First things first: it’s pronounce Whack-um, not Way-com. Weird, I know.
I began using a Graphire3 4x5 (I think that’s the equivalent of the A6 in Europe) tablet a few years ago when I was learning Photoshop. It was recommended to me by my professor and at $99, I thought I’d try it.
I really loved the feel of working with a pen instead of a mouse and it made controlling art tools in Photoshop so much easier! Below, I present you with my personal review of this must-have peripheral.
The Feel
Like I said above, using a pen tablet to work in Photoshop is much better than the mouse. The Graphire 3 was a very suitable (and affordable) starting place for me and I still use it at home. Unfortunately they do not make the Graphire tablets that connect via USB anymore; they only have the wireless tablets now, which use Bluetooth technology. I’m not sure if those come with a USB Bluetooth adapter (do those exist?) either, so unless your computer is Bluetooth capable, I would caution against purchasing this model.
A few months ago, I ordered an Intuos 3 6x8 at work. What a difference! This tablet feels so much more solid than the Graphire. The feel of the stylus against the active area of the tablet is smoother; there are very few bumps or rough spots, and the material used in the Intuos is silkier than the hard plastic of the Graphire.
Pressure Levels and Programmable Buttons
Intuos has the tilt and rotation additions, which probably accounts for the difference in pressure levels (1024 for the Intuos line, vs. 512 for the Graphire). These features give you increased control over the way the art tools interact with the canvas. I still need to explore the full gamut of the usefulness of these added sensitivities!
Don’t be fooled by the programmable keys on the Intuos3 tablet
I do use the two programmable buttons on the pen, though. Both the Graphire and the Intuos have these. I make the bottom button the left mouse click and the top the right mouse click. This is very useful because in Photoshop there are many context sensitive menus you can access with the right mouse click.
Ideal Size
I’ve only used a 4x5 (A6) and a 6x8 (A5) and I would have to say I much prefer the 6x8 one (it’s my Intuos). I think that much larger than that, though, and it might become a little unwieldy. Basically, the larger the size the larger your strokes have to be to get around. You could also phrase that as, the larger the size, the more fine the control you have over the details. I think the 6x8 is a happy medium between control of detail and extreme motions to move the pen over wide areas. You can purchase the Intuos3 in up to a 12x19 tablet, but holy cow! Obviously someone out there likes it—probably a great many someones—or Wacom wouldn’t make it that big.
There was little practicality of using the mouse that comes with the 4x5 tablet because it was so small (barely a double width of the mouse), but I use the 6x8 mouse as my primary mouse. There is a convenient amount of space to the side of the tablet under the programmable buttons that fits the mouse perfectly off the active area so I can use the pen.
Using a Tablet
To be sure, working with a tablet takes some getting used to and perhaps it isn’t for everybody. I remember picking it up fairly quickly.
There is a small lag between what you do on the tablet and when it appears on screen, which may be one reason why many people have a hard time getting used to the feel of the tablet. I find it’s not as critical for brush work (painting or masking), but it does make handwriting hard!
Benefits of a Tablet
There are so many benefits to using a digital pen tablet. I think by now you get that it makes painting much easier and allows you to accomplish more natural strokes with the brushes.
You will also find better control, which leads to increased accuracy with masking, especially with Other Dynamics set to Pen Pressure.
This “control” I keep mentioning more specifically is the art tool settings you can change on the fly because of the pressure sensitive pen. These settings include stroke width (Shape Dynamics), opacity (Other Dynamics) and exposure (for Dodge/Burn). The Eraser Tool, Clone Stamp Tool, Healing Brush Tool and Art History Brush Tool are among the other art tools that are affected by the pen settings. It is very helpful to have these controls literally at your finger tips!
My husband, who is left handed, also said that he loves being able to draw with the pen tablet with his left hand and use the mouse with his right hand at the same time (he learned to use the mouse right handed a long time ago). And don’t forget the more pragmatic aspect of relieving motions that can cause carpel tunnel!
Convinced?
Why not purchase a Wacom Intuos3 Pen Tablet
Please Share!
If I’ve missed anything, if you have your own stories to share or tablets to recommend (particularly if you’ve used the new Bamboo, which is a replacement for the Graphire, I think), please let us know in the comments. If you have any questions about these two tablets or my experience using them, please do ask! I would love to answer what I can!
Update: Freelance Switch just posted a review of the Cintiq, a higher-end Wacom tablet. These start at $1,000 USD, but if you are a fine artist, especially if you begin your work in “analog” mode, you’ll want to check this one out.
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25 responses so far ↓
1 Alec // Jan 30, 2008 at 9:20 am
I’m really curious about the Bamboo. I’ve created a few fonts using my Intuos, and I really like it (and it definitely saved me from carpal tunnel at one point), but the idea of working on a textured surface is very appealing, especially for doing handwriting.
