5 Replies Latest reply: Mar 11, 2010 10:40 AM by Reynolds (Mark) RSS

    Affordable tablet for photoshop work

    SF Ellen Community Member

      Having done a little research, I'm revising an earlier question--

       

      I have finally had it trying to do photoshop work with a mouse, and am looking at tablets.

       

      Can anyone recommend an affordable one? I'm assuming the wacom cintiq is the cadillac, but it is way out of my budget. I've heard the Bamboo is very entry level, is it useful in PS? What about the Wacom Intuos?

       

      Other suggestions? I'd like to cap my budget at about $300, and I am totally open to buying something used.

       

      Thanks!

       

      Ellen

        • 1. Re: Affordable tablet for photoshop work
          kham130

          Hello Ellen,

          I own a Wacom Intuos 3 (the previous version) and it works great for me. Setting it up is a quick install. I have had no problems. You can find a medium one on ebay or craigslist for under 300 dollars. The new ones are really nice, but I dont see that much of a difference. The intuos 3 should last me a while and I think it would be a good choice for you. That being said, I was fortunate enough to of used a cintiq last summer during an internship and it was maybe the best thing in the world. Quite a bit out of my price range, but it is nice to dream.

           

          All the best.

          • 2. Re: Affordable tablet for photoshop work
            Reynolds (Mark) Community Member

            Wacom tablets are excellent. I have used tablets of various types (Intuos, graphire etc) for many years, and as yet have had no faults or mechanical defects whatsoever.

             

            The difference between Intuos and Bamboo is largely to do with very precise pressure sensitivity. So in practice Intuos are more suited to people either painting or doing very subtle work. For people who need a really good hands on feel, for very subtle drawing and dodging and burning type work -  these are the best tablets available.

             

            If however your use is to get around faster, and to reduce Repetitive Strain Injury, good painting can also be done very well with cheaper tablets. Like the amusingly, Wolff Olins branded "Bamboo" range. For most users therefore, the Bamboo range will be a more economical and still very good choice.

             

            Cintiq are completely different device, and allow you to use the display surface, provided you don't mind your hand gettng in the way.

             

            Its not always best to recommend the Intuos for everyone, by default

            • 3. Re: Affordable tablet for photoshop work
              Lundberg02 Community Member

              I have two 6 by 3 3/4 Bamboos I got for 55 new, and a 10x 6 Tooya Pro I got for 63 after the rebate. You don't get tilt and rotate for that kind of money, but for non fussy Photoshop they are fine. Genius makes tablets in the  60 dollar range too.

              The Cintiq is not without problems if you don't get the most expensive one.

              Painter 11 really requires at least an Intuous 3 or 4, but it is so much faster than Painter X that you can get by with a Bamboo for a lot of things.

              • 4. Re: Affordable tablet for photoshop work
                SF Ellen Community Member

                This is all really helpful information, thanks!

                 

                Two more specific questions:

                 

                I see I can get a small (3.9" x 6.2") Intuos 4, new, for about $200. Larger new ones are more expensive. I am doing very precise and picky photoshop work--is there any real advantage to getting a large size? Or can I save money by looking at these smaller ones?

                 

                My other concern, is I'm sure I will get more bang for my buck if I go the used route, but are the older Wacom Intuos compatible with current operating systems? PS CS4? It doesnt make money for me to save a few bucks now only the have to re-invest in a few months. I know the rule of thumb for computer equipment is three years, I'd like to go for at least that long and ideally longer.

                 

                Thanks!

                 

                Ellen

                • 5. Re: Affordable tablet for photoshop work
                  Reynolds (Mark) Community Member
                  I am doing very precise and picky photoshop work--is there any real advantage to getting a large size?

                  This is a hard question to answer. It depends on the individual. Some people, actually the vast majority of people doing precise work, like to use a larger tablet using the entire tablet area. It depends how intuitively precise the movement of your hand is while painting and drawing. A lot of retouchers on the other hand, prefer to work using a relatively small active area on the tablet, or a smaller tablet. This makes some work faster. The tablet can pick up really tiny movements of the stylus, so its still possible to achieve very precise work this way.

                   

                  On all of these tablets its possible to reduce the active area if you want.

                   

                  are the older Wacom Intuos compatible with current operating systems? PS CS4?

                  Yes they are all compatible. You can use an Intuos 2 with Photoshop CS4