Wacom

Anyone using a Wacom Intuos Pen and Touch tablet? I have been thinking of getting something with a bit more control and flexibility than what a mouse can give.

I am talking about the small tablet. I don't think I need a big one just for editing photos and such.

Thoughts and advice would be greatly appreciated.

I gave my 14-year old son one (Bamboo CTH-470) for Christmas, and he does wonders with it. He can do so much more than he could with just a mouse. I'm going to have to get one for me, as well.

I give it a high recommendation!

WM

I have one, too. There's a bit of a learning curve but there's nothing better for hardcore editing.

Dave... I want one... Can you expound on the "learning curve" aspect? What software are you using with it??? Is LR tablet conducive?

Once you get used to using a Wacom you'll wonder how you ever edited with a mouse. And the smaller tablet is actually better for photo editing. It's hard to explain in text why this is the case, but... The larger the tablet the more you have to move the stylus around because the tablet surface, no matter how small, still equates to the full size of your monitor. So a larger tablet means more work. Or rather, a smaller tablet, really makes things easier. I don't know if that makes any sense but once you start using a tablet I think you'll see what I mean. Trust me on this... Get the small or medium sized tablet for photo editing.

Oh, and spend the money for a Wacom Intuos. No knockoffs and don't get the non-Intuos Wacom... The bamboo or whatever it's called.
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There is no real "software" to speak up, it's basically a high tech mouse that's like a touch pad on a laptop combined with a pen, if that makes any sense. It's great for editing images and pretty much anything you could do with a pencil and paper. The learning curve is really one of developing dexterity and a mental adaption type learning curve as opposed to a software learning curve. Unlike a mouse, you cannot lift it up and re-position the cursor, the pad itself is an overlay of the actual screen. And by that I mean the left corner of the pad correlates with the left corner of your screen whereas with a mouse you can lift it up re-position the cursor. That takes a bit of effort to teach your mind to respond with the pen as you do with your mouse. The muscle memory you have developed over the years with the eye-hand coordination with your mouse is of no use to you with a pen and you have to relearn it all from the beginning, which will come along the more you use it. Fortunately there are tons and tons of tutorials and video demonstrations of the pad in action with Photoshop and LR. And after you wrap your head around the pen to screen interaction, the rest is a cake walk.

Most Intuos models come with some cool drawing and animation software, too. Those are fun to just play with. That, combined with PS, allows you to draw/paint amazing pictures (assuming you have the talent that I don't have).

Just completed a Lightroom 5 workshop. Instructor had a wireless WACOM tablet, very nice tool for sure if you do a lot of editing.

Just ordered the Intuos small with touch. Thanks for all the feedback. It just seems the more natural way to edit photos than the mouse. I sketch and have been looking for a way to make editing more natural so to speak.

Thanks again for the feedback!

Sent from my RM-860_nam_usa_100 using Tapatalk

Horoscope Fish said:

Oh, and spend the money for a Wacom Intuos. No knockoffs and don't get the non-Intuos Wacom... The bamboo or whatever it's called.
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I got a bamboo about a year ago to try the concept of a tablet and ended up not feeling the need to move on as it does all I want. I do like it over a mouse.

Deezey said:

Just ordered the Intuos small with touch. Thanks for all the feedback. It just seems the more natural way to edit photos than the mouse. I sketch and have been looking for a way to make editing more natural so to speak.

Thanks again for the feedback!

Sent from my RM-860_nam_usa_100 using Tapatalk

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One thing I forgot to mention about the touch is that people who are left handed, like myself, end up turning the touch function off. I, like many other lefties, have that dreaded lefty hook and I smear everything I write with the side of my hand. Unfortunately, that part of my hand causes lots of trouble when using the tablet. But that's not a big deal since I can easily turn it on and off but it's something to think about if you're a lefty and you have the hook.

Geoffc said:

I got a bamboo about a year ago to try the concept of a tablet and ended up not feeling the need to move on as it does all I want. I do like it over a mouse.

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I've heard the same, too. Maybe he was thinking the bamboo was one of those off-brands and not an Wacom product, of which there are plenty, that really should be avoided at all costs. But you're right, the Bamboo does pretty much everything the Intuos does with just a few less bells and whistles.

I am a righty. And I had a store gift card (got 5% back from the D610 purchase) and scored the touch model for $10. They did not have the Bamboo version. It should be here Tuesday at the latest.

