Wacom tablet advice

[Robyn]

I didn't know such a thing existed until I joined this forum. Now I know there are numerous threads on this subject, but to save me looking through them all - just two questions -

1. is it a "must have" and if so,
2. what would you suggest is the best basic model for a beginner.

Thank you.

[GaryK]

Hi Robyn

It's not a "must" have (IMHO), but it does make some things a LOT easier, (and I am still learning;) )

I am not artistic at all..don't paint or draw. I have the Graphire 3 4x5 and find it almost perfect for me. The size is fine, I only wish I had more buttons like the Intuos. I was concerned about the size but had to start somewhere ...turned out to be a non issue for me.

I picked mine up not long before the Graphire 4 was announced, so I got it for a good price (around $100 CDN..rebate on top??)

If you want to try one you may be able to get a G3 for cheap (old stock) and then it won't matter so much if you don't like it.

[Pauline]

Robyn as Gary says, not a must have but sure makes life much easier!! Of course for me, it WAS a must have! :rolleyes: Not only did I have to have it but I went for the Intuos 3 and mine is 9 x 12. You do not need that size. It's rather on the large size, but I'm used to it now and go crazy when I go on the kids 4 x 5 graphire 4. For general purposes it seems that the graphire is fine for most everyone. Because I am also a painter and I have the Painter IX program, I went for 'more'. I got a good deal on e-bay and don't regret it one bit. I couldn't live without it. If I had anything to do over, I would probably go with the 6 x 8 as it would be more than enough for what I do, and generally it seems that most people are quite happy with the 4 x 5.

Every point on the tablet is a point on your screen. That means if you touch the ten in the top right hand corner of the tablet, it shows up in the top right hand corner of your screen, etc. With a large tablet like mine that's a big arm movement! I also find that most times you enlarge the picture to see what you are doing better so that you only end up working in a small area of your tablet anyway. You couldn't go wrong with an graphire 3 or 4, and the smaller one would probably be sufficient.

[willpresley]

I have the Graphire 3 4x5 model and it suits me fine for working in detail on my pictures -- I'm a bit clumsy with the mouse and make more wrong moves than right or so it would seem.

The pen works better for me and I consider it a part of the package for working with pictures and moreso when you want to 'paint' onto an image.

[Robyn]

Thank you all for the advice. That is what I needed to know. I'll do some research into prices here in Australia.

[TonyW]

Like Gary I have the basic Graphire 3 4x5 but I'm almost to the point where I'd rate it a must have. I don't paint like Pauline so don't really need anything bigger but I do a lot of touching up photos and it's just perfect for that. As I'm always working with a zoomed in part of the image and can move around it with the space bar I'm usually only using a couple of inches in the middle. I just find it far easier and quicker than the mouse with any of the brush type tools.

Tony

[Carbone]

I've had one for years now and it's must. It can help a great deal in photo retouching as well as painting.

I have the Graphire 3 6 x 8 and I think it's nice compromise between desk space and usefulness.

Ray

[Robyn]

I've done some reseach on Aussie sites and it seems that it nearly always comes bundled with software that I already have and am therefore paying for something that I don't need.
One site told me this -
"The best accessories to get would be the Wacom mouse, as well as the Wacom airbrush. These tools allow you to use the tablet in ways that are not possible without them." Is this so and are they necessary?

[Shari]

Hi, I didn't even know about these Wacom tablets and pen until I read this post and checked it out on the net. Looks great - but I am just a beginner with the digital camera and Elements 3. I used to use the scanner and Print Shop. Do you think that to get a Wacom tablet now would be just too much learning while I am getting used to Elements 3??

There seems to be so much to learn but maybe some of you feel that learning both at the same time could be easier in the long run. This is to be my new hobby and since I have always had a creative streak I think I am going to like it.

[Robyn]

Hi Shari
I think you and I are pretty much in the same situation, so I guess the answer to your question would also apply to me.

[jo]

Lots of people find them easy to use and quickly grow accustomed to them. But some people (like me) can't get used to them. I guess I "fine-tuned" my mousing to the point where I'm comfortable with it. When I do something that's really fine (even down to 1 pixel) I just blow the picture up-up-up until I can work with the mouse.

If you can find someone to let you try one before you buy, that might be a good idea. My neighbor has one and uses it all the time. I wish I'd have just tried his before buying one.

[Pauline]

Robyn and Sheri I was also worried about learning something new since I had just gotten elements myself, but found the learning curve very easy. The biggest hurdle for me was getting the tablet programmed for the way I wanted to use it. In the beginning I just left it set up the way it was. Now if you are getting a graphire you don't have to worry about this because it doesn't have the extra buttons. The easiest way to get the feel of it, is NOT to work on a picture in the beginning. Just doodle and play. You just need to become familiar with how the pen works vs how the mouse works. I NEVER use my tablet mouse. Because my tablet is so big, when I'm typing it's under my keyboard. When I work with the tablet, I move the keyboard to my desk and use the tablet, pen, and my regular mouse. One problem a lot of people have is that if you leave the pen or the mouse on the tablet at the same time, it doesn't work. You use one or the other. I like my set up because my regular mouse doesn't interfer. Just my personal preference. The tablet mouse is a lot faster though and probably more exact.

Now as for the software. Sadly yes, it does come shipped with a full version of elements. If you are interested in getting elements 4, then the best option would be to wait until Wacom upgrades their bundles from 3 to 6. You also get Corel Painter essentials which is a really fun program.

Don't bother with the airbrush unless you find you want to do more with painter. I have one and rarely use it. It DOES NOT work in elements! I didn't do my reseach before buying it and found out later that not ALL programs that support the tablet support the airbrush. I also am not sure if the airbrush even works with the graphire? You would want to check that out first too. For instance the regular pen for the intuos does not work on the graphire tablet.

