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09 February 2010 

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The Intuos² A3 Graphics Tablet

Wacom are very well known for their extensive range of graphics tablets, founded in 1983, Wacom has established itself as a world market leader for graphics tablets. Today I take a look at one of the recently introduced Intuos² range - the Intuos² A3 with Intuos² Grip Pen & Intuos² 4D Mouse.

Product Specifications:

- Tablet Dimensions: 616 x 445.5 x 37 mm
- Active Area: 457.2 x 316.8 mm
- Pressure Levels: 1,024
- Accuracy: +/- 0.15 mm (Lens Cursor), +/-0.25 (Intuos² Pens/4D Mouse)
- Resolution: 2,540 lpi (100 lpmm)
- Reading Height: 10 mm
- Max. Data Rate: 200 pps
- Connection: RS-232C Serial Port Interface (Windows, SGI, Sun)
- USB Port (USB version for Windows and Macintosh)


Product Requirements:

- A PC with Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000 or XP, active USB port and a CDROM drive


In the box:

As standard, the 'Graphics' version of the Intuos² ships with the following in the box (obviously with the actual tablet itself!)

Intuos² Grip Pen & Intuos² 4D Mouse

- Driver CDROM, Painter Classic CDROM, penPalette CDROM
- Quick Install Guide
- 230V / 240V AC Power adapter (Serial version only)
- Either Serial or USB port for connection to PC/Mac

Out of the box, you have everything you need to get quickly setup and using your new tablet.

Installation:

Installation of the tablet was a simple affair - I plugged the end of the USB lead protruding from the tablet into a spare USB port on the back of my PC. Being a USB device, there is no need to shut down first before plugging in. Windows found the new device and proceeded to search for drivers.

It makes sense at this point to insert the supplied driver CD into your CDROM drive, so that Windows can install the correct drivers. The driver install was pretty quick.

Once installed, you will notice a new icon in the Windows Control Panel, labelled 'Wacom Tablet':

Tablet icon in Windows Control Panel

That's it, the tablet is now installed and ready for use, you just need to 'register' your input tools with the tablet. This is done by moving the tool over the active area (making contact). Any new tool triggers the setup for it.

Returning back to the 'Wacom Tablet Control Panel' allows you to customise your tools. Customising your input device is easy. Once the Control Panel is open, you will see a list of tools in the 'Tool List', choose your tool from the list and the related tabs will be displayed. You have control over:

- Adjusting Tip Feel
- Adjusting Double-Click
- Customising Tool Buttons
- Adjusting Eraser Feel
- Customising Tilt Sensitivity

and many other options, are of which all helpfully documented in the supplied manual. The other supplied CDs contain useful tools and plugins for programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop integrates the Wacom drivers seamlessly. There are over 20 tools available within Photoshop that support control with the tablet.

An interesting feature is Tool ID. With Tool ID each Intuos² input device can be individually programmed and configured for each application... these functions can be automatically activated when the application is started!


The Tablet:

A3 sounds huge, and it is huge - a mega plus point, having such a large active area of 300 x 450 mm (12" x 18") gives you a wide range of project possibilities. Especially for the professional/home user who needs the ability to trace/edit media at exact scale or otherwise perform tasks in tabloid or full magazine-size format.

Tablet crisp edge & colour | Programmable menu strip

The tablet is finished in an attractive "Midnite" colour scheme, that gives the whole tablet an attractive look with its crisp edges and finish.

Along the top of the tablet is a programmable menu strip that incorporates common keyboard shortcuts, with spare buttons to program your own shortcuts for your own needs. Using your Grip Pen or similar, simply tapping the button activates the shortcut macro.

Using the menu with Grip Pen

One use of a such as graphics tablet is to trace artwork. The Intuos² A3 has a transparent overlay that can be lifted to place artwork underneath:

Sliding artwork under the overlay

The Tools:

Supplied as standard with the Intuos2 A3 are the Intuos² Grip Pen and Intuos² 4D Mouse. A variety of extra tools are available for specific uses and needs...

Some of the Intuos² Tools

All of the Intuos² tools are cordless, batteryless and ergonomically designed to 'fit' and feel comfortable in your hands. (Click an image for fullsize view/click the text links to read more about the specific tool)

	Intuos2 4D Mouse	Intuos2 Grip Pen
Intuos2 Classic Pen	Intuos2 Ink Pen	Intuos2 Stroke Pen	Intuos2 Airbrush

Usage?:

The Intuos² is very flexible and can be used for almost anything. As you can see above, various tools are available allowing specialisation, precise work and freedom to do almost what ever you wish.

Getting used to using the various pens takes awhile, but with practice you will master the techniques in no time - giving you very natural drawing and creativity experiences.

The tablet is extremely useful for:

- Graphic Design (e.g. Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Macromedia Freehand)
- 3D-Design (e.g Alias/Wavefront Maya)
- Web Design (e.g Macromedia Flash, Macromedia Fireworks)
- Animation (e.g Macromedia Flash, Maxon Bodypaint 3D)
- Print/Press (e.g Adobe Photoshop, QuarkExpress)

e.g. Illustrator sketches (©2003)
made in conjunction with the tablet

Conclusion:

The Wacom Intuos² A3 Graphics Tablet is a great tool for graphic designers and the like. The main thing I like about the tablet is the whole idea of 'flexibility' and being able to work on any project you like using specific tools, like you would in real life. For example using the Grip Pen to create detailed line work and the Airbrush to create paintings etc...

Having the tools 'react' to pressure applied and the angle they are held at is really amazing, further emulating 'real life', giving you the freedom to work better within your programs with no restrictions as say the common computer mouse would.

The large active surface area of the tablet is another bonus, this is one thing you should look out for if your considering purchasing a Wacom tablet, always op for (if possible) the next size up or the Oversize version of the tablet. The extra space gives you many more options than a restrictive A5 version would, then again it might just be the correct size if all you are doing is touch up work in Adobe Photoshop for example.

Along the top of the tablet is the programmable menu strip. I think this is a great time saving addition to the tablet, allowing you to quickly execute common commands and programme in your own shortcuts rather than keep swapping between the tablet and computer.

Common commands - new, open, close, save...

The tablet works seamlessly with many of the popular programmes used in today - installation is simple, usage is simple, all of which leads to increased productivity, a definite thumbs up!

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