I have been using a pen/tablet for years.....did it improve my editing...yes greatly.....I have no real control for retouching with a mouse or even a trackball.....ditched the mouse as soon as I found a trackball and then quit using the trackball when I found my 1st Wacom Graphire ....upgraded recently to a VisTablet....seems to be every bit as good as a Wacom and was well under $100 on Ebay......I still use the trackball for general use just not any pic processing......
While I have to use a mouse in my computer lab/office, for years I have used almost exclusively (99% of the time) a graphics tablet for all my editing AND general purpose uses on my editing computer. I could do what I wanted, quicker and more accurately, with a graphics tablet.
Raised and skilled on crayons, pencils, and pens in the late 40s and 50s, I never found a mouse I truly liked — that is until I found the Alienware TactX mouse about a year ago.
Now I regularly use the TactX mouse:D for all general things, including minor editing in CS5 products, but still use the pen and tablet for any heavy or lengthy editing stints.
I never thought I would find a mouse which fit so well and had such excellent feel, movement, and instant resolution controlability that it was almost as easy to use as the pens and tablets I've been using since the late 80's, starting with Kurta and now swearing by Wacom.
So, give me a TactX mouse and a Wacom tablet, and I'm in editing seventh heaven — and while I can still lose my mouse, don't ever deprive me of my Wacom tablet!
Art, I have been looking at the VisTablets but have never actually seen/touched one. What is your overall opinion on them when compared to the Wacoms (mini review??)? Which model are you using ... "TheMuse" is a lot more than a c-note.
The pen and tablet are most useful when you're brushing in retouches and painting in Photoshop masks. I think it's essential for Photoshop since there are so many tools that respond to the pressure/tilt/rotation sensitivity where a mouse has no subtlety at all.
A tablet is not so essential for Lightroom since most adjustments are just clicking buttons and dragging sliders. A tablet is useful in Lightroom when using the Adjustment Brush.
I have been using a pen/tablet for years.....did it improve my editing...yes greatly.....I have no real control for retouching with a mouse or even a trackball.....ditched the mouse as soon as I found a trackball and then quit using the trackball when I found my 1st Wacom Graphire ....upgraded recently to a VisTablet....seems to be every bit as good as a Wacom and was well under $100 on Ebay......I still use the trackball for general use just not any pic processing......
The pen and tablet are most useful when you're brushing in retouches and painting in Photoshop masks. I think it's essential for Photoshop since there are so many tools that respond to the pressure/tilt/rotation sensitivity where a mouse has no subtlety at all.
A tablet is not so essential for Lightroom since most adjustments are just clicking buttons and dragging sliders. A tablet is useful in Lightroom when using the Adjustment Brush.
....upgraded recently to a VisTablet....seems to be every bit as good as a Wacom and was well under $100 on Ebay
Thanks for the tip Art. I've been wanting to try a pen/tablet for a while now...this one is certainly priced right.
Remember, no one may want you to take pictures, but they all want to see them. Educate yourself like you'll live forever and live like you'll die tomorrow.
I use a Wacom and I think it is useful in both PS and LR. In LR, I use the brush tool a lot, so it helps around the eyes and other places where the detail is fine. I was getting carpal tunnel syndrome from using the mouse too much, so the pen helped get the hand in a different position.
I picked up a 10 x 6.25" tablet from monoprice a while back. The price was right and I wanted a nice large tablet for use.
My only previous experience with a tablet was with a Wacom bamboo for about two days before I returned it, and my laptop with a wacom enabled touch screen.
I find the tablet to be a little wonky with LR3 and dual monitors. The cursor has issues with tracking from one monitor to the next. I also never found an advantage to using the tablet in LR3, so I don't.
In PS CS5 I use the tablet just about anytime I spend more then 10 minutes in PS. Deskspace is at a premium so I don't keep the tablet set up and ready to go. In PS the tablet only tracks on the main monitor so a mouse is still needed occasionally by me to access the tools on my second monitor. But I am working on keyboard shortcuts to reduce that.
The monoprice tablet seems to vary the pressures smoothly and I have had no problems with that, in that regards I consider it equivalent to my laptop with its Wacom screen.
The model of Wacom tablet I have has a protective plastic cover over the active area of th tablet to you can place drawings, photos and so on under the plastic to trace it onto the computer.
There is a row of shortcut "buttons" on the active area of the tablet that you can select with the pen. These "buttons" are user configurable as well.
The monoprice tablet does not have tilt detection though and the pen does require a battery. Personally I do not find the added girth or weight of the battery in the pen to be a negative though.
Overall feel of the tablet is very nice and sturdy, so I have no concerns of it being too fragile. I do occasionally allow my 5 year old to use it.
This is certainly a tablet I would recommend to somebody without a lot of experience in tablets and looking to try a tablet out, because of the low price. It is also one I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a large tablet at low prices.
About the only people I would not recommend this to are graphic design professionals that need the tilt detection or people with more money then sense and crave the Wacom brand name.
Finally a link to the tablets offered by Monoprice. I bought the 10x6.25 WITHOUT hotkeys for all of $40.56.
Have used tablets for approx 15 yrs or so (started in PS 3.05 era) - wouldn't dream of doing certain types of stuff with a mouse - latter being a bit like drawing with a pencil stuck in a block of wood
A tablet had been on my wish list for a while, and finally picked one up a couple of days ago - the Wacom Intuous4, small (for traveling). There is a learning curve - my hand is totally accustomed to different movements - but I can see that when I get used to it, it will be fantastic. It already is.
