Because I Never Saw a Mouse That Could Draw
Written: Jun 22 '04 (Updated Jul 06 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: great for graphic work, highly customizable
Cons: expensive, not for the casual user
The Bottom Line: The Wacom Intuos2 is a great tool for design and illustration on the PC
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| martytdx's Full Review: Wacom Intuos2 6 x 8 (XD68SER) Stylus |
A few years back, the web designers in our area got some neat hardware to play with, and as soon as I saw it, I wanted it too. Luckily, my manager was cool (and persuasive) enough to get me one, too. The tool: Wacom Intuos II 9x12 Graphic Tablet. The result: I got a great new tool that changed the way that I did my design work on the PC.
[ • specifications • ]
Tablet Dimensions: 13.5" x 10.2" x .6"
Active Area: 6" x 8"
Pressure Levels: 1024
Resolution: 2540 lpi
Max. data rate: 200 pps
Accuracy: ± .01"
Tilt Range: 50º-60º
Connection: Serial (Blue Pad) or USB (Platinum Pad)
[ • what's a GRAPHIC PAD? • ]
A graphic tablet or graphic pad is an input device designed for drawing programs like Adobe PhotoShop and Illustrator, Macromedia Flash or PaintShopPro. By using the patented graphic pen, a designer or artist can literally draw on the pad and have the results show up on the program. Because it's a pen - and because of the programming - the translation of the drawing is a whole lot more accurate than when using a mouse, resulting in cleaner and better artwork and editing.
[ • wanna DRAW? • ]
When I first discovered the Wacom Pad, I was using my mouse to do all of my designs - including the freehand drawings. Although not a bad thing, it isn't exactly the best way to do them, either. But, like most people, it was what I had, what I knew.
Then I got to use the Wacom Pad, and it took me to the next level. It took me a while to get used to using it. Using to pen to do things should seem natural, but I found my drawings to be anything but clean. Having used the mouse for so long, I was used to the quirks, and now I had to unlearn those same things to use the pen correctly.
Once I got the hang of it, I began to explore a bit more. The Wacom Pad comes with 3 pieces - the pad, the pen and a cordless, ball-less mouse, but the pen is the most critical aspect of it. The pen comes with four main 'features' out of the box:
• a pressure-sensitive tip which is used to draw, write and select items (like a mouse pointer). The "pressure-sensitive" function is mostly for brushes and pen tools in various drawing programs. The harder you press, the more paint/ink is used on the drawing or illustration, with 1,024 levels of pressure available.
&149 the eraser tip on the other end of the pen acts just like advertised, giving the artist a quick erase tool without having to select eraser from the toolbar. A great feature for quick changes.
&149 the side switch, located around the usual pencil grip area, is a two-function lever switch which is programmed to carry out a load of possible functions. Press the forward side, and it acts as a right-click on the mouse, bringing up context-sensitive menus. The back switch acts as a double-click when selecting menus or navigating the computer. Getting used to using this switch can be tough, but once you get the hang of it, they are incredibly useful.
The pens' functionality is generally determined by the software you're using. Most of my experience is with drawing/illustration programs where it has become an essential tool. In PhotoShop, the pressure-sensitive tip is great for drawing or coloring because you can affect the 'flow' with pressure, creating thicker lines, darker painting or wider erasing. For non-graphic programs, your pen acts like a normal mouse, including the right-click and double-click functions. It's not as handy for these apps, although I know many users who have completely forgone their mice for the graphic pens.
You also get a cordless, ball-less mouse that you can use if needed. However, you can't use both at the same time, and I prefer my wheel mouse to the Wacom version.
The tablet is an important part of the set, as well (obviously). Unlike a normal mousepad, the width of the pad matches the width of your screen/workspace (you can customize it to focus on smaller pieces, though). Along the top of the tablet is a series of function keys which help the user quickly access common functions instead of having to navigate the programs menus. The presets for these are:
» F1: New
» F2: Open
» F3: Close
» F4: Save
» F5: Print
» F6: Exit
» F7: Cut
» F8: Copy
» F9: Paste
» F10: Undo
» F11: Delete
» F12: Back
» F13: Forward
» Mode: Mode controls whether you are using the mouse or pen. This is essentially useless since the pad itself detects when one or the other is loaded over top.
» Pressure: Pressure sets how sensitive you want the pad to be to the pen's pressure, to compensate for different drawing styles of artists. Mine is currently set on the default (medium), which works great for my use.
I rarely use these buttons, but that's probably more out of ignorance than lack of functionality.
[ • free STUFF • ]
The Wacom Intuous2 6x8 comes with some nice software, such as Adobe PhotoShop Elements 2.0, Corel Painter Classic, nikMultimedia penPalette and Wacom Brushes 1.0 for PhotoShop Elements 2.0/PhotoShop 7.0. None of these ended up on my computer, so I can't tell you how well they work.
[ • making it MINE • ]
As I mentioned before, all three devices can be customized to the user's needs or wants. The pen can be customized to change the eraser or side switch as needed. For example, for the side-switch, if you don't want right-click and double-click functions, you can change either or both to act as:
left-click, middle-click, a keystroke (in place of a certain key combo), left double-click, left click-lock (for moving/dragging), modifier keys (shift, alt or control keys), pressure hold (to save a pressure setting for brushes), pen/mouse mode toggle, pop-up menu (a customizable pop-up menu with various functions that you select), erase or even to have the pen
ignore the button.
The tablet itself allows you to customize the function buttons to your needs, moving them or even adding new keystroke functionality.
[ • the PRICE • ]
The Wacom Intuos2 isn't cheap ($299+) but offers designers a nearly indispensable tool. The increase in accuracy in the manipulation is proof enough, but the incredible functionality increase coupled with the simple fact that it's easier to draw with a pen than a mouse is too hard to pass up. It is available in the serial version (in blue) or a USB version (platinum).
If you don't want to spend a full $299, Wacom also offers other sizes such as a 4x5" which is slightly cheaper. If you want to splurge, check out their larger 9x12, 12x12 and 12x18 versions, but those will run you significantly more. They also offer their Graphire3 line which is designed for low-end photo manipulation by home users - for about $99.
[ • final THOUGHTS • ]
Will the average user need a Wacom Tablet? Not really - it would be a fun toy for a little while, but then would sit most likely unused . It's not for kid's drawings, although I suppose that you could do that. If you aren't using graphic/illustration/design software, I'd forego the expense, although you might enjoy the Graphire3 and it's more limited functionality.
My wife bought the 4x5 Graphire version for $99 to use as a virtual notepad on Microsoft Word Documents and has stopped using it already. The included software didn't leave her notes in the page as she had hoped, and she wasn't ready to spend another $300 to get the software which MIGHT solve that problem. Now it sits unused because the 4x5 is a little too small for graphic work.
But if you do work in the industry, or have a more than healthy love for art and drawing (and experience with PhotoShop), I highly recommend checking one out and buying it if you have the available funds. There is a slight learning curve, but once you use it for a short period, you'll wonder how you made do with a drawing mouse.
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martytdx
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Member: Marty
Location: New Jersey
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