Hello all,

I am considering buying a Wacom tablet. I'm not much of a sketch
artist or drawer, but rather I was wondering if a Wacom tablet would
be (after getting used to it) faster and/or more efficient for doing
precision selections and cutouts in Photoshop. I'm sure I will be
doing some sketching/drawing at some point, but my main purpose would
be for selections, such as with the pen or lasso tool.

I'm currently considering the 4x6 Intuos3, at about $199. I've watched
some vids and brief tutorials of the tablet. Looks great, and like it
could really be useful! Any input/advice much appreciated.

Michael

On Sat, 08 Mar 2008 13:51:13 -0500, Michael J <michael@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>Hello all,
>
>I am considering buying a Wacom tablet. I'm not much of a sketch
>artist or drawer, but rather I was wondering if a Wacom tablet would
>be (after getting used to it) faster and/or more efficient for doing
>precision selections and cutouts in Photoshop. I'm sure I will be
>doing some sketching/drawing at some point, but my main purpose would
>be for selections, such as with the pen or lasso tool.
>
>I'm currently considering the 4x6 Intuos3, at about $199. I've watched
>some vids and brief tutorials of the tablet. Looks great, and like it
>could really be useful! Any input/advice much appreciated.
>
>Michael


If you watched videos and tutorials, you have seen more than anyone
here can tell you. No one of us regret the buy of graphic tablets.
I am using a 6x8 Genius.

Michael J <michael@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> I am considering buying a Wacom tablet. I'm not much of a sketch
> artist or drawer, but rather I was wondering if a Wacom tablet would
> be (after getting used to it) faster and/or more efficient for doing
> precision selections and cutouts in Photoshop. I'm sure I will be
> doing some sketching/drawing at some point, but my main purpose would
> be for selections, such as with the pen or lasso tool.
>
> I'm currently considering the 4x6 Intuos3, at about $199. I've watched
> some vids and brief tutorials of the tablet. Looks great, and like it
> could really be useful! Any input/advice much appreciated.
>
> Michael

Tablet is lot more then selection and cutout etc.. but for some very basic
tools like cloning, erasing, masking etc. when you get a hang of it then you
wouldn't wanna go without it.

*BUT* it will take quite sometime to get rid of the mouse (could be 2-3
months) then few months to master the toy. I have been using tablet for
nearly 2 decades or never use mouse for over a decade.

On Sat, 08 Mar 2008 16:51:06 -0600, Joel <Joel@NoSpam.com> wrote:

>
> Tablet is lot more then selection and cutout etc.. but for some very basic
>tools like cloning, erasing, masking etc. when you get a hang of it then you
>wouldn't wanna go without it.
>
> *BUT* it will take quite sometime to get rid of the mouse (could be 2-3
>months) then few months to master the toy. I have been using tablet for
>nearly 2 decades or never use mouse for over a decade.


I keep on using both, because while it is impossible to do a signature
with a mouse, it is clumsy to use a pen for clicking here and there
and why will I use a pen to crop with etc.

On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 06:50:28 +0200, Dave <d@d.durbs> wrote:

>On Sat, 08 Mar 2008 16:51:06 -0600, Joel <Joel@NoSpam.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> Tablet is lot more then selection and cutout etc.. but for some very basic
>>tools like cloning, erasing, masking etc. when you get a hang of it then you
>>wouldn't wanna go without it.
>>
>> *BUT* it will take quite sometime to get rid of the mouse (could be 2-3
>>months) then few months to master the toy. I have been using tablet for
>>nearly 2 decades or never use mouse for over a decade.
>
>
>I keep on using both, because while it is impossible to do a signature
>with a mouse, it is clumsy to use a pen for clicking here and there
>and why will I use a pen to crop with etc.

Thanks for all the continuing input people. I recently got done
watching a video from Photoshop Cafe, "Photoshop Secrets - Wacom
Tablets and Photoshop," with Colin Smith and Wes Maggio (no plug
intended). After watching this vid I must say, I HAVE TO HAVE ONE!
Wow, I don't think I could have imagined how useful these things could
be and how far they have come with the technology. It's even inspiring
me to draw, (plus it should come in handy with Flash 8 as another
benefit). For my main purposes of selection, I don't know if the
tablet will be mega-more precise than a precision mouse/track ball,
but at least equally so and man will it ever be more efficient than a
mouse after you get used to it. Especially toggling back and forth
from direct select to quick mask mode. And the EASY opacity changes
for transparency with the brush pressure levels? One word: awesome. In
fact, after seeing what these things can do, I think I'm going to go
with the 6x8 Intuos3 rather than the 4x6. I've been contemplating
having a tablet since '02. I think it's time to get one.

Michael

Dave <d@d.durbs> wrote:

> On Sat, 08 Mar 2008 16:51:06 -0600, Joel <Joel@NoSpam.com> wrote:
>
> >
> > Tablet is lot more then selection and cutout etc.. but for some very basic
> >tools like cloning, erasing, masking etc. when you get a hang of it then you
> >wouldn't wanna go without it.
> >
> > *BUT* it will take quite sometime to get rid of the mouse (could be 2-3
> >months) then few months to master the toy. I have been using tablet for
> >nearly 2 decades or never use mouse for over a decade.
>
>
> I keep on using both, because while it is impossible to do a signature
> with a mouse, it is clumsy to use a pen for clicking here and there
> and why will I use a pen to crop with etc.

