I have just received my Wacom Intuos3 A5 in the mail! Just starting to familiarize with it's capabilities and how it really works! But I have found out one thing, the mosue that comes with it it's not good! It's a bit choppy when moving it slow and to use it with pen tool or any small details isn't giving me any luck!

So are you guy sworking with only the Wacom pen to do everything? Or do you have a mouse on the side to use with other stuff?

The board itself is just heaven! Buy one today! just don't pay the gas bill, phone bill or whatever! It's worth it to sit without a phone for a month...

Are you guys working with the pen pressure when dodging or burning? I find it more easy to just work without pen pressure atm ...


Have a nice weekend!


gerry

the mouse does suck big time...i had a job interview and they made me take a test using that crappy mouse, needless to say that threw me off completely and i didn't do as good as i could have...on my old computer i would use the pen for everything with the exception on making clipping paths...you should get used to working with pen pressure as that is the main advantage of not using a mouse...

i only use a mouse when i'm working in illustartor doing complex mechanicals and die-cuts...but other than that it's useless to me.

i personally like to adjust the opacity setting rather than use pen pressure.

when cloning i always use 100% opacity, but i'll let the pressure adjust the brush size, especially when working on hair.

PIXEL: Thanks for replying, the mouse does suck! Why did they make you use the mouse on the test? talent hasn anything to do with that sucky mouse! It's like driving a car with a sucky steering wheel! if your a good driver you will suck as much as the steering! How much is your % opcaity do you set your pen too when using d/b?

KR: I have noticed when using pen pressure on cloning I get uneven results and is it healthy to press hard all the time to get 100% pressure on the cloning?


Cheers, guys!


gerry

they give everyone the test and they thought i was going to use the tablet as people have requested it in the past, needless to say i didn't get the job....i would always use 100% pressure when cloning, i would only vary the pressure when masking or airbrushing...

yeah i find it easier to work with the pen pressure off too, i'm sure as i get more and more used to it and better at photoshop i will begin to use it, also i use the pen for EVERYTHING on my comp, i don't even own a mouse anymore.

PIX: So you don't use Pen Pressure when cloning? Is there any command u can use to make pen pressure go on and off? If not it's a good suggestion for the next Photoshop :D

gerry

DJ: do you use you pen for everyday work? and all other things as well?

The thing I'm struggling with the most is to change my habits from my mouse! When using a mousepad you lift the mouse up and move it backwards to get it move other places if you understand me? The pen doesn't do that! So ithat tickled my brain a bit for the first 2hours...

gerry

Try setting the mouse to the pen mode, so that it is mapped to screen locations like the pen is. It might work better for you.

Also, you can set pressure sensitivity on and off for the pen directly in photoshop. Its in the brush presets. Look for the Control drop down box in any of the check boxes that are enabled. (for example in the shape dynamics check box settings.)

Also, you can set pressure sensitivity on and off for the pen directly in photoshop. Its in the brush presets. Look for the Control drop down box in any of the check boxes that are enabled. (for example in the shape dynamics check box settings.)

That I know, but there should be keyboard shortcut, like ctrl + p + n or something....

gerry

yeah i use it for everything, internet, msn, browsing photos...etc, it does take a few days to get used to it but i wouldn't go back to using a mouse now as this feels natural to me, it did feel very weird though when i first got it, i have the same one as you do too (the A5 one)

djslyda: I don't think I'm going to give up the mouse, but never say never it depends on how much I get used to my intuos!

Gerry

I'm using my pen and tablet to surf the web right now :) It will feel odd for a few weeks, then a few months later the mouse will feel so heavy and awkward! I rarely use my mouse. You can hit F-5 to open up the brush dialog to toggle it...but no direct shorcut that I know of.

They also make a dvd on using the tablet, might be worthwhile
http://photoshopcafe.com/video/products/CS3_Wacom.htm

ADAM: thanks for replying, man! F5!! *Saving data*

I love my Laser mouse! I have glued a cloth underneath so I can us it on my wacom! It's made of very soft cotton! No scratches, so! And I'm not restricted to the A5 area to use the mouse and the mouse I own from before is a very nice and stable one!


gerry

I also use my new Wacom Bamboo to do most things. A small revolution to use the pen with all the vast possibilities with the Photoshop Brush parameters. So many nice things.

