graphic tablets....any tips?

Hi all, I just bought a tablet as I was finding my wrist was getting a little sore editing. I just hooked it up and whilst it seems to work as I guess it should, it is going to take a while to get used to.

Any tips on using one of these? things it's good at, things it's not so. Basically anything you can think of!

It's a medion MD85637. A cheapie, but so am I so we should get along!

not heard of Medion tablets..

just use the pen as you would a pen/pencil and you shouldn't get a sore wrist, just out of interest where is it sore?

Apparently they are the same an an aiptek one (600 something?) Here is a review of the medion labelled one. Cost $69 from my local Aldi store.

My wrist is sore everywhere. Just clarifying Not from the pen, from the mouse. It stemmed from when I used to race, or more correctly crashed motorcycles as a young bloke! Broken scaphoids, radius, etc, etc, both wrists.....

I am finding the pen very different to use after many years of mouseage and to be totally honest, as I was doing some more editing tonight, I pushed the tablet aside to grab the mouse. I'm finding the whole concept foreign. I thought I would "get it" quicker than this, but I suppose pushing it aside isn't going to help me!
I guess it will just take time to get the hang of it.
Like most people that use a mouse, hand-eye is instant, this thing seems to have a mind of it's own. The unit itself is accurate enough, it's all at my end!!

its possibly throwing you because you're not used to having to push the mouse around as much as you do with a pen..

i suggest you dont try editing with the tablet, but rather play with it, create a blank document the size of your screen, grab the brush tool, make the page full screen and then just doodle, write etc so you can become accustomed to how the pen and tablet works - i guess i was lucky that id only had 12 years of using a mouse before i got my first tablet

it could also be that you need a larger tablet so you can draw more from your elbow than your wrist?

I think that's exactly the problem I'm having now you mention it. I only move the mouse a tiny amount to go from corner to corner, yet the pen obv has to be moved across the span of the tablet, good point.
I'm sure I'll get the hang of it soon enough, I used it again today and found it much better than my first try, but still awkward to match pen with position. I just like to learn things quickly, prob too quickly!

If you mean for a pain viewpoint, it's only the mouse that gives me a sore wrist, the pen is fine in that regard, which is why I bought it. I just need to get the hang of it now! My 8 year old loves it straight up, he's making all sorts of computer drawings he could never do before.

How many out there use a tablet for PPing over a mouse?

I use both, depends on the task. The stylus gets used for tools like the healing brush or clone brush, the mouse for clicking on buttons and menus. I'm a lefty, but use the mouse right handed, so switching between the stylus and mouse is very quick...

i'm really happy with my wacom intuis 4 or however its spelled

RianFlynn wrote in post #8187876
i'm really happy with my wacom intuis 4 or however its spelled

I agree. I like the Precision Mode when I need to be critical while selecting.

it took me a couple of weeks to get used to mine.. only because it annoyed me at first.. but i couldnt go back to a mouse now. the detail that you are allowed to get with a pen, is amazing.

one day ill go to a full size one.. but the bamboo fun is good enough for now.

you will get used to it in no time. like bobster said... dont edit pics.. but just play with it for a little while. i had the hardest time with not pushing the button on the pen. but i got over that.

Hi Shanny. Yes I have noticed that straight up, even with my cheap one over the mouse. I had another play today and each time is getting better, so I think I'll get there with this thing eventually.

I'm having to fight my youngest son for it now, he absolutely loves it for drawing.!

highbarger: That sounds like a great ability having two hands working with each other. I am a lefty in everything but writing and mousing......more weirdness I guess!

shannyD wrote in post #8189422
it took me a couple of weeks to get used to mine.. only because it annoyed me at first.. but i couldnt go back to a mouse now.

That's what I hear everybody say.

I have tried and tried and tried again (Wacom Intuos) and I just can't get the hang of it. It's awkward, it's uncomfortable, it's frustrating. Perhaps some of us have brains wired such that it just won't work.

CannedHeat wrote in post #8193295
That's what I hear everybody say.

I have tried and tried and tried again (Wacom Intuos) and I just can't get the hang of it. It's awkward, it's uncomfortable, it's frustrating. Perhaps some of us have brains wired such that it just won't work.

Na, it is you have to know where and when to use it. For big fast inaccurate stuff grab your mouse and go to town, for precision stuff grab your tablet and knock it out.

I don't like the wacom mouse so I use a different one.

use what works for you, but give the tablet a chance when you have to do fine precision work.

I've come to the conclusion it may be table height. When using the tablet, it seem awkwardly high; uncomfortable for natural drawing. I've purchased a table and I'm going to cut about 4" off the legs. Perhaps that will help.

CannedHeat wrote in post #8197707
I've come to the conclusion it may be table height. When using the tablet, it seem awkwardly high; uncomfortable for natural drawing. I've purchased a table and I'm going to cut about 4" off the legs. Perhaps that will help.

I have mine on my lap. Very comfortable there. It is a 6x11 Intuos3 though, that may not be practical with a smaller tablet.