Wacom Bamboo Electronic Tablet and Pen

[hmr]

I tried replying to an old thread about Wacom Tablet's, but it was so old, I couldn't do it! So here's a new thread about this topic...

I'm thinking about buying a Wacom Tablet for learning smudge painting.

Circuit City has a "Wacom Bamboo Electronic Tablet and Pen" right now for $69.99. Since I'm a newbie, stay at home mom, doing this as a hobby and for friends, and since money is definitely an issue, will this be an okay purchase? Or will I regret it?

Specs:

• 5.8" x 3.7" active area
• Pressure sensitive
• Battery-free pen
• Precise control
• Ergonomic design
• PC or Mac

Thanks!!
Heidi

[pixelzombie]

wacom makes nice products, i haven't used that model but you can read the reviews on amazon.com...

[hmr]

Thanks! Yes, I was just looking at that. It got 5 stars on a variety of websites...so I think I may go for it...until I can afford to upgrade...one day...

[hawkeye60]

Even though it is an entry level unit you will be delighted. The difference between using a pen and a mouse is like night and day. Enjoy...

[Joeven]

Hey Heidi. I've been using a 3.5" X 5" Wacom everyday for the last 5 years. Once you use a tablet for Photoshop you will never go back to using a mouse. I paid $100 for mine and it's been worth every penny. I like the small size. Your tablet should come with Corel Essentials Painter 3 and some other software as a bonus. Well worth buying.

Joe

[Boneappetit]

Hi: I just bought a Wacom Pen tablet, and would like to know more or less because I know one doesn't treat all portraits the same way, the settings on retouching a fashion or beauty portrait when you are dodging and burning, I mean the opacity etc. or any other setting from the tablet itself. Would like to hear the feedback(s) from someone who's more experienced using a Wacom tablet.
Thanx

[Heretic]

been using a tablet for 10+years, from the most expensive high end with 2048 pressure points to the ones with 512, they all are worth using, as long as you take advantage of the features like pressure sensitivity, if you don't use these than you might as well stick to a mouse. I NEVER WILL GO BACK TO A MOUSE for digital retouching. One tip though, use the supplied mouse when doing regular computer stuff like surfing the internet of using word processing software, you will save the pen nibs and the drawing surface.

[Boneappetit]

Originally Posted by Heretic

been using a tablet for 10+years, from the most expensive high end with 2048 pressure points to the ones with 512, they all are worth using, as long as you take advantage of the features like pressure sensitivity, if you don't use these than you might as well stick to a mouse. I NEVER WILL GO BACK TO A MOUSE for digital retouching. One tip though, use the supplied mouse when doing regular computer stuff like surfing the internet of using word processing software, you will save the pen nibs and the drawing surface.

Thanx for the cool advise.

[BagLady]

Ciao Boneappetit,

You'll have so much fun with your new Wacom tablet! :-) Heretic gave you some nice advice... I can't use a mouse for anything, therefore have gone through countless nibs and need to replace the drawing surface...

If I'm not mistaking, when a Wacom tablet is installed, the Photoshop default brush setting automatically changes to pen pressure only for "shape dynamics" in the brush palette. To change this setting or make other adjustments, open the brush palette (F5 key).

SHAPE DYNAMICS - If pen pressure is selected from the drop down menu (under size jitter), the size of your stroke will change as you apply pressure.

OTHER DYNAMICS - Here you can select pen pressure for opacity and/or flow of the brush from the drop down menus.

Experiment and see what works best for you.

Brushes will revert to their default settings after use. If you'd like to save a brush with the new settings, just click on the new brush icon at the very bottom of the brush palette. A new brush will be created and added to your list of brushes for future use.

As far as the actual Wacom settings go, I'd say start off with the default settings and change things to your liking (and personalize) through experimentation.

Have fun!

[Heretic]

good advice. I always have a test session where i crank the settings from one side to the other, completely extreme settings just to see what they can do, then save the ones i like, you will be amazed at what a little experimentation will come up with. GO CRAZY with it.

[Boneappetit]

Originally Posted by BagLady

Ciao Boneappetit,

You'll have so much fun with your new Wacom tablet! :-) Heretic gave you some nice advice... I can't use a mouse for anything, therefore have gone through countless nibs and need to replace the drawing surface...

If I'm not mistaking, when a Wacom tablet is installed, the Photoshop default brush setting automatically changes to pen pressure only for "shape dynamics" in the brush palette. To change this setting or make other adjustments, open the brush palette (F5 key).

SHAPE DYNAMICS - If pen pressure is selected from the drop down menu (under size jitter), the size of your stroke will change as you apply pressure.

OTHER DYNAMICS - Here you can select pen pressure for opacity and/or flow of the brush from the drop down menus.

Experiment and see what works best for you.

Brushes will revert to their default settings after use. If you'd like to save a brush with the new settings, just click on the new brush icon at the very bottom of the brush palette. A new brush will be created and added to your list of brushes for future use.

As far as the actual Wacom settings go, I'd say start off with the default settings and change things to your liking (and personalize) through experimentation.

Have fun!

Thank you so much guys. I appreciate your advice. I'm getting in love with this thing, (not using the mouse either). Just combining the tablet with the keyboard in order to let the nip rest. This is so cool, not planning to go back to the mouse either. hehe... In fact, check out my latest works Bag Lady, I think I'm doing better now.

http://boneappetit.deviantart.com/#/d2tcjke

[J__]

i got mine for $60 on sale and I will never go back to a mouse for retouching!

