How many use Wacom tablets?

[xxxmen]

I'm not sure if you can set a poll here on this forum, but I just wanted to know how many people strictly use the wacom tablet for colour correction and retouching?? Are there any advantages or disadvantages.

I just bought a small tablet and find the handling a bit tricky?

Do the top pro-retouchers use them?

[DJSoulglo]

I've never seen a professional retoucher that doesn't use a wacom.

I'm not one of them, but even for my work I only use a Wacom.

Once you get used to it (which can take a while) you'll never want anything else ever again

[enigmaphotos]

I've always used Wacom for years. I currently use a Wacom Cintuq 21UX. It's a major advancement over a normal tablet and really speeds up your work and increases creativity.

[DCobb]

I am not a professional retoucher, but I have a 9 x 12 Wacom with the airbrush pen and enjoy the control that the pen gives.

dc

[Ant]

Photoshop is made, these days, to be used with a tablet. Can you do it with a mouse? millions do, but in this profession especially, a tablet is really the only serious way to go.

[xxxmen]

i work at a place that does retouching for over 30 publications. Not one user here uses a wacom tablet. Is there any real obvious advantage to using one?

If so what are they?

[KR1156]

went to go help out an old friend of mine at his agency one night after work, sat down, no tablet, i told him i would take the work home!

[Ant]

Pressure sensitivity. With 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity, you can control your software tools by changing how hard you press the pen tip on the tablet. Using pressure sensitivity, you can dynamically control things like exposure, brush size, opacity, and more.

INTUOS - Overview
The Intuos3 professional pen tablet makes it easy to quickly and professionally edit photos and create digital artwork by turning on the full power of Adobe® Photoshop®, Corel® Painter™, and over 100 other leading software applications. Create universal settings for your pen and tablet or alter your settings by application for maximum productivity.

Intuos pen tablets use Wacom's patented technology to give you the natural feel and superior performance of Wacom's patented, cordless and battery-free technology. Get the control, comfort, and productivity of Intuos3—and join millions of satisfied Wacom tablet users. Alternating between the comfortable Grip Pen and the ergonomic five-button Intuos3 mouse reduces repetitive motion. It's an easy and natural way to work.

Intuos3 runs on both PCs and Macs. Also, you can use an Intuos pen to unleash new functionality designed for pen tablets within Windows Vista™ like personal note taking, email signing, handwriting recognition, handwritten emails, and pen flick navigation.

Many software applications have features and tools that are designed to be used with a pen.

Fluid strokes, the ability to DRAW rather than click/drag, trace, sketch, cut masks with more ease.

[punkjumper]

I'm just a hobbiest and can't stand using photoshop at all without a tablet. I will occasionally get to do some photoshop stuff at work and will bring my tablet from home to use at work.

[Ant]

see this article. as you see, this is not a new topic. http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/archive/t-11766.html

[BodegaGo]

if you retouch 40-50 hours a week, a tablet is a GREAT way to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome. much easier on the wrists

[pixelzombie]

Originally Posted by xxxmen

I'm not sure if you can set a poll here on this forum, but I just wanted to know how many people strictly use the wacom tablet for colour correction and retouching?? Are there any advantages or disadvantages.

I just bought a small tablet and find the handling a bit tricky?

Do the top pro-retouchers use them?

yes they use them, but guys like cainam use a mouse just fine...a previous co-worker used one but his masks were just horrible and he didn't use the pressure sensitive features for some reason....a small tablet is somewhat harder to use for some as you need a very steady hand in comparison to a larger tablet...

[KR1156]

actually got my feet wet on the cintiq yesterday for the first time, just messing around, so i can't tell too much about it yet......but it is pretty damn cool.

im just not sure about the 45º angle, think my arm/shoulder/neck might get tense after a long day.

[katew]

I use a Wacom Graphire 4. I couldn't live without a tablet now.

[FrankD]

Intues 3 here.
LOVE it, could not work without it.
Well could but it's a real drag.

It takes you 2-3 days getting used to but after a month you can't go back.

Be sure to buy Wacom, I tried some other brands for fun and the Wacom is really top of the bill.

[jadams007]

wacom is best way to go. you also can get wireless mouse withit. might help for those tricky parts you mentioned.

[Dave.Cox]

I use a Wacom tablet. I bought a new one to try it out, and after getting used to it, went back and got another for work. Even when I use the mouse, I prefer the Wacom mouse, set to screen coordinates so that it works similar to the pen. That way it never runs off of the edge of the desk, and I'm not having to tug on the cord.

[superkoax]

Originally Posted by KR1156

went to go help out an old friend of mine at his agency one night after work, sat down, no tablet, i told him i would take the work home!

I feel your pain! I feel also you tried to do your best with the mouse and the anger rising, the irritation and finally just giving up! hoof!


