rleonetti Loc: Portland, Oregon

I am a MAC person and gave up on a mouse years ago. What I use is a Apple Trackpad in place of a mouse. It is a different solution I find much faster and easier after a little learning curve.

The Trackpad is similar, but slightly larger, than those funny little pads found on laptops and works well along side a keyboard where I can operate the shortcuts in many programs. It works well for photos in Lightroom and laying out my occasional piece in Photoshop. It also is quick and easy for the photo books I have made with Blurb.

I used a Wacom tablet for a number of years, but found it slow and clumsy for anything but drawing. So now if something requires some drawing, even a photo or just a drawing that moves to photoshop, I use a large iPad with a pen for that creative portion. Two drawing programs, very inexpensive and powerful, are ArtRage and more recently, Procreate really get the job done.

barryg

The advantage is ease of use. You have greater control in making selections and you can control hardness by applying more or less pressure with the sylus.

TomHackett Loc: Kingston, New York

If have a Wacom Cintiq 13HD. What attracted me to this model was that it works as a display as well, so you're drawing right on the image. (I don't know if the Intuos works that way also, but I had a Bamboo which was definitely input only. <digression>I never really got into the Bamboo, and now it appears that there's no driver for Windows 10. Unfortunately, it's not heavy enough to be used as a door stop.</digression>.

I don't use the Cintiq for everything--mostly intricate selections in Photoshop. But for that situation, I find it much more intuitive than a mouse or track pad. For other development tasks it's at least as intuitive as a mouse or track pad.

Bret Perry

I have had a Wacom for about 10 years— but I only use it for intricate drawing and when I am doing extensive retouching in Photoshop.

I am much more comfortable with the mouse and very accurate with a mouse after 30 years with a mouse, so for me, the main thing I love about the wacom is the ability to use pressure-sensitive settings for the pen to allow me to vary stroke-width, brush size, or flow with pressure changes.

That really does make drawing and painting MUCH easier with the pen.

Many of my friends/co-workers use the Wacom for everythimg and love it, I generally find the mouse easier, except when I need to be super-accurate or draw by hand or need pressure-sensitive control.

Cyberkinesis70 Loc: Northern Colorado

I have both my mouse and the Wacom plugged in to usb ports. If the stylus from the Wacom is on the pad the mouse won't work. You have to remove the stylus to use the mouse. I navigate menus with the mouse because that is what I'm used to doing, however. the Wacom can be used instead and I do sometimes.

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

I'm with Drbob in that the XPen tablet is a good alternative to the significantly more expensive Wacom tablet.

Gourmand Loc: Dallas

I've learned two things from all of this: (1) think of using both the mouse and the pad (they both have their benefits, especially if you're already proficient with a mouse), (2) the tablet allows Pressure-sensitive settings for stroke-width, brush size and flow (controlled by the pressure applied to the pen). #2 alone is reason enough. I tried a large tablet maybe 20 years ago and it didn't take (in most cases with tablets, larger isn't better). I'll buy a much smaller one this time and give it a try. The greater control of flow is why I'll try again.

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

The interesting thing for me being left handed was I always used the mouse with my right hand. Now I use the Wacom Intuos set up for the left hand and when processing, I use the pen left handed on the Wacom, right hand on the mouse (especially to zoom with the wheel) and express keys/dial. I set up the express keys to do the most usual keyboard shortcuts and plug-ins I most use. A sort of hybrid way, but it's pretty fast and accurate for me.

terryMc Loc: Arizona's White Mountains

Whether or not there is an advantage is probably determined by what you do and how you do it, but I have personally used a Wacom Intuos in combination with a mouse since the late 1990s and when I have to be without it (using a laptop in the RV for instance) I feel inadequate.

The main advantage for most people is the pressure sensitivity of the pen. A mouse is on or off; you have full brush size and opacity, or none. With a pen tablet, just like drawing with a pencil, you can push harder or less hard and your brush stroke varies in size and tone with the pressure you apply, which can be invaluable for making selections, refining masks, cloning and copying operations, etc. You can set the pressure levels in the tablet's driver to your own liking. Using a pen is a natural thing, like drawing with a pen and ink or lead pencil. I have always said that using a mouse to do intricate intricate masking and retouching is like trying to draw with a hockey puck.

I said I use a pen and a mouse together. For some operations, a mouse is still more convenient, so I just hold the pen in my hand and switch back and forth as the need dictates. After a while, it all becomes second nature, like drawing on paper with a pencil.

Most pros use a tablet. There are good reasons for that.

d3200prime

Thanks for all the great input folks! I now have a better grasp on the subject. As always there are some great people on UHH and I truly appreciate those.

Bolthead Loc: PA

I have a brand new in box tablet for sale in the classifieds......I love using them for post prcessing in LR and PS.

barryg

the tablet gives you fine control when making selections. With the recent upgrades to PS and LR, the advantages offered by the tablet are lessened, but it is still a convenience.