murphle Loc: Wisconsin

I know there are many people who support the use of tablets and many who don't even use their mouse anymore. Several years ago, I purchased a Wacom Intuos Pro 4 Medium to the tune of about 375.00.... oddly, they are about the same price point today.

I enjoyed using it to edit while I was at a desktop; however, I had eventually committed myself to a laptop only environment, which wasn't as tablet friendly due to a lot of couch editing and no room for said tablet. Let's fast forward a decade, and while I still utilize my laptop, I've also re-integrated a wonderful iMac M1 into my workflow. I love editing images on this larger screen, and would like to utilize my tablet again. Well, guess what? My tablet (PTK-640) is no longer supported by Wacom and doesn't work on either of my Macs - not even my 2017 macbook pro. I mean, it's old - pristine condition, but old. So sad:(

Now let's get to the good stuff. Those of you who edit with Wacom tablets, what size are you using? What model? I've tried 'sidecar' on the laptop to use my iPad Pro 12.9 (pencil 2) and just don't feel the same level of awesomeness in Photoshop that I feel with the Wacom (when it worked). Same goes for the new iMac, exact same experience with shared display. For some, it may be great, but after using the Wacom, the editing experience was so smooth that the iPad is no competition for what it does. The different 'nibs' on the Wacom pen were great also.

Any input in this area is greatly appreciated.... I don't necessarily feel like tossing out 380.00 again, but I will, LOL. If a smaller size (250.00) is good enough, I would go for the pro small. Thoughts, hogs?

Steve DeMott Loc: St. Louis, Missouri (Oakville area)

I use the Intuos Pro large (PTK-655) for windows and find that it's light years ahead of the competition. The only 2 very small drawbacks I have found with the large format. One is that the arm/hand movement from corner to corner on the monitor is 11". Two is the 10"x15" footprint.

My recommendation is stay with the medium size. Don't you just hate our throw away socieity.

murphle Loc: Wisconsin

I do hate our throw away society!!!!! OMG. My tablet is still good. It's nubbins are still good! Ack! *insert banging head on desk, here*. OK - I bought it in like 2009. But still. I am afraid that if I bought the small, I would regret it.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

On occasion, I still use my Wacom tablet with my somewhat new iMac. It works just fine. I purchased the tablet somewhere around 2005. I initially used it with a Windows machine but later migrated to iMac for photo work.
--Bob

murphle Loc: Wisconsin

What system are you using on the Mac? I can connect it but it’s not recognized on the M1 running Monterey. The other machine is intel based running BigSur.

Walkabout08

I use an intros pro medium for editing. I recently updated my computer to a 14” MBP without incident. It’s good for detailed mask painting. For other types of track pad functions I find it’s a lot of geography to cover compared to the 4” built in trackpad.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

When I decided to buy the Wacom, I like you bought the same model. I returned it and bought the PTH 451. I have never regretted the change.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

It's a 27", Intel i7, Monterey.
--Bob

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

Get the latest Wacom drivers which do support the M1 chip:
https://www.wacom.com/en-us/support/product-support/drivers

murphle Loc: Wisconsin

I agree that it was a lot of area to cover. I’ve been told the small is fine, but then I wonder if I’d miss it. I’d only implement it when I’m at my desktop.

murphle Loc: Wisconsin

Yep, the latest drivers support the M1 chip for sure. And I can download it. What isn’t supported any longer (as shown on the Wacom site) is my PTK-640. The hardware is no longer supported and is therefore not recognized by the Wacom driver. That’s the issue I’m having. Older drivers may be found at questionable sites but I refuse to do that.

murphle Loc: Wisconsin

Are you able to run the Wacom software and have it recognize the device so you can customize the buttons?

Denny142 Loc: Kentucky, Maui

I purchased a PT450 (small) in 2012, and I'm now using it on my Win 10 Laptop. Recently purchased a used PT451(small) and I'm using it on my Win 10 desktop. I have also used both on an i Mac. Both of these Wacom tablets are the small versions. I initially started with a medium Wacom 4 medium tablet on an i Mac during a photography class I took at a community college, but prefer the small tablet as the entire active surface of the tablet is easily reached with only hand and wrist movement, whereas the medium tablet requires much more arm movement to reach the extremities of the active tablet surface. I have set up all of these computers to use the on-screen controls with both Lightroom Classic and Photoshop and routinely use them rather than the keyboard for the keyboard shortcuts for editing. I still use my mouse occasionally, but very infrequently when editing an image in either of those apps. I have not setup any of the Topaz apps to use the on-screen controls yet as I do not use those apps very often.

happy sailor Loc: Ontario, Canada

Hi, I bought the PTH660 Intuos Pro Medium. Even it's real estate is pretty large however, you can define the size of the tablet you want to use. I picked it because the medium and the large had more sensitivity than the small version at the time, I do not know if that is still true.

the other advantage of the medium is that it is about the same physical size as my MacBook Pro 14" and they both fit nicely in the carry bag when going to photo club (if we can ever meet in person again), seminars or vacation.

I too tried the iPad Pro 12.9 with a pen and screen share, it just isn't the same feel yet it should be easier as you can actually see the image on the iPad.

I bought mine about three years ago and it runs great on Monterey with the M1 pro chip

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Yes, it recognized the tablet and the pen buttons. Which are mostly what I use.

I'd have to check on that. I didn't really customize the tablet buttons.
--Bob