Wacom Cintiq?

[Ron_Hiner]

Hi all... not sure which forum this belongs in... this one seems as good as any.

So, who's using a Wacom Cintiq touch-screen monitor?

(Let me get this out of the way - they are expensive at $2500 for a 21" monitor Let's end that subject right here, as there is nothing to debate.)

Let's talk instead about how they impact the workflow and the human-computer interface. (I use a Wacom tablet -- and the more I use it, the more I use it. Does that make sense? In other words, the more I use it, the better I get with it, and the less able I am to imagine life without it.)

Ron

[ChrisPurves]

Originally Posted by Ron_Hiner

let's talk instead about how they impact the workflow and the human-computer interface. (I use a Wacom tablet -- and the more I use it, the more I use it. Does that make sense? In other words, the more I use it, the better I get with it, and the less able I am to imagine life without it.)

Ron

Yes, Ron they are expensive, but so is other equipment we buy.

Your comment about using it makes perfect sense. I've been using my graphire more and more. I bought the cheapie to see if I could get used to it and it's coming. If I get to the point that it becomes as valuable to me as it is to you. It almost becomes a no brainer on the " I need it" part. You then have to decide to spend the money for the cintiq.
My thinking on having a cintiq is -- it would be easier to learn to use a tablet with the cintiq as you are actually using the pen on the photo. I would have one already -- but the budget rears it's ugly head. I have a list of better camera gear that has to be attended to first.

So - Where are you in the list of "I need it equipment"
What else do you need before the cintiq.

Good luck - it's a tough decsion.

Cheers
Chris Purves

[Al Schietzsch]

I use a Cintiq, and you're right, I can't imagine life without it.

A lot of my work involves detailed clipping paths and closely tracing outlines for complex masks, so for ultra-fine work, the mouse hand gets tired. Some time ago I was getting RSI in my right arm and it was really cutting into my productivity, not to mention painful. And physio is expensive and time consuming!

It took a few days until I got used to my Cintiq. Now I can do a better job retouching or clipping in a fraction of the time it took even with a separate smaller tablet, much less a mouse.

They're incredible, easily a better investment than a computer that's twice the speed. With the Cintiq it's now like I am twice the speed, and the computer doesn't need to wait for me. If I knew how great they were, I would havebught one when they first came out, and I never would have had any injury either!

[Ron_Hiner]

Originally Posted by ChrisPurves

/
So - Where are you in the list of "I need it equipment"
What else do you need before the cintiq.

Alas, the list is long... and it seems to grow longer by the day. (And dammitall, in a 15 minute convo with a Nikon tech rep today, the list just got $4000 longer.) (Yo, Santa! Please add one Nikon 200mm f2 please to my list. I've been good this year. Thank you very much.)

Actually, in addition to photoshop work, I also do a lot of on-line meetings... and I've been experimenting with using my tablet as sort of a whiteboard. It works nicely for that, but the mental disconnect between the tablet over here and the monitor over there (combined with my lack of eye-hand coordination) all contribute to the conclusion that while the tablet works for this, its not quite perfect. But it's soooo close!

Thanks Chris and Al for your replies. And thanks to anyone else that chimes in. (And thank you Santa, in advance. I promise, I've been really really good.)
Ron

[DouglasUrner]

Well for whatever it is worth Katrin Eismann seems to think they are just the ticket . . .

Doug

[ChrisPurves]

Originally Posted by Ron_Hiner

Alas, the list is long... and it seems to grow longer by the day.

Don't I know it. We are still building the business so all the profits are going to equipment for another 2 1/2 years. We gave it five years to build to full time status. So far it looks like we may be a little bit ahead of that schedule. I might even be able to afford some of the "want but don't need list" I don't need a D2X, my D100s are working great, but he D2X would look good.

I think you should buy the cintiq it probably would find a good home on your desk.

Cheers
Chris

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