DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> wacom
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 11 of 11, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 03/04/2008 10:42:42 PM · #1
hey everyone, so i just got a wacom tablet for the fiirst time, and am using this to write this message! anyway i have heard great things about how helpful they are in the Adobe suite. I have a hard time with it right now, but am getting better. Does anyone else here use one, and has it helped them? If there are any experts here, how do you make it read amounts of pressure? Thanks alot!
03/04/2008 11:05:14 PM · #2
I use a wacom tablet almost all the time. I never use the mouse that came with it. I always use the pen. I've been using it for several years, and I don't even think about it any more. I particularly find it useful when doing fine work in Photoshop -- much more precise than the mouse or track ball. It's much easier to select specific areas, and it is very helpful when painting/dodging/burning in small areas. I don't remember learning how to use it. It seems it was just intuitive. I set it up using the panels in the driver program. They are self-explanatory. At first I experimented a lot with the settings for the various buttons. Finally I settled on the functions that were comfortable and convenient for me. It's quite personal. I think you need to find your own preferences by trial.
 03/04/2008 11:35:04 PM · #3
I have the Wacom Intuos 3 (9x12) and have used it for almost two years. Makes editing a lot easier and efficient not to mention more precise. As far as setting the pressure you do that during setup while loading the CD but you also can go into control panel and open Wacom Tablet Properties and set your pressure sensitivity along with other setting.

I don't use the mouse, only the pen.

What version of Photoshop do you currently use?
 03/04/2008 11:42:17 PM · #4
Thank you both for the replies so far... Still working on this pressure thing, and cant get it figured out. I have the Adobe Creative Suite CS 3.
 03/05/2008 05:14:01 PM · #5
I just purchased a Wacom Intuos 3 4x6 tablet, and I love it. I experienced a bit of hand and head fatique while learning to use it, and some trouble with double-clicking but that's all gone now.

Load the Wacom drivers from the CD. The Wacom tablet properties utility will be installed on your computer, along with the online help (in the form of a PDF file). Read the PDF file (access it from the Help menu or buttons, I think), open the Wacom tablet utility, and just start playing with all the settings until you find what works for you. In the Wacom tablet utility, there is an "advanced" option that has a little "doodle" box where you can scribble to test the pen sensitivity. Drag the pen sensitivity slider until you find a setting that is comfortable for you.

The one thing I have found is that when I choose a brush in Photoshop (7.0), I don't always get the brush width I am expecting. For example, I choose a brush and adjust the width, and with the mouse it would be a BIG round cursor. With the pen, it is still a big round cursor, but when I place pen tip to tablet, I get a very firm looking narrow stroke, when I expect a wider soft one. This has been frustrating for me, but the other night I learned that if I press harder with the tip, I can get the desired wider stroke. So - experiment also with how hard you press the tip on the tablet.

I hope this info helps. I really like my Wacom tablet and pen. Selecting, cloning and masking is so much easier with it.
 03/05/2008 05:17:45 PM · #6
Originally posted by amathiasphoto:
hey everyone, so i just got a wacom tablet for the fiirst time, and am using this to write this message! anyway i have heard great things about how helpful they are in the Adobe suite. I have a hard time with it right now, but am getting better. Does anyone else here use one, and has it helped them? If there are any experts here, how do you make it read amounts of pressure? Thanks alot!


Hi which tablet are you using? at risk of hick jacking, which entry level tablet would people recommend? is a bamboo one good enough for starters?

Thanks
 03/05/2008 05:19:10 PM · #7
you can also change the sensitivity for specific programs, so If you don't want to have to press as hard to get that larger circle in PS you can change your settings for PS
 03/05/2008 05:25:50 PM · #8
Originally posted by Eyesup:
you can also change the sensitivity for specific programs, so If you don't want to have to press as hard to get that larger circle in PS you can change your settings for PS


Wow! Thanks for this tip. I was aware that application-specific settings could be created, but had put that aside until I felt the need to use it. I only use the tablet with Photoshop at the moment, and I will be sure to check this out.
 03/05/2008 05:29:50 PM · #9
Originally posted by Valdo:


Hi which tablet are you using? at risk of hick jacking, which entry level tablet would people recommend? is a bamboo one good enough for starters?

Thanks


I was considerably surprised when I asked Future Shop if they had any graphics tablets, and was directed to a big shelf that had a number of Bamboo tablet models on it. When I discussed the Bamboo with one of the sales staff, he (seemed extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic about graphics tablets) informed me that the Bamboo models are targetted for hobby-ists, whereas the Wacoms are targetted to serious/professional graphic artists. The Bamboo model pens do not have the pressure sensitivity that the Wacom pens do. I immediately opted for the Wacom on the spot. I hope this info helps.
 03/05/2008 06:20:45 PM · #10
Originally posted by mcrael:
Originally posted by Valdo:


Hi which tablet are you using? at risk of hick jacking, which entry level tablet would people recommend? is a bamboo one good enough for starters?

Thanks


I was considerably surprised when I asked Future Shop if they had any graphics tablets, and was directed to a big shelf that had a number of Bamboo tablet models on it. When I discussed the Bamboo with one of the sales staff, he (seemed extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic about graphics tablets) informed me that the Bamboo models are targetted for hobby-ists, whereas the Wacoms are targetted to serious/professional graphic artists. The Bamboo model pens do not have the pressure sensitivity that the Wacom pens do. I immediately opted for the Wacom on the spot. I hope this info helps.


I believe that Wacom replaced the Graphire models with the Bamboo series. They have 512 pressure points compared to the 1,024 of the Intuos (next model up).
 03/05/2008 06:27:14 PM · #11
When I decided to get a tablet, I wasn't sure if I would like it or not. I didn't know how well my mind would work with drawing on a tablet while looking at the screen. So I opted for a cheaper tablet. I have been very happy with the tablet. It has the 1024 levels of sensitivity and has worked very well for me. If you aren't sure about a Wacom then I suggest lookig at this one.

My only complaints about this tablet would be the eraser function in Photoshop doesn't work (and I haven't played with it to figure out why) and when the tablet is plugged in it prevented my computer from going into a sleep mode.

Other than that for less than a hundred bones you can't beat it.

Genius Tablet at Newegg
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 04/18/2024 12:25:52 AM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Prints! - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 04/18/2024 12:25:52 AM EDT.