Customer Reviews

Wacom Intuos3 9 x 12-Inch USB Tablet--Metallic Gray

5 star:		(71)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have to say that after years and years of greedily drooling at the thought of getting a 9x12 Intuos tablet, I have finally purchased the 9x12 Intuos 3. And it's huge. Not HUGE like thick or heavy, just spacious. And so far I can't put it down. Really. I haven't cleared enough space on the desk. But then why would I want to? It doesn't get hot, it's the right size for a lap desk, and I can use it for most of what I do from 9 to 5. Except typing. Anyway here's my take on it:

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SIZE

I'm moving up from the 4x5 Intuos 2 which will now live in my laptop bag. You may be just fine with a smaller tablet, and travel concerns may make this a little unwieldy. The full tablet is 3 additional inches on the left right and bottom sides around the 9x12" area, so it's a grand total of 17x13" in the bag. No big deal for anyone accustomed to carrying an art portfolio around. Stack two Intuos2/Graphire 4x5 tablets flat on top of each other, and that's about how thick it is. (If you're considering buying a 9x12 you probably have a few of these lying around)

TABLET & SCREEN AREA

if you don't like the overabundance of space, you can always limit the tablet area in the Wacom control panel to ANY dimensions up to 9x12, mapped to any area of the pad. I feel sometimes that I am moving my arm way too far all over this space for most of my work, so it's good to know I can reduce the physical tablet area controlling the entire screen to a 3x5 box in the corner. This particular feature is very good for "tracing" a photo or small object placed on the tablet and still drawing to the entire screen.

Likewise you can limit the amount of screen area the whole tablet can control. For VERY VERY precise control over a small screen area this is the best option. An alternative to zooming the image to work details. Also useful for avoiding accidental menu-clicks, and prevents the pointer from migrating into toolboxes or clicking scrollbars and other windows.

All this space does provide a fantastic level of control. It's just different. You realize how little you move the mouse most of the time to work on a computer when you start using your entire arm to work. Usually it's all about the flick of the wrist.

QUICKPOINT "VIRTUAL-TABLETS"

An added bonus I discovered (not on the smaller tablets to my knowledge) is the "Quickpoint" dual tablet feature. Two "virtual" tablets control the same screen. The lower left or right corner becomes a tiny 2x3 tablet, and the upper left/right opposite corner becomes a 7x9 tablet (approximately). The 2x3 gives you fast access to the whole screen with very little pointer movement, and the 7x9 gives you precision control. Two tablets in one!

WIDESCREEN / DUAL MONITOR SUPPORT

Happy to say it works very well with dual screens. You can span both screens using the full tablet, choose which screen to control exclusively, or reduce the functional tablet area to match the aspect ratio of spanned/dual monitors.

As far as widescreen monitor support, this tablet can automatically adjust the active area to match the aspect ratio of any screen. So if you are considering the 6x11 widescreen Wacom, remember this tablet can double as a 7x12 widescreen. I used a grey Sharpie to draw faint lines on the tablet surface to map out different screen ratios.

BASICS

USB of course.. Nice 8 foot cord so you can move around a bit, excellent for putting the tablet in your lap. Has a pretty blue light.

Thankfully the 1/2 "tracing overlay" is gone. Sorry to whoever was saying that was the primary feature for them.. In my experience it just gets dirt and coffee and whatever else you carelessly do to your tablet all stuck up in it. And if you accidentally crease it.. oh the pain...

STYLUS & NIBS

The grip pen is nice, bigger than the Intuos 2 pen and has a good weight, otherwise the same. The "6D" art pen actually has two tips inside the felt nib, but sometimes the tablet doesn't register both tips (critical to rotation data) unless you plunk the nib down FLAT on the tablet before you start your stroke. Without both tips active it just works like the grip pen.

The nibs are interesting, I haven't discovered how the springloaded "Stroke Nib" is so much different from the standard white plastic nib. Says it's "amazing" on the website but really.. ehh. But the "Felt Nib" is definitely different. Kind of makes me think of a Flair Pen. It has considerable friction against the surface and squeaks on the tablet like a marker. This is good if your hand isn't surgeon-steady or if you want slower more precise strokes, but it is a bit grabby if you press too hard. Draw lines with a Sharpie marker on copier paper with a little extra pressure and it feels about the same. My previous trick with the Intuos 2 was to tape paper on top of the tablet to add friction.

