Using a Graphics tablet

[GovtLawyer]

I've been using mice for eons, (now have a cordless optical one) and at an Elements Technique Seminar yesterday I suddenly realized this may not be the best way to edit my photographs. So, I've been looking at a Wacom 4 X 5 graphis tablet (I have a very small work area) and I have a few questions before I make this purchase.

Is switching from a mouse to a graphics tablet easily accomplished in Elements 3.0? Will there be any significant learning curve to the process?

Is the use of a graphics tablet fully supported by 3.0?

Will using a tablet enable me to make more precise selections? I find that making precise selections is often tedious work. Additionally, I learned a technique of using layers to essentially paint a mask, which in essence, is a selection. This seemed like a really neat way to select in 3.0, but the instructor was using a tablet. Would painting in this way be easier using a tablet than a mouse?

Suppose I want to contiue using my current mouse, along with the tablet, and not the one supplied with the tablet. How simple is it to use the two peripherals, and will they work together? Can you switch from a mouse to a tablet, on the fly, or must you use one and stay with it?

Any help on this subject will be appreciated.

[prime80]

I've been using mice for eons, (now have a cordless optical one) and at an Elements Technique Seminar yesterday I suddenly realized this may not be the best way to edit my photographs. So, I've been looking at a Wacom 4 X 5 graphis tablet (I have a very small work area) and I have a few questions before I make this purchase.

Is switching from a mouse to a graphics tablet easily accomplished in Elements 3.0? Will there be any significant learning curve to the process?

Is the use of a graphics tablet fully supported by 3.0?

Will using a tablet enable me to make more precise selections? I find that making precise selections is often tedious work. Additionally, I learned a technique of using layers to essentially paint a mask, which in essence, is a selection. This seemed like a really neat way to select in 3.0, but the instructor was using a tablet. Would painting in this way be easier using a tablet than a mouse?

Suppose I want to contiue using my current mouse, along with the tablet, and not the one supplied with the tablet. How simple is it to use the two peripherals, and will they work together? Can you switch from a mouse to a tablet, on the fly, or must you use one and stay with it?

Any help on this subject will be appreciated.

Switching shouldn't be a problem. I've got the same tablet.

Yes

Definitely

Yep, you can use your mouse and the tablet.

[Rick Baker]

I bought a tablet and rarely use it. I don't see much a benefit out of using it.

my 2 cents

[jimsolt]

Suppose I want to contiue using my current mouse, along with the tablet, and not the one supplied with the tablet. How simple is it to use the two peripherals, and will they work together? Can you switch from a mouse to a tablet, on the fly, or must you use one and stay with it?

Any help on this subject will be appreciated.

I have heard you might get some conflict with the mouses (mice,meece) if you leave the tablet mouse or pen on the pad. but that's simple to avoid. I find no need to use my old mouse, but your needs might differ.

Jim

[Mocking-DX]

if you do a lot of photoshop retouching, it's indispensable
i use it mainly to edit my pictures and retouching

i only need my regular mouse if i need to right click on anything
i actually put my thin profile dell mousepad on top of my 6x8 tablet
and use my pen on top of it to save space

[starzphalling]

i have a one of the wacoms and i would never think twice about buying another one if mine broke! you can use the pen or the mouse it comes with, i actually haven't used my regular mouse since, i actually tend to use the pen for everything now. but i'm also left handed so i thought this was the best thing in the world. especially trying to do precise selections with the wrong hand with a regular mouse. (i am ambidextrious though, and i thought the tablet would be cool, but not make that huge a difference, i was WRONG!) the only bad part about them is the usb wire connection to the actual tablet. one day i hope to save up and buy one of the wireless ones, but i digress.... you have to be careful with the cord because it is fixed and not very pliable near the tablet itself, it is fixable if you break it off, but very annoying to do. so i say for $80-$100 it is an awsome purchase, but if you are not to sure yet, wait a little bit best buy puts up rebates for these every now and then (that's when i got mine $20 off, no problem)! well there is my two cents, keep this up and you'll be rich! :lol:

[AjP]

I do have a tablet and I love it, don't use it 100% of the time but only when I need more presice editing on PS it becomes really helpful.

[GovtLawyer]

I bought it today, installed it, and already experimenting with it. It will take some getting used to. Itis very sensitive and hovering over the tablet is not intuitive. I find that I put it down and all sorts of things I didn't intend, start to happen. It will take some time for me to figure out the settings which work for me. All in all, it seemed like it will be a worthwhile purchase, after I get the hang of.

My old Logitech optical mouse works just fine. I can switch between the two simply by picking one up and using it. Very easy. My old mouse is programmable, and much better than the one which came with the tablet.

[AjP]

I also still use my old mouse, don't like one that came with tablet

[Baadil]

I have this tablet and I use it when I need to do lots of processing. I find that it is better if you remmeber some keyboard shortcuts to use along with the tablet.

I have a question for others with tablets. My pointer always shows bigger with tablet than what it draws (PS CS2). What gives?

Thanks.

[ChP]

I have a Wacom tablet (Intuous 2) and find it can be a very powerful tool in certain situations. I often use it when I need to heal, clone, burn, or dodge. The pressure sensativity is an excellent feature.

[Mernya]

There's been several other discussions on this, so look about and you can find even more information. That said, the hardest things to using a tablet is the initial learning curve: hover to move (or really, you don't even need to do that - you don't need to drag the cursor), clicking/double clicking/right clicking, selections, absolute vs relative position.

Once you are comfortable using it, there is no going back. All of the capabilities are tremendous improvements to selections, anything requiring brushing (clones, brushes, dodge/burns, healing, etc), and for some folks ease/speed.

[photographer unknown]

I have the Intuos 2 and although it took some getting used to I really like it when I use it. I did however keep my cordless logitec trackball instead of the mouse that came with the tablet. It works just fine.

photographer unknown

[Eugene.S]

I just bought today Wacom Intuos 3 A5. Amazingly comfortable. Highly recommended. A4 is too big, A6 is too small,it's just my opinion (I use 2 cinema displays 20") I bought this unit for photoshop only, but use this for all my applications.

[LastLine]

I use a Tablet Laptop PC actually which offers an entirely different perspective, actually being able to draw directly on the screen - and the use of the right click. Like working on paper.