Anyone got advice on using tablets?

I've got a 4"X5" tablet, and a full edition of Adobe Photoshop. Any advice is appreiciated.

I'm jealous.

Meh, I want a tablet. I have PS and Painter, but no tablet.

One day...

Well, first I'd be sure that it's compatible with your computer (USB, firewire, etc/operating system).

For the first week of having your tablet, use it for everything mouse related. It helps a lot.

treat it as a piece of paper, the wider strokes you do , the better off you are. The settings in photoshop should allow you to use the tablet as either a pen/pencil style or a paintbrush style depending on what you are used to. So make sure you do the settings to fit your style best.

Things to check for are sensitivity, preasure, tilt, and spacing.

Big strokes are so hard to do since it's a tiny tablet I'm thinking of scanning ebay for a 12"X12" one...Thanks for the advice, I'll start with step one then.

I've also only used photoshop for minor photo touches, so advice reguarding that too would be nice.

Thanks Daganev!

I don't really understand the diffeculty people have with them it's like using a pencil but looking at the screen. I've had mine for several years and use it for everything (But WoW it doesn't work in WoW.) It's a little less than 4x5.

Although don't mistake it for instant talent. I used to visit alot of Oekakis and they always assumed Tablets equalled talent that people with mouses were useless and they're not.

And photoshop just open it up and play with stuff. Or google for Photoshop Tutuorials there's tons of those.

Photoshop is too large to give quick advice for, however, I once took a class and my eyes were opened about photoshop.


Photoshop was made with photographers in mind... not graphic artists. The more you think photographs, the more the tools make sense.

I envy you too

I only use pen tablet in the office. I advice to play with pressure setting of the pen and the fade property of the brush in photoshop. And then brush as if your brushing with a real brush. Just practice. You will eventuallyget used to the feeling of your digital brush.

Paintshop Pro is better at digital painting though, it has those nifty realistic painting properties. Your brushtrokes will leave a run-down if set on watercolor option. I drool everytime I see it. Too bad my computer cant support the program. Im stuck with Photoshop.

My biggest problem with a tablet is I can't rotate it like I would a piece of paper. It's a bad habit of mine; I draw with the paper tilted diagonaly towards me and rotate it based on how comfortable my hand is. Also a different position from a painting position which makes it odd for me if I tried to view it as such. Aside from the positioning I've found it's practically the same with any brush, pencil and pen stroke. The comfort put me off at the start but the more I use the tablet well it feels less odd after awhile. So yeah like dag says just practice will do.

Regarding techniques with Photoshop mostly it's the same as the techniques you would normally use if you were drawing, painting, shading and what not. There are short cuts to a lot of things though. For example my girlfriend loves the burn and dodge tool. Of course the filters and other tools available are mostly a compliment if you already got the basics down for such things (lighting, colour tones, perspective, proportion, etc.). Try looking through webpages of artists or in deviantart. Sometimes you'll find tutorials on how to produce certain effects or how they managed to make certain pieces.

Maya came out with a drawing program that allows you to rotate your tablet.

I think painter has that ability as well.