how useful is the wacom tablet ?

Has anyone used the Wacom tablet ?

how useful is the tablet ?

does it help to speed up retouching process?

They wouldn't exist and sell so well if they weren't useful.

I've had several now and conciser them as essential as a mouse but a lot of it depends on what you do during your post processing. If your a levels adjuster, that is tweaking parameters to get the most out of a picture, the tables will not help all that much. If your a photo-shopper, blending layers, combining different photos, or do a lot of local adjustments, then a tablet helps a whole lot.

I use my tablet everyday for retouching work. Wouldn't want to do the work without one anymore. Works great for masking work.

I barely use my mouse at all on my computer, my hand doesn't get as tired using the pen vs. a mouse, almost every computer in my school has the intuos 3 6x8 tablets. I like it so much I bought the same one for my computer.

Hi

A good option would be the Monoprice tablets for around $60. Just like you I did not know if I would be a heavy tablet user so I bought one and it is great for CS5. So this is a great solution for the "unsure" or the amateur.

I love mine (actually I have 2)
If I am going to be editing something for more than 30 seconds I will get the tablet out (one loves in my work locker, and the other is under the desk at home)

I would not want to edit without one. I currently have 2 an Intuos 4 medium that lives on my desk and a Intuos 4 small that travels in my laptop bag though I may be getting one of the new fives and start traveling with the medium.

For some, irreplaceable. For others, just never that useful. You really have to buy one and try it out for yourself.

Once you use one, (and take a few minutes to grasp the concept) you will never go back to a mouse or trackpad. The Intuous 5 was just released and combines the pen with finger gestures. It's win win.

I've only used Wacom so I can't comment on other brands.

I only recently bought the Intuos 4 - mainly due to increased RSI from 20 years of two finger typing and mice.

I just wish I had used one before - amazing device. Not only stopped my wrist pain but improved productivity no end.

One tip - don't think you need a large tablet for regular photo processing work. I bought the small one and, despite having a dual 24" monitor setup, it is perfect.

very useful for detailed work.

An example of how good they are

Go to your computer, take a bit of paper and a pen.
Sign your name on the bit of paper
Now open a new file in photoshop, (or paint if you dont have PS) and sign your name using the mouse.
See the difference ?

Which is more precise ?

I use a smaller intuos 3 most of the time - a smaller graphire4 is used when i go away
You dont need a big tablet (in fact unless you are drawing from your shoulder, a big tablet will be a pain)

Also try the "mouse mode" and "tablet mode"
I found i liked mouse mode at first, then didnt look back after switching to tablet mode (it changes how the pen interacts withthe tablet)

I'm great with the mouse. Used to the mouse. Why buy a tablet?

Then: Damn. That mouse is driving me nuts for these tiny detail masking areas. But nobody will notice except me. And that's all I'd ever use a tablet for, so forget it.

Then: Damn. The only things I see in that otherwise great photo are those teensy areas nobody but me will ever notice. They're the only things I DO notice. Lemme take another look at those tablets.

Then: Damn! I had no idea how much I can do with a tablet or how great they are! I use it every day, for everything to do with photography!

Picard, the day will come when you realize you've gone as far as you can with the mouse. You KNOW you could do some things better and more precisely, but it's just impossible with that mouse -- or takes forever.

That's the day you'll buy a Wacom, give yourself a few days and a few photographs to get used to it, and never look back.

There is a reason professionals use them. They're wonderful and amazing.

And if you sketch or paint (I don't, except for occasionally turning a photo into a painting per Russel Browne's mixer brush techniques) I can only imagine what a remarkable tool tablets can be for such artists.

Mine? The Bamboo Create.

Yes, I still use the mouse for some things -- it's faster and handier. So I use both. But for working on photographs, it's the tablet hands down.

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