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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Usefulness of a Wacom for Red-centric post?

Shawn Nelson said:
Oh, so you guys just use it in place of a mouse for normal operations?
Click to expand...

I'm surfing with a 6x11 Wacom right now. I do have a trackball mouse hooked up too. I find it's easy for some operations in some apps.

Took me about a week to get pretty comfortable with the tablet.
 
Keep in mind the size. My wife's 12x19 takes up all the space in front of her and so the keyboard sits at an awkward angle and position off to the side of it. That's okay if your work involves hotkeys that you can work with one hand, but once you need two hands, it's clumbersome. The buttons on the upper left/right hand corners are programmable, so that helps too. She does PS work and compositing. The large size is needed if you do artwork that involves moving from the elbow (painting/drawing with broad strokes). Also keep in mind the ratio between the tablet size to your monitor size. The 12x19 corresponds nicely with our 30" cinema display.
 
Wacom Intuos3 is Great!

Wacom Intuos3 is Great!

I started using a Wacom Intuos3 9"X12" PTZ-930 and cannot see myself going back to a regular mouse. The wireless pen is great when drawing in Photoshop, Illustrator and After Affects.

I highly recommend it.
 
jing said:
Keep in mind the size. My wife's 12x19 takes up all the space in front of her and so the keyboard sits at an awkward angle and position off to the side of it. That's okay if your work involves hotkeys that you can work with one hand, but once you need two hands, it's clumbersome. The buttons on the upper left/right hand corners are programmable, so that helps too. She does PS work and compositing. The large size is needed if you do artwork that involves moving from the elbow (painting/drawing with broad strokes). Also keep in mind the ratio between the tablet size to your monitor size. The 12x19 corresponds nicely with our 30" cinema display.
Click to expand...

Here's what I just came up with for my 12x19 and it seems to work fairly well. Something about resting my forearms across the tablet while typing. Feels ergonomic. I also put a wedge under the tablet to angle it a bit.

You just map the wacom to use the area under the keyboard. Seems to work better with a smaller mapping area anyway.

1207594003.jpg
 
Wow! Thanks for all the replies. My day job is in software development, then I go home and either scriptwrite or do video post. Now I'm scared about my nearly constant use of a mouse and the future of my wrists! I like my wrists, I want to keep them.
 
Another cool thing about the Wacoms is that in many apps, when you flip the pen over the other side is an eraser! Very intuitive in Photoshop!

Humans have evolved over several thousands of years holding pens. How long have we been mousing?
 
I edit, code, photoshop, everything with the Wacom pen. Only time I switch tot the Wacom mouse is a quick blast of Unreal Tournament.

Graeme
 
Shawn Nelson said:
Wow! Thanks for all the replies. My day job is in software development, then I go home and either scriptwrite or do video post. Now I'm scared about my nearly constant use of a mouse and the future of my wrists! I like my wrists, I want to keep them.
Click to expand...

Just remembered a couple other things: costco.com had the best deal when I bought mine. Definitely check out your work "space". The 9x12 wouldn't really work for me and I personally don't need that much of a board. I use my 6x11 across 2 24 inch monitors with no problems. I think the tablets seem bigger in person than they look online.

The other thing I did was bought felt pen tips from Wacom. They give a little resistance which makes the pen easier to control for me.
 
Reading all of this really scares me! I've been editing in final cut for 5 on a part to full time basis and my wrist is definitely sore at the end of each day. I've used a wacom for photoshop work, but never for editing. It seems like it may be awkward and harder than a mouse? Do I just need to give it a try?

I love to edit, and want to take it as far as I can, so my wrist health is important to me!
 
Bruce,
Very true! I read more about how everyone uses them, both here and on another forum. I've really been missing the boat.

Thanks for the input! On to ebay to see if I can find one I can afford right now!
 
Now if only we could get a $100 grip to complain that Red' 6 stops of lattitude is really exacerbated when you're trying to pan into the sun because it wobbles on the dovetail making the sunspot purple instead of black and then the unit resets in a "missing" 1080p mode that reveals that Jim is Satan and Jarred is his antichrist henchman.

I've said too much.
 
Shawn, you're just too funny for me.

Graeme
 
I have wacoms of all flavors and sizes lying around, but for bread and butter editing I still like my mouse better. I also use the SuttlePRO which is kinda cool, but I like my mice. All you need is to learn how to use a mouse without hurting yourself and buying a large microsoft mouse, none of that crap apple sells. Your mouse needs to be large enough so your hand can rest flat on it. It's worked for me for 15 or so years of editing.

PS. My GF has had wrsit problems as well and the wacom worked for her to get rid of her wrist problems. I guess it varies from person to person.

PPS. Don't lose the pen :)
 
I've always stuck to the keyboard primarily with the mouse used for slight navigations - BUT I do want to get a tablet. Used it a lot with Shake. Loved it.
 
Thanks cholo,
I need to get rid of this apple mouse we have in my studio now. It looks cool, but thats about it. Its good to know a tablet isn't a "solve all", and that you still use the mouse. I will definitely take that into consideration when putting in the budget.

I like the sound of that ShuttlePro thing, I will have to check it out more.

Thanks!
 
I'll also give the forewarning on desk space. I used to use a larger tablet (the older 9x12 I think) but they definitely take up too much vertical space on the desk. I find the 6x11 to fit nicely next to the keyboard without being overly wide and still providing plenty of space and resolution for a single 30" (or 23") display. It depends on your desk layout. Get the measurements off Wacom's site and cut a piece of cardboard to keep on your desk for a day or two and see what size will work for you.

I am definitely a shortcut junky so my left hand pretty much never leaves the keyboard. I've seen a lot of setups with the Wacom in front of the keyboard, but it makes it highly impractical to use the keyboard while you are pen-ning around (yeah, it's not a word, but neither is mousing).

I have found a few apps that have erratic behavior on the software knobs when using a pen (most notably Ableton Live). Also Shake and Color like you to use a three button mouse to use the software the way it was designed, so it's good to keep a mouse in a drawer for when you need to use those apps. Oh and the then there is the 3-way CC in Final Cut. You definitely have to hold down the Apple key to accurately adjust the color wheels, otherwise you will go insane.
 
JoshBertrand said:
I am definitely a shortcut junky so my left hand pretty much never leaves the keyboard. I've seen a lot of setups with the Wacom in front of the keyboard, but it makes it highly impractical to use the keyboard while you are pen-ning around (yeah, it's not a word, but neither is mousing).
Click to expand...

Me too. Tablet on right, keyboard on left.

JoshBertrand said:
Also Shake and Color like you to use a three button mouse to use the software the way it was designed, so it's good to keep a mouse in a drawer for when you need to use those apps.
Click to expand...

I have my pen set up:

tip - left click
front of rocker switch - middle button
back of rocker switch - right click

Works nicely for 3-button apps for me, although everyone's different, I know.

Bruce Allen
www.boacinema.com
 
Bruce Allen said:
Me too. Tablet on right, keyboard on left.



I have my pen set up:

tip - left click
front of rocker switch - middle button
back of rocker switch - right click

Works nicely for 3-button apps for me, although everyone's different, I know.
Click to expand...

I'm set up identically to this.

3 button apps aren't a problem usually.
 
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