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Right tablet size for 24-inch screen?

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emufdi

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I am looking to buy a Wacom tablet solely for photo retouching and like the price/features of the Bamboo Capture. My worry is that its size (5.8' x 3.6') will be too small. I know for selections where I need to be able to see the whole image at once I probably would not want to zoom in too much. I've also heard that using a small size like 4x6 (rounding up) with a large screen creates some jerkiness.

This website in particular advises against using such a small tablet:

http://gearoracle.com/guides/how-to-choose-wacom-pen-tablet/

Do any of you use a 6x4 tablet with a 24-inch HD (1920x1200) monitor? Should I get a bigger size like the Bamboo Create (8.5' x 5.4') or Intous4 Medium?
 
I have a 24" and use 6x8 Intuos3. Works fantastic.
--
Have Fun!
Steve

 
It don't matter! You can set the size to the size of the monitor in the setup software.

either full screen, half screen or make your own size of active tablet.
 
To a large extent the size should be what you are comfortable working with and the screen size does not really come into it. I work with a 6" x 8" and am very happy with it. The smaller and larger Wacom just did not feel comfortable.

Wacom had a tablet size simulator on there site -- I don't know if it is still there.
Claude
 
I have a 27 inch and the Intuous 4 medium size.

I use it strictly for photo editing.

If I were forced to buy a new tablet I would opt for the small size.

The larger sizes are said to be good for people who are actually digitally drawing/painting original images. They seem to need the larger longer brush strokes that the larger pads provide.

For photo editing I've personally found that the shorter movements of pen/mouse are preferable, and have adjusted the wacom pad to just a couple or three inches in area.

The other factor is that you don't appreciate your desk space until you lose it to an oversized tablet.
 
The funny thing is that for rsi prevention you need more arm movement and they advice a larger, at least a medium sized tablet. If you make the active area smaller, you still will have small repetative movements!!!

I agree that the larger sizes, a4 and up are better suited for freehand drawing and painting and such.
tom60634 said:
I have a 27 inch and the Intuous 4 medium size.

I use it strictly for photo editing.

If I were forced to buy a new tablet I would opt for the small size.

The larger sizes are said to be good for people who are actually digitally drawing/painting original images. They seem to need the larger longer brush strokes that the larger pads provide.

For photo editing I've personally found that the shorter movements of pen/mouse are preferable, and have adjusted the wacom pad to just a couple or three inches in area.

The other factor is that you don't appreciate your desk space until you lose it to an oversized tablet.
Click to expand...
 
emufdi said:
I am looking to buy a Wacom tablet solely for photo retouching and like the price/features of the Bamboo Capture. My worry is that its size (5.8' x 3.6') will be too small. I know for selections where I need to be able to see the whole image at once I probably would not want to zoom in too much. I've also heard that using a small size like 4x6 (rounding up) with a large screen creates some jerkiness.

This website in particular advises against using such a small tablet:

http://gearoracle.com/guides/how-to-choose-wacom-pen-tablet/

Do any of you use a 6x4 tablet with a 24-inch HD (1920x1200) monitor? Should I get a bigger size like the Bamboo Create (8.5' x 5.4') or Intous4 Medium?
Click to expand...
I have never used a Tablet. A non user question: When making adjustments on the Tablet, does the same information display (simultaneously) on the computer screen
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Vernon...
 
For photo retouching (and not design/drawing) the size is right. I use an Small Intuos4, and I wish it were smaller. I have set the active area to less than 4 sq in. I use it for everything... photo retouching and browsing on the net.
emufdi said:
I am looking to buy a Wacom tablet solely for photo retouching and like the price/features of the Bamboo Capture. My worry is that its size (5.8' x 3.6') will be too small. I know for selections where I need to be able to see the whole image at once I probably would not want to zoom in too much. I've also heard that using a small size like 4x6 (rounding up) with a large screen creates some jerkiness.

This website in particular advises against using such a small tablet:

http://gearoracle.com/guides/how-to-choose-wacom-pen-tablet/

Do any of you use a 6x4 tablet with a 24-inch HD (1920x1200) monitor? Should I get a bigger size like the Bamboo Create (8.5' x 5.4') or Intous4 Medium?
Click to expand...
--
Claude
 
If you have an art background and are used to moving your wrist around the image you are drawing or painting the get a large tablet.

If you don't have an art background then you will find your wrist remains in a pretty much fixed location and you will move the pen with wrist rotation and finger movements most of the time. A small to medium sized tablet will be best for you.

The only way to really pick out a tablet is to try it.

Don't forget that having buttons along the side that can programed to select Photoshop Tools is a great thing to have. Much nicer than having to move the pen over to the toolbar to select the Tool you want each time.
 
asoftwind said:
For photo retouching (and not design/drawing) the size is right. I use an Small Intuos4, and I wish it were smaller. I have set the active area to less than 4 sq in. I use it for everything... photo retouching and browsing on the net.
emufdi said:
I am looking to buy a Wacom tablet solely for photo retouching and like the price/features of the Bamboo Capture. My worry is that its size (5.8' x 3.6') will be too small. I know for selections where I need to be able to see the whole image at once I probably would not want to zoom in too much. I've also heard that using a small size like 4x6 (rounding up) with a large screen creates some jerkiness.

