Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Wacom Cintiq 12WX Review

The reason why Wacom Cintiq 12WX is different from the Bamboo line (Fun model, Pen & Touch or MTE-40) or even from the more advanced Intuos4 line (small, medium, large or wireless models) is the addition of a touch sensitive screen. The key difference is rather than having a pad on the tablet that is able to read the pen input meanwhile you watch the output in the display, the Cintiq incorporates the display into the tablet itself! This key factor has major advantages, and it takes your level of interaction and accuracy while using it to the next level!

The Cintiq line is already in the market for some time with its version of Wacom Cintiq 21UX, a 21'' display which can be used as a replacement of your normal screen and be used both as a pen input display whenever needed. Probably it won't be useful for all the environments, but this product is for sure a great advice if you want to have a taste of the superb new technology made my Wacom.

As a conclusion, I can say that the Wacom Cintiq 12WX is about productivity. If you are a pro and spend long hours editing images, the 12WX model will pay for itself in a short term.

Physical Size: 16" x 10.5" x .67" (406.4mm x 266.7mm x 17 mm)
Active Area: 10.3" W x 6.4" H(261.6mm x 162.6mm)
Weight: 4.4 lb with video control unit (2 kg)
Screen Size: 12.1" diagonal (307.3mm)
Pressure Levels: 1,024 on pen tip and eraser
Native Resolution: WXGA (1280 x 800)
Aspect Ratio: 16:10
Stand Adjustability: Flat on desktop, 25° to 60°
Tilt Sensitivity: +-60 Degrees
Rotation: 360° flat position on pivot
Warranty: 2 years (USA and Canada)

Wacom Cintiq 21UX Review

The Wacom Cintiq 21UX is considered to incorporates the most advanced Wacom's pen technology in an astonishing new design.

In order to increase the productivity of designers, architects, engineers or even any artist, the Wacom Cintiq 21UX it's one (if not the best) of the products in the market with that purpose.

The Wacom Cintiq 21UX, together with the Cintiq Grip Pen, puts together the advantages of a LCD monitor with the control, comfort and productivity of wireless technology and without use of batteries, making it possible working directly in the screen as if we would be drawing in a simple sheet of paper!

It's possible to work with an optimal hand-eye coordination in your digital programs directly on the 21,3 TFT display! It's possible to configure your own individual, ergonomic work space set up: the display reclines as a drafting table from 65 to 10 degrees and also rotates like a simple sketch book up to 180 degrees in either desirable direction.

The ambidextrous deisngo Wacom Cintiq 21UX includes also a pair of rear mounted Touch Strips, along with accompanying Touch Strip Toggle Buttons. In this way you'll get instant control of up to four application specific Touch Strip functions on each Touch Strip, as Zooming, Brush size, canvas rotation and scrolling.

Technical Specifications:

Physical Size: 22.1" W x 16.6" H x 1.9" D (561.0 mm x 421.0 mm x 47.8 mm)
Active Area: 17" x 12.75" (431.8mm x 323.9mm)
Screen Size: 21.3" diagonal (541 mm)
Native Resolution: UXGA (1600 x 1200 pixels)
Weight: 22.4 lb with stand (10.2 kg)
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
Pressure Levels 2048 on pen tip and eraser
Tilt Range: +-60 Degrees
Stand Adjustability: 10° to 65° incline
Rotation: +- 180°
Warranty: 2 years (USA and Canada)

Wacom Intuos4 Wireless Pen Tablet Review

The Wacom Intuos4 series brings a new whole experience related to digital tablets, due to the fact to a new design and to the use of resources inspired in the vast experience that Wacom has in creating tablets (e.g Wacom fun tablet, Wacom pen and touch or even Wacom MTE-450). Next We'll make the review of the Wacom Intuos4 Wireless Model.

This new model uses the technology Bluetooth wireless giving you the opportunity that you can be in the best work position that you can found being until 10meters away from your computer. With the Wacom Intuos4 you can enjoy the liberty of working "away" from your Mac or PC, without even talking the decrease of number of cables in your table! You should also note that this tablet includes a rechargeable small battery that enables you to work up to eight hours without being connected physically to the computer!

Photographers, designers and professional artists all agree: the Wacom Intuos4 digital tablets improve the production time for editing photos, designing and art creation. To work with digital assets, there's nothing more natural than using a pen/tablet to offer more comfort and control.

