A good mouse or alternative for post processing

[brad]

I couldn't stand the Wacom tablet and I don't have the ability to spend a few days doing crappy retouches just to "get used to it." I need something that works for me out of the box.

I'm using one of the big Logitech Marble Mouse track balls.. love this thing, honestly. I can get really fine control (that I couldn't achieve with the tablet when I was trying to use it).

I did play with a tablet recently (thanks HHG) and I know I could "get used to it" but I did not like the fact that I could not get the mouse pointer to reach all corners of my screen without picking up the pen multiple times and dragging.. and I could not move the pointer freely around the screen without moving my hand often... things I do not have to do with a trackball -- my hand rarely moves, only fingers.

[Norma_S]

I love my 6x8 Wacom. I couldn't work without it. Once you load the software that comes with it, the surface maps out exactly proportional to your screen so you can go side to side without lifting the stylus.

[bullsparade]

Originally Posted by Norma_S

I love my 6x8 Wacom. I couldn't work without it. Once you load the software that comes with it, the surface maps out exactly proportional to your screen so you can go side to side without lifting the stylus.

Agreed, that is the point of a tablet is that it should be mapped exactly to your screen. Run the software/driver program and you are good to go. There is no way my very precise trackball can hold a candle to the tablet's (my hand) percision.

[d2creative]

Originally Posted by brad

I couldn't stand the Wacom tablet and I don't have the ability to spend a few days doing crappy retouches just to "get used to it." I need something that works for me out of the box.

This is like saying you'd rather keeping shooting with your ratty old 2mp P&S because you don't have time to learn how to use a 5D.

And yeah, you need to install the wacom software and tell it to map to screen instead of working in mouse mode. You can also adjust pen tip sensitivity, assign commands to the buttons on the pen and tablet, etc.

I do agree that a trackball is better than a mouse.... especially the big ones like the Kensington Turbo Mouse.

[Wes]

The Wacom Bamboo series just got a pretty good write-up in Popular Photography. I'll be ordering one for $199 today or tomorrow.

[brad]

Originally Posted by d2creative

This is like saying you'd rather keeping shooting with your ratty old 2mp P&S because you don't have time to learn how to use a 5D.

I don't think the analogy holds at all. The benefit of using a tablet over a trackball or even a mouse is not that large... I've yet to see anything that can be done with a tablet that can't be done with a trackball... and even the speed claims aren't entirely convincing. The bottleneck on my retouches aren't the interface with the computer, but the speed of the processor.

I'm not trying to bash the tablet. I'm saying a tablet was not a good choice for me. I thought that this was a thread to talk about mouse alternatives. I didn't realize it was solely about tablets and thought perhaps that some readers might be interested in opinions that did not find the tablet solution to be the best thing since sliced bread.

[Freedbaby]

I actually said in the title...."A good Mouse or alternative"

I am going to consider the tablet or the track ball.

Thanks for all the replies, they have been helpful. I was amazed at the amount of people using the tablet.

Freedbaby

[d2creative]

It's all good Brad, it may not be for everyone. No bashing either way.

From your post though, it sounded like you didn't give it chance, or even set it up correctly. A mouse and trackball can get the job done for sure, you just miss out on a lot of the advantages. Pressure sensitivity, natural and realistic control, precision...
I love my kensington trackball, but for illustration and photo retouching there is no comparison to the tablet for me. I won't even get into how cool the Cintiq is.
But I've made my living with one for over a decade so I'm very biased and soooo used to using it.

[bullsparade]

Originally Posted by brad

I don't think the analogy holds at all. The benefit of using a tablet over a trackball or even a mouse is not that large... I've yet to see anything that can be done with a tablet that can't be done with a trackball...

No Bashing at all but I did want to point out that "Pressure sensitivity, natural and realistic control, precision" are things that can not be done with a trackball. If I wanted to simply brush a little rough spot on skin for example...I dont want to have to tweak my hardness or diameter settings everytime in PS...I just use lighter pressure on the tablet or swift, soft strokes and presto I am good. The tbalet recognizes the amount of force you are applying. It is as if you have a paint brush or pencil to sketch with. I am just unable to replicate that with my trackball