460. I downloaded their latest downloads for my mac, but it did not work. I couldn't even find it on their lists though. I did not contact them, and I should have. They have always offered great service. It seems such a waste to just throw away something that is still workable. I know when my printer went out the last time, I called the printer company which I would not publicly name. I even suggested buying a download driver as I had just purchased ink. I had done this in the past. I told the rep we needed to keep things out of the landfills, but I couldn't get anywhere. I had to donate a perfectly good printer with new ink. Very irritating and expensive. Now I buy the least expensive printer out there. Poor marketing really. Enough of my complaining, thanks, Dave!

[DaveRage]

From what I can see on their website, it looks like that Bamboo should work correctly on macOS, even if you're running the latest version, so unless there's a problem with the tablet itself ( and in my experience the hardware tends to be pretty reliable ), there's no need to buy another tablet.

Here's what I'd recommend:

-Make sure you have downloaded the latest driver from www.wacom.com for your tablet and installed it

Here's a link to their drivers page ( Wacom US ) https://www.wacom.com/en-us/support/product-support/drivers

-If the tablet isn't working at all after that, contact Wacom support and they should be able to help solve the problem
-If the tablet appears to be working but there's a problem using it in ArtRage, email me directly at [email protected] with the details of what you're seeing and I can do some troubleshooting with you.

I hope this helps!

[Alexandra]

Thank you, Dave!:o I really appreciate it! Also I wanted to say I love the cover page artwork of AR you all have chosen. Wonderful artist and work!

[Slap Happy Larry]

Alexandra, I recently had issues with my Wacom Intuos, also pretty old, also expensive. I was determined to get to the bottom of it. Wacom have staff dedicated to troubleshooting and I found them responsive and thorough. They talked me through troubleshooting. (Turns out it was my computer, not the pen.)

[GRSArts]

In reponse to Chagrin, I am using a new 15.6 inch Huion Pen Tablet monitor (vs the Wacom Intuos 5 I use to use) and it works great with Artrage 5.

[Alexandra]

Alexandra, I recently had issues with my Wacom Intuos, also pretty old, also expensive. I was determined to get to the bottom of it. Wacom have staff dedicated to troubleshooting and I found them responsive and thorough. They talked me through troubleshooting. (Turns out it was my computer, not the pen.)

Thank you, SHL, I just sent an SOS to wacom. Tried installing latest downloads for my old wacom with no sign of life still. Hopefully things will be resolved soon. Seems that latest updates have knocked out a lot of users digital pens. I read that they are working on an update and will have it soon though.

[Alexandra]

In reponse to Chagrin, I am using a new 15.6 inch Huion Pen Tablet monitor (vs the Wacom Intuos 5 I use to use) and it works great with Artrage 5.

I am wondering if this latest update with the Mojavi is the problem, we shall see GRS. Thanks for the info!

[GRSArts]

Alexandra, I had problems with OS Mojave installation and ended up having to do a clean install, which took a lot of my time and patience. But in the long run, I think it was worth it.

[Alexandra]

Alexandra, I had problems with OS Mojave installation and ended up having to do a clean install, which took a lot of my time and patience. But in the long run, I think it was worth it.

Uh....GRS, I'm having a coronary here. Clean install? I am clueless. Just received word from Wacom rep-no updates available for the old thing. I am looking into a Huion as you have used. Seems there are some great deals out there. Luckily the only thing that did not update with the Mojavi install was the pen. It is not a great loss, I just think it is so wasteful- as it was perfectly fine. Seems that selling updates for these things would be a great option rather than wasting something.

