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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
pen pads, worth it?
N. Scott Trimble, Photographer
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Tempe | AZ | USA | Posted: 1:51 PM on 04.28.06 |
->> I have been hovering over Wacom pen pads for some time and am poised to buy one. Anyone have an opinion about them? Do you have more finess on applying Photoshop techniques? Critiques, complaints, praises? I am thinking of the Intuos 6x11 as I use the 17" powerbook G4, but the bluetooth Graphire 6x8 has an appeal too, just don't know if it is more toy or tool.
Thanks! |
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Chuck Steenburgh, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Lexington | VA | USA | Posted: 2:29 PM on 04.28.06 |
->> I have the small Graphire tablet and I find it handier than the mouse for applying some types of corrections. It may be partly because I am of confused dexterity - as opposed to "ambidextrous" - I write with my left hand but "mouse" with my right (both are more comfortable that way). So I'm somewhat clumsy using the mouse for "pen like" actions, if that makes sense.
I'm no artist but the inexpensive Graphire is a handy addition to my desktop. |
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Shelley Cryan, Photographer
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Southport | CT | USA | Posted: 2:35 PM on 04.28.06 |
->> Scott,
Graphics tablets are terrific. They make using a mouse in photoshop seem like drawing with a bar of soap. They are essential if you're doing artwork and fine retouching of photos, but if you're only doing routine photojournalism photoshop work (levels, curves, sharpen overall) you won't see such a dramatic improvement in using a tablet. In that case, you will still appreciate having an alternate input device to give your mouse-controlling muscles a break. I prefer the 6x8 size, but that's a personal preference.
Shelley |
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Will Powers, Photographer
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Phoenix | AZ | USA | Posted: 2:37 PM on 04.28.06 |
| ->> I have an older version of the Wacom. It didn't make anything work better or faster. Perhaps a wee bit more fine at larger magnifications. About a year ago I was at a Rob Galbraith seminar and Wacom was demonstrating some new larger pads. The demonstrators were very proficient on the devices and if I thought it would help my business I would have purchased one. It wasn't a tool I needed in my biz, but if I were an illustrator, I could see it being a valuable tool. |
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Carl Auer, Photographer
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Eagle River | AK | USA | Posted: 2:46 PM on 04.28.06 |
| ->> I have a CompUSA knock off that I got for like $20, and it works great for what I need it to. Much easier to create cutouts of players for posters and the like for youth sports, but I rarely use it for day to day stuff. When I get started with senior photos and some other non journalistic stuff soon, I am sure it will see more use and I may jump to the wide Wacom version since all my monitors and laptop are widescreen. When you want total control over Photoshop brush and pen tools, there is nothing better than a tablet. |
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Max Waugh, Photographer
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Seattle | WA | USA | Posted: 3:37 PM on 04.28.06 |
->> If you spend a lot of time in front of the computer, they're great. I do a lot of design work, and use multiple computers. I find that the one with the Wacom tablet hooked up provides a nice respite from non-stop mouse clicking... it goes a long way in reducing strain. Using the pen also makes for easier lasso work and greater control in PS, but it can be annoying if you're mixing in a lot of typing (e.g., labeling photos in Photo Mechanic).
Max |
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Franz Ellers, Assistant, Photographer
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Santa Monica | CA | USA | Posted: 5:04 PM on 04.28.06 |
| ->> I use the 6x11 it helps alot with retouching, cleaning scans, layer masking, etc. but as Shelley said if your just doing doing levels curves its more of a hindrance than help. |
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Greg Ferguson, Photographer
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Scottsdale | Az | USA | Posted: 10:28 PM on 04.29.06 |
->> I agree with the comments about a tablet being good for touchups and fine-control type actions.
For adjust levels, or moving things around I don't bother, but when I'm doing a lot of masking or layer work then I like using one.
I have had two of them - the first died mysteriously after the dog decided the cable to the tablet would be a fine thing to chew on. That was replaced with a Wacom Graphire (the little one), which I easily put in my computer bag so I can do my artsy-fiddling on the road. |
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Doug Holleman, Photographer
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Temple | TX | USA | Posted: 3:47 AM on 04.30.06 |
->> I tried those and I never liked the feel of it. If you're gonna take the plunge, I would recommend getting the more sensative Intuos version. That would probably help. But I never could get used to drawing on the pad to do stuff on the screen. The disconnect between my hand and eye for that kind of detail was just too messed up. I really would love one of those setups where you draw directly to the screen, though, but then you're talking some serious cash.
The stuff I could do with the Graphire I could do just as easy with a mouse, without having to reach for another device. |
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David Harpe, Photographer
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Louisville | KY | USA | Posted: 12:48 PM on 04.30.06 |
->> If you do studio work a graphics tablet is a must. Don't fool with the little 4x6 ones - 6x8 is much better. The Intuous line is nice and sensitive.
But a graphics tablet will only help you if you are proficient at photoshop. If you know how to use masks to apply corrections/etc. the tablet will make your life much easier. It's also indespensible if you also do a lot of healing brush/clone work. But if you use photoshop for basic corrections, it's not necessary to have a tablet. |
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Jeanine Leech, Photographer
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South Park | PA | United States | Posted: 7:23 PM on 05.02.06 |
->> The Wacom is great! I love it and can't imagine working without one.
I think the 6x11 is too large and requires a large desk space, the 6x8 is just right for my desk without feeling too small.
The tablet simply can't touch a mouse for sensitive and control, with cloning, masking, lasso selections, etc. You can set the "brush" to be control the opacity, size and lots more, so your hand pressure provides the control without using the fade option in the brush controls. If you do lots of retouching or compositing, it is a wonderful asset. |
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Jason Orth, Photographer
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Lincoln | NE | USA | Posted: 7:59 PM on 05.02.06 |
->> They are great for fine touch uses, or if you're using something like Corel Painter or drawing.
Personally, if I'm working on something really fine, I'm zooming to the pixel level anyway, so it doesn't make much difference. Now that I've learned to channel mask and got the pen tool down I don't go for the tablet as much as I thought I would when I bought it. |
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