Wacom Technology Corp. introduced its new Intuos3 professional pen tablets offering an array of meaningful improvements that provide higher levels of productivity for digital photographers, designers and artists.
Intuos3 tablets incorporate ExpressKeys and Touch Strips. An on-board set of customizable ExpressKeys default to keyboard modifiers Ctrl, Alt, Shift and Spacebar and are completely customizable. In addition, new finger-sensitive Touch Strips allow users to zoom or scroll with their non-dominant hand while working with a Wacom battery-free pen or mouse with their dominant hand.
The significance of Intuos3s new ExpressKeys and Touch Strips is that they greatly speed up workflow in graphics and other applications. The innovative ExpressKeys provide quick access to commonly used modifiers, mouse clicks, keystrokes and other timesaving operations. Similarly, the Touch Strips bring an even higher level of functionality to tablets. The two-inch Touch Strips can be used to zoom, scroll or perform a custom keystroke action such as changing brush size in Adobe Photosho, all without having to move to the keyboard.
"Intuos3 is a major step forward in state-of-the-art computer input systems for serious photographers and graphics professionals," said Mark Mehall, Wacom Sr. product manager. "It greatly extends the functionality of Wacom's pen tablets and introduces an exciting new look and ergonomic design to optimize the way users interact with computers and software. Our customers have emphasized the need for short-cut keys and zoom/scroll control, along with requests for design enhancements, so we are very pleased to be able to offer these benefits with Intuos3."
Other key features of the Intuos3 pen tablets include a new industrial design with a high-gloss transparent surface, a redesigned Grip Pen with a larger rubber barrel for enhanced comfort, an improved ergonomic, battery-free mouse with five programmable buttons and a scroll wheel, doubled resolution of 5080 lines per inch and a new software bundle composed of Adobe Photoshop Elements 2, Corel Painter Essentials 2 and nik Color Efex Pro 2 IE.
Optional Intuos3 accessories include the popular Airbrush, an Inking Pen and a new kit of accessories for customizing the Intuos3 Grip Pen.
The new Intuos3 tablets (USB-only) will be available by the middle of September. The Intuos3 tablets will be produced in three sizes with active areas of 4x5, 6x8 and 9x12. The previous version, Intuos2, will be continued for customers who require serial connectivity or larger sizes (12x12 and 12x18). Intuos3 supports Apple and Microsoft platforms. Estimated street prices are: Intuos3 4x5 at $199.99, Intuos3 6x8 at $329.99 and Intuos3 9x12 at $449.99.
Wacom Technology Corp. (www.wacom.com), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wacom Company Ltd. in Japan, is headquartered in Vancouver, WA. In 1989 Wacom revolutionized the nature of computer art when it introduced America to the world's first cordless, battery-free and pressure-sensitive pen, allowing digital photographers and artists to do their work with greater freedom and control than with traditional methods.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
