Wacom Intuos4 Medium Pen Tablet Review: A Must-Have for Digital Artists.
In a review of the Wacom Intuos4 Medium Pen Tablet, we will look at some of the features that you can expect to find and look at the pros and cons of the Wacom Intuos4 Medium Pen Tablet, based on actual user experiences. Weighing only 2.2 pounds, it offers many features that make it a pleasant experience for many users.
The features of the Wacom Intuos4 Medium Pen Tablet include 2048 levels of pen pressure sensitivity, which gives you pressure control and it uses new pen tip sensor technology, which allows you to create digital artwork with natural pen control. There is 48.5 square inches of working area, giving you ample workspace and illuminated ExpressKeys allow you to enjoy the keys to enhance your production time, when working with art creations, photo editing or design work. But how do users find the experience?
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Pros of the Wacom Intuos4 Medium Pen Tablet:
- The screen surface makes the tablet the closest thing to drawing with pen-on-paper, since the screen surface is not the slick plastic-on-plastic feel of other digital tablets.
- You get tons of extra software like Photoshop Elements, Sketchpad and others, making it a great value because you can get them online at Wacom's website, once you register your Wacom Intuos4 Medium Pen Tablet. The driver installation is easy and Vista support is available. There are many useful functions that can be found with the improved customization software.
- The new ambidextrous design, lightweight and thin profile, along with improved grip pen makes it comfortable to use and perfect for travel.
- The addition of more ExpressKeys, the Touchring with 4 presets and the extra levels of sensitivity, make it user-friendly.
- The Medium size features an OLED display and dual USB ports, besides upgrades to many other features that were on the Intuos3 models.
Cons of the Wacom Intuos4 Medium Pen Tablet:
- At $350, it is considerably more than the Small Intuos4 at $199, even though there are only a few additional features.
- Some people think the medium is a little big for those that are used to traveling with a small digital tablet.
- ExpressKeys are shaped the same and it is easy to press the wrong key without looking at the keys because there are no distinguishing factors.
- Only 16:9 aspect ratio is offered, which makes it difficult with 4:3 designs.
- Nibs wear out to a chiseled point within hours of use, so you need to stock up on nibs because this is caused by the paper-like friction surface.
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Conclusion:
Overall, the comments made by users were positive and the cons were made by those considered heavy users and mainly tied to the nibs wearing out because of the new screen surface innovations. This negative would mainly affect heavy users and might not affect the average users, but it is important to realize that the Wacom Intuos4 Medium Pen Tablet is an improvement over the Intuos3 and many users will appreciate the ease of use. Artists that use the pens a lot will probably be the most disgruntled over the nib wear and might prefer the Intuos3 models for that reason, however.
Let me show you what current owners have to say about it.
S. Hao "Wacom User",
First of all, I must say that the only tablet I have used before is the Wacom Intuos3, so I will be drawing my comparisons mainly between the Intuos3 and Intuos4. I understand that there are a multitude of tablets/digitizers in the market, such as Genie and *forgot the company's name*, but my review will mainly focus on Wacom's line of tablets. To start off, I must say that if you are considering a tablet, then you might want to first try the Wacom Bamboo/Bamboo Fun before shelling out hundreds for a Intuos.
Everything aside, I love my Intuos4, and I think it is definitely a worthy upgrade from Intuos3 (or any other tablets in general), especially if you spend hours everyday with a pen.
Intuos4, instead of the gray metallic look of the Intuos3, hosts a cool black matte finish with a high-gloss black side panel. It is a lot thinner than the intuos3, a much lower profile, and a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Review Paraphrased for size – view original full review here.
Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet Review: Read This Before You Buy Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet.
There are many different computerized software programs that provide individuals with the ability to draw various types of art, and enhance digital art that is already stored on their computer. Unfortunately, many find that these programs are difficult to manipulate because of the fact that they require the use of the directional keys on a keyboard and the mouse. They lack the flexibility that basic art supplies such as pens, pencils, and markers have to offer. Since the introduction of the Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet, individuals have discovered a new use in creating the artwork and/or manipulating the artwork that they create digitally. In a world of technological achievements, I must say that the Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet is a breath of fresh air for the individual that enjoys, creates, and manipulates digital artwork.
