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XP-Pen Artist 24 Pro Review: A Gorgeous Graphics Tablet for Photographers

08 Jan

The post XP-Pen Artist 24 Pro Review: A Gorgeous Graphics Tablet for Photographers appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Sime.

XP-Pen Artist 24 Pro graphics tablet review

I’ve been using Photoshop for many years – primarily as a photographer that works in Lightroom and sometimes exports images into Photoshop for editing. But using Photoshop with a mouse is something that takes a lot of practice; it’s not really a natural way to post-process, which is why many serious editors turn to graphics tablets.

Now, when the team from XP-Pen reached out and offered us a review unit of the XP-Pen Artist 24 Pro, a 2K, 23.8-inch QHD graphics tablet, I’ll admit I was a little dubious. I’d only ever owned one graphics tablet – a tiny little Wacom that didn’t get a lot of use. I was certainly keen to try a new tablet, but I’ll admit that I was a little worried about not liking it.

Fortunately, as you’ll soon see, I needn’t have worried. As I share in this review, the XP-Pen Artist 24 Pro is a powerful graphics tablet, one that both looks and works great.

So to discover all the nitty-gritty details, including both the benefits and the drawbacks of working with the Artist 24 Pro, read on.

First impressions

The package that arrived was much larger than I expected. I knew the Artist 24 Pro featured a 24-inch display, but I had clearly not managed to comprehend just how large the tablet would be.

I have a desk with two 27-inch displays, which meant that the XP-Pen Artist 24 Pro would need an extra bit of real estate. So after I MacGuyvered something together with a Kupo light stand and my Tether Tools Aero, it was time to get the new tablet set up!

I tried using the tablet in two different configurations:

First, on a stand with my Macbook sitting behind it. This is a great setup for shooting tethered, as you can perform quick edits there and then with the tablet while using it as your main display.

The second configuration, as shown in the photograph above, was with the tablet adjusted to the height of my standing desk, ready to go!

Design

The XP-Pen Artist 24 Pro offers one HDMI and two USB host ports (so you can charge things like phones, etc.), as well as the power input on the back of the unit.

There’s also a USB-C port, which allows me to connect my iMac to the display. This was very quick and convenient; it worked straight out of the box with very little configuration required.

The rear of the tablet sports a flappy-paddle stand that, when depressed, moves a foot into the desired position. This lets you adjust the unit to stand up or lay almost flat, as though you’re writing in a nice big notepad.

XP-Pen Artist 24 Pro graphics tablet tilting

I love how I can stand up the tablet to use as a regular second monitor for my 13-inch Macbook Pro, before laying it flat and working on photographs.

XP-Pen Artist 24 pro setup — The XP-Pen Artist 24 Pro lying almost flat.

Ease of use

The XP-Pen Artist 24 Pro comes with a piece of software (a download) that adjusts the settings of the tablet, pen controls and functions, monitor configuration, express key setup (more on that in a bit), calibration, and other general features. I’ve found it very easy to use with no what-the-heck-am-I-doing moments to speak of!

However, when you first set up your tablet and open Photoshop, make sure you have the correct monitor mapped. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself deeply frustrated; I speak from personal experience.

Performance

There are many technical reviews of the XP-Pen Artist 24 Pro on the web, and most of them will tell you, in superbly technical terms, that the tablet is a very capable tool.

In fact, my conclusion is similar – the large screen, the 2560×1440 resolution, the 90% AdobeRGB color gamut, and the tilting stand makes for a very usable tablet.

When you get the XP-Pen Artist 24 Pro custom buttons all configured using the two easy-to-control red dial wheels and the 20 customizable shortcut keys, it’s very easy to open and control many different graphics packages, as well as a lot of other options (depending on which software you like to use on your computer).

In truth, I hadn’t previously used a tablet much. I thought that I’d always just edit with my mouse. I guess that comes from having a less-than-pleasant time with the first tablet I tried (and I hadn’t used another tablet until the Artist 24 Pro).

I’ve now had the XP-Pen Artist 24 Pro for quite a while. And when working in Photoshop, while I would have once happily used my mouse, I now whip out the tablet and do my editing on the screen – a testament to the great performance and ease of use of the tablet.

Granted, the 24-inch tablet isn’t the smallest device, and you do need to have space for it. But the tablet only requires one USB-C (or HDMI) and one power cable, so you can have your laptop tucked behind the tablet, using the tablet as your main display with a wireless keyboard and mouse to give your laptop that “big screen” feeling.

I’ve used the tablet as the main display for my 13-inch MacBook Pro for almost everything from movies to editing since I received it.

The XP-Pen Artist 24 Pro review: Conclusion

The XP-Pen Artist 24 Pro offers solid build quality combined with a simple-to-navigate interface, great on-screen performance, visual clarity, and ergonomics.

There was only one thing I thought could be improved, and that was the rear foot of the big screen. It has a couple of rubber stoppers that hold the device nicely in place, but it’s easy to scratch your desk if you’re not careful.

Overall, I like almost everything about the Artist 24 Pro; it’s packed full of features that make it one great tablet!

