Equipment Questions

[Jan]

We get a lot of questions from people asking advice about what kind of printer or scanner we recommend. What kind of paper is best for printing scrapbook pages? Can you tell me something about archival inks? What's a Wacom tablet? There are so many great products out there on the market. We have our favorites and so do you!

Let's have some questions, answers and opinions about the tools of the scrapbooking trade...

[Sarah]

Hi, I've been thinking I "have" ;) to have a Wacom tablet! I'm just wondering if the least expensive version is going to be o.k.? Anyone have any experience with them? Sarah

[indigolisa]

Do you have a favorite Digi Camera Jan?

[Evie]

Sarah,
Go for the Graphire, you can usually find it on sale somewhere.
Eva

[seebee]

Hi, I've been thinking I "have" ;) to have a Wacom tablet! I'm just wondering if the least expensive version is going to be o.k.? Anyone have any experience with them? Sarah

I have the least expensive Graphire 4 x 5 that we bought on sale at Best Buy a few weeks ago. I love it! I know some may find it too small, but it's perfect for me. Before the tablet, I was working with a trackpad on my laptop, so I'm used to a limited area. Actually, the 4 x 5 seemed HUGE compared to my laptop trackpad! :D And I don't really have the room for something larger, plus I don't think I'd like to have to move my arm/wrist around too much. (Ok, that sounds lazy, I know!:))

[Jan]

That's a great point, SeeBee, about the larger tablets. I've known folks who've gone ahead and purchased the larger ones, then regretted it because they were just too big, and they did have to move their arms around a lot more. The larger tablets are really designed for professional graphic designers.

For scrappers and photo editors, and those of us who work on smaller scale projects, the 4x5 works nicely.

The Wacom Graphire is a good starter tablet, and very affordable. I'm pretty sure it comes in a Bluetooth version as well... if you want to go wireless. Also nice if you're using a laptop.

Just a little background for those new to the Wacom name and concept, the tablet is like your mouse pad, and instead of a mouse, you use a stylus pen. It gives you more control when you're drawing, designing, using the selection tools and editing photos. So much easier to get into those close places and fine details with a pen than a mouse!

To learn more, visit http://wacom.com/

Hope this helps!

[Jan]

Hi Indigolisa,

I'm a Nikon girl, myself. There are many, many other wonderful digital cameras out there to choose from, so if you're in the market, you'll want to research them all. Definitely check out Fuji, Canon, and the other big names as well. I've heard good things about the new Panasonic digital cameras as well. I shoot with a Canon Rebel at work -- also a great camera.

But for me, you can't go wrong with Nikon. I have a Coolpix 8800, which I love. It gives me sharp, clear 8 megapixel images, features a 10x zoom, and it also has another nice feature I like -- a vibration reduction mode. So if you're shooting without a tripod, and your hand is not quite as steady as you'd like it to be, you're covered. If you are looking for a great digital SLR (which gives you complete manual control when shooting, and allows you to interchange lenses), I'd recommend the Nikon D70S, which I've also used and love. Both of those models are a couple of years old, and the folks I know who own the newest models, the D80, D200 and D2X absolutely love them.

The Coolpix line of smaller digital point-and-shoots is great too, if you're looking for a camera that's really compact and easy to take anywhere. A friend of mine just bought one and came to me to have me set it up for her to get it ready for shooting. She was amazed at how it was ready to go in seconds, how easy it is to use and at the quality of the images she's getting.

I'm sure there will be lots more recommendations for digital cameras, from all the manufacturers out there. Half the fun of buying one is doing the research and asking people what kind of experiences they've had!

So get a lot of opinions and advice, do your homework -- and anytime you can test one before you buy, definitely do that, too!

Hope this helps!

[seebee]

the tablet is like your mouse pad, and instead of a mouse, you use a stylus pen.

Which reminds me...do you know how many times I have been not thinking and have tried to write on my laptop's track pad instead of the tablet? More times than I care to admit, anyway. :D

[karen donnybrook]

I have a Graphice 4 x 5 and am very happy with it. I had to purchase it sight unseen because nobody in Bunbury (nearest city to me) stocked them :D. Although I have noticed they are now stocked.

Karen

[Lynn]

I was one of those people who bought the larger tablet. I wanted to take some classes at the local college in digital arts so I thought I'd invest in the bigger one, bigger is better right? Not really. I hated the classes at the college, lousy instructors and I'll probably never be a graphics artist. However, you can reduce the area of the tablet if you have a large one and don't want the extra arm movements. It also allows you to have two screens at once using one section of the table for each display, not something I use but my husband has. I think a small tablet is a worth while investment for any scrapper to me it is much more natural than working with a mouse for better brush controls. I also like to be able to set the touch sensitivity to get different effect that you cannot get with a mouse. If I had it to do over I would get the 4x5.

