The Infernal Pen Tool Of Doom

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Why, o, why does the Pen Tool continue to frustrate me?

For years, I've had to make do with "inking" my artworks and comics with the tried-and-tested "zoom into 500% and DON'T BREATHE" technique in Photoshop CS and I'm sick of it.

Not only am I spending needless amounts of time redoing pages, the constant reworkings do my hand tremours no favors.

I'm told that mastering the Pen Tool is a great way for Respies (folk with Repetive Strain Injury )to continue working with minimal pain and awkwardness.
Even so, I have tried to follow many tutorials on the subject and I can't even begin to get a handle on the blasted thing. My paths refuse to curve to my liking and it's gotten to the point were I'm ready to scream at Photoshop.

Can anyone please help me?

I hear Strapples is our resident Photoshop expert. Maybe drop him a line...

I use something called The Gimp; an open-source version of Photoshop (well, in terms of application; Adobe never made this...

Maybe there's another tool that will do what you want. I seem to remember there's one where you can choose pixels by color. It probably depends on what you're trying to do...

Hi, long time no see (:

So you got a Wacom? Nice

I got one and I love it, I don't even use the mouse anymore, even for browsing =P
I got no more pains in my hand from RSI, which was starting to be painful. Since I started using my pen problem solved.

Ok, assuming you have a Wacom: Are you using it in PEN mode? That's important, if you use it in MOUSE mode it won't be of much help.
Another thing: What programs are you using to draw? Photoshop only?
And lastly: Do you use your pen on a constant basis?

You mention paths, what are you trying to do using paths? That's the whole point of the pen, to don't have the need to tweak lots of paths (as you'd do with a mouse).

Hi, computerlove.

In response to your questions:

I use a horribly outdated but very much usable Wacom Pentella XP Pen, size A5 with a pen that is in use for 99.9% of all my artwork. I currently use Photoshop CS2 as my one and only image-editting software but I am open to switching to another program provided it is easy to use and there is a tool that will help to create simple, smooth, crisp lines over a rough sketch.

As for MOUSE vs PEN mode, I wasn't even aware such a mode exists. O.o Could you elaborate a little further? As i've previously mentioned, I am working with a graphic tablet that is so outdated it is rarely sold any more.

Lastly, on the subject of tablets: I've heard good things about the Bamboo but you recommend a good tablet (A5 size suits me down to the ground) that won't cost the Earth?

EDIT: Come to think of it, I'm not even sure if my tablet IS a Wacom. I bought it about 5 years ago for €45 in Argos. As far as I'm aware, it's no longer in stock.. >_> ;;

Hi, oddly enough, if you google "wacom pentella", there is only ONE result, your deviantart!
I couldn't find any info about it, it seems it's not a Wacom.

About Mouse mode vs Pen mode (the bold refers to Pen Mode):

For example, to click the Start button in Windows you'd have to move the pen to the bottom-left part of the tablet.
This is the preferences panel where you change it: http://mac-guild.org/reviews/images/wacom-pen-prefs.jpg

What's your budget? The Bamboo is nice, is the successor to the Graphire, and it's even cheaper too: About $62 dollars the small one(close to A6 size) and $162 the medium one(about A5 size) on Amazon. Mine (a graphire) is about A6, I find it comfortable, specially since I don't have to move my hand and arm a lot, but well, that's my opinion (:

hope that helps.