Anyone use a Wacom Tablet?

[labdogs42]

It sounds like people use these for photo editing and digital scrapbooking. Anyone have one? Do you like it? What applications to you use it with? I'd love to hear more about them. Thanks!

 

[Furgus]

I have the smaller one that I use with Photoshop. Best tool I have for PS other then my camera. It does take a little bit to get used to, but I love it.

 

[mabas9395]

The small cheaper version is currently at the top of my sub $100 wish list, so I hope to get one for Father's day. Or we may just splurge at get a new grill, haven't decided yet.

 

[boBQuincy]

I have the small (4x5) tablet, it's great for working with Photoshop.

 

[SueInBoston]

We have the 6x8. My DD14 uses it mainly to draw. I use it to do photo editing, it's much easier to manuver a pen than a mouse. The tablet came with Photoshop element and Corel Draw. But I've use it with Picasa and Microsoft Photo editing.

 

[Code]

A friend of mine picked up the medium sized Wacom Bamboo Fun and tells me it is a must-have... however it's $200. There is another tablet company, Genius, that makes a 6" x 10" tablet (the G-Pen F610) which can be had for just under $100. Anyone have any experience with this brand?

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I have the 6x8. I use it almost exclusively as a mouse. I found that I am just about as accurate with the mouse as I am with the pen. I only use the pen when I need "flow control," and that isn't very often.

 

[BuzzLiteyear]

I have the 6x8 bluetooth version. I love it.

 

[pixiedustforever]

just bumping this back up!

I'm interested in the Wacom tablet, too. It was recommended to me as part of a bundle for about $100. What are some of the practical applications of the tablet? Some of y'all have mentioned drawing.
What do you do with what has been drawn?

The bundle comes with Photoshop Elements 5. What does 6 do that 5 doesn't?

TIA!

"Pixiedustforever"

 

[labdogs42]

just bumping this back up!

I'm interested in the Wacom tablet, too. It was recommended to me as part of a bundle for about $100. What are some of the practical applications of the tablet? Some of y'all have mentioned drawing.
What do you do with what has been drawn?

The bundle comes with Photoshop Elements 5. What does 6 do that 5 doesn't?

TIA!

"Pixiedustforever"

I was looking at it to use with digital scrapbooking and photo editing software. I have heard that PSE 5 is actually the preferred application for digital scrapbooking and that PSE 6 is not as good. I'm also looking at that bundle on Amazon with the Wacom and PSE! I think I'm going to ask for it for Mother's Day!

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

I have the Wacom 6x8 (had it for almost 2 years now). And I looove it!
Use it as my primary mouse.
But also for photo editing, for drawing and for all kinds of designing (Disney DISign, anyone?), especialy in photoshop.
As I have a joints condition (thus including the wrists), I find it much easier and less painful than the traditional mouse to use for prolonged period of time... the hand position is more natural.

It's also much more precise when you want to make a correction in a picture (like draw over red eyes).
It takes a little getting used to at first, for the right and left-clicks, double clicking, etc. But it's not harder (in fact, easier) than getting used to a laptop touchpad. The tablet also usually has customizable buttons and a touch strip you can use to move the screen up-down or left-right (also customizable!).

You can buy different pen tips to have different feels (felt, pencil, etc.). I find some last longer than others... Yep, they don't last forever!
Usually, they sharpen on one side, and if you're not careful about it, it scratches your tablet's surface! (it's what happened to me... There wasn't any info about that in the user's manual... and I never thought something like that would happen... not so soon anyway!).
Thankfully, you can just buy a kind of replacement mat, it's really easy and it's really not costly (don't remember the exact cost, maybe about 20$). I'm much less stressed about a speck of dust landing on it or my cat scratching it now!
And I change the tips more often... it's not like they cost a lot!

I don't know about digital scrapbooking though, but if it's anything crafty, I'm sure it'll be something wonderful to do it with!

Bottom line : if you do crafty stuff on your computer, it's a must have!

 

[pixiedustforever]

Thanks for your reply!

Jessica - I have heard the same as you about 5 vs 6. I've also found the bundle at Office Depot and Best Buy. Circuit City might have it, too!

AnnieDan - where do you get the replacement mats? You sure make it sound like the Wacom pad is something I NEED! lol!!

"Pixiedustforever"

 

[SueInBoston]

Some of y'all have mentioned drawing.
What do you do with what has been drawn?


"Pixiedustforever"

My DD likes to use it to draw, she's done a book project cover, birthday cards for her friends and anime/manga type drawings.

Book report cover:

Birthday card: "asploded" is a joke

Misc drawings:

 

[AZ JazzyJ]

I seriously need to pick up a tablet. Drawing with a mouse is like trying to sketch with a brick.

 

[fitzperry]

I seriously need to pick up a tablet. Drawing with a mouse is like trying to sketch with a brick.

Great analogy. I'd like to get one too.

SueInBoston--those are wonderful pictures. Your dd is very talented.

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

SueInBoston, your DD is AWESOME!!! Wow! I like to draw too, but I wish I could be that good!
What I like the most with the tablet is, I don't have to ruin paper with my mess...

AZ JazzyJ, wonderful analogy, couldn't have said it better!!! It's freedom!

Pixiedustforever : You'll only need a replacement mat (which in fact is called an "overlay sheet") if you're not being careful, like not making sure the tablet stays clean (draging dust or cat hair around with the pen sure doesn't help scratching it's surface!) and not changing the pen's tip often enough!
What this part looks like :

But in case you do need to change it (and I wouldn't buy it just in case either!), here's where I bought mine : http://www.coolgraphicstuff.com They also sell the pen tips, and the tablets too! (and lots of other stuff... but I only discovered them because that's where Wacom sent me for the mat... Because at first I didn't know you could just replace that, and I was truly panicking -and offended that my tablet was ruined after less than 6 months!- Living in Canada, I'm always trying to lower shipping cost and buy locally, so I didn't buy anything else there.)
The service was good and I received the mat and tips quickly and in perfect condition.

Hope all of you wanting tablets can get one and have fun with it!