Technical Specifications:

Active Area: 8.0" x 5.0" (203.2mm x 127mm)
Physical Size: 14.3" x 10.0" x 0.6" (363mm x 253mm x 15 mm)
Weight: 2.2 lb with battery (1.0kg)
Pressure Levels: 2048
Advanced Pen Tip Sensor: Yes
Express Keys: 8
Finger-Sensitive Input: User-defined Touch Ring controls up to four functions
Tilt Sensitivity: +-60 Degrees
Display Toggle: Yes
Application Specific Settings: Yes
Connection: Bluetooth, USB for charging
Color: Black
Warranty: 2 year in USA and Canada, 1 year in Latin America

Wacom Intuos4 Large Review

The Wacom Intuos4 series brings a new whole experience related to digital tablets, due to the fact to a new design and to the use of resources inspired in the vast experience that Wacom has in creating tablets (e.g Wacom fun tablet, Wacom pen and touch or even Wacom MTE-450). Next We'll make the review of the Wacom Inutos4 large model.

Creative professionals that working in large format, and specially those who are taught to work from their shoulder / elbow do prefer the Wacom Intuos4 Large Model.

This Tablet offers an advanced pen Tip Sensor, Express Keys and a finger sentive Touch Ring, the Intuos4 Pen Tablet really increases the production time for photo edition, design and art creation. It's agreed with most of the costumers that there is not a more natural device than a pen for a better comfort and control.

Wacom Tip Sensor needs only a gram of pen pressure for precise control. Pressure sensitivity at 2048 levels provides an incredible accuracy. This product also includes programmable Express Keys for setting your own shortcuts. Last but not least, there's also the Touch Ring that provides control of four different functions in the application.

Technical Specifications:

Active area: 12.8'' x 8.0'' (325.1mm x 203.2mm)
Physical size: 18.7'' x 12.6'' x 0.6'' (474mm x 320mm x 15mm)
Weight: 3.96 lb (1.8kg)
Pressure Levels: 2048
Advanced Pen Tip Sensor: Yes
ExpressKeys: 8
Finger-Sensitive Input: User-defined Touch Ring controls up to four functions
Tilt Sensitivity: +-60 Degrees
Display Toggle: Yes
Application-Specific Settings: Yes
Connection: USB
Compatibility: Mac and PC
Mouse included: Yes
Color: Black

Wacom Intuos4 Medium Review

The Wacom Intuos4 series brings a new whole experience related to digital tablets, due to the fact to a new design and to the use of resources inspired in the vast experience that Wacom has in creating tablets (e.g Wacom fun tablet, Wacom pen and touch or even Wacom MTE-450). Next We'll make the review of the Wacom Intuos4 Medium Model.

With the sensor in the tip of the pen, ExpressKeys and one sensitive touch ring, the Wacom Inutos4 medium improves your time of production in image editing, drawing and artistic creation.

This tablet is indeed one of the most populars in the Wacom tablets: it's highly popular among professionals that need to use creative tools daily. With an area that has 48.5 square inches, it's a undeniable fact that it provides a considerable big workspace for its users.

The Wacom Intuos4 tablet has indeed dramatically changed its appearance from its shiny gray predecessor to a matte black on black with a shiny black plastic control panel that can be found in the side. Much slimmer than the previous generation, with a 16 . 9 aspect active tablet areas, the Intuo4's usability goes much far ahead than the previous Intuos3.

Technical Specifications:

Active area: 8.8'' x 5.5'' (223.2mm x 139.7mm)
Physical Size: 14.6'' x 10.0'' x 0.5'' (370mm x 254 mm x 12 mm)
Weight: 2.2 lb (900g)
Pressure levels: 2048
Advanced Pen Tip Sensor: Yes
ExpressKeys: 8
Finger-Sensitive Input: Touch Ring controls up to four functions
Tilt Sensitivity: +- 60 degrees
Display toggle: Yes
Application-Specific Settings: Yes
Connection: USB
Compatibility: Mac and PC
Mouse included: Yes
Color: Black

Wacom Intuos4 Small Review

The Wacom Intuos4 series brings a new whole experience related to digital tablets, due to the fact to a new design and to the use of resources inspired in the vast experience that Wacom has in creating tablets (e.g Wacom fun tablet, Wacom pen and touch or even Wacom MTE-450). Next We'll make the review of the Wacom Inuos4 Small Model.

The Wacom Intuos4 Small is the perfect digital tablet for professionals that are always in the move / users of laptops. Combining the amazing ergonomic design and functionality with the extraordinary facility to use and widely approved technology, Intuos4 small is definitively a good choice to buy! This tablet will take you to a new of productivity, flexible and efficient, assuring that you'll get the maximum of your digital software.

Like the other tablets from the Inuos4 series (medium, large and wireless), the new sensor technology provides a even better level of control. It's possible with just a single gram of pressure to enhance the tablet sensitivity and realistic pen title recognition.

Professional photographers, designers and artists all come to an agreement: Intruos4 pen tablets improve the production time in photo edition, design and art creation. The conclusion is that when working 'digitally', you just can't find a more natural device to increase comfort, control and productivity.

In the overall, it's a beautiful device, slim and very well though-out brand new design; one aspect that really makes this tablet unique it's his extremely fluid pen operation.

