Come to think of it there is something I've been wanting help with: Getting used to a graphics tablet. Maybe useful tips/tricks for getting adjusted with it. I've noticed that my art looks drastically different between digital/traditional and I've wondered if it's because there's something I should be making habits of? I use Photoshop and Krita, for reference.
I have a few things that I think could help! It took me over a month to get use to drawing with a tablet when I first started using one.
1. If you have a Wacom tablet, go into your tablet properties and check “Force Proportions” under the Mapping options. I’m not sure if that’s an option for other tablet brands, but I know that it made drawing a lot more comfortable for me! Try it out and see how it feels.
2. Make sure you have a firm grip on your tablet’s stylus/pen. It gives you a lot more control than holding it like you would a pencil, since you need to be able to use your stylus as a mouse too. I like to make sure that I can easily slide my index finger up and down to use my express keys. (And make sure that if your tablet has express keys, you set it to whatever’s most comfortable for you!)3. Find (or create) brushes that you’re comfortable drawing with!
I’ve noticed that I’m most comfortable sketching digitally with brushes that mimic pencils. The brush I use primarily for sketching is a brush I created to act kind of like a 10b pencil (I had an old version that was my main before too). I don’t have this brush available anywhere (maybe… yet?) but if you understand the settings for brushes in the programs you use, you may be able to make your own ideal brush! I do have some brush suggestions but unfortunately I only use Photoshop so it’s as far as my recommendations go.
https://n-a-r-i.deviantart.com/art/Pencil-Brush-by-Nari-2nd-EDITION-416255384 This brush pack is great! I used the 6th pencil to draw this doodle, and it was my main sketching pencil before I made my own brush.
http://makkon.tumblr.com/post/98171600323/sketching-brushes-download-link-the-two You might find that you prefer a brush more like this! Occasionally I’ll sketch with the brush from this pack. It doesn’t have the texture of traditional media so it’s not one I use a bunch, but obviously it works out amazing for the person who made it! http://digitalbrushes.tumblr.com/ <– This is a great place to find PS brushes (it’s where I found the last set!) 4. Figure out your favorite settingsI think that figuring out at what size and how how zoomed in/out you like to draw will help. My sketch pages are usually 5000 x 4000 px at 300 dpi. I’ll zoom in so my screen is mostly white and hit tab on my keyboard to make my Photoshop panels disappear. (Hitting tab again will bring the panels back.) It helps me to not have a cluttered work space. 5. Sketch a bunch until you’re comfortable! You basically have to retrain your hand to draw digitally as well, but the good news is that it won’t take as long it did when you were just starting to draw in general. You just have to get comfortable with it! And as with everything, practice makes perfect. ;)