[Gwen]

I just purchased a Wacom Graphire4 6x8 USB Tablet from Amazon. I am taking a class at Eclectic Acadamy.com to learn how to use it. It is a challenge and I am finding out how fun it is to use. I am liking it! Wacom is pronounced 'whack - um' !!!!! Gwen

[Parker]

I would like some input on scanners for the Mac. I would like to scan in a whole ton of old pictures and negatives I have from way back when! If anyone has experience along these lines I would appreciate some tips.:)

[slwood3]

I have the cheap one ($99) and it is a learning curve. I expected it to do more than it did, but as I get the hang of it, it is turning out to be good for using with brushes in PSE. The part you write on is very sensitive, and you can control the size and various other aspect of the brush with the pen pressure. For the price, it is worth it.

[seebee]

I would like some input on scanners for the Mac. I would like to scan in a whole ton of old pictures and negatives I have from way back when! If anyone has experience along these lines I would appreciate some tips.:)

I'm not sure it's Mac compatible (probably is, though), but I love my Epson Perfection 3590. It does slides & negatives. It's been great! :)

[Suezette]

Great timing on the topic of Wacom's because I'm looking into buying one and have just started my research.

Do any of them come without the programs so they would be cheaper? I already have PSE 4 and I see that most come with PSE 3. I wouldn't need that.

[Lynn]

I have lots of slides and since everything has gone digital I was afraid when the bulbs burnt out I'd loose them all and they are very expensive to have made into prints. I hated my old scanner and bought and Epson 4490. I haven't tried it with negatives yet but it does very well slides and the software that comes with it is much better than the software that came with my Dad's HP scanner.

I have the Wacom Inutos 3 tablet. It came with PE3 which is what really got me started on using elements and then scrapping. It came with some other software which I've never learned to use. Elements was easy to figure out the other packages weren't. However, even though I figured out the basics on my own, it was well worth the books and web sites I subscribe to in order to learn more. I just upgraded to 4 now they have 5 but I just missed the one month window to get 5 for the cost of shipping. I really need more memory, a bigger monitor and better printer so I'm staying at 4 for a while.

Love to hear about monitors for doing digital imaging. They say CRTs are better than LCDs but it is hard to find any information on what the better CRTs are.

[Jan]

Lynn, while CRTs may have been a much better choice for digital imaging a year or two ago, the newer flat screens are really coming along! There are many schools of thought on this. It will be very interesting to hear what others have to say.

[lalascrapper]

I have been wanting the Wacom tablet. Amazon has the 4x5 Graphite listed at $85 with free shipping showing a savings of $181. Great price. However, one of the customer reviews said you have to "hover" your pen in the air and cannot touch the tablet. Is this correct as I have severe RA and that would be a major problem. I need user input. Thanks. LaLa

[Gwen]

I am not very knowledgable on this thing yet, but I do have to put my pen on the tablet for it to work. Hovering above the tablet just wouldn't work at all so don't know what this person is referring to. My I thought the idea of the Wacom was to use the table for drawing, painting, etc. Hope this helps.

[ADesignGallery]

I have the smaller Graphire tablet. The first day I used it (over a year ago) I thought I'd made a big mistake because it was so different from using a mouse. However, I followed the recommendation of a friend & put my mouse in the desk drawer so I wouldn't be tempted to use it. Now I can't imagine being without my Wacom pen & tablet!!! It's so natural!

[Leona Kohn]

I have the 6 x 8 Graphire Tablet. I use it for selection of images,and objects, brushes, and art work. It takes some time to learn how to use it, but it is worth the effort. It is great with the selection brush and lasso tools. It is much easier to use than the mouse for selecting an object.

The pressure of the pen can be adjusted. Under control panel the tablet is listed so that the pen and mouse can be customized for the pressure that you feel comfortable with. I have mine set so that I can touch the pad.

[square8]

I'm not sure it's Mac compatible (probably is, though), but I love my Epson Perfection 3590. It does slides & negatives. It's been great! :)

I have two Macs - the G4 runs System 9 and the iMac runs 10.4 (Tiger).
I bought an Epson Stylus Photo RX620 today because it is supposed to support both systems. The salesman said that the new scanners don't support scanning 35 mm slides anymore because everything is going digital. I don't know if he was just trying to make a sale or not, but I have tons of old family slides to deal with and I didn't want to be caught short. The holder only has slots for 4 slides (it does film strips, too), so I may be at this for the next decade.
:confused:

[imagoingirl]

I have the Intuos3 Wacom 4x6 tablet and LOVE it. It is certainly big enough for me. I debated on which size to get and the price helped me to decide to get the small one and I have never wished for a bigger one!

[casey]

Hi Jan,
I would like to know about wide body printers. I've actually posted in the "Printing Options" thread. Should I post my questions here instead?
Thanks!
Casey :)

[beckka]

I have a iMac, G5 with a 20 inch screen. Works awesomely:D (new word) for scrapping. I know there are more pc'ers out there, and I was one of them, but the friend who got me into scrapbooking 15 years ago, and then into digital scrapping 2 years ago told me Mac is the best!

