The official description talks about being ideal for the "front end of the creative process," but whose creative process? It seems like it shouldn't matter, but here's the thing that bothers me—the Inkling uses a ballpoint pen.
It might not need any specialized paper, but to get the Inkling to work, you have to use the digital pen that comes with it, and the digital pen uses ballpoint ink refills. Thing is, I don't know a lot of artists that use ballpoint pens for their creative process, because ballpoint pens can be a pain to work artistically since you have to apply more pressure to the tip than other pens, and they don't produce a particularly "elegant" line. They're really just meant for writing, not drawing. So most artists I've met, even when doing quick sketches, prefer other types of pens or markers—felt tip, gel ink, and of course, good ol' reliable pencils.
The only reason I could think of for choosing ballpoint as the medium is that refills are easy to find and purchase, but most people who use ballpoint pens aren't used to the idea of "refilling" a ballpoint pen. They just buy disposables.
Is the Inkling really trying to appeal to artists? Can it? Or is it better suited for say, more "business" applications?
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Who exactly is the Inkling made for?
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kris' pick
I was wondering the same thing, Kris. All of Wacom's marketing images/videos make it looks like its exclusively for artists, but I want to know if I can use it as a note recorder as well for my classes. Is there any difference in its ability to record drawings versus notes?
At any rate, if I had to guess, Wacom is probably developing many different pens to use with the system, but they are just launching a standard ballpoint to start - something people are used to. It wouldn't surprise me at all if they released a fineliner, or a rollerball.
Only time will tell, but I'm interested in trying this out to see if it works for more than drawings.
Contrary to what Armpit says, I can see this being useful in a business setting if you're working in a creative environment. When you have a team design meeting or something like that, being able to just attach this thing to your favorite notepad or Moleskine and take notes, intersperse them with drawings, and then import them to your computer actually sounds really nice.
At any rate, if I had to guess, Wacom is probably developing many different pens to use with the system, but they are just launching a standard ballpoint to start - something people are used to. It wouldn't surprise me at all if they released a fineliner, or a rollerball.
Only time will tell, but I'm interested in trying this out to see if it works for more than drawings.
Contrary to what Armpit says, I can see this being useful in a business setting if you're working in a creative environment. When you have a team design meeting or something like that, being able to just attach this thing to your favorite notepad or Moleskine and take notes, intersperse them with drawings, and then import them to your computer actually sounds really nice.
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"Or is it better suited for say, more "business" applications?"
No, because who wants to dump a vector drawing of meeting notes into Word?
It's made for people who think it's a good idea and either doesn't care or realise the limitations of the writing method. And as I said elsewhere, for me to compose my stick-man Magnum Opus.
No, because who wants to dump a vector drawing of meeting notes into Word?
It's made for people who think it's a good idea and either doesn't care or realise the limitations of the writing method. And as I said elsewhere, for me to compose my stick-man Magnum Opus.
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The draw here for the Inkling (sorry the pun) is that you can import vectors of your hand drawings and sketches into Photoshop or Illustrator, and support for layers. A couple great things about layers is that you don't have to commit parts of your sketch in the final composition, and it's also useful for assigning separate fills.
The part about ballpoint refills somewhat misses the point because the end product isn't necessarily the ink sketch. There are also plenty of great ballpoint ink refills of various qualities and price points. Gel ink pens are ball point, as well as the legedary Hi-Tec-C (although I am unsure if it can be fitted into the Inkling). Of course, if what you actually wanted to do is to import a bitmap somewhere, then just use a scanner.
Some great ballpoint illustrations (although the Inkling is best suited for line-drawing, but I wanted to show you how ballpoint pen can be used alone):
The part about ballpoint refills somewhat misses the point because the end product isn't necessarily the ink sketch. There are also plenty of great ballpoint ink refills of various qualities and price points. Gel ink pens are ball point, as well as the legedary Hi-Tec-C (although I am unsure if it can be fitted into the Inkling). Of course, if what you actually wanted to do is to import a bitmap somewhere, then just use a scanner.
Some great ballpoint illustrations (although the Inkling is best suited for line-drawing, but I wanted to show you how ballpoint pen can be used alone):
- Juan Francisco Casas (potentially NSFW but, wow, photorealistic) www.ambushu.com/blog/ambush/art-ambush/juan-franci...
- SHOHEI worldfamousdesignjunkies.com/black-and-white/shohe...
- On Xeontribe xeontribe.com/amazing-ballpoint-illustration/
- On WorthStar worthstar.com/awesome-ballpen-artwork/
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I know a few artist types who are pretty excited about this product. I think the idea of being able to sketch things out on paper (which feels natural to many) and then going in and cleaning it up digitally is alluring. Of course, it totally depends on the art style and approach to creating that art if this would even work for someone.
I don't draw so I have absolutely no use for something like this but my son likes to doodle and I think it'd be cool to give him the option to be able to share things more easily (or even be able to alter the doodles, expand on them, etc).
I don't draw so I have absolutely no use for something like this but my son likes to doodle and I think it'd be cool to give him the option to be able to share things more easily (or even be able to alter the doodles, expand on them, etc).
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It will also attract some posers who know nothing about drawing and think something like this will help them improve their drawing skills.
Like me.
Like me.
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I think it could be a powerful tool for students if it was cheaper. I'd buy one.
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