Wacom Tablets

[mdruziak]

Originally Posted by JerBear

OK, so you get one, I have a couple, but how long and what do you do to get used to the tablet?

I put mine away, cause it just felt awkward to use. How long should it take to get the "Hang of it"?

I see the potential, but maybe I need a video with lessons or something to get over the hump. Any suggestions would be very welcomed.

I would appreciate any advice,

Thanks again,

JM

There are some training videos on the web. Google Wacom Tablet Tutorial and you should find some stuff. I believe that my Graphire came with some sort of training program that helped you get the hang of the tablet.

It does take a while to get used to it. Initially, I only used it as a brush and went back to my mouse to do a menu move or to click on something. However, the more I used it as a brush, I found myself automatically using it as a mouse. It was one of those things that came automatically on its own.

The difficulty in using the tablet is because the tablet is an absolute representation of the screen and not a relative thing like a mouse would be. In my mind, that is one of the benefits of a smaller tablet. You don't have to move your hand or wrist very far to cover the whole screen. If you need to do some fine detailed work, zoom in to your image.

The other thing is, while you can probably use the tablet in place of a mouse, I only use it for editing images and not as a mouse replacement.

[JerBear]

Thank you for the info, I will give it another try.

I know it is just a matter of time to get used to, just did not feel like going through another learning curve at the time.

Funny, I am right handed, but over the years I only use my left hand for the mouse. This gives me my right to use the keyboard at the same time. Now if I try to use the mouse with my right hand, it is difficult.

Thanks again,

Good shooting

JM

[JerBear]

Ok, pulled out the tablet and started to force myself to get the hang of it.

I know it just a matter of time and muscle training, but I wanted to Shout Out something that has helped me transition.

I have a few tablets, from the small to very large. It is a lot easier to start with the smaller tablets because of the short range you need to reach to to use it. Mdruziak was right on with suggestion.

So IF you have not spent the money yet, think about getting a small to medium tablet to start with, then if you want, trade up for a large one.

Save money and frustration in learning.

Thanks again all

Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year!!

JM

[mdruziak]

It is a lot easier to start with the smaller tablets because of the short range you need to reach to to use it. Mdruziak was right on with suggestion.

Once in a great while i seem to get close to a workable suggestion!

Actually I was just thinking about this the other day. I don't think I understand how a bigger tablet would be better for editing photos. When using a small tablet and you need to do detail work, you zoom in on your screen so your target area gets bigger. With a large tablet, you would need a longer range of motion to do the same job. I do a lot of photo retouching with a tablet but have never thought that I needed a bigger tablet to do something.

[velvet4269]

My friend is a graphic designer, and swears by her Wacom tablet (she's tried others over the years, but always comes back to Wacom). Reading this thread prompted me to ask her if she'd ever used it for photo editing, and she has - and even she suggested the 4x6 or 5x7 would be the way to go if all you're going to do with it is edit photos (she has one of the larger ones, for obvious reasons).

[cameragirl]

I just got the Bambo Wacom tablet too, for Christmas. Am so happy.It is so nice, easy to use. And so cute!!
Totally happy, awesome Christmas gift!

[CronoZero]

I use a 6x11 for editing photos and its great. I chose this one because I usually work on widescreen monitors and I had read about problems with standard ratios on widescreens. Something about drawing a circle on the pad but getting an oval.

I'm sure the problem is fixed now, but it really bothered me at the time and I didn't want to deal with it. Besides, I like having so much space to draw as I was used to filling larger sheets of paper with sketches.

[ArkyMark]

Glad I found this discussion since I'm about to buy one of these things and I'm looking for some general consensus if there is one... Some of the larger, inexpensive ones seem to get horrible reviews from those who've bought them - while the smaller Wacoms seem to get some of the best reviews.

There's also varying ratios - 4:5 and 16:10; Multiple pressure-levels - 512 and 1,024; and "Lines per inch"...

I have no problem doing photo retouching with a mouse (actually, I use an older-design Logitek Trackball), but I also like to paint and get the most out of using brushes and pens in Photoshop. For instance, I'd love to be able to rotate the brush and change it's shape/tip dynamics "on the fly", without having to click through Photoshop's pallets and controls so much. I also tend to work more in the 16:10 "widescreen" ratio, and I change brushes/colors/opacity/flow a LOT!

Do any of you have any experience actually painting like this with one of the things?

And I'm going to guess it's called the "Bamboo" because some of the first writing instruments were bamboo "pens" that were whittled to a point and dipped in ink. Besides, Bamboo just sounds "Green" these days... (Product names are usually tested on "Focus Groups" who either smile or frown on them ... but I'm still trying to figure out why Ford named one of their cars "The Probe".)

[rikkersc]

I use the Wacom Intuos 3. The actual usable tablet area is 4.5" x 5.5". I love it and it works for all the photo editing I do.

If you aren't sure about which size or kind you like, you could try them out at the store first. THat wasy you can see how they fit and work with what you want to do.
I was "positive" I wanted a LARGE tablet, the bigger the better, I thought. Then I saw the prices and realized that may never happen. So, I tried them out and found out that the smaller size actually worked better for what I want to do and fit my hand motions much, much better. It was also a little more affordable, even though I didn't go with the cheapest. I wanted what would work for me, and if that was a huge one, then that is what I would have aimed for, but it turns out a smaller one was better.

[Free]

I'd recommend heading down to a stockist and trying one out before getting the biggest you can find, because the entire tablet represents your monitor a larger tablet means you have to make much bigger hand movements to achieve the same thing on a smaller one. I find the 6x8 is a nice size and there's not too many times I've wanted a larger one. I'll probably upgrade when I get bigger monitors though

EDIT - If you're running dual screens, get the intuos (unless the bamboo supports them properly now?)