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NOTES GRAPHICS TABLET There are many different types of input devices that you can use with your computer - mice, trackballs, track pads, etc...I have found that they are all terrible for digitizing. Trying to digitize with a mouse is like trying to color in a picture with a crayon shaped like a brick. You need to mimic the way you would trace or draw something by hand to truly express the stitches in an optimal way. There are 2 different types of devices that I recommend for this. The first is a pentablet and the second is a pen-display. The best vendor for both of these products is Wacom. They have been the innovator in this field since the beginning. The less-expensive version is the pen-tablet, and it’s a good way to start. They come in different sizes and look like a large mouse-pad. You input the stitch points using a stylus that is shaped like a pen. With a pen-tablet you would still look at a regular computer monitor, but use a pen instead of a mouse. This is a much more natural feeling and you will instantly increase your speed and accuracy while digitizing. I have been using a pen-display called a Cintiq for over 15 years and I will never go back! The pen-display takes the place of your computer monitor. Using the stylus, you can actually draw on the screen. It is not the same as a touch screen, your hand will not activate it, only the stylus. The pen-display can tilt to all different angles and you can even tilt it straight like a conventional monitor. The display will work with any software in either Mac or Windows. The learning curve is easy and you will immediately double your speed. Using a pen-display to digitize is like spending your life walking with 50 pound weights strapped to each foot and all of a sudden removing them, only to find out how much easier it is to walk, run, and then sprint. It is the best investment you can make in digitizing. You can also explore a new product, the Microsoft Surface Pro, this is a new computer/monitor system that incorporates a tablet and computer into one device.


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