WACOM Tablets

[Matt Sugden]

Anyone use one on a daily basis?

 

What do you reckon to them?

[shaneis]

Yep, I use one regularly. If you're looking at getting one, only consider the Intuos range - forget Graphire or Bamboo. Also consider your screen layout - if you use multiple or widescreen monitors, get a widescreen WACOM. As a general rule, you should aim for a size that closely reflects your screen space and proportion. The Intuos tablet has a very high resolution and also has programmable buttons/ scroll pads on each side (good to set up left/ right handed operation) though you can program every button for a particular task. You can also set buttons for app-specific tasks - eg: on my pen, the forward click is a "middle mouse" button in Maya, a right click in Photoshop and a double click in Windows. The tablets are also preset for Photoshop so your brushes work correctly out-of-the-box. The tablet surface is completely mappable, so if you have multiple monitors, you can adjust how the tablet surface relates to the screen space. For example, using Maya, I have the tablet mapped to two screens so the pen acts more like a mouse. While using Photoshop, I have it mapped to one screen so my pen movements are closer to 1:1 - making movements more realistic when drawing or painting. You also have the ability to map the bottom corners of the tablet to "Quick-point" regions that allow large pointer movements with a minimal pen/ hand movement (think of it as a thumbnail version of the screen).

 

On another note, you can use the tablet/ pen as a regular mouse. It has been discussed on a local industry mail-list (here in Australia) that by using the WACOM pens instead of a mouse, people have had their mouse-related wrist pains go away. Using a mouse forces your wrist to twist for hours each day which can result in strain and inflammation in the wrist. Using a pen (WACOM) as your mouse lets you set your wrist in an ergonomically natural position - reducing the risk of damaging your wrist.

 

As you can see, I'm a fan of WACOMs. They take a while to get used to - maybe even a few weeks. You start to use the interface with a particular finesse and it feels very "analogue". Returning to a mouse feels like each movement is only an approximation of what you actually wanted to do.

[kippu]

just got a wacom intuous 6 x 11 ...getting used to the whole idea of a pen in my hand ....but i can see its advantages in photoshop ...max and other stuff though i prefer my mouse for now

[alfienoakes]

I had an Intuos on loan for a week. Seemed very good. Bit strange for Acad / Viz.. but I think I could get used to it.

 

May look to swap over as I am struggling with a bit of RSI.. on and off.. but its annoying none the less.

 

I do a lot of work in Acad and Viz, and also Photoshop. Acad work seems hardest on my arm / wrist etc.. So maybe soon I will switch.

[Ernest Burden III]

I use a 6"x8" and it's quite nice to have for Photoshop drawing. Right now I can't get Photoshop to read the pressure on my new workstation--it's strange drawing without pressure. I've got to figure that out.

 

6"x8" is a perfect size, unless you plan to do a lot of tracing of sketches, but that's better handled with a scan import.

 

I use the tablet only for drawing. Everything else is mousing. I have a great advantage by being left-handed. The mouse is on the right of the keyboard and that's for 95% of computer work, but the tablet sits at the ready on the left and I just have to grab the pen and draw, then its back to the mouse. Perfect.

[shaneis]

Right now I can't get Photoshop to read the pressure on my new workstation--it's strange drawing without pressure. I've got to figure that out.

 

Have you got the latest WACOM drivers? You can also get an uninstall utility to remove the old drivers from the WACOM site.

[Narada]

I use an A4, mainly for drawing round template profiles, then using lathe to go 3D. Took a bit of getting used to, but i find it useful and it's better than getting RSI with a mouse.

[Iain Denby]

I use a 6 X 8 too. I can't even open Photoshop without using my Wacom. Only useful for Photoshop though. Forget 3D.

[Ernest Burden III]

Only useful for Photoshop though. Forget 3D.

 

I completely agree. That's why I'm so happy about my left-handed tablet, right-handed mouse arrangement.

 

Drivers--yes, I have the latest driver. that may be the problem, the other computers, on which PS7 gets the pressure readings, have older drivers. I'm going to get CS3 on the new workstation, see if I can get the pressure to work with that. The new machine is a 64bit OS, so maybe that's part of the problem.

[Sawyer]

Ernest - I have had a real hard time with Wacom drivers recently. For me it started with CS3 ever since I installed that my sensitivity was gone. Well its sporadic if I reinstall the drivers it works for a few times but it ends up failing. I have called Wacom help a few times and they had me go back to a really old driver 4.9.3 or something similar. Not saying thats your issue but it has been stable for the last few weeks for me. The Wacom people said they were aware of this as an issue.

[blowback]

Yes,

 

There is no photoshop without wacom.....But 4 max. I just can't get the flow.

 

I also have to agree with the sensitivity issue. It will work for a couple weeks then it goes all screwie. It started with cs3.

[Q-Bix]

I had an Intuos on loan for a week. Seemed very good. Bit strange for Acad / Viz.. but I think I could get used to it.

 

May look to swap over as I am struggling with a bit of RSI.. on and off.. but its annoying none the less.

 

I do a lot of work in Acad and Viz, and also Photoshop. Acad work seems hardest on my arm / wrist etc.. So maybe soon I will switch.

 

Andy, Where did you get a loan from? We are concidering buying one of these but are unsure whether it is worth it.

 

Our supplier wont lend us one, he says its to cheap to lend