Wacom Pen Tablets

It is often difficult and awkward to design with a mouse, especially when working on illustrations or precise image retouching. Pen tablets give graphic designers the feel of working with an actual pen and pad, and Wacom tablets are the industry standard.

Features

Wacom’s newest professional model is known as the “Intuous3.” It offers a variety of features that improve the design process, including:

• A wireless pen with 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity, imitating the feel of a real pen
• Five-button mouse for use with your tablet
• Programmable keys for quick access to keyboard shortcuts and other functions
• Compatibility with over 100 graphics software programs

Sizes

The Intuous3 is available in 6 sizes based on the different needs of designers. They are:

• 4x6: Great for limited workspace, portability and lower budgets
• 6x8: Provides ample workspace for standard design and photo work
• 6x11: Built for working on wide-screen or multiple monitors
• 9x12: Suited for larger monitors and illustrative work
• 12x12: The only square tablet, the 12x12 accommodates various paper sizes
• 12x19: This is the largest tablet offered, which is ideal for large-format projects, illustration, and high-resolution monitors

The Graphire Tablet

In addition to the “professional-level” Intuous3, Wacom offers the 6x8 “Graphire” tablet. Although it has a few less features and less levels of pressure sensitivity (512), it is a less expensive option. The 6x8 Graphire sells for almost $100 less than the 6x8 Intuous3 and is Bluetooth enabled.

Whether you are starting out with the Graphire or investing in one of the larger Intuous3 tablets, Wacom’s products are excellent tools for graphic designers looking for more control in their work.