It takes a while to get used to and i still swap over to the the mouse for basic functions that doesnt require 'painting'.

For things like masking and dodge/burn it's unbelievable.

An i suggest the smallest one. the larger you go, the more you'll have to move your arm. I find the smallest one the best. You wont need an intuos either because you wont need all the pressure sensitivity for retouching. GET IT!

[Boneappetit]

Thanx. Nice work Jackson.

[BagLady]

Originally Posted by Boneappetit

Thank you so much guys. I appreciate your advice. I'm getting in love with this thing, (not using the mouse either). Just combining the tablet with the keyboard in order to let the nip rest. This is so cool, not planning to go back to the mouse either. hehe... In fact, check out my latest works Bag Lady, I think I'm doing better now.

http://boneappetit.deviantart.com/#/d2tcjke

Hello Boneappetit,

I'm happy to hear that you're loving your new Wacom... I had no doubts! ;-) I took a look at your latest work and would say that it looks a bit too smooth for me, but I think that you're practicing with the wrong images... I downloaded the same image (google search).... It's a 628 kb file that has jpg artifacts and smooth blotches to begin with.

I would suggest looking for a high res jpg file (like 3 MB), that when saved as a TIF, becomes a 36,4 MB file. Maybe there's some generous photographer here at RTP that would be willing to provide such a file! Keep up the good work and keep posting! :-)

Ciao!

[Boneappetit]

Originally Posted by BagLady

Hello Boneappetit,

I'm happy to hear that you're loving your new Wacom... I had no doubts! ;-) I took a look at your latest work and would say that it looks a bit too smooth for me, but I think that you're practicing with the wrong images... I downloaded the same image (google search).... It's a 628 kb file that has jpg artifacts and smooth blotches to begin with.

I would suggest looking for a high res jpg file (like 3 MB), that when saved as a TIF, becomes a 36,4 MB file. Maybe there's some generous photographer here at RTP that would be willing to provide such a file! Keep up the good work and keep posting! :-)

Ciao!

Hello BagLady:

I just keep learning. This is the 2nd time I heard about working with Tif files. Should I make my retouches using these files? Actually I don't even know how to deal with them, what I'm doing is; smaller the photos when they are too big, and I ask: Is this a bad practice? Another thing is; if I start working with a Tif file, do I keep working on it till it's finished and then save it as jpeg, so I can upload it? I tried to work with a Tif file some days ago, and I noticed that Photoshop works different while working with the file, is this normal? I'm sorry for asking you so many things, I guess I still have a lot to learn. Thanx a lot for your advice. By the way, do you have a site where I can see your work?

[RooB]

..... My first Wacom was a Graphire; after the first day of using it for retouching I couldn't look back.

My friends have the Bamboo, and I've used it, and it's lovely.

I loved my Wacom tablets so much, I upgraded to a Cintiq in the last couple years.

You really can't go wrong with a Wacom tablet; even the lower ends are 500 times better than any mouse for the precision and control you can get.

[BagLady]

Originally Posted by Boneappetit

Hello BagLady:

I just keep learning. This is the 2nd time I heard about working with Tif files. Should I make my retouches using these files?

If possible, you should be working with TIF files.

I couldn't figure out how to multi quote your message, so I will answer one question at a time....

[BagLady]

Originally Posted by Boneappetit

Actually I don't even know how to deal with them, what I'm doing is; smaller the photos when they are too big, and I ask: Is this a bad practice?

Yes, this is bad practice. You should work on the full size image.

[BagLady]

Originally Posted by Boneappetit

Another thing is; if I start working with a Tif file, do I keep working on it till it's finished and then save it as jpeg, so I can upload it?

Yes and no. Work on the image in TIF until it's finished and save it as a TIF (with layers). Make a copy of your TIF, flatten image, and then save the copy as a jpg for uploading. It's nice to have your original TIF files (with layers) because you might want to change something, or simply see your progress in the future. I look back at my first retouches and have a good laugh

[BagLady]

Originally Posted by Boneappetit

I tried to work with a Tif file some days ago, and I noticed that Photoshop works different while working with the file, is this normal?

You didn't explain what's different, so I can only guess...
If you're working with a 16 bit TIF (instead of an 8 bit TIF) you will have fewer options (like some filters). TIF files (especially in 16 bit mode) will become quite large when working with many layers and might slow things down a bit.

[BagLady]

Originally Posted by Boneappetit

I'm sorry for asking you so many things, I guess I still have a lot to learn. Thanx a lot for your advice. By the way, do you have a site where I can see your work?

No problem! I still have a lot of things to learn as well, so no, I don't have a site yet!

[michaelasamples]

the tablet has changed my life forever

[Boneappetit]

Originally Posted by BagLady

No problem! I still have a lot of things to learn as well, so no, I don't have a site yet!

Bag Lady, you are great, thank you so much...

[BagLady]

Originally Posted by Boneappetit

Bag Lady, you are great, thank you so much...

You're so welcome! :-)

[funktheory]

I must admit I can never get on with my tablet so i dont use it now but most can and i bought a bamboo, its similar i think.

[jesterjeni]

I love my little dino tablet...it was one of the first ones that came out..I am just starting to use it..I think I paid about 65.00 for it several years ago...
it gives you much greater controll than the mouse...you can use it to color just like you would on paper.
It is great for photo restoration!!