This website in particular advises against using such a small tablet:

http://gearoracle.com/guides/how-to-choose-wacom-pen-tablet/

Do any of you use a 6x4 tablet with a 24-inch HD (1920x1200) monitor? Should I get a bigger size like the Bamboo Create (8.5' x 5.4') or Intous4 Medium?
Click to expand...
--
Claude
Click to expand...
Claude, when making a selection using such a small overall area; isn't it difficult (for example) to make a "close and accurate" selection such as the head of one individual for a Photo image with several in the exposure.
--
Vernon...
 
Vernon, I have adapted to working with a small active area very easily. My movements are short and precise (zooming in helps too). I love photo retouching. I have only one regret. I should have bought a pen tablet right after the 2nd week I started.
Vernon D Rainwater said:
asoftwind said:
For photo retouching (and not design/drawing) the size is right. I use an Small Intuos4, and I wish it were smaller. I have set the active area to less than 4 sq in. I use it for everything... photo retouching and browsing on the net.
emufdi said:
I am looking to buy a Wacom tablet solely for photo retouching and like the price/features of the Bamboo Capture. My worry is that its size (5.8' x 3.6') will be too small. I know for selections where I need to be able to see the whole image at once I probably would not want to zoom in too much. I've also heard that using a small size like 4x6 (rounding up) with a large screen creates some jerkiness.

This website in particular advises against using such a small tablet:

http://gearoracle.com/guides/how-to-choose-wacom-pen-tablet/

Do any of you use a 6x4 tablet with a 24-inch HD (1920x1200) monitor? Should I get a bigger size like the Bamboo Create (8.5' x 5.4') or Intous4 Medium?
Click to expand...
--
Claude
Click to expand...
Claude, when making a selection using such a small overall area; isn't it difficult (for example) to make a "close and accurate" selection such as the head of one individual for a Photo image with several in the exposure.
--
Vernon...
Click to expand...
--
Claude
 
this question shows up every couple of weeks.

some prefer small and some prefer medium on the theory that photo selections etc tend to be more finger/wrist based vs. 'art or drawing' which has a lot more elbow. Also consider where you're going to put the tablet and if that place is your lap, do you have enough space to use the full area?

For me, I got the medium to start and when I went from Intuos3 to 4, I dropped down to small and I prefer that.
 
I think Sailor Blue nailed it. I do not have a graphic arts background (my wrist is immobile much of the time) and use the small Intuos 4 tablet with a 21" monitor It feels very comfortable.

DJB
 
Not at all, the wacoms are very accurate and you do see adjustments realtime, if you check the box for the corresponding feature.

I've been using them for years, nothing better then these tablets.
Vernon D Rainwater said:
asoftwind said:
For photo retouching (and not design/drawing) the size is right. I use an Small Intuos4, and I wish it were smaller. I have set the active area to less than 4 sq in. I use it for everything... photo retouching and browsing on the net.
emufdi said:
I am looking to buy a Wacom tablet solely for photo retouching and like the price/features of the Bamboo Capture. My worry is that its size (5.8' x 3.6') will be too small. I know for selections where I need to be able to see the whole image at once I probably would not want to zoom in too much. I've also heard that using a small size like 4x6 (rounding up) with a large screen creates some jerkiness.

This website in particular advises against using such a small tablet:

http://gearoracle.com/guides/how-to-choose-wacom-pen-tablet/

Do any of you use a 6x4 tablet with a 24-inch HD (1920x1200) monitor? Should I get a bigger size like the Bamboo Create (8.5' x 5.4') or Intous4 Medium?
Click to expand...
--
Claude
Click to expand...
Claude, when making a selection using such a small overall area; isn't it difficult (for example) to make a "close and accurate" selection such as the head of one individual for a Photo image with several in the exposure.
--
Vernon...
Click to expand...
 
The good thing of the medium sized tablet is that it is more versatile. if you think it's to small, you can make the active area a bit smaller, on the other hand, if you think the small tablet is too small, you're stuck!!!
DaleB82 said:
I think Sailor Blue nailed it. I do not have a graphic arts background (my wrist is immobile much of the time) and use the small Intuos 4 tablet with a 21" monitor It feels very comfortable.

DJB
Click to expand...
 
Toermalijn said:
Not at all, the wacoms are very accurate and you do see adjustments realtime, if you check the box for the corresponding feature.

I've been using them for years, nothing better then these tablets.
Vernon D Rainwater said:
asoftwind said:
For photo retouching (and not design/drawing) the size is right. I use an Small Intuos4, and I wish it were smaller. I have set the active area to less than 4 sq in. I use it for everything... photo retouching and browsing on the net.
emufdi said:
I am looking to buy a Wacom tablet solely for photo retouching and like the price/features of the Bamboo Capture. My worry is that its size (5.8' x 3.6') will be too small. I know for selections where I need to be able to see the whole image at once I probably would not want to zoom in too much. I've also heard that using a small size like 4x6 (rounding up) with a large screen creates some jerkiness.

This website in particular advises against using such a small tablet:

http://gearoracle.com/guides/how-to-choose-wacom-pen-tablet/

Do any of you use a 6x4 tablet with a 24-inch HD (1920x1200) monitor? Should I get a bigger size like the Bamboo Create (8.5' x 5.4') or Intous4 Medium?
Click to expand...
--
Claude
Click to expand...
Claude, when making a selection using such a small overall area; isn't it difficult (for example) to make a "close and accurate" selection such as the head of one individual for a Photo image with several in the exposure.
--
Vernon...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
I appreciate the feed back. Thanks again.
--
Vernon...
 
Good point. The cost differential influenced my decision, but for someone with experience actually drawing on canvas, I can see how it'd be potentially restrictive.

DJB
 
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