Does Anyone Use A Wacom Tablet?

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
One of the photoshop videos I watched recommended buying a Wacom photo editing tablet for use with Photoshop. Any recommendations? Thanks!

I wouldn't suggest a tablet and pen for everyone but I would strongly suggest a tablet if you do a lot of fine, detailed retouching or editing; this is where using using a pen really shines: in the degree of control it gives over using a mouse. Pressure sensitivity is a wonderful thing and unique to using a tablet and pen I believe.

The tablet and pen I have, and recommend, is either the small, or medium-sized Wacom Intuos Pro tablet. Do NOT get a "big" tablet, smaller is actually better. Reason being is the tablet surface will correspond to your monitor, edge to edge, regardless of size. What that means is a larger tablet will simply use more space to do the same thing but will require more motion of your hand and arm to accomplish. A smaller surface area means less effort to accomplish the same thing. This may not sound like a big deal but in practice, with an actual tablet, it's HUGE. Smaller. Is. Better.

Be aware there will be a learning curve when it comes to getting comfortable with using a tablet and pen. It took me a couple weeks or so of pretty constant use before I really fell in love with my tablet. Learn to program and use the Express Buttons and the Touch Ring (if you decide to buy the Intuos Pro in the link); they're huuuge time savers.
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sonicbuffalo_RIP

Senior Member
I wouldn't suggest a tablet and pen for everyone but I would strongly suggest a tablet if you do a lot of fine, detailed retouching or editing; this is where using using a pen really shines: in the degree of control it gives over using a mouse. Pressure sensitivity is a wonderful thing and unique to using a tablet and pen I believe.

The tablet and pen I have, and recommend, is either the small, or medium-sized Wacom Intuos Pro tablet. Do NOT get a "big" tablet, smaller is actually better. Reason being is the tablet surface will correspond to your monitor, edge to edge, regardless of size. What that means is a larger tablet will simply use more space to do the same thing but will require more motion of your hand and arm to accomplish. A smaller surface area means less effort to accomplish the same thing. This may not sound like a big deal but in practice, with an actual tablet, it's HUGE. Smaller. Is. Better.

Be aware there will be a learning curve when it comes to getting comfortable with using a tablet and pen. It took me a couple weeks or so of pretty constant use before I really fell in love with my tablet. Learn to program and use the Express Buttons and the Touch Ring (if you decide to buy the Intuos Pro in the link); they're huuuge time savers.
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From what I've read, I agree with you completely.....think I'm gonna buy me a small size Pro.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
[MENTION=13090]Horoscope Fish[/MENTION]..... do you use it at as well with Lightroom?
Well, I'm a Photoshop user so to be totally honest I don't really know how one does detailed retouching in LR. I am under the impression LR is analogous to Camera Raw and I only use Camera Raw for global edits, like Exposure and White Balance; maybe some spot removal. I'm comfortable using the pen for that sort of work but that's because I have the tablet customized for my workflow and I'm comfortable with the pen and tablet on the whole.

I hope that helps...

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sonicbuffalo_RIP

Senior Member
Well, I'm a Photoshop user so to be totally honest I don't really know how one does detailed retouching in LR. I am under the impression LR is analogous to Camera Raw and I only use Camera Raw for global edits, like Exposure and White Balance; maybe some spot removal. I'm comfortable using the pen for that sort of work but that's because I have the tablet customized for my workflow and I'm comfortable with the pen and tablet on the whole.

I hope that helps...

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Sure....it always helps....I did watch a video on their site that showed a photog using it with LR. I don't think you can use it there as much as with PS though....it's gonna take me a while but I've got the time.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Sure....it always helps....I did watch a video on their site that showed a photog using it with LR. I don't think you can use it there as much as with PS though....it's gonna take me a while but I've got the time.
Well if you do decide to "Go Tablet", give yourself time to adjust. It's a *very* different way to edit and it will probably take longer than you think to get comfortable with it.
 

cwgirl197

Senior Member
Where did you find the most useful information on how to learn to use it? The Wacom website?

Youtube and the Wacom website has lots of great tutorials as well!


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RocketCowboy

Senior Member
All good stuff here. I've struggled with learning to use a tablet, but watching Chris learn might bring up new sites to learn from ... so I'm following this thread. :)
 

Blade Canyon

Senior Member
Sonic Buffalo, you are here in Raleigh, right? I will loan you my tablet if you want to meet up. I never got comfortable with it, mostly because there was not enough room on my editing table to have the keyboard and a tablet, so I was trying to do it on my lap. It's not Wacom but some other brand, but you can play with it free for few months. If you like it I will sell or trade it to you cheap. If you don't like it, you can give it back, and maybe someday I will try again.

Send me a PM about where and when to meet. Tomorrow evening is a possibility.

PS, I live next to Umstead Park, and I know you've posted pics from the Park.

This is what I bought in 2013:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008Y40DQU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 
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sonicbuffalo_RIP

Senior Member
Sonic Buffalo, you are here in Raleigh, right? I will loan you my tablet if you want to meet up. I never got comfortable with it, mostly because there was not enough room on my editing table to have the keyboard and a tablet, so I was trying to do it on my lap. It's not Wacom but some other brand, but you can play with it free for few months. If you like it I will sell or trade it to you cheap. If you don't like it, you can give it back, and maybe someday I will try again.

Send me a PM about where and when to meet. Tomorrow evening is a possibility.

PS, I live next to Umstead Park, and I know you've posted pics from the Park.

This is what I bought in 2013:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008Y40DQU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Blade Canyon....thank you so much for the very generous offer. I guess I jumped the gun and already bought one from B & H. We'll definitely have to meet up sometime although I live in Mebane now.
 

sonicbuffalo_RIP

Senior Member
Here's a great video about using Wacom videos....although it's long in the tooth, there is a lot of information and workflow from a professional. I also watched Horoscope Fish's links and they too were great! Thanks everyone for all your help! Here's a link to the video I watched from Terry White. Check THIS out.
 

Daz

Senior Member
Care to expound on that? Because I couldn't possibly disagree more.
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In my opinion :) It doesnt play well, I dont like using my wacom on lightroom, its sluggish and doesnt feel natural, like a said a midi controller with the sliders or turnable dials is much more natural (even just using the mouse and the wheel to control the sliders for me is more natural (and accurate) than using the tablet ) :)

Here is a video of a midi controller in action...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68n95wA3mas&t=355s
 

sonicbuffalo_RIP

Senior Member
In my opinion :) It doesnt play well, I dont like using my wacom on lightroom, its sluggish and doesnt feel natural, like a said a midi controller with the sliders or turnable dials is much more natural (even just using the mouse and the wheel to control the sliders for me is more natural (and accurate) than using the tablet ) :)

Here is a video of a midi controller in action...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68n95wA3mas&t=355s
you know what they say,"Different strokes for different folks", I'm sure your midi works fine but I'd rather learn the Wacom way first, then who knows? Thanks for the alternative idea.
 
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