Using a graphics tablet for post with LR

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tjphxaz

tjphxaz

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I was given a small Wacom graphics tablet a couple of years ago and never felt inspired to learn and use it. I do most post in LR using a mouse and 27” monitor and some work using the DxO suite and/or Luminar. Interested in opinions/tips for using a graphics tablet. I see it in my cabinet occasionally and wonder if I should use it. As I understand, there is more to using it effectively than simply plug and play.
 
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I am never without my tablet for any serious editing/playing! An easy way to become familiar with a tablet is use it to play a simple game. I learned my first Wacum playing solitaire. :)
 
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I have a small Wacom graphics tablet as well but I have not used it much with Lightroom Classic or Photoshop.
I will add this if you don't mind. I have found that I like using the MIDI2LR plugin with Lightroom Classic and then using a fairly inexpensive (about $100) USB mini controller. I like the feel of knobs to make Lightroom adjustments.
 
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I do use the tablet mostly for local adjustments and masking. Initial LR culling and basic adjustment is usually done with the mouse. Your mileage will vary.
MartyD said:
I have found that I like using the MIDI2LR plugin with Lightroom Classic
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I remember reading about that or something similar in the past and wondered how well it worked. Maybe I need to take another look at it!
 
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MartyD said:
I find it most useful when I am preparing a few hundred images to upload for some of my granddaughters sporting events.
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Will you elaborate on how you use the tablet for this purpose. I have four grandchildren’s youth teams that I shoot for. I usually just batch process, convert to .jpg and post on Dropbox for the team fans to view and upload.
 
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tjphxaz said:
Will you elaborate on how you use the tablet for this purpose. I have four grandchildren’s youth teams that I shoot for. I usually just batch process, convert to .jpg and post on Dropbox for the team fans to view and upload.
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I don't use the tablet, I use the MIDI2LR plugin for Lightroom Classic that allows you to assign LR controls to the knobs, buttons, and sliders of a USB mini midi controller. Do a search for MIDI2LR and you will find a number of sites demonstrating it's use. When I am processing in LR, I use the mouse to crop and use the midi controller to do most of the other adjustments.
 
I find it useful in Photoshop but not in lightroom. Not much dexterity needed to click a button, slide a slider, enter numbers, or push the arrow keys. Plus there is a slight lag in the response in lightroom on my windows 10 setup. In Photoshop anything involving brushes or selections is enhanced, but you have to stick with it for several weeks before it starts to feel natural. You can set certain preferences just for photoshop or lightroom such as what the different buttons do.

Some people like to restrict the tablet to the top left quadrant so they can reach the whole screen without moving their hand. I don't, but some say it is really helpful.
 
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I purchased one about 6 months now. (Wacom Small). Have to go through a learning curve. What I did, was to eliminate the mouse all together, and only use the tablet. That's the only way you will be forced to know the tablet best. Was hard at first but worked for me.
 
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I came across an article where someone was using a Wacom tablet for editing. I was interested for fine masking and other stuff that I find difficult with just a mouse. I searched BCG Forums and found this feed. A bit dated I guess but are there any new insights? With a MIDI there are some comments in the discussion on using them for everything bar the initial crop. I can’t find anything on the net that shows how you use them to manage a brush for masking. Can anyone guide me to a link or help me out please? In many videos on editing the presenter usually only roughs out a mask for the sake of illustration and time. But I have difficulty with the fine details. I write left handed but use a mouse right handed but not good at precision movements. I don’t really know what hand to use with an iPad pencil. I get the impression using a graphics tablet is more akin to writing so I can hopefully do this left handed. But maybe a MIDI is a better solution. Masking has come a long way since this item was last discussed on the forum. Any guidance would be appreciated. Maybe a Christmas present could be in the offing 🎅🏼
 
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Highbow said:
I just looking the Wacom today.
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I have hardly used my Wacom tablet. With the improvements in the Masking tool, particularly the object tool, I don’t feel I have the same need. I have not chosen a LR setup from those on the internet or setup fully myself. Let me know how you do if you get one. Good luck.
 
