I'm thinking of getting a Wacom Graphics Tablet and would appreciate any feedback from users. I'm familiar with their usefulness and accuracy compared to a mouse but the thing I'm most concerned about is size. I use a 24" widescreen monitor and was wondering if the active working area on the Bamboo Pen model will be too small at 147mm x 92mm. I'm aware that the larger versions are ideally suited to the bigger screens but they're considerably more expensive and I don't want to spend that sort of cash if I can help it, not at this moment in time anyway.
I'd appreciate any opinions from Wacom users, particularly from anyone who may be using the smaller size tablets. Do you find them ok, or do you wish you had a larger size?
I may be interested in a secondhand one if anyone has one for sale.
Posted by Mark Caton on August 17, 2010 at 1:16 PM
You can get a Bamboo Pen Touch Medium, which will come out about the right size. Ideally a Intuous A5 wide would do the job, but there aren't many of those about (discontinued, but may be available from a well known auction site from time to time). I got myself an second hand Intuous A4 for dual screen use, and it is a bit big. But if you buy second hand the price difference from a new Bamboo is not that great.
Mark
Posted by Austin Thomas on August 17, 2010 at 1:16 PM
Hi Justin,
I have an old A4 one ( Intuos 2 ) which has an active area of around 150mm * 200mm and I use that very happily with a 30" widescreen monitor.
I would not want a larger A3 Wacom and certainly find that I prefer to use the Wacom for all but the simplest of operations in Photoshop. I haven't tried the smaller tablets but I imagine the pen technology has changed since my ancient Wacom was produced so it might not be a fair comparison when comparing an old tablet and old pen with a newer smaller tablet and new pen if that makes sense.
I'd give Wacom a call and see what they recommend for 24" screens.
I hope this helps.
Cheers
Austin
www.austin-thomas.co.uk
Posted by Paul Rosser on August 17, 2010 at 1:22 PM
Hi Justin, my monitor is 24" wide, and I use the Bamboo Pen Tablet, I don't find much wrong with the size. Size isn't everything . Hope this helps.
Regards,
Paul Rosser.
I use a wacom each and every day in my work, Paul is right size isn't everything as far as tablets are concerned, in fact the larger ones can be quite awkward needing far too much movement of the pen..... I have an A5 tablet at work and an A6 here at home, the smaller tablet is fine for normal PS work, the only reason I use an A5 at work is for the finer detail,I certainly wouldnot go any larger.
A pen and tablet does take some getting used to but persevere and you will never go back to a mouse.
If you need any more info, send me an email -( P.Hurst(at)nhm.ac.uk) as I am only looking in occasionally, very busy with a couple of things at the moment.
All the best
Phil
Posted by Dave Bartlett on August 17, 2010 at 3:39 PM
I started off with one of the Bamboo tablets which I really liked. I've recently got the Intuos 4 in A5 size and find it great to use on a 24" screen. However, there are many on here who have far greater experience and ability than I do !!
Used an A4 for too many years, and also have a couple of smaller A6 tablets from when they came with pen and mouse... all work quite happily with hi-res (1920x1200) without any fiddling around.
Get one of the smaller ones to decide if it's for you, then if you like the pen then trade up to the A5 or A4. The Intuos versions have more pressure sensitivity levels on the tip - useful when using with brushes.
Quite honestly a normal computer mouse is like using cavemen's tools once you're used to the tablets
Posted by Mike Swain on August 17, 2010 at 5:40 PM
Whatever you do if you get one, make sure you put the tablet to bed at night.
After a busy and enjoyable night using a Wacom tablet, instead of putting it away at the back of the monitor as I usually do I left it on the desk, meaning to put it away in the morning.
Next morning I turned on the PC, grabbed the mouse to start working but the cursor was stuck in the bottom right hand corner of the screen on the Task Bar. Nothing I did would get the cursor to move. I turned the PC on and off a couple of times (usuallu does the trick), replaced the mouse with a new one, sodding cursor still stuck in the same place.
After about four hours of ringing up people who work on PCs, swopping and changing bits on my own PC, still nothing would move the cursor from the bottom right hand corner of the screen. Anyone guessed yet?
Instead of putting the tablet away, I'd left the Wacom pen on top of the tablet and it was controlling the curser, not the mouse. It was just a big coincidence the curser was on top of the Task Bar making me think something had gone wrong with the software.
The simple moral of the story is do not be a lazy sod and put everything away at night. Still I know I'll not make the same mistake again, one good point.
I use a Wacom Intuos4 Medium - fantastic bit of kit. I've used tablets for a few years now and can't be without one. In fact, I dno't even use a mouse at home anymore (I have one, as backup though) and find the tablet much quicker and easier to use with all aspects of using a computer...although, I work in the design dept at work so have been around them for years.