You can purchase the XP-Pen Artist 24 Pro right here.

The post XP-Pen Artist 24 Pro Review: A Gorgeous Graphics Tablet for Photographers appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Sime.

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10 Tips for Using a Graphics Tablet for Easier Photo Editing

01 Mar

The post 10 Tips for Using a Graphics Tablet for Easier Photo Editing appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by John McIntire.

In terms of post-processing and retouching, there are a lot of basic techniques that you can use with a mouse (a trackpad is even worse) and a keyboard combo. However, once you get into the more complicated stuff, the amount of precision you need to apply becomes tedious and hard to do with that setup. This is where using a graphics tablet for photo editing comes into its own. Graphics tablets, such as those from Wacom, offer you an enormous amount of control and precision in your retouching. They can also speed up your workflow a lot.

If you’ve never used a graphics tablet for photo editing before, you may wonder if you actually need one.

Using a graphics tablet for retouching photos.

The answer depends on how much time you spend and the type of post-processing that you do. But I will say, this is one of those pieces of equipment that, once you’ve been using it for a week, you’ll wonder how you ever got on without it.

Using a graphics tablet for cleaner and more consistent lines.

Left: Not a mouse, but a trackpad. You can still see how the lines are sloppy and less controlled. Right: With a graphics tablet, more consistent lines become much easier to make.

While graphics tablets are (for the most part) intuitive to use and get to grips with, some of the finer aspects of their use can seem a bit tricky. This article will cover a set of tips to help you get the most out of your graphics tablet.

1. Setup

The first thing you should make sure you do with your graphics tablet is to ensure that it is set up properly.

Many devices have plug-and-play functionality and will seem to work by just plugging them in. This isn’t the case.

In most cases, while you may have use of the pen, the full functionality of your tablet won’t be open to you until you install and setup the relevant software. Ensure any you install any relevant drivers for your tablet and if it has a software suite, go through all of the options and make sure it is set up in a way that works for you.

Image: A lot of tablets will seem to work without any software installed, but it is important to mak...

A lot of tablets will seem to work without any software installed, but it is important to make sure that you do install it, or you will be missing out on a lot of features.

Your preferences may change over time. If you find that something could be working better for you, do look in the software to see if any of the settings there can help you solve any issue you might be having.

2. Shortcut buttons

After you’ve set-up the basics, you can now move on to the shortcut buttons.

Most graphics tablets offer a number of programmable buttons that you can program and set to any function you choose. Some cheaper tablets might have only a few buttons, while some of the more expensive ones can be covered in them.

How you program them is up to you. A good way to approach this is to take a moment and examine your normal workflow in Photoshop. What actions do you make the most? Which of those actions would be easier (and suitable) to use at the click of a button?

Once you’ve done that, all you have to do is set-up the buttons in a way that suits you.

Image: You have full control over how your shortcut buttons are setup. Use these in any way that sui...

You have full control over how your shortcut buttons are setup. Use these in any way that suits the way you work.

Now, I don’t like using the shortcut buttons and they don’t suit me. The only one I use is the one that allows me to rotate the canvas. That may be the case for you too. That’s fine, and you shouldn’t feel obligated to use something that doesn’t suit your needs or approach.

3. Keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts while using a graphics tablet make a powerful combo.

Even with a tablet, you will still use the keyboard a lot for Photoshop shortcuts. Be sure to memorize any that are relevant to you.

Whether you are using Lightroom, Photoshop or any of the other software packages, you will still be using the keyboard alongside your graphics tablet for photo editing.

These programs hold so much functionality that there’s no way that everything you can do could be contained to a few buttons. As such, do spend some time learning as many of the keyboard shortcuts as you can (or at least the ones relevant to your workflow).

Using both a stylus and a keyboard at the same time can seem counterintuitive at first, but you will quickly find it’s nothing to worry about.

4. Undo

Speaking of keyboard shortcuts, there is one that you already probably use more than any other. That, of course, is Ctrl+z (cmd+z) to undo your last action. Be prepared to use this a lot.

Using a pen allows you to work with precision strokes, and just like in drawing, not all of those strokes are going to be perfect the first time. There is nothing wrong with undoing something over and over again until you get it right, so do get comfortable with ctrl+z (cmd+z) and ctrl+alt+z (cmd+alt=z).

You could always set this to a shortcut button on your tablet if you think that option would be good for you.

5. Brush settings

When you start using a graphics tablet for photo editing, you unlock a few features in Photoshop that were previously unavailable to you.

The most important of these are the brush settings; specifically, they’re the pen pressure settings. By turning these on, you give yourself control of the brush pressure through how much pressure you apply to the tablet.

For example, if you have the Always Use Pressure for Size option clicked, then the brush size will change depending on how hard you press down with the pen.

If it’s the opacity option you are using, then a light touch will result in a low opacity from your brush. Turn them both on, and the effects combine.

Image: Taking control of the pressure settings is one of the most powerful aspects of using a graphi...

Taking control of the pressure settings is one of the most powerful aspects of using a graphics tablet for photo editing.