Sent from my RM-860_nam_usa_100 using Tapatalk

Dave_W said:

One thing I forgot to mention about the touch is that people who are left handed, like myself, end up turning the touch function off. I, like many other lefties, have that dreaded lefty hook and I smear everything I write with the side of my hand. Unfortunately, that part of my hand causes lots of trouble when using the tablet. But that's not a big deal since I can easily turn it on and off but it's something to think about if you're a lefty and you have the hook.

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Can't you turn it round and tell the software that you have?

Geoffc said:

Can't you turn it round and tell the software that you have?

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Wacom is really good about building their products for both handedness, that's not the problem. The problem is all on my end. Next time you see a lefty writing take a look at how their hand "hooks" around the top of the page. This hook causes the side of your hand to rub along the upper part of the paper. This hook comes from when our 1st teacher told us to put the paper on our desk and turn it slightly to the right. For a lefty to successfully write within the lines when the paper is turned to the right you have to hook your hand above the paper. Now days teachers know better and tell the lefties to turn the paper slightly to the left in which case your hand is below what has been written just like right handed people write. Next time you see Obama signing something you'll see what I'm talking about. He's got a massive left hook when he signs.

Intuos Pro Small is what I ordered, which I think is the same as what Doug ordered. Its pretty impressive at everything you can do. I was playing with the Ink application that turns handwriting into typed words. Example, I opened up Ink and added a new Note to the Notes application and was writing the letters on the tablet and the app turned it into key strokes. Not what I got it for, but really just getting familiar with the tablet and using the pen. Way more customizable and more control compared to a mouse.

I bought the cheaper Intuos with Touch. Not the Pro model. Mine was roughly $115.00. Mine is also the small size.

I downloaded Ps Elements 11, ArtRage, and Autodesk Sketchbook for free. And these are not trial versions. I also had the option of downloading Nik Color Efex Pro 3 but did not because I already own the Nik Collection.

While I don't think mine can do everything the Pro can. I can buy the Wireless Kit to make mine wireless. But for me it is not needed since The room my stuff is in is tiny and I can't really get away from the PC far enough to need Wireless.



Sorry for the shot. Low light, high ISO. But the tablet is sitting on a 2 drawer metal filing cabinet that has the top drawer open. (remember tiny room here)

It is fairly compact which is nice because I do not need to use broad gestures to cover my screen. The dot that the pen is pointing to is actually the screen boundary marker. It is supposed to be there. (NOT DUST! LOL)

The curser appears when hovering over the tablet from roughly 1/2 inch high. The pen also has a two button toggle switch with the back button being the Right Click ala mouse click.
Very snappy and responsive. No lag in movements at all.

I do have the touch model so it does act like a touchpad from a laptop to aid in zoom and scrolling. Also you can move the cursor and double tap to click. There is a switch to disable Touch Control also.

The tablet can be set up for right or left hand. You choose this option when installing.

At the top that light is letting you know the tablet is on.(Left Side) The light on the right lights up when it senses a touch on the pad. There are four customizable buttons one each above and below both lights.

So far I haven't found a negative about this product. The above photo was edited strictly with the Wacom and I have found menu navigation and the use of the sliders to be extremely fast. It did take a few minutes to get used to the freedom of movement and the fact that this small pad is the entire screen.

Painting in masks and such with the adjustment brushes in LR5 is now just stupid simple. I had a problem doing fine work with the mouse and outlining and such was a real pain. For that alone the Wacom is completely worth the small investment for me. It is cutting the time I take in processing easily in half. And I thought I was quick before, but now instead of 5 minutes or so, quick edits are now just a tap, flick, and go.

So far I love it.

Now give us some regular updates as you learn how to use this.

I was watching a video and really can't tell the difference between the two versions of color efex. they did indicate it has special filters, but not sure if I should have downloaded as the user had multiple versions of the color efex. I sent an email because now after I registered it won't let select it.

Krs_2007 said:

I was watching a video and really can't tell the difference between the two versions of color efex. they did indicate it has special filters, but not sure if I should have downloaded as the user had multiple versions of the color efex. I sent an email because now after I registered it won't let select it.

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You will have to tell me what you think of the Pro model. It just wasn't in my budget. I see it has a few more features and better pressure sensitivities.