Graphic tablet or no graphic tablet

[mo1971]

Hi all! Just wondering if anyone uses a graphic tablet with PSE 6 and if so is it bebeficial? And do you go with a cheapy or a really good one?
TIA,
Michelle in HOT Texas

[bnk1953]

In Elements I'm constantly using my old Wacom tablet - wouldn't know what to do without it. For some it is a learning curve to use the pen and tablet - but once you get the hang of it - I don't know of anyone going back to using just the mouse.
~bruce.

[JohnnyN]

Hi Michelle,

I am a fairly new member who is trying to learn how to work PSE6. I bought a Wacom tablet a few months ago and I use it in making selections on pictures. I'm not very good using it but I am slowly improving. If you have it you will use it more and more.

Good luck to you. :)

[Tintinabulum]

I have been thinking of getting a Wacom Bamboo ever since I saw Corey Barker's tutorial on the subject: in the UK the Bamboo can be bought for £34 ($65) and I like the look of it, but on one review I read that the eraser on functions on the Bamboo Fun.

I got the impression of the tutorial that the eraser works on the standard Bamboo.
What is your experience? I think the Bamboo would be a great help as I am left-handed, yet use the mouse with my right hand, so I am not good at making selections: I could use the pen from the Bamboo with my left hand and, a mouse with my right.

Which size tablet do you use?

I look forward to reading your reply as I have a birthday coming up, and that would be an ideal present.

Yours,

Bob
aka Tintinabulum

[JanBo]

If you do a search on this forum, you'll find plenty of useful threads on tablets. I know I checked into them a couple of years back when I was considering a tablet. In summary, these are the 2 key things I learned from this forum:
- A tablet doesn't suit everyone's taste, and it takes some time to get used to.
- If you go for a tablet, go for one from Wacom.

Personally, I went for the Graphire4 A5-size. Within two weeks I stored the mouse in the drawer and it hasn't come out since. I use the tablet for everything now.

Jan

[Jancy]

I love my tablet - I use it all the time, couldn't imagine not having one! I have the small Wacom Intous 3.

[chestnutmare]

Hi all! Just wondering if anyone uses a graphic tablet with PSE 6 and if so is it bebeficial? And do you go with a cheapy or a really good one?
TIA,
Michelle in HOT Texas

Hi Michelle,
I use a Wacom graphire 4 that I got as a gift years ago. I was comfortable with my mouse and didn't think I would like the tablet. But I wanted to give the tablet a try so I put the mouse away for one entire month and only used the tablet. I have yet to bring the mouse back out. I LOVE my tablet. If you think about it we start using crayons when we are quite young and then graduate to pens and pencils- so holding the pen really is quite natural.
Now, I believe I had issues with Vista and my tablet drivers but all has been updated and all is well now.
My graphire is low end probably about $99.

[chestnutmare]

Hi Bob,
I don't know anything about the Bamboo but someone will probably come along who can help you with your question.
The eraser works on my Graphire 4 and the size of my working area is 4x6 (inches) I believe.

I look forward to reading your reply as I have a birthday coming up, and that would be an ideal present.Happy early Birthday!!:) I hope you get what you want....:D

[Wendy]

If you do get a chance to try before you buy then take it up ...

The vast majority of people love their tablets but the odd one or two of us simply can't use them :o

Wendy

[MazG]

I have the Graphire which is discontinued now (replaced by Bamboo Fun). It does take a little while to get use to using it but it is great especially for brushwork or making selections.

One other thing to note the discounts you get on various software if you purchase the different tablets. http://www.wacom.com/privileges/index.cfm

[GaryK]

Bob

I'm not sure about the eraser issue. I would assume that they are talking about flipping the pen over and using the eraser on the other end.

To be honest (I have the Graphire 3 and the Bamboo fun) I have only done that to try it out. I always grab the eraser tool from the tool bar and use that with the normal pen end... works fine.:)

[Tintinabulum]

Many thanks to everyone for their assistance but unfortunately there was an error in my email: I wrote, "but on one review I read that the eraser on functions on the Bamboo Fun."
What I meant was, "but on one review I read that the eraser only functions on the Bamboo Fun."

That is the issue that concerns me, espescially as there appear to be no (non-web-based) retailer of Wacom products near where I live, so I cannot try one.

Cory Barker's review gave me the impression that the top of the pen on the Bamboo acted as an eraser, which would make it fine for me, although the Wacom website seems to me to imply the Fun version is particularly appropriate for digital photo manipulation, which of course is why I am considering getting one. Corey Barker gave me the impression that the major difference was that the "Fun" comes with a mouse.

Has anyone tried both?

Yours gratefully,

Bob, aka Tintinabulum

[GaryK]

Bob

Sorry ..only have the G3 (old one) and the Bamboo Fun, so I can't comment on the Bamboo (sans Fun).
I never use the mouse that came with it (still in the box) and as I mentioned, the eraser end is such a non issue, that I can't even say if I tried it with the fun or not.:)

[Richard Lynch]

I've got a tablet and have tried to get used to one for years. I am not one who comes to image editing from drawing or other manual arts (painting, etc.), and I think that may be a distinct difference. I've never gotten along with a tablet and think they are a bit complicated.

What I do use is the Kensington Turbomouse (or Expert Mouse) (http://aps8.com/trackball.html), which is not a mouse at all, but a trackball. It gives me a lot more control than a mouse, has a smaller footprint, and has 4 programmable buttons if you like to customize. But the key feature for me is control. I don't control a pen as well as I'd like, but can control the trackball with extreme accuracy.

It won't be for everyone, but it is an option I have adopted some 14 years ago and still think can't be beat.