Using a Tablet on Your Computer for Photo Editing

One morning I awoke to find my wrist and elbow having more than the average arthritic pain that age has added to my life. I thought over all my activities of the past week and realized I am spending more and more time in front of my computer in my “digital darkroom”. I asked myself if that might have something more to do with the pain I was feeling than old age. When the answer was a resounding “YES!”, the next question was, “What can I do to alleviate some of the stresses I am putting on my wrist and arm?”

I began to explore the idea of using a pen and tablet instead of a mouse when I am editing photos. It is ergonomically better to use a tablet and pen than using a mouse, thereby giving your wrist and arm a break from repetitive stress Then I began to question how many other programs and activities on my computer could I use a pen and tablet for? I needed to do a justification for the expenditure incurred with the pen and tablet. It needed to have value added, not just a little pain relief. I needed to put sound judgment to a frivolous purchase that might be driven by a lust for the latest and greatest technology (a far too common event in my household).

I began to investigate the different tablets and pens that are in the market place. There are two popular manufacturers of these items: Wacom and Aiptek.

Wacom Technology Corporation

This manufacturer claims that their pen tablets are the fastest and most comfortable way to work at your computer. They claim to have over 100 compatible programs they work with on both the PC platform as well as Macs. All their tablets are built using pen-enabled technology to feel like a regular writing instrument in your hand.

The web site promotes the idea of enjoying your experience and having fun with their tablets. If you want to have fun with digital photos, draw, paint, jot notes, and annotate documents, a tablet may be your answer.