These settings are powerful, and on their own, one of the biggest reasons to use a tablet if you’re on the fence about them. Get to know these settings intimately as they will define your use of your graphics tablet for photo editing.

6. Tilting brushes

This is a bit of a wild card, as you might never use one of these brushes for retouching photos. However, because they exist, it’s good to know about them before you stumble onto them by accident and think your tablet is broken.

Using a graphics tablet unlocks features in Photoshop that are otherwise unavailable.

This charcoal pencil brush responds to the way you hold your pen. Here, all of these lines were made by holding the pen in different positions with all of the pressure settings turned off.

These brushes respond to the way you hold your pen and alter the shape and texture of their output. This replicates how a traditional artist would use a brush or pencil (or other tools) to create different strokes and marks.

If nothing else, it is a fun feature to play with, and if you can figure out how to use it with your photography, more power to you.

7. Digital art tutorials

Using a graphics tablet for retouching can be both intuitive and counterintuitive at the same time. If you have any art background at all (I do not), you will find it easier than other photographers without that kind of background, and you can skip this tip.

If, like me, you don’t have any experience with art (either traditional or digital), I highly recommend taking the time to watch and read some digital painting tutorials.

Some of the most useful types of tutorials are:

Drawing lines – These exercises will give you control over your stylus and help you get used to the pressure sensitivity of your tablet. They will also help you make more precise movements, which will overall help to increase the quality of your output.

Follow digital painting tutorials to get better at using a graphics tablet.

Following tutorials that teach you how to practice making lines and other marks will help you to gain confidence and experience with using your tablet.

Rendering – Digital painting tutorials that deal with painting with values can be an invaluable asset when your using techniques like dodging and burning. These techniques will help you blend your values better and teach you to make more controlled adjustments.

8. Brushstrokes and control

Now that you have watched some tutorials on the subject, don’t forget to actually practice them.

Taking the time to set up a blank canvas and practice your brush strokes with the various pressure settings will only help you to become proficient with your tablet faster.

The same goes for blending values for the retouching techniques that use them. Practice as much as you can, both inside and outside of retouching.

Practice using a graphics tablet as often as possible.

Don’t just follow the tutorials once. Practice a lot at first and then make it a point to practice some more at regular intervals.

9. Warm-up

This one is entirely optional, but if you’re feeling stiff and not getting the results you want, you can borrow another technique from traditional artists and do some warm-up exercises.

There’s nothing fancy here, just set up a blank canvas in Photoshop and spend time practicing your lines and rendering (two or three minutes might be plenty), or whatever else you will be using in your retouching session.

10. Practice, practice, practice

The best way to get to grips with your graphics tablet is to use it a lot.

Just like everything else in life, if you want to get proficient in using a graphics tablet, there is only one solution:

Use it.

Put in as much mileage as you can as quickly as you can. You should find that any challenges you face in the beginning are quickly put to rest.

The end

There you have it, 10 tips to help you get the most out of using a graphics tablet for photo editing. While there is nothing complicated here, I hope that you will have found something that will help you get the most out of your graphics tablet for photo editing in the early days.

If you have any tips that you feel I have left out, please leave them in the comments below.

The post 10 Tips for Using a Graphics Tablet for Easier Photo Editing appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by John McIntire.

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Wacom’s new $3,499 tablet features a 15.6″ 4K display, i7 Quad-Core processor

08 Sep

Graphics tablet manufacturer Wacom has announced the MobileStudio Pro 16, its latest pro-level graphics tablet.

The 15.6” tablet is powered by a dedicated 2.7 GHz Intel Core i7-8559U Quad-Core processor and Nvidia Quadra P1000 4GB GDDR5 GPU. It comes with a 512GB SSD and has 16GB of RAM. Together, these power a 3840 x 2160 UHD IPS display with 85% Adobe RGB gamut coverage that can run Windows 10 as a standalone device and works with Windows and macOS computers when attached.

The etched glass surface is designed to provide resistance similar to writing on a paper when used with the included Wacom Pro Pen 2, which is four times more sensitive with 8192 levels of pressure.

The MobileStudio Pro 16 features three Thunderbolt 3 ports but also includes Wi-Fi (802.11ac) and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity if you want to keep wires to a minimum. Wacom has also included two cameras: a 5-megapixel front-facing camera and an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera, as well as a combo audio jack.

Other features include application-specific ExpressKeys, Radial Menus, a fingerprint sensor, multi-touch support and a stand so the tablet can be angled for more comfortable viewing and drawing. Wacom’s even included a built-in SD card reader for quickly transferring media to your computer through the Thunderbolt 3 port. The 4630 mAh lithium-polymer battery is rated for 5.5 hours of operation.

The MobileStudio Pro 16 is currently available to pre-order from Adorama and B&H for $ 3,499.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Wacom expands Intuos Pro tablet and pen line with new ‘Small’ option

11 May

Wacom has expanded its creative pen and tablet product line with the new Intuos Pro Small. This model joins the existing Medium and Large size options to offer professionals a less expensive, more portable alternative. The Intuos Pro Small includes a Wacom Pro Pen 2 and pen stand.

