WHY WACOM?

For the digital artist, there is no more important tool than a Wacom tablet which has a cordless, batteryless, pressure-sensitive stylus that gives controls which far exceed those with conventional media.

The basic controls allow you to set how the brush's width, tone and hue respond to the the pressure you apply to the stylus. You also have the opportunity to select from a wide variety of brush stroke shapes and textures. Other controls can be assigned to the tilt of the pen.

Wacom tablets work interactively with the major graphics programs, such as Photoshop.

Wacom has just made exciting changes and additions throughout its product line.

- The Intuos3 tablets are completely redesigned.
- There is now a 21.3 inch Cintiq3 LCD draw-on-the-screen tablet.
- There are very interesting new optional pen and nib choices.

A big reason for professionals to upgrade their tablets is the ExpressKeys on the left and right sides of the Intuos3 tablets. As an artist working freehand, it is very, very convenient to have a finger button for Undo, meaning I no longer need to reach for the keyboard or move the stylus up to a function strip along the top (which is gone on the Intuos3). The ExpressKeys also contain a "touchpad" control strip for scrolling, which also means you don't have to move your stylus from your work.

GRAPHIRE3

Graphire3 tablets come with a standard cordless, batteryless stylus that gives you 512 levels of pressure sensitivity. They also come with a three button cordless mouse.

Graphire3 tablets are available in three colors, blue, white and gray, and two sizes, 4 x 5 for under $100, and 6 x 8 for under $200. Unless you want the small size to carry around with a laptop, I advise the 6 x 8 tablet.

CINTIQ3

Cintiq3 tablets are a have a TFT active matrix LCD screen with a protective layer that has surface with a paper-like feel, upon which you draw.

Cintiq3 tablets come in 17 and 21.3 inch diagonal screen sizes. The 17 inch tablet does not have the additional features of the 21.3 inch tablet.

CINTIQ3 21UX

The Cintiq3 21UX has a 21.3 inch diagonal, 1600 x 1200 pixel screen, a resolution of 5080 lines per inch and 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity. There are four programmable ExpressKeys and a Touch Strip on each side of the tablet (which are not on the 17 inch Cintiq3). There is ToolID for those who use more than one stylus or interchange stylus with mouse.

The ExpressKeys can be used for mouse clicks, modifier keys, and keyboard shortcuts. The finger-sensitive Touch Strip is for scrolling, zooming, etc.

The Cintiq3 stylus is an ergometric Grip Pen that has a nib at one end and a rounded "eraser" at the other which can be used as an eraser, or programed for whatever brush you want. The stylus has a programmable rocker DuoSwitch. There is a multi-position pen stand. Optional pens and nibs are available (see below). The Cintiq3 does not come with a mouse.

The Cintiq3 sells for under $3000.

CINTIQ3 17SX

The Cintiq3 17SX has a 17 inch diagonal, 1280 x 1024 pixel screen. It has 512 levels of pressure sensitivity and a resolution of 508 lines per inch. It comes with a Grip Pen and there are no optional pens. It sells for under under $1800 .

If you are a professional and your budget extends that far, I highly recommend that you choose the 21.3 inch tablet with its larger working surface and many features.

For full specs on the Centiq line go to:
http://www.wacom.com/lcdtablets/specs.cfm

PENS, ETC.
As well as a variety of pens, you can now get felt feel nibs for your Intuos Grip Pen. These are great for people who work in markers, like the storyboard artists out here in Hollywood.

Among the innovations from Wacom is a new 6D Art Pen stylus with a wedge shaped tip that uses a hard nib and also "felt" nips for various pen feels. It has six dimensions of pen control including 360 degrees of barrel rotation, and 1,024 levels of pressure-sensitivity. It weighs less than half a ounce. ( I have not yet tried it, but it looks very interesting.) This pen is under $70.

Intuos3 Grip Pen - $69.95
6D Art Pen - $69.95
Intuos3 Ink Pen - $79.95
Intuos3 Airbrush - $99.95
Intuos3 5-Button Mouse - $69.95

Replacement Pen Nibs (5) - $4.95
Intuos3 Felt Nibs (5) - $4.95
Intuos3 Stroke Nibs (5) - $9.95
Intuos3 Grip Pen Accessory Kit - $19.95
Intuos3 Pen Tether - $6.95

CHOOSING YOUR TABLET

SIZE?
The size of the tablet you choose depends on three things: your budget, the space on your desktop, and the uses you have for the tablet.

The 17.3 inch width of the 9 x 12 tablet slides under my Apple Cinema display so I can move my keyboard in front of the tablet for typing, and I find the 9 x 12 tablet the most comfortable size to do portraits.
Were I painting modern art with sweeping strokes I might prefer one of Wacom's larger tablet.
To carry around with a laptop, a 4 x 5 would be convenient.

KIND?
I prefer looking at a screen in front of me because it keeps my back and neck straight in the long hours I am at work.

Some artists work better when they are looking at their stylus on the surface with the image, and for them the choice would be a Cintiq tablet.