Wacom Intuos3 4x5 Pen Tablet, PTZ430

by Wacom

Product Details

Product Manual [3.28mb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0003009BC
• Item model number: PTZ430
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #44 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > Computer Accessories > Keyboards, Mice & Input Devices > Touch Pads
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 2, 2004

Product Description

The Intuos3 tablet is perfect for photographers, designers, artists, illustrators, digital camera owners, high school and higher-education students. The patented, pressure-sensitive pen and hassle-free ambidextrous mouse (with no ball or optical parts) are both cordless and battery-free. The included, valuable software bundle (worth about $200) makes Intuos3 an exceptional value.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

135 of 136 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST for graphic arts, April 11, 2005

By 

M. Knight "mknight00" (OR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wacom Intuos3 4x5 Pen Tablet, PTZ430 (Personal Computers)

I'll start by saying that I am a programmer/web designer/graphic artist/student. I have been designing graphics and web applications for years... with a MOUSE. Frustrated with the innacuracy of a mouse (even optical ones have a tendancy to jump around), I finally decided to give the tablet a try when someone reccomended the Wacom products to me.

I will NEVER go back! Let me explain why:

1) Being a USB device I can install the drivers on any machine I use and just plug it in and use it when I need it (which allows me to use it on the machines at school). Also, being a USB device it does not interfere with use of a PS2 mouse, so I can go between the tablet pen and mouse and my usual mouse without issue.

2) Much more accurate when drawing, pointing, ... anything! I had thought about getting a larger tablet, or a less expensive one, but I feel that this is the perfect match. With over 5000 lpi, it's extremely accurate despite the size.

3) Tons of programmable buttons and settings. There are two different "mapping modes": mouse and pen. Pen makes every area on the tablet correspond to an area on the screen so that you use the whole tablet. Mouse is as we are used to using for standard mice. You can set the pen and mouse to different settings, and even different settings for different applications. There's also a whole bunch of other options to program the buttons, sensitivity, etc. I can't think of anything else they could've added. They also made the menus very intuitive and easy to understand. I was able to figure them out and set everything I needed without even resorting to the tutorials they included on the CD.

4) Decent software bundle. While I admit I haven't used it much (I have Photoshop CS and other software I prefer.), for the price of the tablet I think that the bundle is a VERY nice deal.

5) Perfect size! While a larger surface area obviously offers more lines resulting in greater accuracy, I don't feel it's necessary for graphics applications. I could see the use of a larger one for CAD applications, though this could still work if you set the settings properly.

This size makes the tablet very portable. It's total size (including inactive areas) is barely larger than the size of a standard mouse pad, so it'll fit into your workspace perfectly. If you still aren't sure how large of tablet you want, cosider how much space you are using right now.

While a standard mouse pad is certainly larger than 4"x5", odds are you aren't using the entire thing. Of course how much you use is mostly determined by your current mouse sensitivity and you can easily figure it out.

Put your cursor at the very top right corner of you screen. Now take note of where the mouse is located (mark it if you wish), and move the cursor to the very bottom left corner of your screen and notice the area displaced by the mouse. Take note of how large (or small, rather) of an area you really need!

Now take a standard 8 1/2" X 11" sheet of paper that's near your desk (you know you have a few...), and fold it into fourths. The active area of this tablet is roughly that size. Compare it to the area you are actually using with your current mouse.

Notice something?!

Unless you're using CAD programs or have any other legitimate reason that requires a larger pad, I'd certainly reccomend at least trying the 4"x5" size. Odds are you'll find it's just right and be glad you saved your money.

With the outstanding resolution of over 5000lpi you get with this tablet there's no longer any real reason to get anything bigger.

68 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!, October 21, 2004

By 

Erica S. (East Coast USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wacom Intuos3 4x5 Pen Tablet, PTZ430 (Personal Computers)

I owned the Intous2 Platinum 6x8 tablet first and didn't use it much because I have a small work area but it is great. Now I own this Intous3 4x5 tablet and it actually got better. The touch strip and keys are much better and the different pen nibs are great. I thought it may be too small but its not. I draw and paint with it & it works out well. If I had the space, I'd get the bigger ones but since I really don't have any complaints. Bigger would be nice but its definitely not needed.

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not left-handed compatible!, January 11, 2006

By 

Pierrick Verilhac (Loveland, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wacom Intuos3 4x5 Pen Tablet, PTZ430 (Personal Computers)

Let's start with the bad. I was stupid enough not to realize the buttons were placed on the left side of the tablet. I am a left-handed person, and everytime I tried to use the tablet, my wrist would touch the zoom strip and mess up my display (not to mention you just can't use the custom buttons). I wrote to Wacom's tech support to ask them if they made a left-handed version of their tablet, and they don't. They just advised me to flip the tablet 180 degrees, and change the settings to match "flipped horizontal". It works, but there's no more support for your wrist (since flipping the tablet brings the harsh, sharp edge that used to be at the top right under your wrist), and it's not comfortable at all when you need to work in the lower portion of the screen. I decided to return the tablet and get the 6"x8" version, that has buttons on both sides.

Now the good: this is a must-have for work with masks in Photoshop. The pen pressure is just something you CAN'T reproduce with a mouse. I love the way you can control the size of your brush with the pressure you apply, or the opacity or even both. Drawing with the tablet has the exact same feeling as drawing on paper. It's prefectly precise and accurate. I can't wait to receive the bigger version.

I would definitely recommend this product over the 6x8 version if you're right handed, but if you're left-handed like me, you might want to stay away from this version!