Pablo

Copyright: KBkids.com

If your older children are tired of juvenile art programs, and ho-hum graphics utilities, they will love this new package from KidBoard. While KidBoard's first drawing tablet, SketchBoard, is perfectly adequate, it has a juvenile design. The sleek, black look of this drawing tablet, and it's advanced features will thrill even the most 'mature' teenager or adult. This is a serious graphics tool!

Pablo has a large 8x6 drawing area. Although technically the same size, it feels bigger than the Sketchboard. The pressure sensitive 'pen' which comes with this package is wonderful. The pen has 128 different sensitivity levels. This means that as you are drawing, the feel is very realistic. If you barely touch the drawing tablet, your lines will be quite faint. As you increase the pressure, the lines become bolder, just as they would with a real pen or paint brush. The effect is extraordinarily realistic. With Pablo's transparent overlay, you can trace pictures from magazines or photographs very easily. The grid markings make it easy to do freehand drawings as well.

When this state of the art drawing tablet is combined with two powerhouse graphics programs, the total package is one that can't be beat. Kai's Power Goo Special Edition is included with the keyboard. This program has been popular for quite a while. Your family can import photos, or use photos included with the program. These photos can then be 'gooed' in all sorts of odd ways. Make features larger, smaller, smudge them nudge them or alter them. This is a fun program for all ages, and will give you a case of the giggles.

Art Dabbler (full version) is the most powerful program included. This art program will produce extremely professional results. You can turn photographs into 'pencil sketches' with a very simple tool. Art Dabbler allows you to create 'flip books' for real animations. Not only are there more drawing tools here than in almost any other art program, but their are other features such as tracing paper, and textured papers of all sorts which make this program one that will keep your family busy for a very long time. The tracing paper feature helps when you create animations. You can overlay the virtual tracing paper and either make a new drawing, or slightly alter another one. Your pictures can be quickly and easily turned into chalk drawings, rubbings, or pencil sketches. When you combine the ability to import graphics, and trace pictures, even a non-artist can create some pretty fantastic projects. Anyone with a special knack for art, will be able to produce results they can be truly proud of.

The combination of a high powered drawing tablet with a high quality pen, and these two powerful graphics programs creates a strong package. Your family will be able to create wonderful invitations, newsletters, scrapbooks, T-shirts, web page graphics and more with the tools found here.

Bottom Line: One of the strongest graphics packages around. You can't beat this combination for all around family fun, and professional graphical design ability.

Ratings: (based on KBKids.com's 4 star rating system)

Overall: 4

BrainGain: 4

FunFactor: 4

EasePlease: 4

Buy Pablo 6x8 Graphics Tablet at Amazon!