What are the advantages and disadvantages of a graphics digitiser?

Photoshop

There are many different programs (both commercial and freeware) on the market that can be used to create graphic images or edit photos. To draw or edit an image in these programs, many people use the mouse, but professionals often prefer to use a graphics (or digital) tablet. There are advantages (and some disadvantages) to using a tablet.

M/F These tablets come with a "Pen" that is used to draw the image onto the surface of the tablet, with it instantly appearing on the canvas in the program. A graphics tablet provides the users with much greater control over the resulting image. This is because the users can manipulate the digital pen in much the same way that they would a regular drawing pen or brush, allowing them to achieve a smooth motion that the mouse cannot match.

Another useful feature of graphics tablets is that they are usually pressure sensitive. Many graphics programs (such as Photoshop, Photoshop Elements or GIMP) have been designed to detect this pressure difference and express it on the canvas. This means that as the artist applies more pressure the program will apply more "paint," while if he gradually releases the pressure the line will taper off.

One problem with using graphic tablets is found in trying to coordinate the movement of your hand with the action on the screen. With a mouse it is generally easier to coordinate your movement (in part because of it's limited range of movement to begin with and in part because the action is carried out with the shoulder rather than the wrist) with the action on the screen. Of course, with practice this becomes easier. An alternative is to use a graphics tablet that actually has its own built in screen. This gives digital graphics artists the same kind of immediate visual feedback they receive with traditional tools and media.