[GRSArts]

Alexandra, You would normally install Mac OS Mojave from the App store (update). When I did that, I had a lot of problems with the systems software. So what I did, was a clean install. Installing from a USB stick. This wipes your disk clean and installs the Mac OS. Meaning, I had to re-install all of my software programs again. The advantage: no residual from the old operating systems and software programs. Disadvantage: a lot of work re-installing everything and getting/entering all of the software and keys to make everything work again.
These new tablets (Huion/XP-pen) are pretty new into this field of art/illustration. They are not quite as good as the Wacom cintiq, but there is also a huge price difference. I figure what I would pay for a Wacom tablet of 16 inches ($1500), I could buy my Huion 15.6 inch for less than 1/3 the price. And could upgrade down the road when they start getting 4k graphics and pens. For now, mine works great for what I paid for it. I love having the ability to draw on the screen that I am viewing instead of drawing on the tablet and looking up into another screen. Makes drawing a lot easier.

[Alexandra]

Thank you, GRS. My daughter was explaining this to me as well. I will try to do this. From a few posts I've read on the internet, there are a few folks out there having problems with the new update and new wacom's. I believe these issues will be resolved soon as they have in the past. I have had a lot of expenses this month so I will wait a bit. I would love a nice pen as you have, maybe some day. Take care, and thanks.

[Alexandra]

One more question, please. My mouse works well with Artrage. It is just difficult for me to draw with. I am looking into mouse/pen's. I don't even mind something that plugs in as I have converted my mouse to a plug in. I am tired of buying batteries. Also friend suggested doing this as her business did this for economic reasons. Would any one out there use anything like this for their digital drawing?
Also I am researching digital pens and have read reports of viral software to run these pens. I have enjoyed my wacom but now have three of them that will not update, (in their defense, they still work, and work great with our old computers) while my mouse will plug into any system I have.
Thank you.

[LaFemmeDuLac]

Hello, hope somebody can give good hints and advices to me.
1. On my 'iPad Air 12.5.5' I can paint without problems (so far, I am a newbie) with plain capacitate Disc-Tip-Pens, acrylic round tips, Fingers. But as a non-professional painter I want a suitable and appropriate pen, because the transformation is not so successful. I until now tries several pens about which are claimed - as I could recognize - to work on this iPad. But no one did. I returned them all at least. They didn't work at all on the complete iPad, not only on ARV.
2.
Here on my Surface Book 3 I did only one trial, recommended by Microsoft Slim Pen 2 via chat: It did not work only on Art Rage Vitae and not on Coral Painter. But out of that on every other software it worked fine. I returned the pen and Coral Painter. -ARV is suitable for me, there are on the Surface enough difficulties I must master-
The disc-tip-pens and the round acrylic are working and the mouse. But on the 14 inch Screen I want it most exactly, the transformations from the tools to forms an lines are not very sufficient, inconvenient and in difficult to get exact.
But which pens are suitable for this two devices and the ARV-programm. I know, I must buy different for each iOS and Windows. I want those with possibilities of several tips and chargers by USB. And want to become as successful as I am with the traditional art-works I did.
Here many user which know more about it, so I am expecting hopefully goog and secure recommandations.

[spitfireix]

I'm using the Microsoft Slim Pen 2 on a Surface Pro 8 with ARV. I'm surprised that does not work for you. Perhaps the pen is defective?
I don't own an iPad so I can't speak to this from direct experience, but the Apple Pencil is the stylus you would want there for the best results.

[LaFemmeDuLac]

Hi spifireix, thanks for answering immediately. And no, Slim Pen 2 was OK. I could use it for everything else on Surface Book 3, but not for "Coral Painter". Also were the below mentioned plain tools hardly, and if, slowly moving and working. The mouse moved edgy and not precise. Out of that it was not really what I wanted. The tip was hard and clicking on the screen. There are no offers for art-tips.
Because Surface Book 3 ist a normal Window PC with a removable touchscreen. It is not like the Surface pro-series.
I can turn the screen on the keyboard an have convenient angles. Or I use it like a tablet/pad without keyboard, but always with a mouse. This is very convenient for painting e. g. It has only 4 kernels and though Microsoft claimed Coral Painter would be compatible and working on book 3, it seemed hardly on its limit. This is in no case with ARV.
Of course I could buy Slim Pen 2 again. I won't. A real offer with many capacitive pens is only given on Amazon. The Micro-shop is poor anyhow. They are focussed on business. And of cours games. Its a miracle that I found ARV there.
I guess for the Surface I will find one on Amazon. Or meanwhile somebody here will give me a good recommendation for Surface Book 3.
If not, I will ask again.
But now for my iPad. I first will buy one for iPad Air 12.5.5. Do I have to buy it from Apple? Because I found not yet one on Amazon. It seems, a different pen is necessary for every edition of iPad. that makes it confusing.
And as long as I am not fit on ARV on this Surface I mutual will practise on the iPad.
I am insecure to use the suitable paths of threats for stuff like this. I searched with key-words I found suitable. Sorry if I splashed odd into somewhere. Have a good night, yours LaFemmeDuLac

