Do You Use a Wacom Type Tablet for Editing?

I'm curious about how many here use a Wacom type tablet for editing. I've included the poll for those who just want to make a quick response but please consider giving more detailed answers.

If you do, how big? If Wacom, which model? What other brands/models/ types should be investigated? What is your overall experience with a tablet for editing?

Thanks for you participation.

For precision local editing I use this type of pen mouse:

http://www.ebay.com …ndroid-Grey-/281749767482

Compared to the tablet (that I couldn't get used to), this pen:

- is quick to set up to replace the mouse for short spells,
- works on relative coordinates (like the mouse), rather than absolute,
- creates more friction,
- the click is on a button, the drag doesn't change.

It's not pressure sensitive, though.

I use a cheap pen tablet made by Trust. I used to have an A6 sized unit, but the one I have now is closer to A5. It is fairly basic but does have 2048 level pressure sensitvity. It works fine for me under Windows 7 but I'm considering a Mac for my next computer and there are no OSX drivers for it. So it looks like I will be needing a Wacom for it.

I use the pen for all the drawing things that I do, LR Local brushes for example. For sliders though I use the mouse, normally I'll use the scroll wheel for LR sliders.

Alan

still getting used to my wacom but it is so much more precise then anything else

Love using the Wacom Intuos Pro S. Very little learning curve. Mostly used like a track pad with gestures, but when using the pen for detailed retouching and image editing, I'd have a hard time going back to the days without it.

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I have never heard of such a thing as a "wacom tablet", so I am surprised that tat his time it is leading the poll with 8 votes.

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Intuos 4 medium.

Intuos Pro medium. Had an Intuos 3 small before this one but my youngest broke the pen. A new pen was so expensive I just decided to get a new tablet instead.

Personally, I couldn't imagine editing without one.

Wacom Intuos Pro S

Haven't used a mouse in almost two years. I appreciate the accuracy for edits and also as a replacement for the mouse. Navigation is a breeze using gestures. For photography edits, I feel anything more than the small is overkill. Larger tablets lend themselves to artistic drawing/painting ... sweeping movements require the additional real estate.

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This tablet thing that you speak of, is it like an iPad? Or is it something that is like an advanced mouse?
(I don't feel like using Google to find this info, and would prefer the info come from a POTN member in their own words - not a link).

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Sorry Tom, I'm giving you Wacom's website to check out, >>>click<<< get it straight from the horses mouth, so to speak!
There you'll see the products they produce, pen tablets and interactive display devices.

I've been using the Intuos 3 small for , IDK, a long time, and have a ordinary sheet of copy paper taped over the drawing pad
for additional friction while editing or drawing.

Tom Reichner wrote in post #17933788
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This tablet thing that you speak of, is it like an iPad? Or is it something that is like an advanced mouse?
(I don't feel like using Google to find this info, and would prefer the info come from a POTN member in their own words - not a link).

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Think of it as a touch pad with a stylus, with one important difference. Wherever you touch the tablet with the stylus relates to the actual location on your computer screen. You make absolute moves between the Wacom tablet and computer screen. If you touch the lower left hand corner of the tablet with your stylus, your cursor immediately moves there. Lift your stylus and touch the middle, your cursor immediately moves there. There are other things that differ, such as the precision with which you can move the cursor for editing.

In contrast, if you use a regular touch pad, when you touch it, you affect the cursor wherever it is. Touch the touch pad in the middle, and so what, it doesn't matter. You make relative moves between the touch pad and the screen.

I do not yet use a Wacom tablet, but have looked into them. I'm considering one for myself, which is why I'm visiting this thread.

I hope this helps!

Different Wacom tablets also have different features. The entry level Bamboo line, for instance, has less levels of precision than its pro-grade sibling (the Intuos); the latter also has the advantage of being able to detect the angle of the stylus and the pressure you're applying: these features are useful: the one mostly in painting, but the other in every application: dodging and burning is made easier if you check the Airbrush option on the brush and use pressure to control the amount.

I have an awesome Wacom Intuos 5 tablet. I just can't get used to it. I try and try but I always end up back with the mouse.

Tom Reichner wrote in post #17933788
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This tablet thing that you speak of, is it like an iPad? Or is it something that is like an advanced mouse?
(I don't feel like using Google to find this info, and would prefer the info come from a POTN member in their own words - not a link).

.

Mathogre's post describes it well. If you hover the stylus a near the tablet it will move the cursor to under the stylus. Touching the stylus to the tablet is the same as clicking the mouse. People skilled in using them swear by them. Some learn quickly while others give up. I purchased one and can see its advantage but am having some difficulty getting used to it.

It does help with skin smoothing and selection in Photoshop. It really helps if your applying a mask to apply or remove an effect from a layer. I think its use is easier if your artistic and you already use brushes a lot. It's more difficult if you're a mechanical type.