The Wacom Intuos Pro tablet line is designed for photographers, designers, and other graphics professionals. As with the larger sizes, the new Small variant sports a TouchRing and ExpressKeys, though there are only six keys instead of the eight found on the two larger sizes.

Bluetooth connectivity enables the Intuos Pro tablets to connect with both PC and Mac systems. The companion Wacom Pro Pen 2 offers 8,191 levels of pressure, lag-free tracking, and tilt recognition; the company includes 10 replacement nibs with the pen and pen stand.

The Intuos Pro Small size option is now available from Wacom and retailers through which its products are sold, including B&H Photo and Adorama, for $ 249.95 USD. In comparison, the Intuos Pro Medium costs $ 379.95 USD and the Large costs $ 499.95 USD.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Wacom announces the Cintiq 16HD, a Full HD graphics tablet that displays 16.7 million colors

09 Jan

Wacom has announced its latest creation, the Cintiq 16HD, a mid-range pen tablet that takes inspiration from Wacom’s much larger (and more expensive) Cintiq Pro lineup and packages it in a more compact and affordable form factor.

The Cintiq 16HD falls right between Wacom’s Cintiq 13HD and Cintiq 22HD graphics tablet. Its display, as it name suggests, is a 15.6 inch 1920 x 1080 pixel touchscreen display with the ability to produce upwards of 16.7 million colors — 72% NTSC color coverage and 100% sRGB. The screen has a brightness rating of 210 cd/m², a 1000:1 contrast ratio and a 176-degree viewing angle.

The pen tablet features built-in legs that provide a natural tilt angle and a recessed connection so it lays flat when the three-in-one power port is plugged in.

Included with the Cintiq 16HD is the Wacom Pro Pen 2, which works with the tablet to offer 8192 levels of pen pressure sensitivity — four times that of its predecessor, the Cintiq Pro 16. The pen features two side buttons and lag-free tracking. It uses Electro Magnetic Resonance (EMR) technology, meaning no batteries are needed to keep the pen operating.

The Wacom Cintiq 16HD works with both macOS and Windows operating systems and is currently available for pre-order for $ 649.95. In addition to the graphics tablet and Wacom Pro Pen 2, it comes with a detachable pen holder, three replacement nibs, a nib removal tool, a 3-in-1 cable, and the required power cable and adapter.

Wacom offers a limited one-year warranty in Japan, Asia Pacific and China and a two-year limited warranty in the USA, Canada, Latin America, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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How to Boost Your Post-Processing Skills With a Graphics Tablet

22 Sep

During the course of your love affair with photography, you’ll use many different pieces of equipment. Some you’ll purchase, some you’ll beg, borrow, or steal. They will all serve one purpose or another. Some you may love so much that you keep forever. Most you won’t.

You don’t hear me talk about gear often. Over time I’ve worked hard to simplify my gear, and as a travel photographer, I’ve had to be ruthless in shedding excess size and weight. Every now and then, however, you come across a tool that is so valuable to your workflow that you can’t imagine working without it. One of those tools for me is a graphics tablet.

step up your post-processing with a graphics tablet

Photo by Kate Trysh on Unsplash

I’ve been using a tablet for quite a few years now, and it’s totally worth the extra weight in my bag. When I sold everything I owned and bought a one-way ticket to travel the world with my camera, I found space for my tablet. It has revolutionized my post-processing, and it can revolutionize yours too.

What is a Graphics Tablet?

A graphics tablet is a device that allows you to use a stylus instead of a mouse to control the cursor on your computer screen. They come in many sizes and offer a variety of features. They work by pointing at or drawing on the surface of the tablet with the stylus, which transfers your movements onto your screen. Most come with buttons on the stylus and on the tablet, which you can configure to act as mouse buttons or keystrokes.

They range from small tablets with no buttons all the way up to huge displays where you can draw directly onto the screen, much like an iPad. They often include features like pressure-sensitivity, allowing extremely precise controls that come in very handy when drawing.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Why Use a Tablet?

You might be asking yourself what’s so special about a tablet. What’s wrong with a good old mouse? I used to feel the same way until I tried using one. The humble mouse works fine for everyday computer usage, but it’s severely limited when it comes to photo editing.

Have you ever found yourself getting frustrated while trying to edit some fine details in a photo and having to go back over and over again? When you use a mouse, you’re relying on the movements of the large muscles and bones in your arm and hand to move it around your screen. It’s incredibly cumbersome. Your arm works great with big movements, but not so much with small, precise ones.

Now think about the precision and fine motor skills required to draw with a pen. Every tiny muscle in your hand is used to control the movements. I like to think of it this way: a toddler can use a mouse, but there’s no way they could use a tablet. They can’t even write their own name. A tablet will allow you to use those fine motor skills that you developed all those years ago.

Photo by Josefa nDiaz on Unsplash

How Do You Use a Tablet?

You may have seen tablets being used in Photoshop tutorials and wondered how they’re used. You don’t need to be a professional retoucher or illustrator to benefit from using a tablet. Even if you do all your post-processing in Lightroom, you will likely still find that a tablet will make the process much more precise and enjoyable.