I have just started to use my Wacom Intuos 3 a5, and I had to rethink the way I use the mouse!

[JayNads]

I think it's ironic that we're so comfortable writing with a pad and a pen, but throw a computer into the mix and awkwardness ensues. I've had my Wacom for about 2 years, and after the first month of only using the pen I was more than comfortable with it. I still use the mouse for day-to-day computing and web-surfing, but as soon as Photoshop opens, the mouse goes away and the pen comes out. Once the learning curve is over, you'll find that the mouse just isn't all that comfortable for most things anymore.

[Markzebra]

Most retouching only studios I've been in have Wacom Intuos A4 or A3 tablets wall to wall. There are certain agency freelance jobs where you have to take your own tablet, and I've got an A5 Intuos for that purpose. Wacom have more or less cornered the market now in this technology it seems. I remember there were other makes that tried for a bite at the cherry 6 or 7 years ago which really didn't survive for various reasons to do with usability and strange unintuitive approach to the tablet surface. Wacom always seemed to have the best core technology, not sure if its fair that they patented it though, its prevented any competition now for years

[shellby]

Everyone in the high end part of the industry use Wacom's it seems to be standard

[MommyCat]

I have a Graphire 4 at home and an Intuous 3 at work. We have Photoshop on 3 PCs at work but only my desk had a tablet. Once everyone got used to the tablet there were 5 people fighting over the use of it. We now have 2 tablets and life is a lot less tense. (And I have my desk back!! YAY!)

Just switched to the airbrush tip and like it much better than the regular tip. I like the feel of it better, as well as the improved control.

[Benny Profane]

Maybe another question is, "who uses a Wacom for 100% of functions?". I can't, and find a mouse is much easier to use for path cutting and fine mask cutting, and other common functions. I'd go so far as to say that Wacoms are responsible for many of the lousy masks I see.

[pixelzombie]

Originally Posted by Benny Profane

Maybe another question is, "who uses a Wacom for 100% of functions?". I can't, and find a mouse is much easier to use for path cutting and fine mask cutting, and other common functions. I'd go so far as to say that Wacoms are responsible for many of the lousy masks I see.

good point as i find the tablets to be TOO sensitive, i can slow down the speed of the cursor, but there is no control over the actual sensitivity of the pen unless i am missing something...

[katew]

Originally Posted by Benny Profane

Maybe another question is, "who uses a Wacom for 100% of functions?".

I do. I don't actually own a mouse.

[shellby]

100% it takes a bit of getting used to, I had the same issue with paths at first - but now I find it so much faster. Keep at it

[superkoax]

Originally Posted by Benny Profane

Maybe another question is, "who uses a Wacom for 100% of functions?". I can't, and find a mouse is much easier to use for path cutting and fine mask cutting, and other common functions. I'd go so far as to say that Wacoms are responsible for many of the lousy masks I see.

Originally Posted by pixelzombie

good point as i find the tablets to be TOO sensitive, i can slow down the speed of the cursor, but there is no control over the actual sensitivity of the pen unless i am missing something...

to do path work I use a gaming laser mouse! they are very accurate on very small moves with the cursor! My A4 TECH gaming mouse ( http://www.a4tech.com/en/product2.as...103&MNO=X-750F) can go from 600 to 2500dpi by just clicking a button on the mouse! a good replacement for what I call a bad wacom mouse

[prizo]

Originally Posted by xxxmen

strictly use the wacom tablet for colour correction and retouching??

I use one... sometimes. I find that the mouse is better for some things and the tablet is much better for others. The primary benefit of the Tablet is the pressure sensitivity, IMO. I prefer the mouse for things like outlining or tracing.

It took a while for me to get used to it too. I had to force myself to use it, but now any painting type of stroke seems barbaric with a mouse ;-)

And, like superkoax, my mouse is a high end gaming mouse with 3 levels of precision.

[pixelzombie]

Originally Posted by superkoax

to do path work I use a gaming laser mouse! they are very accurate on very small moves with the cursor! My A4 TECH gaming mouse ( http://www.a4tech.com/en/product2.as...103&MNO=X-750F) can go from 600 to 2500dpi by just clicking a button on the mouse! a good replacement for what I call a bad wacom mouse

i wish the wacom tablets allowed you to have that much control....when do you switch the settings on the mouse?

[Dave.Cox]

The main reason that I don't use the pen for everything is, to type I have to lay the pen down. Since I am left handed, this is true for even editing commands such as copy and paste. Since much of my work is technical writing, I am often running programs that are not graphic specific. In this case I find it is easier to use the mouse, where I can leave it on the pad, and just let go of it. When in Photoshop though, the pen rules. When using 3DMax, it's back to the mouse, since you need the middle click wheel much of the time.