Ok, so I tried one before (very briefly) and quickly sold it.

I have another on order because I *really* want to love it again

I do lots of chromakey extractions and am getting sick of tracing with my mouse.

I got the Wacom 4x6 (based on reviews that smaller is better) and it comes with a mouse (which is reportedly a pretty bad one, but that's Ok).

So, any input would be appreciated! I know that it has a steep learning curve and most hate it at the beginning, but can't live without it after mastering it.

Thanks!

greg

if you didn't like one before, you probably won't like one now. shame though as there are things you can do with a tablet and stylus that are next to impossible with anything else. i've had one since 1994.

Herb...

Point on tablet = point on screen.
Point on tablet = point on screen.
Point on tablet = point on screen.

Learn it, live it, love it. There's not a lot of hate to be had if you embrace the gestalt of tablets—just a brief period of adjustment. Most of the hate comes from assuming it's a mousepad with a pen and the ensuing brain-melting-out-ears when it works nothing like a mouse.

I don't know about it having a steep learning curve. As colinm has said, "Point on tablet=point on screen." When your task is to draw a line, you already know how to use a pencil. What learning curve?

If you prefer a mouse for other purposes, then continue using your own mouse--it does not interfer with any other pointing device.

^ +1

I had a Wacom with a mouse and nasty does not begin to describe the mouse. But everything else about it - sweet!

I also would like to love it. After wanting one for several years I finally bought the Wacom3 4x6. I messed with it for several days (with Photoshop) and have not gone back to it since.

Is there a tutorial (video?) that would help ?

Phil

Here is something to try when your tablet arrives: map the screen to the upper left corner of the tablet (feature in supplied software). Only use about one sixth of the surface area. Then you can just rest your hand on the tablet and move only the stylus. Try it! There is a very short learning curve.

If you accidentally set up the tablet and stylus to work like a mouse, it'll drive you nuts and you will hate it.

For those that have not run into this, the tablet is not mapped to the screen. Try it, you'll hate it.

Usually it is because the OS recognizes the tablet and installs it with the default settings. How do I know? New computer and it did that to me. Disable the OS features and use Wacom driver and software. You'll love it.

gheller wrote:
Ok, so I tried one before (very briefly) and quickly sold it.


I had an old-maid aunt years ago who tried to drive a car. She couldn't get the hang of it in five minutes so she gave up. We had to haul her around with us for the rest of her life.

Learning to drive a car is a lot more complex and demanding than learning to use a pen and tablet. Can you drive a car?

Give it a try again, you'll be more than pleased in 3 days.

Peano2 wrote:
gheller wrote:
Ok, so I tried one before (very briefly) and quickly sold it.


I had an old-maid aunt years ago who tried to drive a car. She couldn't get the hang of it in five minutes so she gave up. We had to haul her around with us for the rest of her life.

Learning to drive a car is a lot more complex and demanding than learning to use a pen and tablet. Can you drive a car?

But could your aunt use a Wacom?

paulhodson wrote:

But could your aunt use a Wacom?

She couldn't get past the quill pen.

I love my WaCom. I use the smallest size with 5 monitors (bigger sizes were NOT as good) but I also use a wireless mouse and, occasionally, a trackball.

Love it!

I have one of the large ones, love it!

We have 2 Intuos tablets and a Cintiq. I loved the Intuos when I had it, but they seem positively primitive compared to the Cintiq.

Arka C.

To me, it's not so much a learning curve as a paradigm shift.

Once your world spins on the tablet axis instead of the mouse axis, everything is clear and works as it should.

Mike

Stick with it and you'll love it. If you think getting used to one of these is tough, try using a spaceball! I use one of these for work for manipulating 3D CAD models. Took about 2 weeks to get the hang of. Now I wouldn't use anything else.

Same goes for a tablet. After a week of occasional use, I got the hang of it and found myself using it for other things than photoshop, just because it became intuitive. There are some things that you will always want to use the mouse for-I have the mouse on my desk within arms reach so I can still use it when I want it, and just keep the stylus in my hand at the same time, so you never need to put it down.

Andy

And another thing - you can type with the pen tucked between your fingers instead of putting it down - which can be handy.

I don't use the tablet for everything. I use an IBM keyboard with a trackpoint--that's my primary pointing tool when I'm doing anything that's keyboard intensive. I learned touch typing in high school back when typing was part of high school vocational training (secretaries did all the typing back in those days, and a few guys who were thinking of being journalists or writers). I love the touchpoint because it keeps my fingers on the "home keys."

But when I'm working with images, the tablet is the obvious natural way to work. Humans have been using stylii for millennia.

The intuos 3 and 4 are substantially better than the previous generations...

I recommend using "mouse mode" instead of "Pen mode" to get more resolution out of your 4x6 tablet. Pen mode can be jittery when doing fine detail work on a smaller tablet.