As I said PRACTICING! PRACTICING! and PRACTICING!

Michael J <michael@yahoo.com> wrote:

> On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 06:50:28 +0200, Dave <d@d.durbs> wrote:
>
> >On Sat, 08 Mar 2008 16:51:06 -0600, Joel <Joel@NoSpam.com> wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> Tablet is lot more then selection and cutout etc.. but for some very basic
> >>tools like cloning, erasing, masking etc. when you get a hang of it then you
> >>wouldn't wanna go without it.
> >>
> >> *BUT* it will take quite sometime to get rid of the mouse (could be 2-3
> >>months) then few months to master the toy. I have been using tablet for
> >>nearly 2 decades or never use mouse for over a decade.
> >
> >
> >I keep on using both, because while it is impossible to do a signature
> >with a mouse, it is clumsy to use a pen for clicking here and there
> >and why will I use a pen to crop with etc.
>
> Thanks for all the continuing input people. I recently got done
> watching a video from Photoshop Cafe, "Photoshop Secrets - Wacom
> Tablets and Photoshop," with Colin Smith and Wes Maggio (no plug
> intended). After watching this vid I must say, I HAVE TO HAVE ONE!
> Wow, I don't think I could have imagined how useful these things could
> be and how far they have come with the technology. It's even inspiring
> me to draw, (plus it should come in handy with Flash 8 as another
> benefit). For my main purposes of selection, I don't know if the
> tablet will be mega-more precise than a precision mouse/track ball,
> but at least equally so and man will it ever be more efficient than a
> mouse after you get used to it. Especially toggling back and forth
> from direct select to quick mask mode. And the EASY opacity changes
> for transparency with the brush pressure levels? One word: awesome. In
> fact, after seeing what these things can do, I think I'm going to go
> with the 6x8 Intuos3 rather than the 4x6. I've been contemplating
> having a tablet since '02. I think it's time to get one.
>
> Michael

It's no difference than a regular pen, but as long as you keep reaching
for the mouse then you will never be able to get the max out of the pen. As
I said, it's much more than selecting, or it's little easier but not much
difference comparing to mouse, but for other then it's day and night
difference.

As I mentioned, learn not to use mouse but PEN only on everything for
around a month or so, and hopefully you will no longer need mouse by then.
And if you still using mouse for other then PEN may not be a good idea as
you will never be able to master it.

I've also been looking at the Bamboo tablets , you can get one for £50/60 ,
but are these small ones (6x4?) a waste of time? or is there better
value-for-money out there.
Probably only use it in PS etc.


--
RobertJM

"Joel" <Joel@NoSpam.com> wrote in message
newsas9t3l46f5o029ftg64oi2841gs0gfr8m@4ax.com...
> Michael J <michael@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 06:50:28 +0200, Dave <d@d.durbs> wrote:
>>
>> >On Sat, 08 Mar 2008 16:51:06 -0600, Joel <Joel@NoSpam.com> wrote:
>> >
>> >>
>> >> Tablet is lot more then selection and cutout etc.. but for some very
>> >> basic
>> >>tools like cloning, erasing, masking etc. when you get a hang of it
>> >>then you
>> >>wouldn't wanna go without it.
>> >>
>> >> *BUT* it will take quite sometime to get rid of the mouse (could be
>> >> 2-3
>> >>months) then few months to master the toy. I have been using tablet
>> >>for
>> >>nearly 2 decades or never use mouse for over a decade.
>> >
>> >
>> >I keep on using both, because while it is impossible to do a signature
>> >with a mouse, it is clumsy to use a pen for clicking here and there
>> >and why will I use a pen to crop with etc.
>>
>> Thanks for all the continuing input people. I recently got done
>> watching a video from Photoshop Cafe, "Photoshop Secrets - Wacom
>> Tablets and Photoshop," with Colin Smith and Wes Maggio (no plug
>> intended). After watching this vid I must say, I HAVE TO HAVE ONE!
>> Wow, I don't think I could have imagined how useful these things could
>> be and how far they have come with the technology. It's even inspiring
>> me to draw, (plus it should come in handy with Flash 8 as another
>> benefit). For my main purposes of selection, I don't know if the
>> tablet will be mega-more precise than a precision mouse/track ball,
>> but at least equally so and man will it ever be more efficient than a
>> mouse after you get used to it. Especially toggling back and forth
>> from direct select to quick mask mode. And the EASY opacity changes
>> for transparency with the brush pressure levels? One word: awesome. In
>> fact, after seeing what these things can do, I think I'm going to go
>> with the 6x8 Intuos3 rather than the 4x6. I've been contemplating
>> having a tablet since '02. I think it's time to get one.
>>
>> Michael
>
> It's no difference than a regular pen, but as long as you keep reaching
> for the mouse then you will never be able to get the max out of the pen.
> As
> I said, it's much more than selecting, or it's little easier but not much
> difference comparing to mouse, but for other then it's day and night
> difference.
>
> As I mentioned, learn not to use mouse but PEN only on everything for
> around a month or so, and hopefully you will no longer need mouse by then.
> And if you still using mouse for other then PEN may not be a good idea as
> you will never be able to master it.