MOUSE

As for the 5D mouse, I think it's easier to use a regular mouse on the side. Although the extra surface area makes a mouse much more practical on this pad than it is on a 4x5.

The mouse will jitter and is act strange IF you don't put the tablet in "mouse mode." The software *should* just do that automatically, but sometimes it doesn't catch on. Once the mouse is specifically set to mouse mode in the driver settings it should stay in mouse mode any time it's on the pad, and can be moved relative to wherever screen pointer is just like a regular mouse. Otherwise in pen mode the mouse directly tracks the tablet precisely where you place it, and the screen pointer jumps to that spot--just like the pens. If you WANT you can put the pens in mouse mode, but again, weird.

MACROS

I use the Wacom mice mostly to run unrestricted macros that Microsoft and Logitech don't seem to want to let you run with their "programmable" mice these days. Think "QuicKeys" on a mouse. You can program an unlimited string of keystrokes and menu commands, and link the macros globally or restrict them to specific applications.

THE "EXPRESS KEYS"
(THOSE RECTANGLE THINGS ON THE SIDES)

You can program the left and right sets independently. Again, you have complete control of any method of macro you'd like to assign to any of the buttons. There is a whole list of options for each button and both scroll bars. So you have eight buttons and two scrolls to program to your heart's desire on the pad. IN ADDITION to simple button macros there is a "pop up menu" you can assign to any of the buttons. Just like a Windows Right-Click menu, it appears wherever the pointer is--only you have complete control of the menu content.

CONCLUSION

My only gripe goes to Adobe for disabling most of the stylus/pen features in Photoshop by default. It gets a little tiresome enabling size, opacity, tilt, and rotation for almost every brush..

As for everything else the tablet was meant to do different from a mouse, pressure sensitivity, tilt, rotation, high resolution tracking, lack of jitter.. it works fantastically. I'm just going to have to adjust to the huge 9x12 stroke. So give your Aiptek to someone you hate this Christmas, and hook yourself up with a Wacom!

Next up, Cintiq! Paycheck.. well, better job, paycheck, THEN Cintiq!

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WISH LIST

Why do we have only one pointer (focus point) on the screen? Why not a dedicated pointer per-device now that USB makes the mouse addressable?

A "Wacom Glove" would be great. If I could put on a special glove or just little thimble-nibs and have fingertip control on this tablet they'd have one helluva product. Kids could fingerpaint!

In addition to that, is there any technical reason why given the right input device this thing couldn't function like one giant "touchpad" with surface area detection and everything? If the 6D can recognize two points simultaneously, what's the technical limit?

bye

I'm a digital media student and freelance multimedia artist, and my mom is a retired commercial artist.
We both bought the tablet after putting up with the Aiptek version for a year.

Cons: The included mouse doesn't have many of the movement control features of a regular mouse. I'd recommend using a normal optical mouse along with the tablet. Besides, you're not buying this for its mouse.

Pros: Loads of included software (that you'll actually use), perfect compatibility with Adobe Photoshop's features (a huge discount for Adobe Photoshop CS is included), surface is washable and scratch resistant, no batteries required, awesome sensitivity at any pressure or angle, two pens in one (top of pen works as eraser tool in Photoshop) and above all, it's the industry standard choice. All other reviews will agree. There's no better tablet, and I stand by that. I've used it with everything from Adobe Photoshop CS2 to Adobe Illustrator CS2 to Macromedia Flash MX to Alias Maya.

Questions welcome: amazonreviewfortablet@jak[remove]karu.com

Best ever, I can tell...

My choice for a 9X12 format was a decision taken based on my traditional arts background, since I make oil paintings and traditional line-art drawing for concept arts, I use very much wide strokes with a combination of "wrist and arm wide motion".
So this tablet is well suited for this task and not too much exaggerated on size and not too small for the wide movements.