Been using Wacom tablets for a few years now and couldn't live without it. Mine is always set up on my desk. I use Aperture and PS. Major stuff like moving files around etc. I use the mouse. Editing I use the pen, especially for fine detail work.:D
Using the mouse was crippling my hand. The tablet saved me. Quality matters, as noted above the Bamboos aren't worth buying. The Intuos4 is great. I also prefer the small. It's the perfect balance of precision and small hand movements for me.
Using the mouse was crippling my hand. The tablet saved me. Quality matters, as noted above the Bamboos aren't worth buying. The Intuos4 is great. I also prefer the small. It's the perfect balance of precision and small hand movements for me.
Meant to mention about the Monoprice tablet but forgot.
You can reduce and customize the active area of the tablet. So if I did not want to use the entire surface I can reduce it pretty much as small as I want.
I assume that is a standard feature of tablets though.
You can reduce and customize the active area of the tablet. So if I did not want to use the entire surface I can reduce it pretty much as small as I want.
I assume that is a standard feature of tablets though.
It is. Wacom has had that feature for probably over 10 years. The Wacom software lets you map proportionally or disproportionately, use the tablet upside down or sideways, or map the tablet across multiple monitors. It is good that Monoprice has a cheaper alternative.
I use Wacom Bamboo, for some reason i just can't get a hang of it. Some things irritate me and i get back to my track ball. I've purchased a new IMac and my photoshop isn't working well with my Wacom, not sure what the problem is.
Have used tablets for approx 15 yrs or so (started in PS 3.05 era) - wouldn't dream of doing certain types of stuff with a mouse - latter being a bit like drawing with a pencil stuck in a block of wood
Comments
Raised and skilled on crayons, pencils, and pens in the late 40s and 50s, I never found a mouse I truly liked — that is until I found the Alienware TactX mouse about a year ago.
Now I regularly use the TactX mouse:D for all general things, including minor editing in CS5 products, but still use the pen and tablet for any heavy or lengthy editing stints.
I never thought I would find a mouse which fit so well and had such excellent feel, movement, and instant resolution controlability that it was almost as easy to use as the pens and tablets I've been using since the late 80's, starting with Kurta and now swearing by Wacom.
So, give me a TactX mouse and a Wacom tablet, and I'm in editing seventh heaven
Art, I have been looking at the VisTablets but have never actually seen/touched one. What is your overall opinion on them when compared to the Wacoms (mini review??)? Which model are you using ... "TheMuse" is a lot more than a c-note.
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est.
A tablet is not so essential for Lightroom since most adjustments are just clicking buttons and dragging sliders. A tablet is useful in Lightroom when using the Adjustment Brush.
Thank! Can you recommend VisTablet?
That's what I thought! Thanks!
Thanks for the tip Art. I've been wanting to try a pen/tablet for a while now...this one is certainly priced right.
Educate yourself like you'll live forever and live like you'll die tomorrow.
Ed
I got the wacom small, because I wanted to keep the hand movement down to a minimum. It is the perfect size for me.
My only previous experience with a tablet was with a Wacom bamboo for about two days before I returned it, and my laptop with a wacom enabled touch screen.
I find the tablet to be a little wonky with LR3 and dual monitors. The cursor has issues with tracking from one monitor to the next. I also never found an advantage to using the tablet in LR3, so I don't.
In PS CS5 I use the tablet just about anytime I spend more then 10 minutes in PS. Deskspace is at a premium so I don't keep the tablet set up and ready to go. In PS the tablet only tracks on the main monitor so a mouse is still needed occasionally by me to access the tools on my second monitor. But I am working on keyboard shortcuts to reduce that.
The monoprice tablet seems to vary the pressures smoothly and I have had no problems with that, in that regards I consider it equivalent to my laptop with its Wacom screen.
The model of Wacom tablet I have has a protective plastic cover over the active area of th tablet to you can place drawings, photos and so on under the plastic to trace it onto the computer.
There is a row of shortcut "buttons" on the active area of the tablet that you can select with the pen. These "buttons" are user configurable as well.
The monoprice tablet does not have tilt detection though and the pen does require a battery. Personally I do not find the added girth or weight of the battery in the pen to be a negative though.
Overall feel of the tablet is very nice and sturdy, so I have no concerns of it being too fragile. I do occasionally allow my 5 year old to use it.
This is certainly a tablet I would recommend to somebody without a lot of experience in tablets and looking to try a tablet out, because of the low price. It is also one I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a large tablet at low prices.
About the only people I would not recommend this to are graphic design professionals that need the tilt detection or people with more money then sense and crave the Wacom brand name.
Finally a link to the tablets offered by Monoprice. I bought the 10x6.25 WITHOUT hotkeys for all of $40.56.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=108&cp_id=10841
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Meant to mention about the Monoprice tablet but forgot.
You can reduce and customize the active area of the tablet. So if I did not want to use the entire surface I can reduce it pretty much as small as I want.
I assume that is a standard feature of tablets though.
It is. Wacom has had that feature for probably over 10 years. The Wacom software lets you map proportionally or disproportionately, use the tablet upside down or sideways, or map the tablet across multiple monitors. It is good that Monoprice has a cheaper alternative.
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