If you have not discovered the precise selections and adjustments available using a tablet instead of a mouse, you don't know what you are missing. Wacom is the market leader for pen tablets, and I put one of its latest models through its paces.
There is a raft of peripherals that can help improve your photography. Some of these have stood the test of time and are still widely used a decade or more after their release. Wacom tablets fall into this category, and many experienced photographers who dive into making local adjustments to their images use this industry-standard brand -- and not without good reason. They work, and they work well.
What Is a Wacom Intuos Creative Pen Tablet?
Sometimes called a graphics tablet or a drawing tablet, this device allows users to hand-draw images, animations, and graphics with a pen-like stylus, similar to drawing on paper. Photographers who edit their images by making local selections find these devices a precise way of applying local adjustments.
The Wacom Intuos tablet connects to a computer via USB or wirelessly via Bluetooth. It acts as an input device, sending the drawing data to the computer. It can connect to Windows, Mac, and Chromebook computers.
The tablet comprises a flat, smooth drawing surface that works using a pen-like tool called a stylus. The pen has pressure sensitivity, meaning it can detect how hard or softly you press, allowing for varied line thickness or opacity when applying brush adjustments in programs such as Photoshop. Better models, like this one, also have customizable hotkeys. There are four such buttons on this tablet. On my PC, these are preset to shift, alt, ctrl, and the Windows key, which seem like sensible options, so I haven't changed them. Presumably, on Macs and Chromebooks, they will have similarly practical assignations too. There's also the Bluetooth/power button.
On the base are four grippy feet, and at the top edge is a fabric loop designed for storing the pen. There are also two small holes for attaching a Wacom pen tether, available separately.
The Wacom Pen 4K stylus has buttons too. They can be set to perform common tasks such as undo, zoom, or brush size adjustments. By default, they are set to scroll and right mouse clicks. Tapping the pen on the tablet acts as a left mouse click. The "4K" label refers to its 4,096 pressure levels. Furthermore, it is accurate to a tiny ±0.01" / 0.25 mm.
The pen works by electromagnetic resonance (EMR) and therefore doesn't need a battery. Unscrewing the pen's body reveals three spare pen nibs in addition to the one already installed.
How Well Designed and Built Is It?
The build quality is great, and it looks sleek. It's available in different colors, including black and the model I have, called Pistachio. I would say that color is more like a slightly muted mint green than pistachio, but that's splitting hairs. It looks great, though, and I find it easier to see the grid on the drawing surface compared to my previous all-black model.
It's not a deal-breaker, but a slightly disappointing aspect of the tablet is its USB connection type. The tablet doesn't use the symmetrical USB-C connector but instead has a Micro-USB slot. The cable, which has a 90° angled Micro-USB plug, comes out of the top-right corner of the tablet and points left. This is fine if you are right-handed and use a laptop. However, if you are left-handed, the cable points in the wrong direction, and you cannot reverse it. I am right-handed, but my desktop computer sits on the right-hand side of my workstation, so the cable points the wrong way. Nevertheless, I can use Bluetooth, which doesn't require a cable apart from charging.
One well-thought-out feature is the row of buttons on the tablet. They are slightly convex, allowing you to lay the pen along them without it rolling off. Additionally, a nib sharpener is built into the pen.
In Use
The two secrets to using a graphics tablet are to have it positioned ergonomically -- i.e., where you would usually have your mouse -- and to practice using it. It takes a while to coordinate the pen position with the pointer position on the screen and to get used to applying the correct pressure. However, once you are accustomed to it, it's precise and simple to operate. It is a far more accurate way of working and certainly miles better than a laptop touchpad.
If you work with multiple screens, it's worth going into the Mapping tab of the Wacom Tablet Properties in the Wacom Center and limiting the tablet's functions solely to the screen you use for photo editing. I also use the Force Proportions function so the tablet's active area matches the screen's aspect ratio.
I tried it in numerous apps, including DxO PhotoLab, ON1 Photo RAW, Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, and Affinity Photo, and it worked well. It even allowed me to draw in Microsoft Word.
What I Liked and What Could Be Improved Next Time What I Liked Neat looking Robust build Responsive and easy to use Plenty of cable Spare pen nibs should last a long time Bluetooth connection keeps the desk tidy Works with a wide range of applications Comes with extended trials of useful software What Could Be Improved Next Time USB-C should replace Micro-USB The other end of the cable is solely USB-A, and an adaptor to a USB-C socket would be helpful for those using Macs and Chromebooks that lack the larger USB-A ports Additional color options might appeal to some users In Conclusion
Anyone wanting to apply local edits to their photos or start drawing digitally won't go far wrong with the latest iteration of the Wacom Intuos. It's well-made and works perfectly. Little design features, like the convex-shaped row of buttons that allow them to act as a pen holder when it's not in use, are a neat idea. It's a pity that the USB connector is not USB-C. It's also a shame there is no supplied option to plug it into a USB-C port on a laptop, but there are ways around that; adaptors and replacement cables are freely available. Despite these minor issues, the tablet works exceptionally well.
At the time of writing, this tablet was greatly reduced in price for the holiday sale at B&H. It usually retails at $199.95
Specifications Tablet Active Area: 8.5 x 5.3" / 215.90 x 134.62 mm Number of Buttons: 4 Buttons Customizable: Yes Inputs/Outputs: 1x Micro-USB Connectivity Cable: USB-A Dimensions (W x H x D): 10.4 x 7.8 x 0.4" / 264.16 x 198.12 x 10.16 mm Stylus Pressure Levels: 4,096 Tilt: No Number of Switches: 2 Stylus Accuracy: ±0.01" / 0.25 mm Stylus Technology: Electromagnetic Resonance (EMR) Dimensions (L x D): 5.6 x 0.5" / 142.2 x 12.7 mm General Bluetooth: Yes Battery Type: Lithium-ion Maximum Battery Life: 15 hours Charging Time: 3.5 hours OS Compatibility: Windows / macOS / Chrome Multi-Touch: No Weight: 14.5 oz / 411.08 g Packaging Info Package Weight: 1.61 lb Box Dimensions (L x W x H): 11.9 x 8.7 x 1.4"