Wacom Tablet

[dwdallam]

I need to buy a Wacom tablet. or something similar. Which do you prefer and why?

Also, do you need to glue the top sheet down on the Intuos? If so, does the layer come off a lot?

[Graeme Nattress]

I've used most styles of Wacom's over the years, all sizes from the graphire to the big 24" ones. I don't like the very big tablets. I do like the Intuous 3 widescreen one I have. It's very comfortable and a great size. On the tablets with the plastic top-sheet, I've never had any bother with it coming loose.

Graeme

[jjj]

I started with an A3, then changed to an A4 and now use an A6. Don't see any point in having bigger as I only move pen in fingers and can still cover a very large desktop and with finesse when needed.  Intuos tablets do feel nicer than Graphires.

[dwdallam]

I was thinking about getting the 6x8 size.
Intuos3
13.6" x 10.3" x .5"

That's about as big as I would want to work with something on my lap.

I guess I'll ring one up tonight. My elbow is already killing me.

[jjj]

I have mine 20x21cm [8"x8"] on right side of 39cm [15.5"] wide keyboard it has separate number pad and I use mouse on left [you get used to it] and it makes for a very ergonomic solution. I used to get RSI, but no more. Alternating use of both hands helps as does having desk at correct height.
Wacom always show their tablets in front of keyboard, which is quite awkward, especially if you have a big one [!], as keyboard is harder to use then and so degrades the ergonomics.
I have a desk I can stand at too, so again it breaks monotony of position, which all helps. Finding a seat tall enough is a bit trickier than a normal seat, but it can be done.

[dwdallam]

I ordered it!

[jjj]

Make sure you spend some time fiddling with preferences to get feel you like. They are lovely devices.

[Tim Gray]

I'm a big fan of the Intuos.  I'm also lucky in that although left handed I always used the mouse with my right - so now I have the best of both worlds.  I'm lost without it - using my laptop...

Don't know your operating system, but with Vista 32 I had some driver problems initially - but not recently, however would recommend you back up the configuration file once you have it set the way you want.

I've used mine for about 18 months now, but don't use the pressure sensitivity or angle detection - I use the mouse for right click, and map the pen's right click to the space bar as a PS keyboard shortcut.  Right scroll bar controls cursor size and other buttons are mapped to other keyboard shortcuts in both PS and LR.  (configuration of the buttons and scroll bars can be at the app level).

[DesW]

I ordered it!
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Yoh,

A few years ago,one of the PS Gurus--Ms Kost I think recommended taping a sheet of  Plain White Copy paper over the pad--I have this on mine  and highly endorse.
It sort of applies a slight drag(grip) to the Pen-- see what you think.

Des W

[dwdallam]

Thanks for all the help. It should be here tomorrow. can't wait for the control it will give me and the relief from my elbow.

[Graeme Nattress]

Never had any mouse strain since I got my first one over 10 years ago. Enjoy!

Graeme

[dwdallam]

Never had any mouse strain since I got my first one over 10 years ago. Enjoy!

Graeme
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I hate you.

[Graeme Nattress]

Please don't.... There was a period a few years back through illness I couldn't type easily, and had  some freedom from pain in my right hand so was able to spend time doing photography and using the wacom with photoshop. I wouldn't wish  that on anyone and if you've been having mousing pain, I really hope  the wacom helps you as much as it  helped me.

Graeme

[dwdallam]

Please don't.... There was a period a few years back through illness I couldn't type easily, and had  some freedom from pain in my right hand so was able to spend time doing photography and using the wacom with photoshop. I wouldn't wish  that on anyone and if you've been having mousing pain, I really hope  the wacom helps you as much as it  helped me.

Graeme
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I was joking. I misread your post too. What I think you said was that you have had one for 10 years and never had RSS. That's very inspiring because the only way I probably would have ever tried a tablet was from my arm hurting. It sounds like my pain will now go away! Yah!

[seangirard]

Try starting out with your opposite hand (left in my case). It is a little awkward at first but if you stick with it it becomes pretty natural. I use a tablet for my left hand where i do most of my mousing, keeping a regular mouse for the right hand. That and a taller chair have gone a long way toward reducing RSI over the last several years for me.

[Graeme Nattress]

I was doing a lot of mousing and feeling the strain, so I got the wacom. Since then, I've not had any  strain, and when, through other reasons, typing was painful, the wacom worked great to get me through that rough patch when using a computer was very painful. In many ways, I owe what's left of my sanity to wacom.

Graeme

[jjj]

I use the mouse for right click, and map the pen's right click to the space bar as a PS keyboard shortcut.
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That's an odd way to use pen. Especially as the space bar is the very useful [temp] Pan/hand tool in PS As well as being part of the essential zoom shortcut [Cmd/Cntrl+ Spacebar].
Why not simply use the rightclick on the pen, much easier than using your other hand?

[Tim Gray]

That's an odd way to use pen. Especially as the space bar is the very useful [temp] Pan/hand tool in PS As well as being part of the essential zoom shortcut [Cmd/Cntrl+ Spacebar].
Why not simply use the rightclick on the pen, much easier than using your other hand?

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Mostly due to the way the keyboard, mouse and table sit on my desk.  I use the scroll wheel on the mouse to zoom.  The keyboard is shifted a fair amount to the left and my right hand isn't really near the space bar.

[Ken Bennett]

I have the Wacom tablet in front of me, and the keyboard behind it, and slightly offset to the left. My right hand controls the pen, and my left hand uses the keyboard shortcuts in Photoshop to choose tools, change brush sizes, etc. When I want to use a mouse, I slide the tablet to the right, and slide my wireless mouse and mouse pad in.

Learning the keyboard shortcuts is a HUGE productivity boost, not to mention it cuts down on wrist and elbow problems.

[jjj]

This is why I have a narrow keyboard, and therefore the any two of Keyboard, mouse and tablet can be easily used at same time.  I often tend to type with pen in my fingers if I'm using tablet, as I am now.
The new Mac keyboard is nice and narrow, albeit cramped, but I use a Logitech keyboard that has a seaprate number pad as it's narrow, but also very comfortable to use. And less fiddly than Apple's keyboard.

Digressing, but also ergonomically related.
I've never understood why Apple insist on using cramped Laptop size keyboards for desktops, though I suspect they save money by having less sometimes variation in kit even though it's at customers' expense, comfort wise.
Also using the same keypad on 12" laptop as the teatray sized 17"! Cheap or what?