What do you use wacom tablet for?

From this thread I've deduced that:
1) people do use them
2) it seems like a cool thing to try out

Can it be substituted for a mouse competely?
As a photographer - what do you use it for?

I usually just adjust curves and never played with layers before. Is it going to be useful to me?

Basically - what DO you usually do with it in terms of tasks?

My boss uses hers for everything. I personally use mine for everything unless it requires switching between mouse and typing. For web browsing I use the included mouse, but for everything else I just use the pen.

I use mine for retouching (healing tool, cloning tool, etc.) because the Wacom tablet is pressure sensitive. I have finer control that way.

Mark

What tablet dimension? Is the 4x3 (?) sufficient? Graphire or Intuos?

I use mine for anything in Photoshop that is brushed (cloning, painting, erasing, blurring, etc.). And like Mark said, It just feels more natural and the control is better. I've been using one for several years and could not go back to a mouse for brushing.

I'd recommend the 6x8 for a minimum size. Why? Think about how the tablet works. The tablet represents the entire screen, so having a smaller tablet means a very small move on the tablet is a large move across your screen. The bigger the tablet, the more precise you'll be able to work.

They are an essential for precision mask creation IMHO.

I have the graphire by WACOM, I use it instead of my mouse. It provides better control. It is like drawing with a pen. I use for the healing brush, clone tool, cropping, using the lasso tool, burn and dodge, painting.

6x8 Graphire (Saphire) Model CTE-630. A larger one would be better, but this is sufficient for my needs.

Mark

have you tried the larger? I had the largest one made when I worked at the photo lab and wasn't crazy about them, then we have the intuous 3 now at my semi-new job and the 6x8 is PERFICT to me, as I have a 4x5 at home and its too small.

i have the 4x5 for the home. it's usable, i would like to get a bigger one but since i already have one and i can accomplish what i want with it, my brain logically deduces that i do not NEED one.

however, i want one. one day this want will make me pull my credit card out. damn it.

oh, by the way. it's useful for me in photoshop and once in awhile when i download the demo, corel painter.

I have the 12x8 Aiptek

Can you turn off the control sensitivity feature of the tablet ( i'm looking at the 6 x 8 )? While I can see where that would be very handy, there are times i like a uniform brush stroke. Example, I'm making a black mask, I dont' want to let up a little and end up with parts that are grey or not fully covered with "ink". Any input from those who have used the tablet would be much appreciated.

If you're using Photoshop CS2, you can control what the pressure from the tablet controls with your brush - and that can be nothing. You can, for example, configure a brush so that pressure controls opacity, which I find useful for the Clone Stamp.

David

thanks! that's good to know. i'm definitely going to get one, then. i just have to decide now if it's worth the extra to go ahead and get the intuos or save money and go with the graphire. there have been several very helpful threads on the forum. seems like anything you're curious about, somebody's already asked before. i'm sure the pressure sensitivity thing was on the forum somewhere already, but i appreciate you saving me the time of trying to find it.