Graphics tablets - Your views?

[Kermit power]

Evening All,

I've never used a graphics tablet, and am wondering whether it's worth getting one for improved accuracy and the like in Elements. Have any of you got one? What are your thoughts on them?

Also, given that they seem to range quite dramatically in price, could people recommend something reasonably decent for not too much money? Ideally I'd like to keep to around £200 or so, but I'm quite happy getting something second hand.

[Major Bloodnok]

I've got a little Wacom jobby, which is quite nice although, to be honest, I don't use it that much. Part of the problem is that the active area is quite small (A6-ish), so accuracy isn't much better than a mouse, and that it insists on mapping to both monitors - if I could restrict it to the main monitor, it would be better.

Where they are useful is when you want something (e.g. brush size) to be responsive to pressure. Otherwise, I don't really find it any more useful than a mouse.

[SamHH]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Kermit power]

Thanks Sam. Very useful. I think you've just saved me a bundle of cash compared to the Wacom prices I'd been looking at!

[arej]

I wasn't sure about it either as I had never used one but in the end went for a Wacom Bamboo which I got for <£50 and think it is really useful. Easy to use, good VFM, I find it much easier to draw paths and paint etc in photoshop with it compared to a mouse and you are not restricted to using it for photo stuff. I'd definitely recommend it, haven't used others but doubt it would be worth spending £200 if you can get a very good one for a quarter of the price!

[flat-planedCrank]

I use my tablet (A5 wacom) for everything apart from playing games I've used one for years..


I find it much more comfortable to use than a mouse - its less weight to move and it seems much more intuitive.

For photoshop its great - opacity, brushsize, etc. can be controlled via the pressure you apply on the tablet. Plus it feels so much more 'connected' when editing images.

Downsides? Can take a bit of time to get used to, its a little strange at first.


Hope this helps,

Cheers.

[L4MBOLUV3R]

they are good if you do lots of free hand work like drawing otherwise your better off getting a precise mouse. i have the wacom bamboo 45 white and its fantastic if im trying to cut away witha rubber but if im doing click point stuff i prefer my mouse, razer copper head. just remember with good mouses you have to have a good matt to match otherwise you loose accuracy and with tablets the bigger it is the easier it is to use.

but if you have the cash to splash get hold of a bamboo. you wont use it day in and day out but there will be times you are glad you have it.

[gingerpaul]

I picked up an A5 sized tablet from Aldi of all places for £20. It's made by Medion but it does everything a basic Wacom does as far as I can tell. I was dubious for £20 but it seems quite good. Certainly good enough for my messing about with Photoshop.