Right out of the gate, Wacom introduced the Intuos 4 line of tablets here at the Photoshop World show today! I couldn’t be happier. Although I love my Cintiq 12W, I probably use my Intuos 3 4×6 more than any other tablet I’ve owned. Also I’m so hooked on using a tablet now I couldn’t imagine doing retouching in Photoshop without one.
Wacom makes the best even better
I didn’t really have any complaints with my Intuos 3 tablets. However, that didn’t stop Wacom from taking an already great product and making it even better. This new tablet is a complete redesign from the ground up! It’s like they looked at every single feature and asked “how can we make it better?”
The first thing you’ll notice is LED readouts. This is so cool! Like most Intuos users, I have programmed the ExpressKeys to do various tasks in different applications. However, after a while I start to forget which key does what in which app? Now there is an LED readout next to each key that labels what the key does and how you have it setup! That will be huge for me! Although the new “Small” tablet doesn’t have these LEDs, it does the next best thing by popping up a quick onscreen reference chart whenever you need while you’re actually in the app.
The touch strips have been replaced by a much more functional 4 Function Touch Ring. This thing is really really cool! Like most functions, you can program it to do exactly what you want in each of your apps.
Lastly more levels of pressure! Wacom has basically doubled the levels of pressure senstivity to 2,048! It’s amazingly accurate and can really detect the slightest nuances of how you use the pen (which has also been completely redesigned and engineered). Even the pen holder now functions as a nib holder and extractor. Wacom has really thought this new tablet through!
They don’t reference the tablets by their dimensions anymore. Now they are simply Small, Medium, Large and XL.
If you’ve been putting off getting a professional level tablet, wait no longer! This is the one!
Check out this cool promo video for more visuals
[flv:http://terrywhite.com/videos/intuos4.flv 480 368]
Hi Terry,
How is the Intuos 4 as far as wires and power blocks etc?
The main reason I don’t use my Cintiq is that it is too much of a spiderweb of wire, but I love my Intuos II.
Best,
Jim
Mixed feelings and my first impression is ugliness. I love my Intuos3 but never use the express keys so the LEDs are cool but unsure about useful. The new pen holder is pretty cool with the nibs container but again, I use my tablet 10 hours a day, 5 days a week and the nibs last a very very long time.
A decent upgrade but my bank account will be pleased that I have no desire to upgrade.
Jim, it’s just a simple USB cable that is now detachable. Standard mini USB2 on the side so you can use whatever cable length you want.
I know nothing about tablets which is my fault …. but I can assure you that that very slick looking video did nothing to inform me about anything! What exactly was it trying to convey?
Roger
RM Brown, being that you were not a user of the Intuos 3, the video wouldn’t do anything for you. As an Intuos 3 user, it conveys the differences in the new design.
Some of the functionality, especially the onscreen popup reminds me of the Logitech thingy called the Nulooq (don’t quote me)
I have used tablets back to the Sumagraphics in the late 80s. ArtZ 12×12 and now the Intuos3. They just keep getting better and better.
Couldn’t attend PSW this year but I am going to make the journey to the Tech Expo, mostly to see the new tablet. And Terry of course…hope you have a mini session in the Adobe booth or the Peachpit booth.
Oh yeah, anyone wanting to donate their Cintiq, speak up, I’ll put up with the spiderweb.
This looks awesome, I think I’m going to replace my Intuos3 with the large size one.
All I want for Christmas in my Intous4… 😉
How does this work for left handers?
jayb, great because now you can just flip it over and it can be figured to show the LED display the other way. This makes it PERFECT for left or right handers.