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Wacom Intuos2

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Ilja

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Question:

How many of you use a wacom graphic tablet? Does it really make life easier and what size od you use/need for image correction/manipulation.

I can't decide if I need a A5 or A4 one. And there aren't any stores around here that have them (I live in Amsterdam, the Netherlands) so I can't test drive them.
--
gallery's @ http://www.illdesign.nl
 
I do but it takes time to adjust to it after a mouse - I find I use it just for photo editing with the pen and use the mouse with it the rest of the time. I go for the bigger of the 2 as then it will be near 1:1 with the screen - easier to edit then as the pen path is the same screen to pad.
Ilja said:
Question:

How many of you use a wacom graphic tablet? Does it really make
life easier and what size od you use/need for image
correction/manipulation.

I can't decide if I need a A5 or A4 one. And there aren't any
stores around here that have them (I live in Amsterdam, the
Netherlands) so I can't test drive them.
--
gallery's @ http://www.illdesign.nl
Click to expand...
 
I've got only one cavaet...

When I bought my new G-4 (years ago), I made the decision to move from a 4x5 Wacom to the 6x8, so I'd have more control.

HUGE mistake. My problem is simply that I don't have the desk space to actually use the larger tablet, so I don't use it as much as I did. In fact, when I had the 4x5, I generally didn't bother plugging in a mouse, since Mac mice only have one button (dumb) and no scroll wheel (at the time I didn't have an internet connection with my Mac, only my PC which has a great Microsoft mouse with a bunch of buttons and a scroll wheel).

Now that I've got Internet on the Mac as well as the PC, I guess I'll always have a mouse with two buttons and a scroll wheel (basic, inexpensive Logitech works well).

Personally, I consider the Wacom to virtually indispensible for photo editing.

In addition to the other comments, the fact that it's pressure sensitive is fantasic and it's also tilt sensitive. It really adds to the control you've got.

Don't hesitate to buy one, but make sure you get the size that is right for the space available. Bigger is better unless it just won't fit the space available.
Ilja said:
Question:

How many of you use a wacom graphic tablet? Does it really make
life easier and what size od you use/need for image
correction/manipulation.

I can't decide if I need a A5 or A4 one. And there aren't any
stores around here that have them (I live in Amsterdam, the
Netherlands) so I can't test drive them.
--
gallery's @ http://www.illdesign.nl
Click to expand...
 
Allright! Thanks for your help.

Ehm...this may sound as a silly question but, where do you have the tablet positioned? I have a huge L shaped desk and on the short side I intend to place the tablet. That's left to left monitor (I'm left handed), is this okay or is it more convenient to place it in front of you monitor? In that case there's only room for the A5 one.

--
gallery's @ http://www.illdesign.nl
 
I have the original Intuos tablet and they're indespensible for graphics generally. You won't see many graphics designers without one. Have a look at the retouching forum here to see some discussions on them.

On size, I have an A4 tablet, which seems a reasonable size for use with a 23" CRT. That said, the graphics designer chaps seem to go as big as possible when someone else's paying.

The newer/cheaper Wacom devices tend to have fewer levels of sensitivity (eg 512 instead of 1024). I don't know how much that mappers.

It takes perhaps a day to get used to the tablet, after which you'll never again be able to understand how people manage to edit photographs with a mouse. I don't use a mouse on the machine with the tablet as the tablet's more natural for everything except some games.

Tablet position: I think you'll be ok with it to the side of the keyboard. With PS/CS you can load up the tablet soft-keys, but I tend to jab the keyboard to select tools, then drive everything else with the pen, so it's a two handed job.
--
Phil
http://www.wigglesworld.klebos.com/
 
Ok...so you also use it for just about everything, not only image editing...

This is probable one of those things you have to experience and when you do you're like...how the hell did I ever manage without one?

I'll have a look at the retouch forum then

thnx
--
gallery's @ http://www.illdesign.nl
 
Ilja

it is an amazing tool. Takes a little time to get used to (mainly because we have been taught to use a mouse for so long) but once you got used to it it is like night and day.

I use a 9x12 but be careful. It uses a lot of room. It is 9x12 plus about 3 inches in each direciton so more like 12x15 or so.

--
Michael Salzlechner
http://www.PalmsWestPhoto.com
 
Hi

I use Intuos2 A5 fabulous, never once used the mouse.

Les
PalmsWestPhoto said:
Ilja

it is an amazing tool. Takes a little time to get used to (mainly
because we have been taught to use a mouse for so long) but once
you got used to it it is like night and day.

I use a 9x12 but be careful. It uses a lot of room. It is 9x12 plus
about 3 inches in each direciton so more like 12x15 or so.

