Wacom Bamboo Silver Any Thoughts?

It finally arrived! So far I love it. I still need to figure out how to set the buttons and things so I can do things like zooming in and out in PSE. I made it through the tutorials and was able to play with a photo for a while though and I can see already how much more control I have with the pen vs. the mouse for using the eraser tool. Do any of you wacom experts have tips for setting up my buttons to match up with PS Elements? I stayed up til 1:00am last night and then finally had to put the en down Lol!

You are so sweet, Lara. :-)

Thanks for the tip Carmen :) I learned to type without looking at my fingers too so I'm thinking it shouldn't be that bad to learn. I work on a laptop too so the little one should work fine for me too. @ Carolyn looking forward to seeing your work too. What you've done with a just a mouse is already amazing!

Taking to the tablet & stylus is a cinch if you worry about it as much as you did starting to use a mouse -- as in 'not' ;)

There were some 'stumble' moments with that contraption too, to be sure. Just remember what it was like to be a young one eager to get going -- and you're there :)

Key note -- don't try to track your hand motion on the pad by looking at it too often-- keep your eyes on the screen, just like you do with your mouse-- it becomes 'natural' quickly. Also -- very little pressure is required pressing on the tablet surface.

Thanks, Lara. Yes, it has a 8.5 x 5.4 active area. I tend to write, draw and do everything big, so I was afraid the smaller one would be too hard for me to get used to. My only concern with the tablet is the learning curve. I'm going to have to make myself stick with it. It is exciting, though, and I can't wait to start playing with it. Looking forward to seeing your comments/works when you get yours, too!

Happy birthday Lara.
I bought one for my birthday a couple of years ago and its quite good. There is a learning curve to it though so make sure you persist with it and you will do great.
Oh and don't pay the full price in a shop. Go online and research a cheaper model then take the details into a shop and they will almost always come down to that cheaper price.
Have a great day.

@ Carolyn congrats on your new birthday toy/tool :) I checked my tracking from B & H and mine should be here I'm guessing tomorrow since it's only a state away. I got the small one and it was around $83.20 did you get the bigger version?

My husband got me the Wacom Bamboo Create for my birthday today! We had price shopped and found most places had it for $199, but Amazon had it for $153. Went to the local Best Buy here in Tampa and they had it in stock at $199. Showed them Amazon's price and they matched it. Couldn't find a new one any lower online, so think we made a great deal. Have been so busy today haven't even had a chance to set it up, but can't wait!

I got one for Christmas and I love it. It's much much easier than a mouse for handling photo touch up and drawing on the computer. The pressure and tilt sensitive features are great.

You will not be sorry you ordered one, Lara. Once you've experienced the freedom of movement the pen affords, you'll wish you had done it sooner. Using the mouse for fine work is like dancing with boulders attached to your feet. I've had mine for years. When I bought it, it was aptly named "Bamboo Fun".

Sebastiaan -- no technical difficulty with scratches -- nice not to run into any indentations on the surface. As a traditional painter I'd liken the sensation of running into a deep scratch like painting on over a bit of a stem or such on the canvas surface. Fine for my impasto work -- I'd just barrel on through.

For fine surfaces -- I make sure nothing's in the way ;)

This is in reference to my suggestions/9:22 post for repairing surface scratches if they occur

Best investment you will make as an artist... workflow will be much better than using a mouse.... Only thing buy the correct size.... Most people like the medium sized tablets because of portability and enough surface size for natural pen motion.... The 1024 lpi is enough... Workflow efficiency will definitely increase with any tablet...

Lara,
I have both the Wacom Intuos Wireless tablet for mobile use, and the huge Wacom Cintiq 24 inch HD monitor tablet, stationary at my workstation computer. The big 24HD Cintiq weighs about 25 kg and costed around E2500 with extra tools, pens, etcetera (see this link if you like: http://www.wacom.com/en/creative/products/pen-displays/cintiq/cintiq-24hd). Both are wonderful tablets / machines. I many times already like them better then even using my various mice (or trackballs and touchpads, I am a kind of hardware fanatic).
I am sure that if you do a lot of creative work on your computer, you will start to love these tablets quickly.
If you work dual or tripple screen you just have to tell these tablets how you want them to relate to which (part) of your screens and you are ready to go!