ExpressKey menu in the Wacom setting panel.

The main benefits of editing with a tablet are speed and precision. As I mentioned earlier, most tablets will have some extra controls on the stylus and on the tablet itself. These controls can be customized to do pretty much anything.

This means that you can replace your most commonly used keystrokes with a single button. The touch ring can be set to adjust things like brush size and hardness, or scroll and zoom. These controls can speed up your post-processing dramatically.

Touch Ring options in the Wacom settings panel.

Where a graphics tablet really shines is when you want to apply local adjustments to your photos. Whether you’re making selections, drawing, painting, erasing, or dodging and burning, you’ll find that it’s far easier with a stylus than a mouse. It feels more natural and you’ll make a lot fewer mistakes.

If you don’t currently make a lot of local adjustments to your photos, I highly recommend taking some time to learn how. Learning basic dodging and burning is one of the best things you can do to take your post-processing skills to the next level. Do it with a tablet and you’ll be amazed what a difference it makes to your workflow.

There are many great resources available online for free that will teach you the basics of dodging and burning in both Lightroom and Photoshop. Likewise with setting up and using a tablet. There is a bit of a learning curve, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll never want to edit with a mouse again.

Choosing a Tablet

As I’ve mentioned, tablets range massively in price, size, and features. What you need will depend on a few factors like your budget, how much space you have on your desk, and how you like to work.

You can spend anywhere from $ 25 to $ 2000, so there is something that will suit your needs. You should be able to find a decent tablet under $ 100 that does the job.

Wacom’s high-end Cintiq tablet.Photo by Norbert Levajsics on Unsplash

Choosing the right size can be tricky. On one hand, the larger your tablet, the easier it is to use. You won’t find yourself having to move around the screen as much with a larger tablet. On the other hand, it will take up more space on your desk or in your bag. I personally like using a tablet that’s smaller than my laptop, that way they both fit nicely in my bag when I’m on the road.

In terms of features, you don’t need a lot of the more advanced features. My older Wacom Intuos doesn’t feature pressure sensitivity, and I don’t miss it. I would recommend using a tablet with at least a few control buttons, as they can speed up your workflow quite a bit.

Don’t stress about getting an expensive, high-end tablet, though. You’ll likely find that a basic model or a cheaper brand will suit your needs just fine. If you have an iPad lying around, there are apps available that allow you to connect it to your computer and use it as a tablet.

Huion Graphics Drawing Pen Tablet – Photo by Drew Thomas on Unsplash

Beg, Borrow or Steal

Well, maybe not steal, but ask around and see if someone you know has a tablet you could borrow or rent to try for a week. If you can find one to test out, give it a chance. As I’ve said, it takes a while to get used to it, so don’t give up too soon.

I’m sure that once you get your head around it you’ll be wanting one of your very own, and you’ll never look back.

The post How to Boost Your Post-Processing Skills With a Graphics Tablet appeared first on Digital Photography School.

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Wacom reveals new, ‘significantly upgraded’ Intuos pen tablet

07 Mar

The Wacom Intuos pen tablet is one of the first major photo editing upgrades a beginner typically invests in, and today, Wacom launched what its calling a significant “get creative” upgrade to this popular lineup.

On the hardware side, the new and improved Small (152.0 x 95.0 mm | 6.0 x 3.7 in) and Medium (216.0 x 135.0 mm | 8.5 x 5.3 in) Wacom Intuos pen tablets boast Bluetooth connectivity (not all models), improved accuracy, and a smaller footprint despite having the same active tablet area as previous models. They also have a built-in pen tray, four express keys, an LED indicator and, if you buy one of the Bluetooth models, a 60% improvement in battery life.

The included pen, meanwhile, uses Wacom’s battery-free EMR technology to deliver 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity from an “improved ergonomic design with increased weight and soft touch grip area, in-pen nib compartment and nib extractor.”

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The hardware upgrades are not insignificant, but the Wacom announcement actually seems more keen on software than hardware—more specifically: on the software that comes bundled with the new tablets.

Wacom has partnered with several creative software manufacturers to give users access to up to “$ 160 worth of creative software” alongside the tablet. These include Corel Painter Essentials 6 for design and illustration, CELSYS CLIP STUDIO PAINT PRO for comic and Magna creation, and Corel AfterShot 3 for photo editing.

The Wacom Intuos comes in three flavors: The Intuos S for $ 80, the Intuos S with Bluetooth for $ 100, and the Intuos M for $ 200. Depending on which one you pick, you’ll get access to 1, 2, or 3 of the software options mentioned above so you can start getting creative right away.

To learn more about these new tablets or order one for yourself today, head over to the Wacom website.

