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QUESTION: I am looking at Wacom tablets and have found so many I don't know which one to buy. I know a lot of you use the tablet, and I am just wondering which one would be the best to buy. I don't want the smallest, but I don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars either. I just need some help with my decision before I buy one.
I would really appreciate any advice on which one you have, like the best, does the most, and is the most practical. Would someone mind telling me which Wacom tablet they think is the best buy? I had an older one, and it's kaput - and it was small. Now I need another one. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. I really am ready to order it now and want to know who likes what and why. And of course, I use a Mac.
ANSWER: Currently, I have a Wacom Bamboo Fun tablet - the small one. It's the only tablet I've ever had so I don't have a basis of comparison but I really like it. I prefer to scrap with the pen rather than the mouse now. I've had it for a few years, and I'm starting to notice some issues with the pen. It seems to get stuck, so I'm looking for a new tablet, too. I've settled on the Bamboo Pen + Touch. It has touch capabilities that the Bamboo Fun doesn't have, so that's exciting. I found it reasonably priced on Amazon.
ANSWER: I have the Wacom Intuos 3 – it's about 6x8 inches, I think it's the medium-sized one... (and that is the measurement of just the part you use with the pen... the whole thing is bigger than that). It is older ( I think three years old... which in computer years is very old!). I also have a Bamboo which is smaller, and I use for travel and when I am babysitting each week. The Intuos is of course much more money, but it is well worth it. It is so much smoother and I love it... guess like comparing the ride of a fine car to an economy one. But of course the money comparison is probably hugely different, too. I do recommend whichever you get that you take advantage of the cool buttons that you can customize to really help speed along your scrapping. I love having a button to hit on my Wacom for transforming and another for clipping. I have set other buttons as well (and the Intuos has more custom buttons) but the transform and clip are the ones I use the most. Since getting the tablet, I hardly ever use my mouse for anything and definitely not at all for scrapping. It is one of the things I could not live without! Good luck with your purchase.
ANSWER: I've used several different Wacom tablets, and my favorite so far is the Intuos 4 Small. It is available in a wireless version, but I've heard of some glitches and some delay (doesn't show up) with it. The medium tablets (Intuos and Bamboo) take up quite a bit of space and for doing fine work, the smaller workspace gives me more controlled movement, especially when working with photos. I hope you enjoy yours, whatever you decide on, as much as I have. I think these are wonderful inventions.
ANSWER: I have an Intuos 3 in two sizes, 6x8 and much larger (can't remember the size). I don't like using the bigger one. I found the small one to be much easier to use.
ANSWER: The Intuos 4 was my first so I don't know how they compare to earlier versions. I think the big upgrade was wireless, and I've heard about problems with that one. I got mine just a month or so before the wireless one came out. I only have two USB ports on my laptop, so I hope that they perfect the wireless. They even have nifty cases for the Intuos 4, too. Great for traveling.
ANSWER: The first tablet we bought (ages ago - long before I started even paper scrapping - so many ages ago that it has a parallel port!) was the largest available. We found it took up a lot of desk space, so it didn't get used much. I have a smaller one now, but it is several years old and not available anymore.
ORIGINAL POSTER'S RESPONSE: I've been researching and researching all morning trying to decide what to buy and the one question I cannot find an answer for is: Can you trace something on either tablet? I am trying to encourage my son to use his amazing art skills, and I want to be able to trace what he has drawn and have it in my computer so that any changes can be made. He is not into learning how to "draw" on the computer in any way, shape, or form, and I am hoping this will show him what can be done. Plus, I would kind of like to have it for myself, too - and I have lots of things I'd like to trace - like silhouettes from long ago, my kids' drawings when they were little, etc., etc. I know I can scan some of these things, but I am trying to motivate my son as well.
ANSWER: What a fun quest you are on! I think if I were shopping for one, I would try to find a store that carries several different ones and go put my hands on them (not sure if Best Buy or Office Max or Office Depot or maybe a computer store would carry several versions). I think trying them out would help me decide, as well as seeing how much space they take up. Sometimes, seeing the item in real life is the only way I can make a decent choice (and save on shipping something and returning it). Hope you find one you really like!
ANSWER: I love my Bamboo Fun and don't use the mouse anymore either. It's one of the smaller ones. One thing - my original pen was cranky. I misplaced it and ordered a new one, and the new one is fine. So go figure. I have heard that some people use the larger tablets on their laps instead of next to their keyboards. So that's something to consider also.
ANSWER: If I were buying a new one, I would get a mid-sized Intuos.
QUESTION: I am using the action that has the stops, and it says to try Smudge Tool. My mind is a blank. What and where do I find the Smudge Tool? I am using Photoshop CS5. Thanks.
ANSWER: Smudge Tool? Hmmm... on my Photoshop Elements, there is a Smudge Tool down on the bottom right of the toolbar with the Blur and Sharpen Tool. I have never used it so I am clueless, but maybe if you can find it, then you can play!? (In PSE, if you right-click on the tool tab, it allows you to select the other tools on that tab, like Dodge/Burn, etc.).
ANSWER: In CS4, the Blur/Sharpen/Smudge Tools are right below the Paint Bucket and Gradient Tools.
ANSWER: I had never used the Smudge Tool before testing Heidi's Actions... it was fun! I just poked "Smudge" into the Adobe Help section of Photoshop to learn some ways to use it.
QUESTION: Hello! I am shopping in the Boutique tonight, taking advantage of the super sale and a birthday coupon I received. Upon checkout, I can only use either the 10% off code or my birthday coupon. One cancels out the other - is that the norm or am I doing something wrong?
ANSWER: You can use both. Just add a comma between them and that should work.
ANSWER: Yes, if you are using more than one coupon, then enter them both into the coupon code box at once with a comma between them.
Something else to keep in mind, if you are using a gift certificate and you do not use the whole amount, keep your receipt. The store will issue you a new coupon code for the remaining amount. This is what you'll use the next time you shop. Each gift certificate code is only good for one use.
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