@Carmen: Scratches
Carmen, I also have a few really deep scratches on the surface of the wireless Intuos Tables, from some rough handling by security scanning personal at airports. But later I found that it had no impact at all on the performance of the tablet, even if I am drawing llines straight through these scratches. So I am really impressed and satisfied by the quality of the Wacom tablets.

Thanks, Carmen. I definitely like the price difference. I, too, am looking forward to Lara getting hers and hearing her reactions/seeing her work from it.

Happy Birthday Carolyn -- re larger or smaller tablets -- the price point of the Bamboo Lara's ordered was also very appealing to several artists I intro'd the tablet to in a digital course I was teaching.

I have the Bamboo, & the larger Intuos -- there are few maneuvers I can't replicate using my smaller tablet.

A forum search of 'wacom' -- will bring up many posts about large/small tablets. Cool thing about the Bamboo is that it's extremely portable -- great with a laptop.

Lara -- really looking forward to you getting your tablet :)

Thanks so much, Lara! Happy Birthday to you, too. :-)

Happy Birthday Carolyn! :)

My birthday is this month, too, and that is one of the things I am shopping for. Any comments from Wacom Intuos users as to whether the money difference in it and the Bamboo is worth it? Also on the Bamboo, the one Lara is getting I think (at least from the link) is the smaller one. There is another one with a working area of around 8.5 x 5.3 or something like that. How much difference does the size in the two Bamboos make? Thanks!

— Carolyn Marshall

I want one!

Thanks Will I had no idea I thought it was the name Lol.

Just to clarify for Lara and others, the one you purchased is called Bamboo Capture.
Silver is just the finish color (as opposed to Black).

I'm eyeing the Bamboo Splash which has the same specs. but cheaper.
Still lurking local CL listings hoping to see someone upgrading and selling theirs cheap :)

Good move, I have been using my tablet for a few years now. One thing though, you will be tempted to grab the mouse at every turn! Disconnect it and store it away to force yourself to get adjusted to the tablet.

Ok I took the plunge and ordered it today! :) Can't wait!

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=823341&is=REG&Q=&A=details

Yes, both.....look forward to hearing about your enjoying your new mode :)



~ Carmen Hathaway ~

Thanks the input Jean and Carmen and thanks for the birthday wishes too :-) Wacom makes both the bamboo and the intuos don't they?

Happy Birthday Laura -- wait'll you see how much fun your new stylus is going to be :) To be able to write with it is a hoot.

By the way -- re: scored surface on Bamboo -- been using mine for a couple of years with no ill effect.

Did, however, have a mishap with larger tablet -- curious kitty skittered across the surface leaving a couple of relatively deep scratches.

Used to coldworking glass & soapstone though -- several swipes wetsanding with 600 grit - finishing with with finest, 2000 grit.

Completely smoothed out -- fixed :)


~ Carmen Hathaway ~

I have both wacom and bamboo. Both work great, but the wacom surface is like new after many years of use and the bamboo is scored and scratched after about 3 yrs of use. Both used for photography. Of course you could replace the bamboo several times for the cost of the wacom.

Thanks a bunch Carmen, I think I know how I'm gonna spend my birthday money now. :-)

Love it -- great intro model -- recommended for many starting out in a couple of courses I teach -- enthusiastic reviews :)

I have a larger Wacom for my main workstation -- Bamboo for my other -- very handy & as easy to control as the larger.

It's also handy to toss in a laptop bag -- portability.

There's pro & con about larger/smaller model -- a lot of reference to 'sweeping' motions as in painting -- I'm familiar with your art in photography -- it'll be perfect.


~ Carmen Hathaway ~