Comments on: Why Can’t I Use A Wacom Tablet?

By: Tara: Freelance Designer

Tara: Freelance Designer — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 15:08:42 +0000

Hi Arran,

Good to hear your experience of using a Wacom tablet. There seems to be a couple of different strains of thought in the comments here – 1. that the type and size of the tablet really does make a difference and 2. That its all about practice. If I can’t use the new bamboo when I get it, I better prepare for extensive practice

By: Arran

Arran — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 13:48:54 +0000

I think you’ve probably got a solution to your problem already, but just thought i’d share my experience anyway.
When i was in Japan i bought a Wacom Intuos3 tablet with romantic visions of creating wonderful illustrations and paintings when i got home.
Didnt exactly work out that way though.
Like you i can draw and paint in real life, but when it comes to the tablet, things just dont seem to work how they should.
I began to think that years of using the mouse had ruined any chances of learning a new input device. But as others have said, you just need to practice.
I ended up packing away my mouse and using the tablet on its own for everything. Luckily it was a quiet week!
Things were slow at first, but i got the hang of it pretty eaily, when there was no temptation to use the mouse. I now use both together, and cant imagine my work without the tablet. It’s great.
I think getting the new tablet will definately help you. Experimpent with the different brushes and find out what works best with your technique. It took me a while. The new tablet should open up more possibilites for you. Just dont loose faith. Practice makes perfect!

By: Tara: Freelance Designer

Tara: Freelance Designer — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:46:16 +0000

Hi Charity

I’ll let you know how I get on with the Bamboo when/if it arrives in time for Christmas.

By: Charity

Charity — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:38:15 +0000

“I wish there were shops near me where you could actually try them out.”

I second that Tara! After reading all the input in this [terrific] thread I really want one! I’m leaning toward a Bamboo or Intuos just based on the comments… but I’m a shopper who really likes to see and touch a product like this before I buy it. Unfortunately no stores within a 100 mile radius have any Wacom tablets, so I’ll have to make a day trip to Denver sometime after Christmas.

By: Tara: Freelance Designer

Tara: Freelance Designer — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 09:17:09 +0000

Hi Tracey and Scott, you two must be doubley productive mouse in one hand wacom in the other

Hi Gayle, Sean and Crazy Leaf thanks for your input much appreciated

HI Lauren,

I have since bought a book on Painter and it advises not to use a graphire (states it is more a consumer than creative tablet), that an intuos is far better – I think the book was pre bamboo. For Christmas my boyfriend is buying me one of the small bamboos, if like it I will invest in a larger one. I wish there were shops near me where you could actually try them out.

By: LaurenMarie - Creative Curio

LaurenMarie - Creative Curio — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:25:21 +0000

Wow, lots of feeback for this one! Funny that I just now saw this post. I got a new Intuos 6×8 at work I LOVE it. I’ve had the Graphire3 at home for a couple of years. I cannot mask or fix images (dodge, burn, heal, etc) in Photoshop without it. It’s invaluable, but there is definitely a learning curve. I don’t know how it would be for sketching, I imagine it’s probably pretty awkward, but for painting I like it. It’s more about the brush than the tablet I find.

I do like the Intuos better than the Graphire. It feels like it has smoother handling. The programable keys I don’t use because I’m so used to the keyboard (and I use other shortcuts on the keyboard too, so I would be going back and forth too much), but I can see how they could be helpful.

So what are your conclusions from all these reviews, Tara?

By: scott

scott — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:20:52 +0000

Another reason I can’t totally use a tablet over a mouse is because I’m left handed but I’ve trained my right hand to use a mouse and the left hand to operate the keyboard.

I’ve tried to do the opposite (pen in lefthand, operate with right) but it gives me headaches

By: crazyleaf

crazyleaf — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:26:23 +0000

I used a tablet about a year ago for a few months. I have to say I was getting pretty good with it, but it broke and the transition back to mouse was incredibly hard, so I decided to better stick with the mouse. If you master the tablet you can really do incredible things with it.

By: Sean

Sean — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 05:50:28 +0000

I love using tablets. Sucks it not working out for you. You might need to just play with the setting more, or maybe reinstall the software? :S

By: Gayle

Gayle — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:16:10 +0000

It’s interesting to read how many people have trouble with it, as it’s totally second nature with me (almost first!). I’m also surprised there are people who use the tablet who DON’T use it for everything. It’s resting in my thumb-crook as I type this. I only use the mouse in my 3D software because the scrolling is extremely useful, but I always come back to the pen because the mouse just hurts.

It’s SOOO worth it. Those of you with tablets, stick to it! Try it again! Don’t give up!