Introducing the Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet
The Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet is an accessory that transforms any basic computer into an art canvas - in a virtual way, of course. Individuals that work with this product will find that they are able to create a multitude of artwork that is digital through the use of a standard device that reflects that of a traditional pen in appearance and size. Amazingly, the surface of this device has been created with a unique texture so that the user may get the psychological feel of working with traditional paper. This product promises to create the ability for any user to create paintings, drawings, and sketches. The company that delivers this product to the digital world promises that this is the best and ultimate editing tool for any user. The design is small and relatively sleek, so it is appropriate for use in any location.
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The Advantages
When evaluating the Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet, you will find that there are many advantages associated with the electronic device. The benefits of integrating one of these into your lifestyle include the following:
- There are an amazing five hundred twelve levels of sensitivity associated with the pressure that you use in using the device, so you are able to effectively create many realistic drawings.
- Not only can you create basic images, but you can also incorporate shading and even the appearance of texture into your artwork.
- The screen included on the Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet is in color so that you can easily create a multitude of visually appealing images.
- The tablet is relatively small and compact in nature so that it may be moved from one location to another with ease.
- Individuals that are right handed and individuals that are left handed may use this device with ease.
Disadvantages
When evaluating an electronic device, it is important to ensure that you are aware of both the advantages and the disadvantages with the product. While the advantages of the Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet greatly outweigh the disadvantages, the following represents the cons associated with this product:
- Many individuals that engage in creative artwork professionally or as a hobby find that the overall size of the tablet is on the small size as it only measures 9.8 inches in length and 6.9 inches in width.
- In order to use the device, you must have a Windows Operating system or a Mac OS X that is 10.4.8 or newer. Having to use the product in conjunction with a computer is a disadvantage to many.
- The computer that is being used with the tablet has to have a functional CD drive or a functional DVD drive so that the software to the device may be installed.
- The unit must be plugged into a USB port on a computer in order to be used.
- Many individuals find that the overall speed of the Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet is too slow.
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Concluding Thoughts
If you are interested in acquiring an electronic device that will assist you in creating various types of artwork and will help you in manipulating digital media that you already have saved, the Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet is the device to go with. It is innovative and technologically advanced. Despite the fact that there are some disadvantages associated with this product, many find it to be well worth the time and the money that is required to obtain it. It does not matter whether you have an artistic streak as a hobby, or as a professional, you will be more than pleased with the results that you receive from the Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet.
Let me show you what current owners have to say about it.
Sharon B,
I have never owned a graphics pad before (I must say that the cost was a HUGE factor up until now), but I have always wanted one. Well, when my friend showed me this one I seriously started considering purchasing one. I try not to make purchases on a whim, and I didn't with this one either. After reading reviews on this pad and others, and considering the packaged software that comes with this pad, I figured "What do I really have to lose?" Well, WOW! I am TOTALLY in love with this thing. I am not a graphic artist, and I wasn't looking for a spiffy way to mark up documents, I just wanted an electronic doodle pad. I do a lot of sketches of ideas for clothes and costumes for myself and of things I'd like for my husband to build for me and this is going to make it SO MUCH EASIER. No more sketching and scanning (those NEVER come out as well in digital format as they are in hard copy). This thing is GREAT for having fun. I would recommend it to ANYONE who wants an easy way to translate doodles and drawings into a digital format.
Choosing a Great Graphics Tablet
Whether you are a digital artist or you love the idea of being able to navigate the web and your computer in a new and interesting way, you will find that a graphics tablet
The first thing that you need to consider is the size of your tablet. If you are a home user or a hobbyist, chances are good that you are going to be just fine with a tablet that is 4 x 5 inches or 6 x 8 inches. If you are a professional artist, getting the equipment to work with CAD or a technical illustrator, you will find that a larger surface area might suit you. With a smaller tablet, you'll be able to move your arms much less, which can be better for you in the long run. Remember that the size of the tablet has nothing to do with the size of the picture that you create. Do keep in mind that the inches mentioned above refer to the space that you have to draw on the tablet itself; the entire tablet may be much larger.
If at all possible, you should make sure that you try out your graphics tablet
Finally, make sure that you consider the pressure sensitivity that you have available to you. Pressure sensitivity allows you to change the quality of the line when you are drawing on your tablet. For instance, you will find that if you press down harder, the line gets darker or thicker or both. Transparency and saturation of the color can also be changed when you are looking at the pressure sensitivity, depending on how you set it. Most tablets will have their pressure sensitivity set to 256, 512, or 1024, and the higher a rating you have, the better the sensitivity will be.
Take some time and make sure that you consider what you want your tablet for. There are so many great options open to you, so find the one that will help you make the art that you want.