The Intuos Five from Wacom
By: Kurt von Behrmann
Artists,
Designers and assorted creative professionals know that in order to fully
utilize any drawing program or photo editing program, a tablet pen tablet is an
essential part of any creative arsenal. Certainly
you can function with a mouse, but they are too cumbersome for detailed workloads.
Literally
synonymous with pen tablets, Wacom is literally “the” company when it comes to
pen tablet tools. They dominate the market in much the same way Photoshop is connected
to digital editing.
For
those not familiar with pen tablets, what they provide is a tool that allows for
the creation of lines, marks and assorted brush strokes using a pressure sensitive
pen. Simply drawing on the tablet permits
you to draw as if on paper. For programs
like Painter, Photoshop and Illustrator, pen tablets make the process that much
easier, if not possible.
Adding
functionality with their use as a drawing tool, they can be adept as an
alternative to the mouse. The new Intuos
5 provides the expected pen tablet functionality coupled with a touch sensitive
surface. For those who migrated to
windows 8, which is geared toward touch screens, this feature could be a real asset in and of itself alone.
Shipping
in three sizes, large 11.8" x 7.5" at $ 469.00, medium 8.8" x
5.5" $ 349.00 and small 6.2" x 3.9" $ 229.00, they look identical
expect for size. All feature touch
sensitive programmable buttons. In terms
of functionality and software, the only differences between models are
sizes. This is great for those using a
small one for mobile use and a larger one for desktop use. A seamless experience across the product line
is clearly the objective here.
With 2,048
pressure levels, 60-degree tilt and 1g activation weight, the apparatus is
responsive. For those coming from the bamboo,
or other more modestly featured pen tablets, the Intuos 5 feels like a luxury
ride.
The overall
build quality is what you would expect from Wacom, high quality. Even the
shipping box showcases a strong sense of design. Comfortable to hold and manipulate, the pen
is a marvel of weight, design and makes drawing a real pleasure. It is highly ergonomic.
Included
is a pen holder that does double duty as a nib holder for a variety of pen nibs.
What is not included is a mouse as with the other devices. The mouse is hardly missed here.
The
real innovation with the Intuos 5 has to do with the touch screen. When hovering over buttons a screen pops up
on your computer showing what the programmable buttons are programmed to do.
This also works if you alter the defaults.
This feature removes doubt as to what the functions do perform along
with work flow.
For
those that do not need programmable buttons, the defaults should suite most
users, professionals included. However, having the option to program simply
means those with detailed work flows can use the tablet and not switch to a
mouse or keyboard short cut.
The
middle size Intuos 5 offers a generous piece of screen real-estate that should
suit most users, even pros. But if a large size matters, the deluxe larger
tablet is more than capable. The only one in the outfit that may seem a bit
cramped is the smaller one. Having used assorted sizes, the medium is really the
sweet spot between size and price points.
The
included software set up is simple, and figuring out the basics is a pretty
easy process. For users that simply want
a pressure sensitive pen and no more, you can easily ignore the extra bells and
whistles.
Shipping
with the device are drivers, essential software and a few interesting extras
pieces of software. Animestudio, not
time limited, Color effects pro from Nik Multimedia, full version, Sketchbook Express 2011 SP from Autodesk not
time limited, a non-time limited version
of Adobe Photoshop Elements and a trial version of Corel’s Painter.
Given
that most prospective owners are probably owners of Illustrator, Photoshop,
Corel Draw or Painter, it is doubtful that they may need, or even want the
extras, with the notable exception of the Nik Multimedia Plug In. However, the value of extra software is
usually appreciated.
A
wireless adapter is available that can be attached to the device internally.
This component is placed in an open compartment that adds a level of
functionality
An
undisputed leader in Pen Tablets, Wacom makes a notable entry with the Intuos
Five.
Requirements:
Windows 7 SP1+, Windows Vista SP2, Windows XP SP3, Mac OSX
10.5.8+ (with Intel Processor), USB port, color display, CD/DVD drive, and
internet access.
Intous 5 touch large
Active Area
Pen: 12.8" x 8.0"
(325 x 203 mm)
Touch: 11.8" x 7.5"
(299 x 190 mm)
$ 469.00
Intous 5 Medium
8.8" x 5.5"
(224 x 140 mm)
$ 349.00
Intous Small
6.2" x 3.9"
(157 x 98 mm)
$ 229.00
Wireless accessory kit
About 9 hours on the medium, 10 hours on the small and 6
hours on the large
Software included:
Animestudio
Color effects pro from Nik Multimedia
Sketchbook Express 2011 SP from Autodesk
