We do photo restoration & retouching using the normal optical mouse. I'm contemplating to puchase wacom tablets for my lab but never seen any one working with them live.

Are they useful for restoration ? If yes, which is the best option to start with among the several available versions ? - intutos or graphire.

Let me know if anybody is using for restoration.

Thanks.

Certainly wouldn't be without mine. Intuos3 6 x 8. More pressure levels than the graphire if you can afford it.

Christine

LOL... I'll let ya... for this kinda work it beats using a mouse hands down!

I use it all the time! Right hand for the tablet, left hand for the mouse for some other stuff and for keyboard shortcuts.

I started cheap due to budget but ended up with the Wacom 4x6 and it's been great. If I had the money and could justify the expense I would definitely move up but I don't see the need RIGHT now.

I agree that now it is somethign I would not be without - Could not be without. I have a limited budget as well, and have now what I could afford - Graphire 4x5. If I could go back, though, or move up - I would at least have the 6x8. I don't feel terribly limited with the smaller one, but it would be nice. I am sure the Intuos would be nice, also, with double the pressure sensitivity.

learned retouching with a mouse, then switched over to the tablet. I cannot go back. When I use a mouse now, my work suffers greatly. I don't even think this should be contemplated for a serious retoucher! I currently use a 9x12 but I started on a 4x5, which I felt was a bit to small. I would recommend at least a 6x8. I prefer the intuos line, but have never used any other so don;t know for sure.

Have used a 4x5 for ages now, I've tried a 6x8, but for me I didn't feel I gained anything by it, and prefer the extra desk space a 4x5 gives me.

But wouldn't be without a pad of some form under any circumstances.

Thanks for the inputs.

Is stamping a badly damaged photo a pleasure working with a pen compared with a mouse ?

Let me know the pros and cons compared to mouse while stamping. :normal:

Just bought a A5 Intuos 3 and it is fantastic, loving the upgrade from a A6 Intuos, just give that extra bit more room to work with and the nibs you get with it are great

I'v got the A4 Wacom intuos, fantastic piece of kit for both retouching and restoration, take a bit of time to get used to (I started with a tiny A6) but you won't go back :)

Run....... save yourselves ........ get the tablet ! Mine was a birthday gift from my son in law, he can do no wrong now.....

One very important thing I've noticed is that I no longer have carpal tunnel symptoms....... hour after hour of the repetitive side to side action using a mouse and I wouldn't be able to use my wrist the next day.....

Also, when I got my tablet, I had to spend the first day MAKING myself use it because it wasn't what I was used to..... I almost wanted to take the thing back but these were the only 2 things I had to overcome:

1. Getting used to clicking the little elongated button under my index finger instead of the mouse button......

2. Realizing I wouldn't run out of mouse pad...... you know...... with a mouse, you go so far..... fall off the pad..... pick it up and set it back down where you have room to continue working...... with a tablet, you never run out of pad....

After that one day I spent.... I was hooked and now I use the pen for everything........ I know that with the Wacom you can buy replacement nibs for the pen (they'll wear down and it'll start to feel gritty when you're working... they're about $5.00 US for 10)......

Somebody else jump in here and tell me if this is right.... I think I read that you can't replace the nibs on the Intuos????? I don't have any experience with Intuos so I don't know if that's right......

Beth

Oops...... I just read an above post mentioning the nibs that come with the Intuos ..... so...... guess that takes care of the nib question.....