Art student figures out you can save money on Wacom nibs by using spaghetti
Apr 11, 2017
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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It started as a simple joke. Creating a meme for a bit of a laugh. Brittany Botehlo is an 18 year old self-taught digital painter in Dallas, Texas. When recently cooking spaghetti, she decided to stick a small piece in the end of her Wacom tablet pen. And, why not? It’s an amusing idea.
It turns out, though, that there was a little more truth to this joke than expected. Twitter responded to her post asking if it really works. Can you really replace a Wacom nib with spaghetti? Apparently, you can, and Brittany posted a video to prove it.
https://twitter.com/herrobrit/status/850457807346421760
This was the initial tweet that spawned a slew of responses on Twitter from users curious to know if it was real. I mean, it does seem a little far fetched.
DOES IT WORK
— 🇸🇦🇱🇪🇲 (@xmostestxlovex) April 8, 2017
WAIT DOES THIS REALLY WORK THO
— Tako (@JunsTako) April 8, 2017
This is genius. Infinite nibs.
— sarcasmrox3 (@AlidoBitLazy) April 8, 2017
And a couple even spawned years of joy.
https://twitter.com/Dollmotion/status/850583665469865984
There were one or two doubters, though, to which Brittany responded with video evidence.
https://twitter.com/herrobrit/status/850459126937374720
Brittany told Buzzfeed that it “works pretty well” and has used it a few times to try painting with it for fun. This drawing, for example, she says had most of the face, hair and most of the details created with it.
So, if you’re a “broke artist”, or you’ve just ran out of spares and your nib breaks at 2am, you now have another option. I wouldn’t rely on it long term, though, and I certainly wouldn’t use it on a Cintiq screen!
[via Buzzfeed]
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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37 responses to “Art student figures out you can save money on Wacom nibs by using spaghetti”
Wicked! Maybe also a meatball in an old-style mouse too?
HAHAHAHA! WIN!
DO NOT DO THIS! I tried…perfectly good waste of a meatball.
i fxkin love it.. brillinat
“…and I certainly wouldn’t use it on a Cintiq screen!” I literally came to post this!
Mom’s spaghetti?
This comment got my knees weak & arms heavy
Spaghetti is the answer for most problems.
Clever pastard…or is this a lot of old bolognese?
…Wacom just revoked their warranty on hundreds of Twitter users…
.085 or .090 gas trimmer (weed eater line) works better
Surely does. I had one on a bamboo, and while it eats a nib each 3/4 weeks, the weed eater line is there since forever!
It’s a little more wobbly, but cut right to length, it’s not much of a difference.
tennis net racket wires is much better
Oh man this is gonna be THE way to get nibs after the zombie apocalypse!
First paragraph reads like it’s leading to a super-hero show theme.
No thank you, I want my investment to last me for years!
In the video she never actually showed the nub.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/dffcfa83f7a261ba90622c26eee8169b8abb5be48f3b12f92c6e0284d994d5b6.jpg ‘i hope these kids figure out that if they use acetate on their wacom, they won’t need to change nibs for years and they can save spaghetti… ☺️??
I would love to hear more about this, can you elaborate?
‘man basically you just need an acetate and a scotch tape. it’s kinda screen protector/tempered glass on your mobile ; ) after that you’ll be having a very smooth strokes and you don’t need to change nib forevermore haha. please send me some spaghetti soon thanks buddy! ; )
Woah.. that seems so cool, gonna try it now! Do you use any specific type of acetate (thicker or thiner)? I wanna try it because i’m scared of scratching the tablet, even though i haven’t used it much i still can see some scartches and that makes me very sad, like am i doing something wrong? i’m not using it the proper way?
‘thin clear acetate can already ; ) it can save you wacom for years trust me! ; )
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/60f6ece47ae6189008f33bf513eaf1368eb905af71395583f39e43aeca4438a6.jpg
Clear contact paper works as well! And you don’t need to battle with the scotch tape, haha
Most new wacom tablets or tablets in general have a paper-like texture to them and that eats nibs like crazy, acetate or any other surface pasted on top that doesn’t wear down plastic or has any texture to it will fix this since tablets work through magnets and stuff. Idk mumbo jumbo, this will also protect your tablet from spaghetti nibs or toothpic nibs.
How italian designers/digital painters save money
Broke and razer chroma ? Curious why and how she is broke…
this was discovered long time ago, why nobody do it? because the moment that spaghetti breaks inside the pen, u gotta get a new pen. Srsly just buy the nibs, or china nibs that works the same
This nib is an impasta!
Design and good taste: together at last!
I covered my Wacom tablet surface with the protective film from our flat screen tv so I’ve never had to replace a nib and it glides across the surface. No more gritty feel and it doesn’t hinder the functionality st all, it improves it. Just cut it out and tape it at the top n bottom.
Good luck removing the spaghetti when it breaks inside the pen.
Great idea! And when it dulls, you can eat it! No waste! LOL
“broke” with a razer, love it!
Razer is kinda low to mid end.
I use bits of weed wacker wire! I got one spool of the stuff and I doubt I’ll ever need to buy nibs again.
I use “Thread Seal Tape” to cover the broken nibs. It works, it sticks to the nibs and very smooth!
(p.s Just don’t cover the nib too much because u will block the pen censor to the tablet)
The company that makes Wacom is probably seething right now.