Wacom Intuos 3
New Dimensions in Graphic Design

For many photographers, image touch-ups and heavy Photoshop editing has replaced traditional darkroom work. In many instances, the basic computer mouse was never a tool designed for precision workmanship, let alone to be easy on your wrists. That's where a graphics tablet from Wacom comes into play.

Consider using a clone tool in Adobe Photoshop for example. What normally would take multiple key strokes with a mouse and constant re-sizing of your brush tool can now be done in minutes with an electronic pen. Increase the pressure of your stroke, and you make the brush bigger; tilt the pen a little bit, and you can alter the opacity of the stroke. Tip the pen over, and you have an instant eraser. What's even better is the surprisingly short amount of time it takes to get used to a sort of 'pen and paper' method of working all over again.

The Intuos 3 comes in a variety of sizes depending on your needs and workflow. For the purpose of this review I used a 6” x 8” model and found it perfectly adequate for Photoshop retouching. If I were to be using a graphics tablet for free hand art or animation I could see how having a larger surface would be an advantage. The unit also comes equipped with a cordless five button mouse and pressure sensitive pen. Neither accessory requires the use of batteries.

When it comes to the Wacom Intuos 3, the beauty is all in the details. Take the pen for example; the unit comes with several replaceable nibs that give your pen a different feel depending on thetask. One is made of a felt like material that gives the impression of working with a dry media like pastel or charcoal. Another has a spring back type of feel that reacts as you increase or decrease your hand pressure.

For added ease of use, the Intuos 3 also features a host of Express Keys on the upper right and left of the tablet. Thekeys are fully customizable letting you attach the functions that are most important to you on them such as keyboard shortcuts, mouse clicks, etc. In addition there is a finger sensitive touch strip for quick scrolling and zooming.

If there is one downside to using a Intuos 3 it comes in the sense that once you get used to a graphics tablet, you will never go back to basic mouse touch-ups ever again. I had become so used to working with a mouse that I never fully grasped how much of a pain it can be until now. Rather than rolling my eyes with annoyance when I notice a small touch-up in one of my photographs, I quickly and effectively fix it as easily as taking an eraser to a notepad doodle.

If you are a photographer like me who demands perfection from his images, the Intuos 3 might just be the tool you need.