2 paul. // Jan 30, 2008 at 1:57 pm
I have always wanted to try a tablet; although people have told me it’s hard to get used to, I think it’d be worth it. My graphic design instructor has a Graphire at home that I’m trying to get him to bring to class (he keeps forgetting).
I wondered about the mouse. It works the same way as the pen, right? As in, each point corresponds to a point on the screen, as opposed to a normal mouse that moves the cursor a certain amount no matter where it is. Does that feel natural or is it something else to get used to?
3 LaurenMarie // Jan 30, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Alec,
I didn’t notice that the Bamboo was “textured to feel like paper” before. Cool! It’s very reasonably priced, too. It sounds better than the Graphire to me.
paul.,
The mouse (for both tablets) is like a normal mouse, it doesn’t correspond to particular points on the screen. The pen doesn’t have to do that either, though I find I like it set like that. It’s something to get used to, but my brain is programed to it now so that when it’s off (like when you first plug in the tablet and no drivers are installed) it is disorienting to me!
4 Kay // Jan 30, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I was watching a podcast with the Wacom tablet with the screen embedded in it, I think it’s called Centric? No idea.
And all this time I was pronouncing Wok-um…
5 paul. // Jan 30, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I didn’t realize that was an option for the pen. So can they be configured separately, or can the the pen work one way and the mouse the other?
6 Tricia // Jan 30, 2008 at 3:16 pm
I really think it’s pronounced walk-um.
Once you use a tablet and get used to it, you’ll forget about your mouse completely.
7 LaurenMarie // Jan 30, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Kay
I have had to call Wacom’s customer support before and when I was on hold, it sounded to me like it is pronounced Wack-um. I was on hold quite a while, so I had ample opportunities to hear them say it! Perhaps it also depends on the accent of the person saying the name (Wok-um sounds British to me). I could be wrong, but that’s the way it sounded to my ear. Cintiq is the one that has the screen embedded and those are upwards of $1,000 USD. Not worth it unless you are a professional artisit in my opinion (and even then…)
paul.,
Yes, they are configured completely separately. You can also adjust for how hard or soft you press the pen and how quickly the cursor moves.
Tricia,
I suppose it can sound different to different ears, but to me it sounds like they pronounce it Wack-um. I agree, you do forget about the mouse, at least while in Photoshop (for me, anway). What tablet model do you own?
Hi! Welcome to CC
8 Jacob Carter // Jan 30, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Today I went to a store and found the 6x8 Intuos and almost walked out of the store with it. I figured I would do a little more research on it before I did, though.
I think I’m going to pick it up tomorrow.
I have used a tablet of a friend before and it just seemed to come so naturally after a few minutes.
Oh, and they do make a usb bluetooth receiver, or at least I’ve seen them at work :P
9 LaurenMarie // Jan 30, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Jacob,
If you have the money, I say totally go for it. You won’t regret it! My experience at the beginning was the same as yours, I picked it up pretty quick. I must admit I have a bit of a difficult time relating to people who struggle to use it, but I think the difficulty comes in trying to sketch or do fine detail work with it. Good to know they make a USB Bluetooth receiver. I tried to find out when I was looking at which tablet to buy at work, but I didn’t find anything.
10 LL // Feb 2, 2008 at 5:01 am
I have heard that it is pronounced Wah-com so I’ve been saying that for years. I guess, everyone has their own way of saying it. =)
The Cintiq’s are very nice. But one thing I heard is that smudges and friction can be bothersome if one has sweaty hands. I saw from the Wacom Australia site that they sell these SmudgeGuard gloves as an accessory so I googled smudgeguard and saw their site. Seems like a good idea. Has anyone tried the glove accessory yet?
11 LaurenMarie // Feb 4, 2008 at 11:31 am
LL,
Yeah, I think as long as you say “tablet” after the brand—however it’s pronounced!—people will know what you’re talking about.
I have never used a Cintiq and in my humble opinion, they’re way too expensive (I’m sure they cost more than the computer they’re used with!). I had not heard of the smugging problem with them and unfortunately having no experience with this tablet, I can’t comment on the SmugeGuard product! Maybe someone else will venture along here and provide you with a better answer :)
12 Hex_535 // May 1, 2008 at 6:21 pm
i have been looking at the intuos for a few days now and i really want to get the 6x8. but is the graphite better?
13 LaurenMarie // May 1, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Hex,
The Graphire is a step down from the Intuos. Having used both, I would definitely recommend the Intuos over the Graphire. And the 6x8 is a great size (it’s what I have).
14 Hex // May 2, 2008 at 7:35 am
I have been doing product comparison on these 2 tablets for almost a week now and the thing i need one or the other for is digital art. like making a web comic or publishing art on a website, i need to know wich is better so i dont spend my money on the wrong thing. i really like the way the intuos3 6x8 looks, but the wierless graphire 3 looks okay for a much better price. this article helps clear things up a lot, but for bottom line artists wich one is better?
btw i was wondering how it was pronounced thnxs.
