"GRAPHICS TABLETS"

Do you know what graphics tablet is? Honestly, I personally, did not know what graphics tablet is before. As a student that is currently taking the course of Bachelor of Science in Information technology which I am sure we all know that is more about computer, I should know what graphics tablet is, am I right? So I am very thankful because one of our teachers gave us some assignments about graphics tablet. At least now I already know even a little information about graphics tablet.
A graphics tablet is can be also called as digitizing tablet, graphics pad, and drawing tablet. It is a computer input device that allows one to hand-draw images and graphics, similar to the way one draws images with a pencil and paper or an electronic drawing device which consists of an electronic pen and an electronically sensitive surface used to enter designs into a computer through drawing them. These tablets may also be used to capture data of handwritten signatures. There are different types or kinds of graphics tablet. These are the Pen pads, Passive tablets, Active tablets, Optical tablets, Acoustic tablets, Capacitative tablets, and Electromagnetic tablets.
A Pen pads are the kinds of graphics tablets that consists of a flat surface upon which the user may “ draw ” an image using an attached stylus. A stylus, in computer science, also called a pen. It is a pointing device used with a graphics tablet, usually attached to the tablet by a cord, although there are cordless varieties. To draw a point, the user touches the pen tip to the surface of the tablet. Selections and commands can be controlled through pressing a button on the stylus or pressing the stylus against the tablet’s surface. The stylus is preferred by artists because its results most closely resemble freehand illustration and because the stylus allows a great deal of manual control. It the image generally does not appear on the tablet itself but, rather, is displayed on the computer monitor.
Another type of graphics tablets are the Passive tablets. It is the most notably one according to Wacom. It make use of electromagnetic induction technology, where the horizontal and vertical wires of the tablet operate as both transmitting and receiving coils ( as opposed to the wires of the RAND Tablet which only transmit). The tablets generate an electromagnetic signal generated by the pen. Modern arrangements also provide pressure sensitivity and one or more switches ( similar to the buttons on a mouse ), with the electronics for this information present in the pen itself, not the tablet. On older tablets, changing the pressure on the pen nub or pressing a switch changed the properties of the LC circuit, affecting the signal. By using electromagnetic signals, the tablet is able to sense the stylus position without the stylus having to even touch the surface, and powering the pen with this signal means that devices used with the tablet never need batteries. Wacom’s patents don’t permit their competitors to employ such techniques.
The next type is Active tablets, this is a kind of graphics tablet which differ in that stylus used contains self-powered electronics that generate and transmit a signal to the tablet. These pens rely on an internal battery rather than their power, resulting in a bulkier pen. Eliminating the need to power the pen means that such tablets may listen for pen signals constantly, as they do not have to alternate between transmit and receive modes, which can result in less jitter. Jitter means a distortion in digitally transmitted or recorded sound or images, caused when two devices such as the recording and playback devices of audio recording are not perfectly synchronized.
Next is the Optical tablets which operate by a very small digital camera in the pen, and then doing pattern matching on the image of the paper. The most successful example is the one developed by Anoto.
W hat about Acoustic tablets? The early models of Acoustic tablets were described as spark tablets, it is a small sound generator was mounted in the stylus, and the acoustic signal picked up by two microphones placed near the writing surface. Some modern designs are able to read positions in three dimensions.
An electromagnetic tablet, one of its examples is a Wacom which a graphics tablet that works through generating and detecting an electromagnetic signal: in the Wacom design, the signal is generated by the pen, and detected by a grid of wires in the tablet. However, other designs such as those by Pencept generate a signal in the grid of the wires in the tablet, and detect it in the pen.
How about Capacitative tablets have also been designed to use an electrostatic or capacitative signal. Scriptel’s designs are example of a high-performance tablet detecting an electrostatic signal. Unlike the type of capacitative design used for touch screens, the Scriptel design is able to detect the position of the pen while it is in proximity to, or hovering above, the tablet.
Some tablets however, come as a functioning secondary computer screen that you can interact with directly using the stylus. There are ten Pressure-Sensitive Graphic Tablets which are Wacom Intous3 6x8- PTZ630, Wacom Bamboo Fun Medium-CTE650BT, Wacom Graphire Bluetooth Wireless Tablet-CTE630BT, Wacom Intous3 6x11 Wide Format USB Tablet-PTZ631W, Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet-MTE450, DigiPro 5.5x4 Graphics Tablet-WP5540, Wacom Cintig 21UX 21.3’’ Interacitve Pen Display.
Wacom Intous3 6x8- PTZ630 provides 1,024 levels of pen tip and eraser pressure sensitivity, tilt sensitivity, is batterly-free and cordless, and features a programmable DuoSwitch and soft grip. It also comes with a cordless, programmable 5-button optical scroll mouse. The tablet features 2 touch strips, 8 ExpressKeys, and comes with a pen stand. With Intuos, you also have the option of purchasing additional programmable accessories.
Wacom Bamboo Fun Medium-CTE650BT is the successor to the Graphire4 series of consumer level pen tablets. Improving on the Graphire4 model, Bamboo Fun has an updated look, a wide-format active area, a new textured feel to the tablet surface, and a finger-sensitive touch ring for zooming and scrolling. For creative work like painting, drawing, and touching up photos, the medium size Bamboo Fun tablet is ideal. It has a fresh, fun look, and performs well. Unlike the Bamboo standard tablet, Bamboo Fun comes with a mouse and a bundle of creative software including Adobe Photoshop Elements 5 Win/4 Mac, Corel Painter Essentials 3, and Nik Color Efex Pro 2 GE.
Wacom Graphire Bluetooth Wireless Tablet-CTE630BT is slightly older and not as advanced as Bamboo and Intuos3, but it does have one big advantage — no wires. You can use the Graphire Bluetooth in the range of 30 feet and for up to 25 hours between charges. However, it does require that your computer have a Bluetooth adapter, and you will need a power source to charge the batteries on occasion. The power adapter is included, but the Bluetooth adapter is not. Many newer laptops come with built-in Bluetooth capabilities.
Wacom Intous3 6x11 Wide Format USB Tablet-PTZ631W, its footprint of the Intuos3 6x11 is 16.5 inches wide x 10.3 inches deep and includes two sets of ExpressKeys and Touch Strips. If you don't have the desk space or need to spend a little less, there is also a 4x6 wide format Intuos3 with a smaller footprint of 10.6 by 8.5 inches and one set of ExpressKeys. Both models offer the highest level of pressure sensitivity and the advanced customization options and accessories available for the Intuos line.
Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet-MTE450 is an excellent entry-point to the Wacom product line. Bamboo is designed primarily for office tasks rather than artistic work. Although it functions just fine in creative software with pressure support, Bamboo does not come with software and is intended to be used with the built-in pen features of Windows Vista, Microsoft Office, and Mac OS X for marking up documents, jotting notes, and writing your signature. Of course, it can also be used as an alternative to the mouse to avoid repetitive stress fatigue.
DigiPro 5.5x4 Graphics Tablet-WP5540 has all the features of the WP8060 in a smaller size and lower price to match. And the last is the Wacom Cintig 21UX 21.3’’ Interacitve Pen Display combines an LCD monitor with a pressure sensitive tablet surface, so you can do just that. The 21.3 inch Cintiq includes an adjustable stand that allows the display to be rotated, inclined, or detached. It also features a 2-button Grip Pen, 8 ExpressKeys and 2 Touch Strips, 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity, and a 1600x1200 resolution LCD with DVI or VGA video input. for Windows and Macintosh.
Now I think that we’re already the same, in terms of the information about what graphics tablets are and some examples of it.


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