[spitfireix]

Hi spifireix, thanks for answering immediately. And no, Slim Pen 2 was OK. I could use it for everything else on Surface Book 3, but not for "Coral Painter".

Hi. Many people have experienced issues with Corel Painter and Surface computers. See this post on Painter Factory about Corel Painter not supporting Surface pen properly (https://painterfactory.com/painter_product_discussion/f/report-issues/31563/corel-painter-2022-with-ms-surface-laptop-studio-ms-pen-2---compatible-and-tech-issues). I would guess that your Surface Book 3 (a nice machine) is not going to be compatible with Painter. Just like my Surface Pro 8.

In my opinion the Slim Pen 2 is the best pen for modern Surface devices that I've used. I also have the old Surface Pen and the Slim Pen 2 is more accurate and fluid with less jitter. Having said that, none of these pens work as well as a Wacom stylus in my opinion. The feel and responsiveness of a Wacom stylus is still my preferred pen/tablet combination. I wish you could use the Wacom pens on Surface devices but you can't. I use the Surface Pro 8 when I want to work outside or just change my environment and my Wacom cintiq with my desktop computer if I need to really do a long session with detailed work.

Getting a good digital art set up will take some experimentation. I would encourage you to find something that works to your liking and then spend some time making art. You will find that your preferred setup and devices may change as your style and interests evolve. At one point I was mostly doing comics and so my main requirement was for a device that could support sketching and inking (which is pretty much any device or art program). Now I'm mostly involved with painting and find I depend more programs like Painter and ArtRage and hardware like the Wacom Art Pen.

[LaFemmeDuLac]