--
Michael Salzlechner
http://www.PalmsWestPhoto.com
Click to expand...
 
When I asked a similar question to somebody at Wacom a while back, he said to draw a picture of a head. The size of the head should be about the same size of the tablet you'd buy. You can always get a bigger one, but the "head test" should give you one you can comfortably to use.
Ilja said:
Question:

How many of you use a wacom graphic tablet? Does it really make
life easier and what size od you use/need for image
correction/manipulation.

I can't decide if I need a A5 or A4 one. And there aren't any
stores around here that have them (I live in Amsterdam, the
Netherlands) so I can't test drive them.
--
gallery's @ http://www.illdesign.nl
Click to expand...
 
I used wacom but an earlier generation one.

Back then, I had something like 8X10 and a 4X5. I found the small one easier to use because my hand didn't have to move so much. Also, I prefer doing delicate drawings with my wrist resting on the tablet/table or my elbow resting on the table, so what is the point of the larger one? For detail work, I zoom in. I've retouched hundred and maybe 1000 photos.

For work, I used to use a giant digitizer (20 X 30 inches) to trace things (for those of you in my profession, its call inputting DNA sequence from a gel, an obsolete technique). It works but its not my preferred method for anything except tracing. As the technique is obsolete, we don't do it anymore.

Just my thoughts. As you can see, not everyone agrees on the correct size. I don't use my tablet to trace things (at home) - I use a scanner or camera.
 
John Gerecht said:
When I bought my new G-4 (years ago), I made the decision to move
from a 4x5 Wacom to the 6x8, so I'd have more control.

HUGE mistake. My problem is simply that I don't have the desk space
to actually use the larger tablet, so I don't use it as much as I
did. In fact, when I had the 4x5, I generally didn't bother
plugging in a mouse, since Mac mice only have one button (dumb) and
no scroll wheel (at the time I didn't have an internet connection
with my Mac, only my PC which has a great Microsoft mouse with a
bunch of buttons and a scroll wheel).

Now that I've got Internet on the Mac as well as the PC, I guess
I'll always have a mouse with two buttons and a scroll wheel
(basic, inexpensive Logitech works well).

Personally, I consider the Wacom to virtually indispensible for
photo editing.

In addition to the other comments, the fact that it's pressure
sensitive is fantasic and it's also tilt sensitive. It really adds
to the control you've got.

Don't hesitate to buy one, but make sure you get the size that is
right for the space available. Bigger is better unless it just
won't fit the space available.
Ilja said:
Question:

How many of you use a wacom graphic tablet? Does it really make
life easier and what size od you use/need for image
correction/manipulation.

I can't decide if I need a A5 or A4 one. And there aren't any
stores around here that have them (I live in Amsterdam, the
Netherlands) so I can't test drive them.
--
gallery's @ http://www.illdesign.nl
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
We switched to larger 9x12 GD model and love it for phototouching.

However: a bluetooth optical mouse works well too. If you use the
pressure sensitive features, then it is a must. The do speed up
productivity if you have many files to process and who doesn't these
days.

The reason we make our choice was because the older "ball" type
mouse kept clogging. The ability of the tablet to vary mouse speeds
is also very helpful.

Get the 5 way mouse and not just the pen. I actually think it came
with our model?

Best wishes, HB
 
I tried the bigger ones, and the 4x5 lets me work without moving my wrist much, just like I have used the mouse for years. It was very quick to learn. I use the pen for drawing and photo work, and the mouse for normal mouse stuff.

hunter
 
I have the intuous 12 x18 and have had it for 6 yrs. Its never failed me. I do alot of art work and the larger tablet will allow you to move your hands in a more fluid motion than the small tablet will and you can always define the area on the board you want to use. It does have a large footprint so i built a sliding tray under desk for it. These things never break unless you abuse them so buying a used large intuos pad instead of the intuos2. Photoshop cs also now can take advantage of the wacom airbrush. My pad is one of the best purchases I ever made.

ron
http://www.saycheesebackgrounds.com
 
I am fortunate to have a friend loan me his to try. It is 6x8. I had same problem as someone else on the forum. No desk space. I like the pen though as there is no skipping. My regular mouse gets stuck sometimes and misses a beat here and there. Especially good when working extraction or erasing on Photoshop 7. I'm not sure I would buy one because I am so used to using my mouse when I work.
George74
Ilja said:
Question:

How many of you use a wacom graphic tablet? Does it really make
life easier and what size od you use/need for image
correction/manipulation.

I can't decide if I need a A5 or A4 one. And there aren't any
stores around here that have them (I live in Amsterdam, the
Netherlands) so I can't test drive them.
--
gallery's @ http://www.illdesign.nl
Click to expand...
--
Remember life is short so eat your dessert first.
 
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