As a digital artist, I have always felt that the advent of graphics tablets has been a watershed moment in our profession. With the help of these tablets, translating my imaginings to the screen has become as simple as recreating them on paper. The intuitive pen and touch tablet technology allows multiple functions, including pressure sensitivity. Thus, creating variations in the depth of my strokes and adding fine and minute details have become really easy. Such detailed imaging could never be achieved through a bare finger on a touch screen or the mouse.
Wacom Tablets: Frontrunners in Graphics Tablets Technology
Wacom is a Japanese manufacturer that has revolutionized the graphical tablet market. They are the market leaders with around 85% share. Their devices use a patented resonant inductive coupling technology to supply power to the pens from the screen. Thus, the pen does not have to carry bulky or be wired to something, making the user experience delightful from an ergonomic point of view. I have myself used a number of Wacom devices in the past and can thus vouch for their quality.
I have drawn a list of the best Wacom tablets in the market today. In this article, you will find a detailed look at some of the Wacom models and I shall be providing insights into the following areas:
Typical usage
Value for money
User experience
Top 5 Wacom tablets reviewed
Wacom Intuos Draw CTL490DW
If you are just starting out in the arena of digital art and do not want to burn a hole through your pocket with a high-end tablet, then the Wacom Intuos Draw is an ideal choice for you. Not only will it acquaint you with the nuances of drawing on a tablet but also give you results that you would probably be achieving through pen and paper. Its compact size makes it extremely portable so that you can even carry it around in your backpack.
Pros:
The pressure sensitive pen that lets you intuitively control the thickness of your strokes
Compatible with both Mac and Windows
Comes equipped with customizable express keys
Includes an Art Age Lite sketching and drawing software along with online tutorials to help you get started
A wireless kit can be bought separately for more convenient usage
Cons:
Does not include the heavy duty features of the higher-end Wacoms like the Intuos Pro or Cintiq
Verdict: At an amazing price, the Wacom Intuos Draw is a value buy and packs in an amazing range of features.
Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Wacom-CTL490DW-Digital-Drawing-Graphics/dp/B010LHRFM2/ref=pd_sim_147_7?ie=UTF8&dpID=411W-0dfSwL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0ZS0RM0P930QN24KFVDQ
Wacom Intuos Pro Pen and Touch Tablet, Medium (PTH651)
The Wacom Intuos Pro is a great find for digital artists, videographers and 3D designers who spend an awful lot of their time working on Photoshop, Illustrator, Adobe Premier Pro or Media Composer. It also comes in two other options- the small model for better portability, and the large model which lets you add much finer details to your digital canvas.
Pros:
An ergonomically designed pen with a rubber grip so that you can conveniently use it throughout the day
A digital eraser is included with the pen, making fixing errors easier
8 application specific customizable express keys
Compatible with both Windows and Mac
Includes a wireless accessory kit
Cons:
The power connector jiggles a little but that’s an extremely small negative
Verdict: For professionals who want to strengthen their arsenal, the Intuos Pro is one of the best Wacom tablets in the market.
Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EN27SHY/?tag=gearo00-20
Wacom Intuos Art Pen and Touch, Medium (CTH690AK)
This Wacom model provides a large enough surface area for movement without compromising on the portability of the tablet. With a range of versatile textures like charcoal and brush strokes that can be easily recreated with the pen and touch tablet, the Wacom Intuos Art is favored by both professionals and hobbyists.
Pros:
4 customizable express keys
Compatible with both Windows and Mac
A wireless kit can be bought separately
Comes with a free art pack that includes Corel Painter Essentials and online tutorials
Cons:
Unless you are planning to play video games with it, there are very few drawbacks to this tablet.
Verdict: It is affordable, sleek, with multiple features and a total steal at its price bracket.
Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B010LHRVOY/?tag=gearo00-20
Wacom Cintiq Companion 2 DTHW1310M
A workhorse for the professionals, the Wacom Cintiq Companion includes a 13.3-inch display screen and an AHV LCD screen that can display more than a billion colors. This is a great tool for mimicking results that could be achieved on paper or a canvas on a digital screen.
Pros:
Amazing display
8 GB RAM
Inbuilt HD Cameras
Cons:
The much-hyped touch feature has room for improvement and the cooling fans are a little noisy
Verdict: Yes, the price tag on the Wacom Cintiq Companion 2 might be a little heavy though it packs in enough punches to justify the price range.
Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Wacom-Cintiq-Companion-DTHW1310M-13-3-Inch/dp/B00UOYQB8C/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
Wacom Cintiq 27" Quad HD
A creative beast in its own right, if you ever use the Cintiq 27” Quad HD, you will probably never be able to switch to another model. The amazing color display and the huge display screen enables you to work out even the minutest detail making for an amazing creative experience. The tablet might be pricey, but it pays for itself in the unparalleled creative experience.
Pros:
Better cooling features
Display capability of 1.07 billion colors with a video card
Large screen to enhance detailing
Lightweight for its size
Customisable express keys
Cons:
If I were to nit-pick about one of the best Wacom tablets out there, I would probably say that the power cord is a little short. But that is not something that I can’t live with.
Verdict: This is a war horse that would be a great buy for a professional digital artist.
Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SAG5REA/?tag=gearo00-20
Which Wacom Tablet Should You Buy?
With the Wacom tablet reviews discussed above, we hope you will be able to find a tablet best suited to your needs and budget. Whether you are a hobbyist foraying into the beautiful arena of digital art or a professional with a desire to upgrade your equipment, you cannot go wrong with a reliable Wacom tablet. There is a wide range of products to choose from and I hope you make the right decision.
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