The modern technical market is replete with various types of gadgets and electronic equipment. The choice of customers mainly depends on the purpose of using the devices. Back in the 70s of the last century, a miracle of technology, a digitizer, appeared in the commercial sphere. Alas, far from everyone knows what it is and why it is needed. Let's try to figure it out.
About device
Having discarded fanciful technical terms, a digitizer can be defined as a graphic tablet that converts a finished, paper or vector image into digital format. But do not confuse it with a familiar scanner.
The digitizer consists of a touch screen (actually a tablet) and a drawing device (pen, stylus, cursor, etc.). Work on such a device can fit in two actions:
- placement of the image on the screen;
- fixing the coordinates of the pen or cursor on the tablet.
In the case of animation, you only need professional stylus skills.
Types
The technology for entering graphic information in digitizers is different. In this regard, five types of devices are distinguished:
- Acoustic. This is one of the first graphic tablets. The drawing pen generated the so-called sound sparks that picked up the screen microphones. Thus, the device determined the coordinates of the information. A significant drawback of working with the tablet was that the input of information had to be done in absolute silence, since acoustic noise could ruin the picture. This type of digitizer is known for producing a number of devices under the general name Spark Tablet.
- Electromagnetic The device of such tablets was a little simpler and more productive than previous models. Under the surface of the screen passed a wire mesh emitting weak electromagnetic signals. The pen caught them, and so its location was fixed. This category of devices includes the RAND Tablet, which appeared back in 1964.
- Passive cursor. The same principle of electromagnetic induction was used, only in these devices the wire mesh transmitted signals and received them. Information was entered by pressing the pen and in a non-contact way. The drawing device did not require power. It was a technical breakthrough. An example of such a device would be a Wacom graphics tablet.
- Active cursor. In this device, the signal generator is moved to the pen. Accordingly, he needs food. Electrical signals gave a clearer image than electromagnetic ones. This device category was represented by FinePoint Innovations.
- Touch digitizer is a modern device. Under the surface of the screen there are coordinate wires. They are separated by a thin insulator. Under pressure on the stylus, the conductivity changes. The sensitive screen is susceptible to both the coordinates and the pressure force of the drawing device. Some systems allow you to digitize three-dimensional objects.
Of course, emphasis must be placed on the characterization of touch devices. The type of information scanning distinguishes between ultrasonic, magnetic and laser touch screen digitizer. The first is less accurate and reliable, since the speed of sound here directly depends on temperature, air pressure and other environmental phenomena.
Magnetic digitizers are more accurate, but sensitive to metal objects located nearby (chairs, computers, various equipment). Such interference may cause picture distortion.
And finally, laser digitizers are the most accurate, but expensive today. However, these devices also have a number of limitations. It is impossible to digitize objects with a reflective, bright or concave surface.
In addition, today in the technical market you can find hard and flexible digitizers. The latter were presented back in 1994. They are lighter, more compact during transportation. Power supplies in them can be either built-in or external.
The choice
It is important to remember when choosing a digitizer that it is such a serious and expensive device that should immediately meet the individual requirements of the user. External reliability must be consistent with internal specifications. High-quality drivers, support for the necessary software, and a convenient pointing device are the three pillars on which the customer’s choice should be based. The modern leading companies in the production of digitizers in the technical market are Genius. Hitachi, CalComp, Wacom. They create graphic tablets with a different interface, operating system, diagonal.
We should also talk about pointing devices.
Cursors
Today, pointing (or drawing) devices are represented by two types: cursors and feathers. The first are especially popular. Depending on the model, they can have 4, 8, 12 or 16 buttons. However, some manufacturers (for example, One Graphics) add another button - the "most important". But, as practice shows, the simpler the device, the more convenient, reliable and popular it is among users. Therefore, devices with four buttons are more successful than their progressive counterparts. These models are owned by CalComp.
According to experts, the choice of cursor should be associated not only with ease of control and the number of buttons, but also be related to the programs used. In this case, it is appropriate to talk about AutoCAD.
Feathers
These devices are considered more convenient and sensitive. They provide only one, two or three buttons and respond to hand pressure. Feathers are ideal drawing tools for artists and animators. The degree of pressure on the pen is manifested in a change in line thickness, color, and shade. Having mastered such a trick, the user can imitate painting with watercolors, oil paints or tempera. However, to implement such masterpieces, special programs are needed.
The choice of feathers is determined subjectively. Some users like the devices that the Wacom graphics tablet offers. They are relatively thin and light. Another is the heavy and balanced Kurta signature feathers.
All pointing devices can be wired and wireless. The latter require battery power, and therefore are heavier. A successful attempt to correct this flaw was the model with external power.
However, do not forget about the passive feathers from the manufacturer Wacom, which are the receiving and not the giving element. True, these devices are less sensitive to pressure.
Consumer issues
It is easy to evaluate the range of possibilities that a digitizer has. What is it and why is it needed - the main questions of consumers. Its main purpose is professional graphic work where the conversion of the movements of the operator’s hand into digital graphics is required. Therefore, it is very simple to determine the demand audience. These are designers, computer artists, animators, architects who need automated design. However, back in the last century, a tablet digitizer was widely used in commerce. Today, this area may concern real estate, transport, etc.
There are still questions that customers often ask: "What do plotters and digitizers allow you to do and why do they often get them together?" Here you can draw an analogy with the scanner and printer. If the digitizer receives and digitizes information, after which the user can use certain programs to make adjustments to the image on the computer, then the plotters are a kind of printer. They output information from a digital format to ready-made, paper. These devices also vary in types, specifications, etc.
Summary
Easy, intuitive and accessible to everyone, control is perhaps the most important feature that a digitizer has. What is it and what is it for, we learned. It is clear that there are no analogues to such devices yet. Of course, you can use conventional scanners. However, for professional three-dimensional design, digitizers remain the most ideal.