I got a bad case of carpel tunnel before using the wacom. now i use pen for everything! i don't even have a mouse connected.

for dnb i like to have opacity set to pen pressure on. this way i can be as subtle as i need to without tinkering with opacity settings.

pelle: Det tycker jag med! ;) i agree! I'm trying to use this with anything that has to do with brushes and D/B ...And I'm learning myself to get use to the pen pressure...but I'm afraid to get to tough on the pressure as I see that the a5 area isn't all that solid when putting pressure onto the pen! I see small lines on the board after adding pressure...How tough is it really? It's not that I'm pushing the pen all I got with my two arms, but how much is 100%? heheh...tough question? :D

gerry

i forgot to mention the tips go pretty fast, so you'll need to order extras, i have to look for the link from where i get them, think they come in a lot of 25. i go through them somewhat fast, i like to have new ones and replace them often, seems to work best for me. i'm very light handed but i think when i'm masking and brushing in overlay i tend to push pretty hard.

JACK: The pen pressure is the way to go i feel now, but now photoshop should come in and make a nice command for this pen pressure so we can all have the freedom to take it off/on...To use Pen Pressure on clone isn't doing it for atm...maybe I'm doing it wrong?

gerry

KR: *looking at my pen* I see small fractions of loose plastic from the tip! So that as well is something to take into consideration...please do post the website...are they original?


Gerry

I use the pen almost all of the time for everything.

The pressure tip feel setting in the Wacom dialog is set to third mark from the left.

In photoshop use the tools presets and make brushes for the most used situations. Set the tools presets so that only the presets for the current tool show. For brushes, I have 15-20 brushes defined. I have the brushes saved as as sets for various uses. The ones below are mostly for retouching.

Pressure brushes: white and black at 1% and 3% flow, 100% opacity (I could not get good results utill I found these settings), 5 pix for dodge and burn. Pressure is very important for D/B. These brushes are softest. Shift-] to increase hardness, shift-[ to decrease. To change the flow, press the Alt key and then adjust the slider. The slider will increment in small amounts making it easy to to get an exact setting. This is useful because I sometimes go to 5-8% flow for heavy work. When making very subtle tone changes, such as evening out a slight blotchiness, cut the 1% flow brush to 50% opacity and build up gradually.

I generally work with multiple D/B layers. I do the fine work removing blemishes, wrinkles, etc. at a high mag on one D/B layer. Then I switch to another D/B layer on top of the first and use low opacity/flow and a low mag to even out the skin tones. I am often supprized when I zoom out from working high mag, that the area I thought looked so good is overall too light or dark when viewed at lower mags (25-50%).

Non pressure 100% opacity/flow, Hard, 50% gray to erase D/B.

Standard 20 pix, 100% both, no color.
Pressure 20 pix, 100% both, no color. These are general use. It is easy to add airbrush or change the size, opacity, flow etc., once you have a standard starting point.

An eyelash/hair brush,white, pressure, set to fade so that I get a taper at the end of the stroke. Used on a adj. Multiply layer with hide all mask. Builds up or creates eyelashes. Used with multiple strokes. Hard, full strength. A very slight(.3 -.5) Gaussian blur to soften after creation.

Two neutralizing brushes, one pressure the other not, at 20%. Mode set to saturation and color white. Used an a blank layer set to color. This will take the color out and go towards gray. Used to kill the oversaturated color shift you sometimes get with D/B. Also used to take the red out of the eye whites or red from blemishes.

Two color brushes, one pressure the other not, No set color, uses foreground color. Mode set to color. 20% op - 100% flow (often go down to 10%). Adds color to image. Used on same layer as neutralizing brushes. Used to correct small areas of discoloration such as purple bags under the eyes. Use a little red or yellow (pick from image), depending, to bring some life there. For stronger color shifts, neutralize first, then color.

The neutralize and color brushes can be cleaned up of overspray or the effect locally reduded by using the eraser on the color layer.

There are a few more but these are the ones I rely on. Don't put too many brushes in a set or it takes too much time to find the ones you want. Also, I name the black/white D/B brushes with an leading underscore so that they are at the top of the list.

Since I work with dual screen, the preset pallet is always available and quick to get to. The bushes pallet is grouped with the presets so that I can quickly create special brushes if needed.

I generally don't have the size set to pressure, only the opacity.

