Gallery: The Ultimate Wired Gift Guide for DIY Designers
01cintiq
Most kids are thrilled with the idea of getting to sit on Santa's lap and rattling off their wish list. Maker kids (and maker parents) would prefer to talk shop with the elves. This collection of misfit toys — er, tools — ranging from stocking stuffers to account-draining benefactions, is sure to delight DIY enthusiasts of any age. __Above:__ Cintiq 24HD touch ----------------- — [$3,699.00](http://www.wacom.com/products/pen-displays/cintiq/cintiq-24hd-touch) This top-of-the-line drawing pad is like an iPad with a 20.4- by 12.8-inch screen and and a stylus that can differentiate 2,048 levels of pressure. Unlike most drawing tablets where users have to look at a monitor while sketching on a peripheral, the Cintiq range combines both functions. The screen is also sensitive to the human touch allowing artists to associate gestures with key functionality, making this super digital experience feel surprisingly analog. Weighing in at a robust 62.9 pounds, don't expect to see many artists sketching on these at the park, but a 21st-century draftsman can't be parked in front of anything better. *Photo: [Wacom](http://www.wacom.com/)*
02field-notes
Field Notes Colors Subscription ------------------------------- — [$97.00](http://fieldnotesbrand.com/colors/) Inspiration can strike anywhere, but with Moleskines having become so common, what should a cool designer carry? Field Notes sketchbooks are like props from a Wes Anderson movie: beautifully crafted, subtly nostalgic, and quirky as all get out. Field Notes can be purchased à la carte, but are also offered on a subscription basis to keep creativity coming through the year. Limited editions are released each quarter with an understated theme and often come with a little trinket, like a merit badge for a series based on farming or dry-transfer lettering for a vintage graphic design collection. *Photo: [Coudal Partners](http://www.coudal.com/)*
03festool
Festool TS 55 EQ Plunge Cut Circular Saw ---------------------------------------- — [$550.00](http://www.festoolusa.com/products/plunge-cut-circular-saws/ts-55-eq-plunge-cut-circular-saw-561432.html) Called a "[110-volt X-Acto and ruler](https://twitter.com/golnik/status/278482286582824960)" by one craftsman, Festool products are all about precision. There are no obvious bells or whistles, no complementary apps; just heaping helpings of German engineering. Tolerances are tight and 1,200 watts' worth of carbide cutting power will make short work of any project. A poor craftsman blames his tools, but good tools should make you a little poorer and Festool products deliver lots of value commensurate with their premium price. The "Plug-It" cable management system means the power cable is detachable and can be replaced if it becomes frayed or damaged. The first cut made with the saw plunges through a piece of sacrificial plastic on the saw's rail, meaning the owner can have complete confidence in its alignment. *Photo: [Festool](http://www.festoolusa.com/default.aspx)*
04smooth-on-molding-plastic-wired-design
Smooth-On Starter Kit --------------------- —[$52.49](http://www.smooth-on.com/Getting-Started-Po/c4_1217/index.html?catdepth=1) Want to stage an epic re-enactment of the *Clone Wars*, but don't want to pay tribute to the new Disney/*Star Wars* empire? We won't condone it, but you *could* bootleg your own action figures. With this Smooth-On starter kit, makers get everything they need to produce rubber molds, plastic parts, and a near endless supply of droids. The product website only scratches the surface of what these materials can do. For a world-class introduction to the riveting world of RTV molds, check out the [epic replicas made by Harrison Krix](http://www.volpinprops.com/). With practice, this hobbyist-friendly goop can be formed into Barbaric axes from the world of *Skyrim* and LED-studded Daft Punk helmets. *Photo: [Smooth-On](http://www.smooth-on.com)*
05gnomon-classes-wired-design
Gnomon School of Visual Effects Online Classes ---------------------------------------------- — [$4,000.00](http://courses.gnomonschool.com/courses/online/) If the Charlie Brown Christmas special has you questioning the materialistic nature of the holidays, give the gift of knowledge instead. Online classes at the Gnomon School of Visual Effects will help the special maker in your life master Photoshop or Maya software while learning the art of creating bad-ass beasts or sci-fi ships. *Star Trek* director [J.J. Abrams raves about the place](http://www.gnomonschool.com/?p=284), which makes the premium price easier to swallow. Basic courses cost $1,050, but masterclasses like "ZBrush Creature Design" taught by a *veteran from the Weta Workshop cost a precious penny.* *Image: [Gnomon Workshop](http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/)*
06eggbot
Egg-Bot ------- — [$220.00](http://shop.evilmadscientist.com/productsmenu/tinykitlist/171-egg-bot) The Egg-Bot is a diminutive robot that can draw patterns on eggs, glass bulbs, and other simple, curvy objects. With the right input, EggBot can draw ornate patterns on an ornament or add a nutrition label to an egg shell. This might be a present to deliver early since it can actually help trim the tree. For those trying to catch up on Hanukkah, the creators of the Egg-Bot also make a sweet [LED Menorah](http://evilmadscience.com/productsmenu/tinykitlist/44-menorah), 100 percent guaranteed not to run out of oil. *Photo: [Evil Mad Scientist Labs](http://shop.evilmadscientist.com/productsmenu/tinykitlist/171-egg-bot)*
07usb-microscope
USB Microscope -------------- — [$79.95](http://www.adafruit.com/products/636) Whether you're an electronics maven, a war-gamer, or would-be watchmaker, this USB microscope is the Wired version of a jeweler's loupe. With a 5-megapixel resolution, 220x magnification, and 8 LEDs, no detail on even the smallest project will go unseen. It gives artisans an amazingly detailed look at their projects, but also makes it easy to share the big picture with fans and followers via tutorials. *Photo: [AdaFruit Industries](http://www.adafruit.com)*
08shopbot
ShopBot Desktop --------------- — [$4,995.00](http://www.shopbottools.com/mproducts/desktop.htm ) 3-D printers are the stars of the maker world, but CNC mills are their subtractive siblings that have been get scant attention of late. Instead of depositing plastic on a build platform, the ShopBot Desktop can carve up wood, plastic, aluminum, and other materials measuring up to 24 by 18 by 2 inches. With the right attachments, the ShopBot Desktop can cut material into almost any shape that can be designed in CAD software. *Image: [ShopBot](http://www.shopbotblog.com)*
09toolbox
Trademark Tools Massive and Mobile 3 Piece Tool Box --------------------------------------------------- — [$204.99](http://www.sears.com/trademark-tools-massive-mobile-3-part-stainless-steel-tool-box/p-00912868000P) The Trademark Tools "Massive and Mobile" three-piece tool box lacks the artisanal qualities and expert construction of an heirloom [Gerstner tool chest](http://www.gerstnerusa.com/), but what it lacks there it makes up for in transportability and shiny style. Designed like a cross between roll-aboard luggage and stainless-steel appliances, this storage system is the perfect way to bring tools to social gatherings — be it a hackathon at a local maker space or an annual pilgrimage to exhibit at MakerFaire. *Photo: [Sears](http://www.sears.com/trademark-tools-massive-mobile-3-part-stainless-steel-tool-box/p-00912868000P)*