15 LaurenMarie // May 2, 2008 at 9:51 am
Hex,
If you really need the cheapest option, then of course it’s the Graphire, but if your intent is to draw on the computer, I think you’ll probably be frustrated with it’s performance. It’s not as precise and it’s more laggy than the Intuos. You also don’t have nearly as much control over how your lines appear and how things like pen tilt can influence (you don’t even have this option with the Graphire).
Oh, and since you found this review so helpful, please consider going through my Amazon affiliate link in this post to purchase your tablet. It won’t cost you anything, but I’ll get a referral fee from Amazon for your purchase. Thanks!
16 Roni // May 20, 2008 at 12:32 pm
I’ve recently been researching Intuos vs. Graphire and am thinking of buying an Intuos. What about the Intuos2, which are slightly cheaper than the Intuos3. Does anyone have any advice on the Intuos2? This post has been immensely helpful.
btw how do you even pronounce Intuos? Thanks!
17 LaurenMarie // May 20, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Roni,
Hi! I have never used the Intuos2. I imagine it’s very similar to the 3, but probably with fewer options and less refined sensitivity. If it’s only slightly cheaper, I’d stick with the 3.
I pronounce it “in-to-ous.” Kinda funny these products that are widely used but don’t have TV or radio ads that clue you in on how to pronounce them! As you can see, even Wacom has various interpretations!!
Feel free to ask more questions and I’ll try to help you out as much as possible. Could I stick a little reminder in here that if you are ordering from Amazon would you consider using my affiliate link in this article to purchase? I’ll get a little kickback from Amazon for my efforts
Much appreciated!
18 Roni // May 20, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Sure! Actually, Amazon has one Intuos2 for $200 on sale. The $300 price tag for the Intuos3 is a little steep for me. I guess I’m being a little blonde today, which one is your affiliate link? Thanks for all your help!
19 LaurenMarie // May 20, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Roni,
Yay! Excellent deal for you! You’ll have to come back and share how you like it.
If you just click on a product in the Amazon list in the sidebar of this blog it’ll take you to Amazon through my link and I’ll get credit for whatever you buy there. You don’t have to be buy the product you clicked to from my blog, I’ll get credit for anything you purchase that time you visit—so buy a couple of extra DVDs for yourself!
And thanks so much!
20 Roni // May 21, 2008 at 8:17 am
I have a question about size. I’m thinking about going for the 6X8 (I have a widescreen laptop). I draw a lot of character art (I guess that’s what you call it) fairies and other fantasy stuff like that. I’m worried about being constricted by the smaller size. What do you guys think?
21 LaurenMarie // May 21, 2008 at 8:58 am
Roni,
The 6x8 is what I have and I think it’s a great size. The Graphire I have is 4x5 and it’s a bit small. The next step up is a 6x11 and then 9x12, right? That would probably afford you the ability for more detail, but for long, sweeping strokes, that’s a lot of area to cover. I like my 6x8 and I would personally be hesitant to upgrade to a larger size; I think that would be too big for me!
Remember, though, the Cintiq (see the Freelance Switch review via the link this article) is what you want for actually drawing on the computer. If you scan in your sketches/lineart, on the other hand, and you just color it in on the computer, the Intuos will be great. The Intuos just doesn’t offer completely lag-free drawing and it’s pretty disorienting to try to write or draw with it. But I “paint” with it all the time and I love it. Sooooo much better than a mouse! It is something to get used to though, so don’t be too disappointed if it’s very awkward at first.
22 Roni // May 21, 2008 at 10:28 am
I took a computer art class back in college and it was a lot of fun. I can’t remember if we used Graphires or not. Those Cintiqs look pretty amazing, maybe I’ll have to save up and get one some day. I’ve only been drawing with pencils lately, so I’m pretty excited about switching to digital! Thanks for all your help :)
23 LaurenMarie // May 21, 2008 at 10:48 am
Roni,
My pleasure! I hope my advice/insight made you more comfortable with your decision. I know it’s kinda scary to spend so much money on a product without having tried it out!
24 Amy // May 22, 2008 at 11:47 am
This review and the posts have been very helpful. I am planning to purchase the Intuos 3, but am not sure whether I need the 6x8 or the 6x11. I have a widescreen monitor connected to my laptop and use both to extend my work space. Do you have any idea if I would have issues with the 6x8 with this setup? Thank you!
25 LaurenMarie // May 22, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Amy,
Hi there! There is an option with the tablet software to only use it for one monitor (when using two), but that doesn’t sound like what you want.
Alternatively, you can make it so that the tablet active area does not correspond to the screen—the default is that it’s proportioned to the screen so, for example, if you lift the pen and put it in the upper right corner of the tablet, the cursor jumps to the upper right corner of the screen. You can make it like a normal touch pad where you can pick up the pen and move it without moving the cursor. In other words, the cursor only moves when you drag the pen (or mouse) across the tablet area. Does that make sense? If you use it like that, the less expensive 6x8 would probably work well for you.
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