So, now I'm a Mac person. And I love my computer. For those of you who don't know what a G5 is, it is the whole computer in a screen that is only less than 2 inches thick. Not quite as portable as a laptop, but still quite easy to take on vacation - but with a 20 in screen.

It really helps as your eyes get older:D .

[Teri]

I have the Wacom Graphire 4 x 5 Pen, Mouse and Tablet that is just the right size for my desk.

However, I never did learn how to use the pen to make selections. I practiced the Wacom Eye-Hand Coordination Exercise and I can do the dots, X and O on the rectangular grid that I made in Photoshop Elements because the grid is small. But I cannot make selections because my hand cannot control the pen to make good and smooth selections. It seems I have better control using the mouse.

Does any one have tips on making smooth and accurate selections using the pen?

[seebee]

I have the Wacom Graphire 4 x 5 Pen, Mouse and Tablet that is just the right size for my desk.

However, I never did learn how to use the pen to make selections. I practiced the Wacom Eye-Hand Coordination Exercise and I can do the dots, X and O on the rectangular grid that I made in Photoshop Elements because the grid is small. But I cannot make selections because my hand cannot control the pen to make good and smooth selections. It seems I have better control using the mouse.

Does any one have tips on making smooth and accurate selections using the pen?

One suggestion is to use a mask; I find it easier to eyeball your selection when it's defined by a mask. You can use the "mask" feature on the Selection Brush; change the mode from selection to mask. Wherever you see red, that's the part that's NOT selected. Paint over the area you want selected with the brush, and the red will go away. (I hope I'm remembering this right! :eek: )

Also, with ANY selection tool, it helps to zoom in close to really get the detail work done. I feel the pen makes it much easier to do edges, but it's certainly possible to do a good job without one. That's why Control and +/Control and - were the first shortcuts I learned; it saves time from going over & selecting the zoom. Also, at times, you can use the scroll wheel on the tablet to zoom in & out. (The function of the scroll wheel changes depending on what you have selected onscreen.)

My favorite method of selection usually involves the magnetic lasso to do a rough selection, and then the regular selection brush to touch up edges. Everybody has their own favorite, I'm sure; it's just a matter of trying different options until you find out what's the most comfortable for you. :)

I actually don't find myself making defined selections much anymore since I use layer masks a lot. I either use the layer mask associated with an adjustment layer, or I pop Grant's Tools Layer Mask option on. :D

[Teri]

seebee, thank you for your very helpful advice. I have PSE3 and I have pre-ordered PSE5.

I use the lasso tool to make selections but I will try your method of using Grant's Layer Mask and the Selection Brush in the mask mode.

Sometimes I like to remove the cluttered background when I take photos of my young grandkids. They are very active and I take photos without worrying how the background looks in the photo. Of course, it would be ideal if they would pose for the photo but they are too young.

[slwood3]

You do not have to hover, but the pad will recognize the pen when it is just above the tablet if you want it to.

[vholdwic]

I have an Intuos 2 6 x 8 and I don't know how I would do anything with photos without it.

I absolutely cannot use a mouse to do the finesse moves necessary to paint or make realistic layer masks.

I highly recommend it!

[vholdwic]

I am using an Epson Perfection 2480. I use it for photos and slides.

I have been very happy with it!

I had a Canon before (something from the "i" line) I liked it also, but it didn't scan slides.

I am a big Epson fan. I use their R800 printer and love it!

[givenout]

I just purchased a Wacom Graphire4 6x8 USB Tablet from Amazon. I am taking a class at Eclectic Acadamy.com to learn how to use it. It is a challenge and I am finding out how fun it is to use. I am liking it! Wacom is pronounced 'whack - um' !!!!! Gwen


Gwen - thanks for suggesting this. I wasn't aware there was a class on using the Wacom. I have a 4x5 Intuos 2 (not sure what the difference is between Graphire vs Intuos, but it was on sale).

How are you liking the Wacom class? I barely use any of its features and would like to learn how to use it fully, maybe even partially more than I do now.

Thanks

[rhondabwright]

I have the first model of Epson Colorio PM-A850 scanner/copier/printer three in one. I love it! This is the Japanese model number though so I don`t know the American equivalent but it is available (newer versions). I think it was the three in one series in America. The only drawback is that it isn`t the wide page version. It scans old negatives beautifully and has features directly on the printer to set for old negatives, repair pictures etc. I also like that it has slots for several different camera cards and I usually just put the cards in and make all the picture printing selections directly on the printer. this is for printing pictures. I have scanned 80yr. old family pictures etc with perfect results. Mine is really old but great. Epson makes extremely good printers with scan functions. There is one now that you can feed the negatives into...nice feature.