Larry

Cool thanks for the guide Larry thats great :)

I use the pen almost all of the time for everything.
There are a few more but these are the ones I rely on. Don't put too many brushes in a set or it takes too much time to find the ones you want. Also, I name the black/white D/B brushes with an leading underscore so that they are at the top of the list.

Since I work with dual screen, the preset pallet is always available and quick to get to. The bushes pallet is grouped with the presets so that I can quickly create special brushes if needed.

I generally don't have the size set to pressure, only the opacity.

Larry

very interesting, i wonder if you could post a small set of these to see them in action...

i like the leading underscore tip, larry.

gerry, you can find all the accessories in the wacom estore online, i order additional tips, the regular ones, $4 for a bag of 5.

http://direct.wacom.com/stores/5/Intuos_C65.cfm

Havn't found a keyboard shortcut to turn pressure sensitivity on and off, but I think I could write a script that would do it.

There's an easier way to switch between pressure on and off.

Buy another pen! The Intuous and Cintiq use pen ID technology. Set one pen up for non-pressure brushes, and another for brushes with pressure sensitivity switched on. As soon as you change pens the settings change and remember the last settings you were using. In fact, possibly go right to the Wacom settings panel and adjust everything right there (<-- I'll have to check that out). If I remember correctly each pen can have it's own set-up in the settings panel and can vary per application.

Also, if you are worried about controlling the pen nib, etc. you should have gotten a nib with your Intuous that is spring loaded and give you a much longer stroke on your pen (i.e. more control).

I started with the Graphire years ago.. moved to the Intuos and then moved up to the Cintiq which is just fantastic.

I only use the mouse for web browsing and for complex paths in Photoshop or Illustrator.

I have 2 Wacom tablets and use both the mouse and pen and have had no trouble. Go to the website and make sure you have the latest drivers and email tech support for any advice on the mouse glitch.

As far as testing, if a company doesn't have tablets or require testing without one, I'll bring my own or tell them up front, I work with a tablet and can work literally 10 times faster and more accurate with my Wacom. If they have an issue with that, I would not want to work for that company and they can hire someone else then, fine with me. I have a drawing/painting background and a tablet and pen feel natural for me and my selections and clipping paths are more accurate

steve

get rid of your mouse and force yourself to use the wacom only

thing I found hardest at first was drawing paths, but you will get used to it

I dont use pressure for dodge and burn - my arm gets sore!

i forgot to mention the tips go pretty fast, so you'll need to order extras, i have to look for the link from where i get them, think they come in a lot of 25. i go through them somewhat fast, i like to have new ones and replace them often, seems to work best for me. i'm very light handed but i think when i'm masking and brushing in overlay i tend to push pretty hard.

Really, what happens and how do you know when you have to replace the tip?
I have had my two Wacom pens for years and never have changed tips.

What are the signs you need a new one?

steve

not necessarily needed, i personally just get a smoother feel for it when i use a neew tip. i only use the standard white ones also.

i start to feel the tip drag a bit and it becomes sloped, like a marker.

it's minor, but i like new ones every couple of months. but i also use it for everything 10 hours a day, i'm very light handed, but i brush hard for certain instances.

not necessarily needed, i personally just get a smoother feel for it when i use a neew tip. i only use the standard white ones also.

I start to feel the tip drag a bit and it becomes sloped, like a marker.

it's minor, but i like new ones every couple of months. but I also use it for everything 10 hours a day, i'm very light handed, but i brush hard for certain instances.

Thanks, good to know what to look for. I'll check my 2 pens under my loupe for any wear and tear. I think and hope I got some extras stashed away to try out and see if they make a difference.

Just wear, you can see it on the tip. Yes some people push much harder on the tablet than others. If you have a light touch like me you can get away without replacing the standard tip about 6 months. Some people don't use pressure sensitivity at all for D&B and just take the opacity down to 1%, i don't like this but its quite possible to work this way if you want.

This is a subject not often mentioned, and I've never heard it spoken of here on this site, or hardly ever reference to Wacom. A growing problem, Repetitive strain. It is extremely possible when doing intricate skin work that you eventually get sore forearms. My advice is to 1 stop and take a rest. Don't push until it goes snap. 2 - vary the pressure setting in the wacom driver, and the size of the active area on your tablet. Keeping a variety of movements in this way is extremely important, avoid repeated use of the same strokes going the same way, with the same pressure.