Hi Spitfireix
thanks for your recommends. And the time you spent for me to answere! I have noticed the pens of Wacon on the title-sheet of my ARV-Manual. I will check whether it works or not.
And I read the complaints into the Coral-Painter-community.
But before I bought Slim Pen 2 for Coral Painter I checked on Microsoft whether Coral painter would work on Surface Book 3. There was written: It will...
Then I tried a Stylus Capacitive Pen RoHS, which was also announced for this device. But it did not work on Coral Painter but on all other pages, Apps, Office, every Mailserver I am using. And on my Samsung smart.
I am registered customer of Microsoft and I contacted them via chat. The first operator did not know, somebody from Poland, she did not really get my problem but gave me a 'specialist' to whom I could explain what was going on:
The surface of Coral painter does not recognise my Stylus, he claimed. And he recommended urgently Slim Pen 2, it would be the very suitable pen for Coral painter. The best Stylus ever.
Now Microsoft got it back with my explanation. Because that is a problem of Microsoft! The Surface devices are younger than Coral Painter and ARV.
My son was computer-operator in several big travel-platforms. He explained to me, that the big economic-digital like Microsoft/Apple e. g. -groups are very often not interested to support programs and platforms they are not really involved into. Then we have such lacks. Every is eager to cook its very special and own soup...So they force us, the customers/users to buy and use what they are supporting...
We shall buy additional those devices which they destinated for e. g. painting.
But before I bought Surface Book 3 I had several contacts with Microsoft, chats which device would be the most suitable for me. I asked all that what I wanted to do with it except buying by Amazon, eBay, banking and Mails and game I love like Blockudoku painting and other... Yes, yes. But in fact: No, no, no, because this ins a Windows-system and Android, iOS are complete different. Many important and useful Apps are only available for Android and iOS devices and not at all for Windows.
Fortunately Coral Painter and ARV are available on all operating systems.
They have to get the contracts, negotiations and contacts to make it possible for every user - or not.
Concerning my megalith-iPad 12.5.5. I will no more receive a modern stylus. I am a fox, I search until I find or know. But it works with the plain capacitive-stylus' without any problem. It' just not very filigreed. In a few month I will buy a new iPad.
And for this Surface I will try to get a Wacon. If it does not work, I sent it back. And write that into the Hub of Microsoft. And I will contact them.
If I have problems with hard- or software from Microsoft they fix it whil I am sitting in front of the device here at my room. A ghost-hand is working in my PC. ��
Look, they are able to get contact with all our devices. If I have technical problems, often after several trials it vanishes like a miracle hand was doing it.
Kevin Stratvert on YouTube explained that in one of his clips.
I now have "only" the learn how ARV works. Otherwise I can paint, if I take a look here around my room: here are about 100 brushes, a lot of colours for painting: several boxes of Water-colours, Oil (water based) Gouache, Tempera, many tools and special liquids, a lot of papers/canvas and many paints I created stored into folders, some on our walls. I even was teaching a 5.th. class, 8.th class in a "Mittelschule" as a substitute for ill teachers for 2 years, I was the school-social-worker. But now I will and must learn this new kind of art.
I have an important reason to do it now. But this is not the place to explain that.
Tomorrow I will search here for a blocking issue which prevents me to get forward with the work on ARV here.
It might be a mistake I did while preparing a paint?
If I don't find I will contact Microsoft, they sold it to me. It might be a problem of them.
Have a good night and successful created paints. Thanks for all.
Yours LaFemmeDuLac

[mohsin]

Hello, Ragers. I upgraded my settings and now there are no downloads for my old wacom. Do you have any advice on an economical pen? It seems when a huge upgrade is needed, out goes the printer and the pen. Not so great for a retired person on a budget.:p

you may download the brushes

[LaFemmeDuLac]

Hello,
recently I had a similar problem with my new Surface Book 3, when I wanted a "Stylus - Pen " in German: Eingabestift for ARV- though I can use the mouse or fingers, but that works clumsy.
Even the Microsoft Slim Pen 2 did not work. Which I returned. It was expensive to.
Then I searched in Amazon. There are many Stylus's Pens - Eingabestifte. Sometimes they are called "Kapazitive Stifte/pens"

Also such which do not have a connection with the devices with gum, silicon-grids on the tips or silicon-discs.
These last mentioned are great to type into smart and tablets/Pads for normal use.
On my iPad I even use a cheap pen with silicon-disc for ARV-Painting, it works fine enough for me. The spare disc are available in Amazon in 10er packs, unbelievably cheap.
But for my Surface Book 3:
I ordered first any unknown Stylus which did not work as well and I returned it. Because I had not read carefully and not asked the seller
But then I found a
"Reinaisser; Rena Pencil" - Set, (the half-price of the Microsoft-Pen), light weight, fine silicon-tops, designed perfect for my hands, with 3 spare tips, USB-connection, Palm rejection.
(which I do not need, I can turn the screen an have a kind of tablet, very convenient for ARV)
Also if you do not with Amazon, you can make you informed about all these pens. There are so many. And for every device one needs a special.
I saw also Wacon Stylus/Pens.
For different edition different Pens (as far as I remember)
But a lot only for iPad and Tablet.
Rarely just for this special Surface Book 3, despite for any other Surfaces/Microsoft.
This Rena Pencil works fine for me.
There might also be some for the Wacon-Tablets.
The summary: I had to study whether and which could be suitable and for a reasonable price for me. I needed hours.
But it was it worth.
I would make for you a screen-shot of the offer in Amazon. But I guess it is not allowed here to attache that.
I hope this give you a hint where to search for a suitable pen.
Kind regards