Faun painting, originally uploaded by ryan_451.

I had seen graphics tablets for sale on various sites for a while and had entertained the idea of buying one for some time.  Then one semester I audited an advanced Photoshop class and rather than buying a book, the professor required the purchase of a graphics tablet.  Well what better reason is there than, “I need it for school!”  I decided to splurge on the Wacom Graphire4 6×8″—white to match my iMac, of course (yes I drank the Kool-Aid, and it was delicious!). [The current equivalent model is the Bamboo Fun (medium).]

It is easily the single best peripheral I own.  I’ve used it everyday for a year and a half.  In fact, I haven’t had a mouse connected to my computer for the last year.  In my workflow, I make heavy use of curves-adjustment layers and their associated layer masks.  The ease with which I can dodge and burn—without constantly changing brush size, mind you—is simply astounding.

I also downloaded the trail version of Corel Painter X and managed to produce the above.

Admittedly, it does take some getting used to.  Probably the biggest hurdle (apart from hand-eye coordination) is learning that for every point on the screen there is a corresponding point on the tablet.  You can’t lift and move the cursor as with a mouse.  When I first got mine, I forced myself to use it for everyday things like checking my email just to get used to it.  Now my mouse is packed away in the original box.

I can live without it to be sure, but I would be very, very sad.