A 6x8 Wacom Tablet Wacom ACAD INTUOS3 6X8 USB TABLET ( PTZ630AC ) would be more restricted to me, but for those who like small area usage for drawing and painting this 9x12 has a digital adjust so you can work with it as a 6x8, but remember to have space on your desk, it's not a 'mouse pad' definitively, get a 19" monitor screen - flat it down on the table, that's almost the same space you gonna need.
By the way... for those thinking on something different from WACOM tablets... don't think! WACOM is the only you can trust 100%, no doubts, I've tried many...

If you don't know which wacom suits best for you, I suggest you go to www.wacom.com, they have a questionnaire there to help you out, but it is simple: if you are a pro... get this Intuos3 or better Intuos available, that's the hardcore professional choice, if you don't need much pressure sensitivity, and make 'lighter' work, go to the Graphire Wacom Graphire Bluetooth 6x8 Tablet or the new Bamboo Bamboo Fun (Medium) Black Tablet with Pen, Mouse & Graphics Software , and if you are a pro and want something to work with milimetrical accuracy like architecture or technical design get a Cintiq Wacom Cintiq 20WSX 20.1" Interactive Pen Display(this one is the top expensive one). Cintiq is unique and draw right onto the screen with the same sensitivity you have with the Intuos, if you can afford it, go for it!

Many applications will work perfect with this Wacom, like 3D software, I use XSI, Max, Maya, Zbrush(this one only with a WACOM please!), Modo and many other applications for composing and editing like Combustion and Premiere, it changes the way you work for a better productivity, believe-me.

Pen tilt is great with "Painter" software Corel Painter X Win/Mac , what you'd (maybe) take a day to finish... with Wacom you make it in seconds literally, with a wrist sweep and tilting the pen you can create amazing effects in one second.

Also the tablet will reduce the stress on your hand and arm caused by the mouse, it will improve your life quality by not harming you like a mouse does when you get to many hours on a computer. Besides it has programmable buttons on it and a smart scroll, so you may use your mouse only for games after that.

Another important point - the USB cable is huge enough so you can work comfortably away from your monitor screen with the tablet on your lap if wish so.

To finish: I love my 9x12 Wacom, if you buy it you will love it too, and give it the accessories so this babe will get happier *lol*
A travel bag INTUOS3 9X12 Travel Bag , replacement tips (nibs) kit INTUOS3 Grip Pen Accessory Kit , and for sure if you can or need... buy other pen like the 6D art pen Wacom Cintiq 6D Art Pen - digitizer pen ( ZP-600 ) and the airbrush Wacom Intuos3 Airbrush - digital pen ( ZP400E ) so you will make extraordinary artworks.

Need a nice instruction on Wacom and Painter software ? Go for the Painter WOW Book, I think this is the best. The Painter X Wow! Book

Hope this helps on your choice. Best regards!
Eduardo S. Janiszewski
CG Artist and Animator

I recieved this Wacom Tablet as an early Christmas Present, not really knowing what to expect. Its a wonderful tool for any industrious person that wishes to create high-quality pieces of Art. The programs are excellent, and the Tablet itself is durable and build to last with a generous amount of working space. Also -- The pen that comes with this Wacom Tablet is easy-to-use and has a very nice feature allowing you to adjust the pressure sensitivity to control just how you want things to turn out. This item is truely worth your money.

Strengths: Performs well, comfortable pen, well designed pen holder, tablet buttons speeds up work and reduce need for keyboard keys

Weaknesses: Shiny coated surface of tablet's non-drawing area, mouse doesn't slide easily, touch strips too narrow for fingers

Summary: Shiny coated surface of tablet's non-drawing area causes too much friction with the your wrist's skin when drawing and moving your arm. Would have been better with a slightly textured surface to reduce surface contact with your skin so you can move with less resistance. The shiny coating is also made of a thick layer or clear glass-like plastic which optical mice have problems tracking on--which is another big problem for me.

The Wacom non-optical mouse's felt fabric bottom causes too much friction with tablet, and therefore doesn't slide around as easily. Wireless mouse works only when moved on top of tablet.

Touch strips are too narrow for your fingers and are recessed too deep for optimal comfort during use.

Nice upgrade to Wacom's Intuos tablet series, but there's still room for ergonomic improvement.

