How-To

Configure Adobe Photoshop Advanced Tablet Options

By Stefan Kudev

Updated August 5, 2021

If you’re lucky enough to have a tablet on your computer and would like to use it with Photoshop, there are a few things that you should configure before you begin working with it

If you’re lucky enough to have a tablet on your computer and would like to use it with Photoshop, there are a few things that you should configure before you begin working with it in order to fully realize the benefits of a Tablet + Photoshop.  The steps are fairly straightforward forward so let’s jump right into it!

Step 1 – Installing the appropriate drivers

Mac or PC, OSX or 7, your tablet will not function fully just with the drivers your operating system assigned it. You should install the additional drivers that often come on a disc with your Tablet. If you didn’t get a CD/DVD, Google Search for the win. Make sure to reboot after installing the drivers as well just in case.

Below – disc and disc case that came with my Wacom Bamboo tablet.

Step 2 – Configuring Photoshop settings

Brush Size and Opacity

If you use the brush tool a lot, you may have noticed the three different buttons at the top options pane.

These are actually the buttons that will allow you to add pen pressure to the paintbrush. The first two control Opacity and Flow. Notice how with Pen Pressure, you can easily control exactly how heavily or lightly the brush touches the surface of the “paper”.

The third button will make the brush size controllable via Pen Pressure.  Again, notice how easily I can control the size of the brush.

Tip: You can also turn on all of the settings for a cool effect that looks best on a black canvas with a bright color.

Brush Scattering, Color Dynamics, and more

If you’ve seen one of our older Photoshop tutorials, you will remember the Brush Panel from where you can add scattering, color dynamics, and other groovy options to play with. If you go to one of those settings (color dynamics for example), you will see a control drop list from where you can choose Pen Pressure.

This is also useful, since you may use pen pressure to adjust the amount of hue difference in any brush.

Tip: If you have purchased a more professional tablet, you can also pick Pen Tilt and use different pen angles to make things more interesting.

Eraser

Some tablet pens have an eraser on the back which allows you to use your tablet just like a notebook and pencil – you sketch away, and when something goes wrong you just flip your pen around and just erase whatever doesn’t look good.

No configuration is needed here however you can configure different erasers to see which one makes the most realistic effect when used with your tablet (since all tablets work differently).

Conclusion

Just when you thought Photoshop couldn’t get any better, take things up a notch with a Tablet Pad! Oh, and if your tablet has touch functionality as well, or if you’re lucky enough to have a multi-touch trackpad or display on your computer, be sure to check out our article for Multitouch in Photoshop.