Press Release

Wacom introduces new Intuos pen tablet to “Get Creative”

Technologically and ergonomically improved pen tablet bundled with creative software provides an immediate start into digital art

TOKYO, andPORTLAND, OR | March 6, 2018 – Today, Wacom announced a new, significantly upgraded version of its Intuos pen tablet for creative beginners and enthusiasts. Bundled with software for drawing, painting and image editing, the new Intuos tablet offers an immediate start into digital art. Anyone interested in getting creative on a digital level will be able to enjoy a natural pen experience, improved accuracy and enhanced online navigation capability. Ambitious comic and Manga fans, hobby painters and photographers just need to download a software of choice to “get creative.”

“Wacom has a legacy of providing state-of-the-art technology and full solutions to our customers,” said Faik Karaoglu, Executive Vice President at Wacom’s Creative Business Unit. “We know that only the combination of hardware and software allows for an immediate start. That is why we asked leading software partners to join us in the new pen tablet offer. We believe that our customers will love the new Intuos for its advanced technology and software options.”

Upon purchase of the new Wacom Intuos, users can download up to $ 160 worth of creative software, including Corel® Painter® Essentials™ 6 for design and illustration, CELSYS CLIP STUDIO PAINT PRO for comic and Magna creation and Corel® AfterShot™ 3 for photo editing. Numerous video tutorials by Wacom, Corel and Celsys will help users get started.

New Intuos features include built-in wireless Bluetooth integration on some models, and three color choices. Available in small and medium sizes, all models have the same active tablet area as previous versions but with a smaller footprint and lighter weight. A built-in pen tray, four express keys, an LED indicator and in the Bluetooth models a 60 percent improvement on battery life rounds out the upgrade.

The included pen boasts 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, battery-free Wacom EMR technology, and an improved ergonomic design with increased weight and soft touch grip area, in-pen nib compartment and nib extractor.

Configuration, Pricing and Availability

The new Intuos line comes in small and medium sizes and offers the following features:

Wacom Intuos Small

With Bluetooth

Software options offer a choice of two out of three software downloads: Corel® Painter® Essentials™ 6, Corel® AfterShot™ 3, or CELSYS CLIP STUDIO PAINT PRO (in China: UDM PAINT PRO)
Color: charcoal black, pistachio green or berry pink (in selected regions)
Price: $ 99 USD

Without Bluetooth

Software options offer a choice of one out of two software downloads: Corel® Painter® Essentials™ 6, or Corel® AfterShot™ 3
Color: charcoal black
Price: $ 79 USD

Wacom Intuos Medium

With Bluetooth

Software: Purchasers may download all three software options: Corel® Painter® Essentials™ 6, Corel® AfterShot™ 3, or CELSYS CLIP STUDIO PAINT PRO (in China: UDM PAINT PRO)
Color: charcoal black, pistachio green or berry pink (in selected regions)
Price: $ 199 USD

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Huawei launches MediaPad M5 Pro tablet with M-Pen

25 Feb

There won’t be a new flagship smartphone from Huawei at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this year (the P20, which is rumored to come with a triple-camera, will be launched on the 27th of March). However, the Chinese device maker has just launched a number of new tablets, including the MediaPad M5 Pro which looks like a potentially interesting option for image editing on the go.

The M5 Pro will be available with a 8.4″ or 10.8″ IPS display. Both screens feature a 2560 x 1600 2K resolution and a screen/body ratio of 82%. On top of that the larger version comes with the M-Pen stylus which supports tilting and shading and offers 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity. Huawei says the M-Pen is ideal for note-taking and image editing alike.

If that’s true will largely depend on support for the pen in third-party apps. Huawei has not provided any information on this topic yet. In addition a full-size keyboard that is connected via Pogo Pins in combination with a Desktop View mode allow for a PC-like working experience.

In any case, the MediaPad M5 Pro looks like a capable and attractively designed Android tablet all around. The 8.4″ version comes with two speakers, the larger model offers a quad-speaker setup and a surround-sound option which has been co-developed with Harman-Kardon. Hi-Res audio is supported when listening through headphones.

The Android OS and Huawei’s EMUI 8.0 UI are powered by a Kirin 960 Series processor and a 5,100 mAh battery in the smaller model and 7,500 mAh variant in the 10.8″ version – both supporting quick-charge – should provide plenty of battery life. The MediaPad M5 Pro will be available in Champagne Gold and Space Gray. Pricing ranges from 500 Euros (approximately USD 615) for the Wi-Fi version with 64GB memory to 600 Euros (approximately USD 735) for the 128GB LTE model.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Your Wacom tablet won’t work with macOS High Sierra until ‘late October’

26 Sep

Photo by Damian Patkowski

Apple’s newest macOS operating system, macOS High Sierra, launched today. But if you use a Wacom tablet to do your photo editing, you’ll want to hold off on hitting the upgrade button. It seems Wacom tablets won’t work with High Sierra until the end of October.

The disappointing news was broadcast in a tweet published by the main Wacom Twitter account that read, “We will release a Driver update late October for 10.13 High Sierra. The current driver is not compatible.” If you click on the more info link offered in that tweet, you get this slightly more detailed explanation:

Apple has announced 10.13 High Sierra will be released September 25th. Wacom is currently working on a new driver update to support the new operating system. The new Wacom driver will be ready by late October at the latest. Due to nature of the changes in High Sierra, the existing Wacom driver for 10.12 will not work. To continue to use your tablet uninterrupted, Wacom suggests not to upgrade to 10.13 until the new driver is released.