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I use a Wacom in LR when I expect to be doing a lot of masking and/or healing. If all you're doing is global adjustments or moving sliders around, then I agree that it's not that useful - and actually moving sliders with the Wacom can sometimes be a bit finicky.
 
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TonyDownunder said:
I have hardly used my Wacom tablet. With the improvements in the Masking tool, particularly the object tool, I don’t feel I have the same need. I have not chosen a LR setup from those on the internet or setup fully myself. Let me know how you do if you get one. Good luck.
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I’m kinda undecided at this time, the LR editing has improved greatly.
 
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I have a Wacom tablet and got too frustrated with it. I could not seem to do a simple task like select without it skipping Or quitting. I watched a vid by Blake Rudis and mentioned the Wacom drivers made him crazy. He uses a cheap X pen tablet and it doesn’t need drivers. $29.0 on Amazon. I ordered one. What a difference! Smooth, pressure sensitivity actually works, no drivers. Makes a huge difference in selection, brushing and what ever else that a pen does easier than mouse. I still use the mouse heavily but the pen is there when I want to grab and use the tablet.
 
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I use a small, USB connected Wacom tablet and find it indispensable for fine masking, shading, dodging and burning and cloning and healing.

There is training of motor skills to become dexterous with it. One difference from a mouse, at least with my tablet, is the position of the pen on the tablet has an absolute correspondence to the curser's position on the screen. This is different from a mouse, where the curser remains stationary and restarts the cursor where it left off when you lift the mouse off the pad, reposition it and start using it in the new position.

While PS and LR are getting enormously better, the automated selection tools are still not perfect. For example, Subject Selection often leaves gaps in the mask between crossed legs or akimbo arms...Or when the subject is shadowed, slightly out of focus or small in the frame.

The pen and tablet are much better than a mouse or trackball at precise editing of small, fine features. Just keep the mouse handy for everything else.
 
I use one a lot in Photoshop but not in lightroom. Of course if there are masks or brushes I jump to Photoshop rather than fussing with Lightroom. Agree LR is getting much better.
 
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Old post, but I have begun using my Wacom Intuos Pro Small a bunch more as I work more with the masking tools in LrC and PS/Camera Raw. I find it easier to control my selections and to make smaller selections when necessary. I expect to use it more as I incnrease my skill set.
 
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John Woodworth said:
I use a small, USB connected Wacom tablet and find it indispensable for fine masking, shading, dodging and burning and cloning and healing.

There is training of motor skills to become dexterous with it. One difference from a mouse, at least with my tablet, is the position of the pen on the tablet has an absolute correspondence to the curser's position on the screen. This is different from a mouse, where the curser remains stationary and restarts the cursor where it left off when you lift the mouse off the pad, reposition it and start using it in the new position.

While PS and LR are getting enormously better, the automated selection tools are still not perfect. For example, Subject Selection often leaves gaps in the mask between crossed legs or akimbo arms...Or when the subject is shadowed, slightly out of focus or small in the frame.

The pen and tablet are much better than a mouse or trackball at precise editing of small, fine features. Just keep the mouse handy for everything else.
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This video by Mark Denney I found helpful. Saves being precise with the brush. Can still use a tablet and pen I guess but lesser need to.
 
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TonyDownunder said:
This video by Mark Denney I found helpful. Saves being precise with the brush. Can still use a tablet and pen I guess but lesser need to.
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Thank you for this. Very "illuminating".

I subscribe to Mark, but this one just came out and I had not seen it. He is amazing with Lightroom.

Definitely I have been neglecting the Object Mask tools so this is a good nudge to do so.

I often try to use the Color Range, but for me, it usually ends up in frustration...Don't know why it often doesn't work for me. Maybe it's been improved and I should try it again.

Lightroom just keeps getting better and better.
 
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