[Carbone]

I don't think the Airbrush (or other accessories) works with the Graphire series.

Airbrush is really good for software like Corel Painter. I haven't used it myself, but from a demo I saw, it was a good add-on.

Ray

[Robyn]

Thank you Pauline for such a comprehensive reply.

[Shari]

Thanks Pauline,
I think I have my hands full with Elements for now. In the new year I plan to spend some time each day trying to learn something new. Maybe when I know a bit more of what is going on I will try the Macom. Meanwhile I am still trying to get initials and the date on my photos. I did it once but haven't tried it for a while so have to find my notes. Thanks for all the info - I will keep it in mind.
Shari

[kerriann85]

So my boss says to me today "Have you seen this new Wacom, the Cintiq?"
Oh my gosh...... It is so cool. Went to find a link to show you guys.
Hopefully this will do it.
http://www.wacom.com/lcdtablets/index.cfm

(Wonder is there's a lid to Santa's spending.....?)

[kayser]

I know that is out of my Santa's price range, but it does look cool!

[virgo1]

Sherry,
I have seen it and I'm drooling at the thought of it. Oh mama, I want it. But it is spendy. Hopefully it will come down in price...soon.
Eva ;)

[pmultani]

Pauline--what size tablet do you have?

[G. OReilly]

:) :) Mr. Brian....I think you should look at this thread,since you have the Wacom tablet.. Very interesting comments.
George

[Pauline]

Pauline--what size tablet do you have?

It's an intuos 3 - 9 x 12. If I were to do it again, I would purchase a 6 x 8. It would be plenty big enough for my needs.

[Mjausson]

I'm looking at the Bluetooth Graphire, http://www.wacom.com/graphire/6x8_bt.cfm, and wondering if it would be a good investment. I work on a laptop with only one cable (power) right now. I have no separate keyboard or mouse, but use the ones in the laptop. That suits me very well. The touch area on the laptop has much more precision than a mouse, the way I use it. I don't want to add any cables to the mix, that's why the Bluetooth tablet looks good to me.

The question is of course if it's so slow that it's not enjoyable to use. Anybody here have one or has tried one and can tell me if they are noticeable slower than the wired tablets?

[Red Sky]

Hey Mjausson- I'll be looking for someone to answer your question for that is the tablet I have been looking at myself. I have a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse and am interested in the 6X8. I was curious if the touch sensitivity and connection reliability is the same as the wired version. My Intellimouse goes to sleep if I don't scroll or point after a few minutes and I have to click it to wake it up. I'm curious if the tablet does this too.

[Debie B]

I've finally decided that a Wacom is pretty much a necessity for me. I'm left-handed, but I've always used my mouse right-handed ... which is a drawback working in PSE with my photos.

I think it's unlikely I'll need anything larger than one of the 4x5 tablets to get started with (I'm certainly open to suggestions in this regard). The question is, which tablet to get started with.

I have tentatively narrowed it down to two options:

1) Graphire 4 4x5, which I can get for $90.

2) Intuos 3 4x5, which I can get for just under $200.

Both price quotes include shipping and insurance, both are brand new sealed in the box with pen and mouse, bundled with the usual software CDs, not factory refurbished, etc.

Here's my best description of what I'll be using the Wacom for:
Strictly inexperienced, entry-level with the tablet, using the pen for fine-tuning photos in PSE for upload to the web and/or emailing to my private commission buyers for final approval. I print a sort of thumbnail size JPG on my artist's statements, which accompany each woodturning.

The thumbnail photos are pretty small (about an inch overall), so I have always just resized the already PSE edited specific product email/web JPG, cut and pasted the resized photo into the individual artist statement and printed it out with my photo ink cartridge installed in my printer.

I should also mention that I take the pictures with my camera set at 1.8MP to begin with since except for the one small color print on the artist's statement, the photos are only used on the web and/or in emails. For things like full color brochures, catalog, book and magazine article photos, the galleries and publishers use their own respective professional photographers to take all the pictures of my turnings.

Based on what I've read here in the current and older related threads and elsewhere, I'm leaning toward the Graphire4. However, a few months down the road I don't want to end up wishing I'd applied the $90 I can get the Graphire4 delivered for to the Inuos3. The Graphire4 seems to be a good entry level tablet for me ... or at least for what I plan on using it for - I realize once you get new goodies like this in the "what I use it for" horizons can easily expand beyond original intent.

I'm ready to take the plunge and order a tablet, but before doing so, I'd like to ask for any suggestions/advice and comments those of you who are far more experienced and learned with all of this than I am might have. Thanks in advance for your time.

Kind Regards,
Debie
Gallery B Woodturning

[Robyn]

Hi Debie,

I started this thread and since doing so I've bought and received a Graphire 4 6x8. I've had it less than a week so I'm very inexperienced. It IS taking some getting used to but it's so good when you need that very fine control that you just can't get with a mouse. The only observation that I would make at this early stage - I think I would have been quite happy with the 4 x5. I have actually set the tablet so that I am not using the full 6 x 8. Of course I may change this as I become more accomplished.

[Debie B]

Thank you for your feedback, Robyn. I gathered from reading this thread and some older threads that the 4x5 tablet would probably be sufficient for my needs. I've just got to settle on either the Graphire4 or the Intuos3, a decision I want to try to get right the first time. From what I can see after reviewing information on both, it seems the Graphire4 might be sufficient for my needs, at least for now.

Thanks again!

Kind Regards,
Debie
Gallry B Woodturning