For photoshop though, they are way more effecient to use and speed up your workflow no end *once you get used to using it*. There is a bit of transition time where you might find them awkward at first but once you get use to them you'll never be able to go back to photo editing with a mouse again.
Posted by Mike Swain on August 18, 2010 at 8:42 AM
"Thanks for the tip Mike, sounds like a very frustrating experience."
I think it was more embarrassing than frustrating Justin. The graphics tablets has been one of my better buys I'm pleased to say and I fully agree with what Richard says above about never going back to the mouse for photo editing.
Posted by Mark Sisson on August 25, 2010 at 12:33 PM
Been away, only just caught up with the post but now you've ordered one you'll never go back.
I've had an A4 sized one for 4 years or so now (and an A5 one I use with my laptop when I'm out) and I only use the pen now for ALL PC work - it's that intuitive and flexible obnce you've re-wired your brain to it.
Discussion
18 repliesI'm thinking of getting a Wacom Graphics Tablet and would appreciate any feedback from users. I'm familiar with their usefulness and accuracy compared to a mouse but the thing I'm most concerned about is size. I use a 24" widescreen monitor and was wondering if the active working area on the Bamboo Pen model will be too small at 147mm x 92mm. I'm aware that the larger versions are ideally suited to the bigger screens but they're considerably more expensive and I don't want to spend that sort of cash if I can help it, not at this moment in time anyway.
I'd appreciate any opinions from Wacom users, particularly from anyone who may be using the smaller size tablets. Do you find them ok, or do you wish you had a larger size?
I may be interested in a secondhand one if anyone has one for sale.
Thanks.
Mark
I have an old A4 one ( Intuos 2 ) which has an active area of around 150mm * 200mm and I use that very happily with a 30" widescreen monitor.
I would not want a larger A3 Wacom and certainly find that I prefer to use the Wacom for all but the simplest of operations in Photoshop. I haven't tried the smaller tablets but I imagine the pen technology has changed since my ancient Wacom was produced so it might not be a fair comparison when comparing an old tablet and old pen with a newer smaller tablet and new pen if that makes sense.
I'd give Wacom a call and see what they recommend for 24" screens.
I hope this helps.
Cheers
Austin
www.austin-thomas.co.uk
Regards,
Paul Rosser.
So do I Maggie after seeing the price of the larger Wacom's
Thanks Mark, Austin and Paul for your input
I use a wacom each and every day in my work, Paul is right size isn't everything as far as tablets are concerned, in fact the larger ones can be quite awkward needing far too much movement of the pen..... I have an A5 tablet at work and an A6 here at home, the smaller tablet is fine for normal PS work, the only reason I use an A5 at work is for the finer detail,I certainly wouldnot go any larger.
A pen and tablet does take some getting used to but persevere and you will never go back to a mouse.
If you need any more info, send me an email -( P.Hurst(at)nhm.ac.uk) as I am only looking in occasionally, very busy with a couple of things at the moment.
All the best
Phil
Get one of the smaller ones to decide if it's for you, then if you like the pen then trade up to the A5 or A4. The Intuos versions have more pressure sensitivity levels on the tip - useful when using with brushes.
Quite honestly a normal computer mouse is like using cavemen's tools once you're used to the tablets
After a busy and enjoyable night using a Wacom tablet, instead of putting it away at the back of the monitor as I usually do I left it on the desk, meaning to put it away in the morning.
Next morning I turned on the PC, grabbed the mouse to start working but the cursor was stuck in the bottom right hand corner of the screen on the Task Bar. Nothing I did would get the cursor to move. I turned the PC on and off a couple of times (usuallu does the trick), replaced the mouse with a new one, sodding cursor still stuck in the same place.
After about four hours of ringing up people who work on PCs, swopping and changing bits on my own PC, still nothing would move the cursor from the bottom right hand corner of the screen. Anyone guessed yet?
Instead of putting the tablet away, I'd left the Wacom pen on top of the tablet and it was controlling the curser, not the mouse. It was just a big coincidence the curser was on top of the Task Bar making me think something had gone wrong with the software.
The simple moral of the story is do not be a lazy sod and put everything away at night. Still I know I'll not make the same mistake again, one good point.
Mike
For photoshop though, they are way more effecient to use and speed up your workflow no end *once you get used to using it*. There is a bit of transition time where you might find them awkward at first but once you get use to them you'll never be able to go back to photo editing with a mouse again.
I think it was more embarrassing than frustrating Justin. The graphics tablets has been one of my better buys I'm pleased to say and I fully agree with what Richard says above about never going back to the mouse for photo editing.
Mike
I've just ordered one
I've had an A4 sized one for 4 years or so now (and an A5 one I use with my laptop when I'm out) and I only use the pen now for ALL PC work - it's that intuitive and flexible obnce you've re-wired your brain to it.
Good luck!!
Mark