Drawing tablets from Wacom enable you to use a special stylus, which you hold like a pen or pencil or brush, to move the cursor (rather than using a mouse, track pad, or trackball). Some of Wacom’s models enable you to control the cursor with Multi-Touch, much like an iPhone or iPad, and they include support for Windows 10. There are several reasons why using a stylus is a huge improvement over a mouse, and I give you five to start off the chapter. Another five reasons you’ll love your Wacom tablet involve maximizing your efficiency; those reasons conclude the chapter.

More Natural Movement

Whether you use a pen only to sign your name or you’re a traditionally trained artist, the movement of a stylus is far more natural than pushing a mouse around a desk.

Health and Safety

Use of a drawing tablet instead of a mouse can help avoid repetitive stress injuries and carpal tunnel syndrome, and can be vastly more comfortable for those who suffer from arthritis and tendonitis.

Artistic Control

With up to thousands of levels of sensitivity (wow — I wish my hands had that level of sensitivity!), a “click” or a “drag” using a drawing tablet is far more versatile than working with a mouse, especially when you’re working with Photoshop’s erodible, airbrush, and watercolor brush tips and the Mixer Brush tool (which are discussed in Chapter 14). Open the Photoshop Brush Settings palette and take a look at some of the six different options that you can control through Pen Pressure, Pen Tilt, or (with the Wacom Airbrush) Stylus Wheel. (See Figure 19-1.) And don’t forget about tools that can be directly controlled with pen pressure, such as the Quick Selection tool, which can use pen pressure to adjust the brush diameter.

Extended Comfort

You can lean back and relax or sit up straight: With fingers poised over the keyboard or hand grasping mouse, you’re pretty much locked into a single position, often for hours at a time. With the long cord of a Wacom tablet plugged into a handy USB port or connected wirelessly using Bluetooth technology, you have the flexibility to change positions, move back from the monitor, even slouch in a way that would make Mom turn pale — all while still sending input to the computer. Whether you work with the tablet on the desk or on your lap, it doesn’t matter; do whatever is most comfortable and efficient for you.

Gestures, Programmable ExpressKeys, Touch Rings, and Touch Strips

Many of the same gestures you use on a trackpad or touchscreen are available with a number of Wacom’s tablets. And how about convenient controls, right on the tablet, that let you access modifier keys, keyboard shortcuts, and even brush sizes and tool selection? No need to lean back in toward the desk to press a key or two; just program your most-needed keystrokes to the tablet. Keep in mind, too, that the Intuos line is southpaw-friendly — switch the USB cord and all the labels and controls conveniently flip over for lefties. You can also customize each of these controls and keys. See how in the upcoming section “Setting Preferences.”

The Optimal Tablet

The inexpensive Bamboo series comes in several sizes and a couple of models. The Intuos line of tablets come in a variety of specialized versions, some in a couple of different sizes. Models are customized for photos, 3D, art, drawing, and even creating comics. You use a stylus (pen) to draw on the tablet and what you draw appears on your computer screen. Several of the models, including those designed for photographers and artists have multi-touch capabilities, enabling you to use your fingers on the surface, just as you would on a trackpad. All Intuos models have programmable ExpressKeys that can be programmed to perform various functions in many programs (including Photoshop). There are also three Pro models in the Intuos line that offer more features. The Cintiq line, which I discuss at the end of this chapter, has a built-in monitor so you’re actually drawing directly on a computer screen. On the top of the heap is the Wacom MobileStudio Pro, which is actually an Intel-based computer, available with 13- and 16-inch screens.

If you have a fine-arts background, you might want a larger tablet. (And consider the highly specialized Wacom Intuos Pro Paper, which lets you trace over a paper sketch or drawing and digitize it.) If you are not a traditionally trained artist, you might be more comfortable with a smaller tablet, on which you can make smaller strokes. Regardless of what size tablet you have, don’t forget that you can zoom in on a specific area of your image while you work. And keep in mind that you might also want to have a smaller tablet to slide right into your laptop case, too. My current “go to” tablet is the Wacom Intous Pro Medium ($349.95). It’s substantially smaller than the previous medium-size tablet, in width, height, and thickness — and is barely larger than the old small size. I used to carry the small in my laptop case because the medium was too large to take on the road, but this new “medium” is small enough to fit in any of my laptop cases along with my 15-inch MacBook Pro. That’s the tablet you’ll see in my booth at Photoshop World. (Unless, of course, Wacom comes out with something even better between now and then.) Or perhaps I’ll shell out a grand for the 13-inch Wacom Cintiq Pro.

The Pen’s Switch

Most (but not all) Wacom pens have a switch, called the DuoSwitch, right on the side that (by default) lets you right-click or double-click simply by rocking the switch. Rather than tapping the pen twice on the tablet to double-click (which could leave two spots of color if the Brush tool is active), simply press the DuoSwitch’s upper rocker. And, of course, you can program the DuoSwitch to perform other functions as well, such as a specific keystroke, a modifier key, and even panning and scrolling.

If you find your pen sometimes shows bizarre behavior, go to the tablet’s Preferences (discussed in the next section) and set the lower switch on the pen to Disabled. As you work, the pen may be rotating in your hand, resulting in unexpected clicking of the lower switch.

Setting Preferences

After downloading and installing the latest version of the Wacom driver for your tablet, open the Control Panel and customize your tablet. (On a Mac, choose System Preferences ⇒ Wacom Tablet. In Windows, choose Start ⇒ All Programs ⇒ Wacom Tablet ⇒ Wacom Tablet Properties.) The Control Panel (see Figure 19-2) enables you to assign a specific function or keystroke to each of the ExpressKeys, Touch Ring, and Touch Strips (not available on all models), as well as program your various pens and mouse. (Options vary for Bamboo and Cintiq models.) Settings can be customized for Photoshop, Bridge, and even iTunes. You can share saved Preferences settings with friends and co-workers.

The Accessories

Wacom offers a variety of pens, an airbrush, a five-button mouse, and even a CAD-friendly lens cursor to help you get the very most out of your tablet. Choose the input device that’s best for you — or switch among several, using the one that’s most appropriate for the specific job at hand. (Not all accessories work with the new Pro models.)

Cintiq for the Photoshop Pro

The ultimate tablets for most Photoshop users are, of course, the Cintiq tablets, which integrate a monitor into the tablet, enabling you to paint or draw directly on your image. Wacom offers the Cintiq in the very portable 13-inch size ($799.95 and $999.95), the 22-inch HD model ($1,699.95 and $1,999.95), and the huge 27-inch HD Touch model ($1,899.95 and $2,399.95). (The price difference depends on whether or not the screen is touch-sensitive, enabling you to use your fingers for basic tasks and Gestures.) The Cintiq Pro models, with greater levels of sensitivity and the advanced Wacom Pro Pen 2, are 13 inch ($999.95) and 16 inch ($1,499.95). And although the prices may seem like a lot of money for a tablet, it’s not too extreme if you consider the money you may save by not purchasing a monitor. Whether you use the integrated stand and paint on your Cintiq on your desk (see Figure 19-3) or take advantage of the long cable and work with the display in your lap, you’re bound to find increased accuracy and productivity at your fingertips — literally!

Until you’re perfectly comfortable using a stylus and tablet, the Cintiq line might be a bit of a stretch. But after you’ve worked with the more affordable lines of tablets (Intuos and the entry-level Bamboo pen models, including the Bamboo Slate, starting at $129.95), you may develop a craving for a Cintiq!