The news is particularly disappointing given that Apple announced High Sierra months ago, and gave developers access to that beta the very same day. And based on the wording of the announcement, the old driver won’t work at all, so upgrading to macOS High Sierra will leave you Wacom-less for at least a couple of weeks—if you rely on a Wacom tablet for your work, you’ll just have to wait.

Keep an eye on this link to know the instant Wacom releases their overdue macOS High Sierra driver.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Overview of the Intuos Pro Wacom Tablet and the MobileStudio Pro for Post-Processing

08 Jun

Around 15 years ago we were visiting my brother-in-law and his family. While there I saw his computer and it had this strange flat thing with a pen on the desk. I asked my husband what it was and he said it was a Wacom Tablet. You use the pen on the flat part, the tablet, and it works just like a pen, or pencil. I said I wanted one, he said I didn’t need one.

So I waited, and one day while trying to do fine detail work in Photoshop and screaming because the mouse wouldn’t do what I wanted, I finally said: “I’m getting one”. In 2011 I got my first Wacom Tablet, the Intuos 4. I haven’t looked back and now consider it a vital part of my photography gear.

The Intuos Pro from above, image courtesy Wacom Australia.

What is a Wacom Tablet?

Wacom Tablets come as two pieces, the tablet, and the pen. The tablet sits flat on your desk and you use it like a piece of paper. So when you put the pen, or stylus, on it the tablet communicates with the computer.

The pen is similar to a mouse in that as you move it over the tablet, the cursor onscreen follows. The active part of the tablet covers the whole screen, but unlike a mouse, you have to lift the pen from the surface to move the cursor. When you want to click on something you just touch the pen to the surface of the tablet.

What do you use it for?

Have you ever considered how good it would be to be able to draw on your computer like you can on a sketch pad? The Wacom Tablets allow you to do that. The pen becomes your drawing instrument and the tablet part your paper or sketch book.

The Wacom Intuos Pro medium, image courtesy Wacom Australia.

Getting starting using a tablet

There is no doubt that a lot of people have trouble using a tablet when they first start. The pen can be a hard concept to get your head around. It does not work the same way a mouse does. It works more like a pen, and you need to think of the tablet like a piece of paper. When you want to move from one part to another you lift the pen up and move it. The pen talks to the tablet and knows where you are going.

Getting used to it

After you have been using a tablet for a while it becomes second nature. You just move instinctively with it, and in many ways, more so than with a mouse because pens have been around a lot longer.

The Wacom Intuos Pro from the side, image courtesy Wacom Australia.

The Wacom Intuos Pro Tablet

After having the Intuos 4 for a few years I decided that it was time to get a slightly bigger one, and I opted for the Intuos Pro Medium. It is larger than my previous one but has some options which were not available with the older model.

The Pro series allows you to use the tablet wirelessly. Which is really good for people who don’t have a permanent place for it and what to move it around. You have the choice of having it sit on your desk plugged in, or if you want to move it you can remove the plug and not have to worry about connecting it. Mine sits permanently on my desk and so I tend to keep it plugged in.

The tablet part can also be a touchpad. So if you find you are used to using your fingers to move around on the computer then the touch pad area may suit you. This feature certainly helps people that use your computer and don’t know how to use the pen. The touchpad can easily be turned on and off as you want it. The top button on the tablet is set as the default switch for the touchpad feature.

There is also a stand that holds the pen when you aren’t using it. In the bottom of the stand, you will find a storage area for more nibs for the pen. You can purchase them separately, many options are available or both the stand and extra nibs.

I have the older model of the Intuos Pro. The new updated version includes Bluetooth. The pen that comes with it now, the Pro Pen 2, has over 8192 levels of sensitivity with pressure and tilt response. The one I have only has 2148 level of pressure sensitivity. The tablet part is also much thinner on the newer model.

The Wacom Intuos Pro Medium retails for $ 349 at B&H, or you can shop for it on Amazon.com as well.

St. Kilda Pier long exposure taken at sunrise and processed with my Wacom Intuos Pro.

Using the Intuos Pro Pen

The Intuos Pro comes with a lot of default settings, but you can change them so the tablet and pen will work the way you want. There are four buttons on the pen. Clicking the nib is like doing a regular left-click. I have changed the settings on my pen, so the two buttons on the side now do a right-click (the bottom one) and middle-click (The scroll wheel on a PC mouse is also a button you can click. If you middle-click a link it will open it in a new tab. If you middle-click a tab it will close. It is very handy, and one I use a lot.). The one at the top of the pen has the factory default setting of erasing, but I’ve changed mine to double-click.

You can change how fast to double-click, or how much pressure you can use. It is all there for you to set up exactly how you want. It is good to play around with it so you can try different things. As you get used to using it you may find that you want to change other things as well.