I've been using the 9x12 for a few months now and I have been very happy with the product's improvements over the Intuous 2 line. I love the fact that it is only about an inch thick and fits easily into my lap--the Intuos 2 was monstrous by comparison. The only reason I give it four stars instead of five is because the mouse, which should be among the most accurate mice available, suffers from awful jitter. I am not even touching the mouse and it is jittering up and down about a pixel or two.

Still a very good pen tablet, but the mouse part needs work.

Overall this product is worth the price.

Overview
To begin the footprint of this particular tablet is 17 5/16 X 13 1/4
so you have to have enough desk or table space to accomodate it.
The overall finish and quality of the tablet had some issues; mainly some rough casting of the clear plastic on the top. Ergonomically it feels at home placed on the lap with the dimensions making it quite stable. The express keys feel solid though I don't use them as much as the quick keys.

Performance
Though I am a relative tablet novice I have taken to the Intuos 3 better than I have with my sibling's Intuos 1. Pressure sensitivity can be adjusted to suit one's tastes making the tablet itself quite responsive.
the pen is light but solid. I prefer the black felt tip stylus point rather than the standard plastic. I have laid a sheet of vellum (thick tracing paper) over the tablet in order to simulate the sensation of drawing on paper (i prefer some resistance.) The pen reacts the same as if the vellum weren't there. The 9x12 image area allows me to use my shoulder for more fluid movements when I draw and does not feel cumbersome at all. However i have not used the tablet mouse, it feels rather heavy and does not glide across the frosted plastic plate due to the layer of "felt" underneath the mouse. Installing the driver software is a snap and the customization menus are easy to understand. NOTE: the option to switch from portrait to landscape (9x12--12x9) is available in case you're wondering which I was.

This tablet has made me more efficient and more productive.
(software used: Photoshop)

This is an awesome tablet! It has great pressure sensitivity and the pen allows for fantastic freehand drawing in programs like illustrator, photoshop and painter. The pen is a more natural feeling tool to use in these applications than a mouse. The size of the tablet allows you to get into greater detail without having to zoom in all the time.

Whether or not you are a 2D or 3D artist, this tablet makes it all the more enjoyable. I had an Aiptek 12000U which died no less than 3 weeks from purchase date. This Wacom is so much better.

I love the customisation of it. Its fantastic! Only one gripe with it, and it may be just me, but I would love it if you were able to customise the touch strip and buttons to each program - just as you can with the stylus.

Throw your mouse away - this one's a keeper!

-------5/12/2010 Update----------
The new Wacom drivers Intuos3 work 100% perfectly with Photoshop CS5 64bit AND Windows 7 64bit since installed. Not a single flaw or issue. Thank you Wacom :)

-------2/17/2010 Update----------
My Wacom tablet is now an older product.
Photoshop CS4 64bit AND Windows 7 64bit have come out recently.
Wacom recently updated the drivers for the older product anyway.
My older Wacom Intuos3 works to perfection with all 3 pieces of software!

That speaks volumes about Wacom as a company and they just got a life long customer :)

-------Original Review----------
This is a note to amateurs; pro's already know about Wacom so no need to read. I'm an amateur photographer. I have been using Photoshop for about 7 years for photo corrections, effects, etc... I just purchased the Wacom 9x12 tablet. I now know the purpose of Photoshop brushes, pens, pencils, and similar tools. Using a mouse, you'll never discover the true power behind Photoshop. I still have volumes to learn to unleash the power behind this tablet. However, Photoshop is now making a lot more sense and is now more useful.

Notes:
1. If you never have drawn, first buy a book on drawing, some paper, pencils, etc... & enjoy getting away from the computer a few hours a week while learning a new skill. Make sure you like drawing before spending a lot of $$$. You don't have to be great, but understanding the basics is important.

2. You can download 30 day trial versions of Photoshop or Elements from the Adobe[...] site

3. You get what you pay for... Wacom & Photoshop are pricey, but they are best of the breed.

4. Although the Wacom driver software is cheesy circa 1980, it's effective. Get the latest version from Wacom[...].

5. If you are a student, buy[...] has an academic version for less than 400, free shipping, etc...