The Intuos Tablet
Bringing Da Vinci to Da PC
By Jeremy Kunkel
In the wee hours of the morning, a figure lurches over a keyboard with little movement. The only motion on the screen is that of a tiny, tiny cursor, attempting to draw what appears to be a sad excuse for a human face. The three o'clock silence is shattered by the figure bolting out of its chair, and hurling the mouse across the room. Another mouse bites the dust.
For years, artists have tried to successfully merge the art world with the tech world. For years, artists have wanted to pour flammable liquid on their mice and set them on fire. We all know the feeling. In the middle of a beautiful PhotoShop project and the mouse decides that it's quite comfortable where it is. Ah, yes. It's moments like these that make living with a PC unbearable. Fortunately, the wonderful people at Wacom Technology, sympathize with the starving artists of the world (and even those who aren't starving). The year was 1998, and the world saw the first Intuos Tablet.
So what exactly is an Intuos Tablet? Derived from the words intelligentâ and intuitive, the Intuos Tablet is a pressure sensitive pen made to replace the mouse. Well, for artwork, at least. The Intuos Tablet is an ergonomically designed pen, boasting 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity, to give the user smooth curves, gradual transitions, and precise control. What it can't to, is teach me to draw well. Granted, there are some things that technology just can't do. However, for those of us that aren't artistically challenged, the Intuos is the ultimate PC tool. Remember the ripples in the PC artist's lake that PhotoShop caused when it came out? Well, the Intuos didn't cause ripples. It caused waves. Not only is the pen the ultimate tool, it also comes with an arsenal. For a reasonably low price, you can buy extra, programmable (did he just say programmable?) pens for your tablet. They allow you to program a different tool for each pen. Want to use the marquee tool? Grab a pen. Want to make a gradient? Grab a pen. Want to use the airbrush? Grab a pen. Want to erase your last mistake? Flip the pen over, because there's an eraser on the end of it. Which, I will add, is also pressure sensitive. And it doesn't leave those little pink shavings and smudges on your work, like they do in real life.
Well, that's really great and all, but it's really annoying to switch between the mouse and the men constantly. Oh ye of little faith. Wacom is one step ahead of you. Allow me to introduce the DuoSwitch. A tiny, streamlined switch on the side of the pen is fully programmable for even the most finicky user's needs. Program each side of the DuoSwitch for often-used keystrokes or your favorite keyboard shortcut, as well as double click, right click, and click lock. Just a slight roll of the finger or thumb allows you to press either side of the rocking DuoSwitch. And it's out of the way when you're not using it. Fine. So it has buttons. But I like to use two pencils when I draw. Well then, you sir, are more talented than I. But, Wacom has thought of that too. The Dual Track. This ingenious feature gives the user the power to use two tools at once. This will allow you to move and rotate a 3D object with the 4D mouse in one hand while you paint and draw with an Intuos Airbrush. Or use the 4D Mouse to pan through a high-resolution photo while you edit the image with the Intuos Pen. Or use the 4D Mouse as a "button box" so you always have a handful of quick commands at your fingertips. Anything is possible with Dual Track.
So how can this tool help you? The possibilities are endless. That cocktail napkin you drew your company logo on the other night? Slide it under the tablet's transparent surface, and trace it on to your computer to upload it to the company web site. That great idea for an on-line comic strip? Draw it out and publish it on the Internet. That picture you have saved to your hard drive of your ex-boyfriend? Feel free to scribble on a mustache and e-mail it to him. Better yet, e-mail it to his new girlfriend. Intuos just goes to show that the pen is truly mightier than the mouse.
Jeremy Kunkle age 18, is a student at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary, Alberta. Before moving to Calgary, he was an assistant manager at PJ's Printing in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan.
Source listhttp://www.wacom.com/companyinfo/psuser.html http://www.wacom.com/productinfo/features.html#duoswitch http://www.creativepro.com/story/review/1857.html http://www.epinions.com/cmhd-Touchpads-All-Wacom_Intuos_Tablet_Series
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