Technical Specifications:

Device type: Mouse, Stylus, Digitilizer
Width: 12.2 in; Depth: 8.2 in; Height: 0.5 in; Weight: 1.5 lbs
Color: Black
Connectivity Technology: wired
Interface: USB
Movement Detection: Electromagnetic
Movement resolution: 5080 lip
Accuracy: 0.01 in
Pressure levels: 2048
Active Area: 4 in x 6 in
Features: Programmable buttons, Tilt sensitive, 6 ExpressKeys, Eraser, Finger-sensitive Touch Ring

Wacom Bamboo Fun Review

Designers from all over the world, graphic designers regardless of their area or simply photographers that work with image editing know how precious it is to substitute the traditional mouse by a digital tablet. And also who knows the equipment knows that Wacom is the company that makes the most modern tablets with the biggest quality. We're going to talk in this post about one of the best products of Wacom, the Bamboo Fun.

This tablet includes the precision and options of the most modern tablets of Warom (Intuos and Cintiq series), with the luxurious design of the previous Bamboo Fun series (elegant and ergonomic), that brings as a biggest feature (and most exclusive one) the option of multi touch with the own finger.

This means that tis new Wacom tablet can be used with the digital pen but also with the own fingers, in the same style as iPhone, iPod touch, or another products with a touch sensitive surface

.

This tablet recognizes the touch of multiple simultaneous fingers, giving a series of extra possibilities to the user. For example, when using two finders you can rotate your image that you are editing in Photoshop. Obviously that the finder does not accept the 1.024 pressure levels of the pen, but also in the way you pressure it can influence what is being draw with it.



Technical Specifications:

Dimensions (W x H): 8,8" x 13,3" (224 mm x 338 mm);

Active area for touch (W x H): 7,5" x 5,1" (190 mm x 130 mm);

Active area for pen (W x H): 8,5" x 5,4" (216 mm x 137 mm);
Pressure levels: 1024 

Resolution: 2540 lpi;

Color: silver;
Connectivity: USB ;

Monday, January 10, 2011

Wacom Bamboo Pen & Touch Review

When the Wacom Bamboo Pen & Touch was released, many of the beginner graphic designers got excited by this new product. We all know that it's not possible to be comparable to the Wacom Cintiq, but these smaller tablets give us moments of great joy and most of increased productivity.
This tablet works as a PEN but also as Touch and this brings a lot of comfort and simplicity when it comes to use it in graphic design software (e.g. Photoshop or Illustrator).

After using a couple of tablets (MTE-450, Fun model, ..) I conclude that the size of the active area is not much relevant. A lot of people think that as big is the active area as better it is, they are wrong!

I list some of the advantages of using Wacom Bamboo Pen & Touch:
- Tablets with a smaller active area are less tiring
- It won't take too much space in your desk
- Provides the same quality of service as other ones more expensive
- Great quality
- Great Cost/Benefit (one of the best)
- Does not scratch easily

Below there are the technical specifications of Wacom Bamboo Pen & Touch:

Pressure Levels: 1024
Max. Data Rate: 133 pps
Tablet Dimensions: 9.8" x 6.9" (249mm x 175mm)
Resolution: 2540 lpi
Accuracy: +/- 0.02" (+/- 0.5 mm)

  • With the new Bamboo, Wacom is introducing the first tablet combining, multi-ouch functionality and pen tablet technology in a single device
  • New and intuitive, simple and inspiring to work with computers
  • A totally new, simple and inspiring way to work

Wacom Bamboo MTE-450 Review


Recently I bought the Wacom Bamboo MTE-450. There are several brands that sell this type of device, but i preferred Wacom due to the fact of being a standard in the market, also being one of the most recommended by artists that work in graphic design.

This model is the most basic in the Bamboo line. This line is specialized for enthusiasts and those who are start using this type of equipment. The most popular items in the Bamboo series are the MTE-450 model, the Fun model and the Pen & Touch Model.

Wacom has, besides Bamboo series, the Intuos series and Cintiq series. The Intuos series if specialized for the professional use, having a bigger resolution, bigger area of work, and is able to recognize pen slope. Obviously that the price of these tables are also bigger. The Cintiq series is the top of Wacom. The biggest difference is that you draw directly in the tablet.


Coming back to MTE-450 review, below there are the technical specifications of MTE-450:

Product Dimensions: 250 x 251 x 70 cm ; 862 g
Active area: 147x93 mm
Resolution: 2540 lpi
4 configurable short buttons
Stylus (pen) with two buttons and rubber in the top part
Sensitive buttons to the touch for rotate/zoom
USB connection

One of the main advantages of Wacom when comparing with another brands, is the fact that the pen does not need battery. It's a technology that uses electromagnetic induction as a way of communication between the pen and the tablet (you don't need to touch the pen with the surface of the tablet). This makes the pen much more easy to work with!