Jon, Photoshop is flexible and capable, there's no question. And we have it. But -- what I'm looking for is simply a way to draw that's easier (and more easily accurate) than using a mouse to guide a cursor on the screen.
Photoshop is a three-hour course at the local university -- and that's just a good solid introduction. Good enough for some magazine work, sure -- but more than I need. As for what's the picture -- there is no single item -- but rather whatever art comes through the door at the laser engraving store and needs some modifying or touching-up.
Thanks, one and all. Wacom seems to be the preferred choice (2 to 1), but I still wonder which model Jerry used/suggests. Remembering that we don't need much in the way of options -- maybe line thickness/width and eraseability. For sure no colors -- the laser doesn't do color so there's no need for it. Well, that's not correct, in a way. The program uses line color to guide the laser machine -- black gets lasered first, then red, then green, etc. But that's just arbitrary and doesn't show up in the product.