I’ve been using a tablet for years now and when I purchased the Intuos Pro I decided I would use it for everything, so I threw away my mouse. I now use my tablet as my mouse whether I am processing or not. I have gotten very used to typing with the pen stuck between my thumb and hand. In fact, I almost find it difficult to type if it isn’t there. It has become like an extension of my hand and I will often find myself in the kitchen making a coffee with it still attached.

This image of the Seafarers Bridge has lots of fiddly bits and the Intuos Pro just makes it much easier to edit.

My family don’t like it because they can’t use my computer with it. I have a mouse in a drawer for them now.

Why use a tablet and pen?

If you get frustrated by trying to do details with a mouse, then the Intuos Pro could be exactly what you need. A tablet and pen allow you to do fine detail work that you can’t do with a mouse or your finger unless you are really good with them. A mouse frustrating for me and would shout a lot, which, in the end, was why my husband agreed that I needed a tablet. I haven’t looked back. Now with the pen, I can trace around curved lines, or get into small spots to change things easily. I couldn’t live without a tablet and pen anymore.

Wacom come into their own for post-processing work on the computer. Whether you are using Photoshop or Illustrator, or another program where you require a lot of control over what you are doing, you will find the tablet is perfect.

A cityscape of Melbourne one of many images that I have used the Intuos Pro to edit.

Wacom MobileStudio Pro 13 512GB

The Mobile Studio Pro another tablet style unit from Wacom except it looks more like what we have come to expect from a tablet. It has a screen and you can use it independently from your computer. It is a computer itself, and you can run Windows on it as well as Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom. This model has Wi-Fi and works just like a regular tablet.

wacom tablet

You can use it as a tablet or as a laptop, although you would have to get an external keyboard if you don’t like the keyboard on the screen.

With Bluetooth capabilities you can pair other devices with it easily as well. So getting a Bluetooth keyboard is a really good option, especially the one by Microsoft that folds in half and is easy to carry around.

Taking the MobileStudio Pro out for coffee and a bagel.

It doesn’t have the usual ports for connecting devices and uses USB-C. That will soon become the standard, but for now, you will not be able to connect any others to it. You can get adaptors for USB > USB-C.

Pros and cons

PRO: Without a doubt, the best thing about this particular model is that it is exactly like drawing in a sketchbook. You are working straight onto your image. It is great to be able to move it around and work the angle that is needed for your image. Your hand can get in the way sometimes, so being able to turn it is a definite bonus.

A long exposure of the Seafarers Bridge in Melbourne. The MobileStudio Pro was fantastic for processing this image.

PRO and CON: It does have touchscreen capabilities, and that can be great for browsing the internet and using other programs. However, for processing images with the pen it was very frustrating with the touchscreen on. You put your hand somewhere and then something else would go off, or get deleted. In the end I turned the touchscreen feature off when I was processing the image, but turned it back on when I was doing everything else.

Getting out of the house to process an image is such a luxury, the MobileStudio Pro makes it to easy, it even goes well with a latte.

CON: You do have to think a bit differently when using a tablet, especially if you are used to using keyboard shortcuts. I use them all the time, so when working on an image I have one hand on the keyboard, and the pen in the other. You have to find other ways of doing delete, save, etc. I was told by Wacom Australia that you can set up shortcuts on the tablet. For the short amount of time that I had the MobileStudio tablet, I didn’t worry about it, but it’s good to know. As previously stated, you are also able to use an external Bluetooth keyboard if you wish.

The final image.

PRO: The Wacom MobileStudio Pro 13 512GB is perfect for anyone that travels a lot and wants to work on their images on the go. You can take it anywhere and with a battery life of 4-6 hours, you have plenty of time to do what you need. I took it with me when I met friends for coffee so I could work if they were late. It’s small, isn’t very heavy, and will fit anywhere most laptops do. I also used it to edit images while I was watching TV.

CON: It does come with a hefty price tag as it retails for $ 2499 at B&H (with the 512gb hard drive, smaller ones are available for less as well – 256gb is $ 1999 and 128gb is $ 1799). If you want the larger 15″ model, then you will need to pay an extra $ 500.

One of the first images that I edited using the MobileStudio Pro.

Different tablets available

Wacom offers a wide range of tablets so you can choose from a small one, up to very large ones. Most of them work as mentioned here. They aren’t as expensive as you may think (they start at about $ 199 for a small one) so if you want to try one out you should be able to find one that fits within your budget.

The new ones have screens built-in and work like similar to other tablets (like an iPad). You use the pen directly on the screen so you can see exactly what is happening to your image real-time. They are a lot more expensive, but if you really want to get serious it could be just what you need.

There is another version for those that want to process on the go. So if you are traveling a lot, you can use it as your laptop and for processing your photos. There are also much bigger ones that sit on your desk and work in a similar way.

Whatever level you are at, they have a tablet for you.

Finishing up

If you are serious about your photography, or more so if you are serious about editing your photos, then a Wacom Tablet is an essential tools that can help you to make fantastic images. They have a massive range available, so you will have to decide which one is right for you.

The post Overview of the Intuos Pro Wacom Tablet and the MobileStudio Pro for Post-Processing by Leanne Cole appeared first on Digital Photography School.

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