Graphics Tablets

[Peter H]

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I want to replace my ancient Wacom tablet because I can't get it to work properly, so I searched the forum but the most recent posts on the subject of graphics tablets seems to be a couple of years old now.

 

Does anyone with recent experience of using a Wacom or similar (is there anything similar?) have anything they'd like to mention before I stick my order in? I'd be using it with a 27" iMac, if that makes a difference to anything.

 

Many thanks.

[Paul J]

People always look at me sideways when I tell them I don't and never have used a tablet to retouch. I just like a mouse. But all the digital operators I use while shooting will only use a tablet and really Wacom is the only brand that is discussed. The new ones are "Touch" meaning they have iPad like gestures, I would go for one of those because it's handy and works well. I use them in this mode while shooting tethered and they are great for quick actions while standing and shooting.

 

Have to say I'm rather tempted by these.

I was actually surprised by the price thinking it would be twice as much.

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[wattsy]

An artist I sometimes work for has a Cintiq in his studio (in fact I installed it for him because he is considerably less techy than me) and I found it very awkward to use. There seemed to be a certain amount of lag and it felt like trying to draw on a pice of paper which is underneath a few millimetres of glass. In other words, the tip of the 'pen' doesn't touch the surface you are drawing/painting on and, depending upon where you position your head, there is a certain amount of parallax that you need to get used to. That said, this was a few years ago and the latest Cintiq may work more intuitively.

 

As far as normal tablets go, I had one circa 1997 for retouching, etc., decided I prefer a mouse and haven't changed my habits since then, so I'm afraid I don't have any opinion on the current models.

[farnz]

I used to use a Wacom 5(?) but when I moved from Windoze to my 21" iMac I found that the Trackpad is all I need for post-processing (and everything else) and my mouse sits in the corner sulking and glowering at me. The Trackpad's brushed aluminium surface has a nice tactile feel to it, is very reactive and responsive and Bluetooth means not having the constriction and mess of cables. (I'm not trying to change your mind but offering an alternative personal experience.)

 

Pete.

[honcho]

I stopped using a mouse when Wacom revolutionised digital retouching years ago and have never touched one since. It's the first thing I discard after I've set up a new Macintosh.

 

Depending on your intended use, simple is best unless you want or really need a multitude of options. A basic graphics tablet is far easier and more accurate than trying to retouch with a mouse, especially when making detailed selections.

Edited March 8, 2014 by honcho

[Peter H]

.......... I found that the Trackpad is all I need for post-processing (and everything else) ...............

 

Thanks for the tips everyone.

 

I've too have been using a trackpad exclusively, for the last couple of years now, and it is marvellous, intuitive, quick and accurate. But there are still times when I can't get the precise control I can get from a graphics tablet, and now the tablets come with touch controls that are supposed to be as good as the trackpad's, as well as automatic switching to stylus control and other automated featuresI think I have to give it a try.

 

So I've ordered a small Wacom Intuos Pro, to see how I get on with it.

[edmond_terakopian]

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I want to replace my ancient Wacom tablet because I can't get it to work properly, so I searched the forum but the most recent posts on the subject of graphics tablets seems to be a couple of years old now.

 

Does anyone with recent experience of using a Wacom or similar (is there anything similar?) have anything they'd like to mention before I stick my order in? I'd be using it with a 27" iMac, if that makes a difference to anything.

 

Many thanks.

 

The latest Wacoms with touch are superb. I have the pro version in the medium size and it's superb. I use it as a trackpad for general computing and then pick up the pen when photo or video editing. It's a superb setup, Also bought the smaller amateur version for when I'm giving presentations on a projector using my MacBook Air 11"; that works very well too.

 

Highly recommended :-)

 

Edmond

[nggalai]

I’ve used an Intuos 5, the first line of Intuos tablets with touch functionality, for two years now. It’s similar to the more recent Pro range of tablets, sort-of “first generation” with some quirks that were taken care of with the Pro. The buttons for example, which weren’t crap on the 5 but the Pro’s are far nicer.

 

The Intuos 5 is still going strong, but the touch surface has eaten through nips like mad. I had to change them every month or so. With my old Graphire with “normal” surface nips lasted at least twice as long. It’s better now as the papery surface has been worn down so much the tablet looks as if it had been sand-blasted and polished …

 

That’s my main gripe with the Intuos 5 Touch – its surface. You can’t simply replace the mat once worn down (you have to send in the whole tablet) and even after months of intense use I still triggered gestures accidentally simply by resting my thumb on the tablet. I turned off Touch for good after about quarter of a year and have used a Kensington trackball as a compact mouse replacement when the pen won’t do ever since.

 

I don’t know whether there are Pro versions without Touch, as there were with the Intuos 5 range of tablets, but if you don’t plan to use Touch all that much and care for easy replacement mats I’d nowadays buy a non-Touch Intuos instead.

 

Cheers,

-Sascha