The complete overhaul of the Intuos4 makes the tablet feel sleeker and more comfortable to use.

Wacom graphics tablets are something photographers either love or hate. On the one hand, they offer incredible precision and control during photo editing, letting you closely retouch your images with Wacom's distinctive pen and tablet interface until you can get your shot just the way you want it.

On the other hand, using a Wacom tablet takes some getting used to and since it allows you to dive deep into programs such as Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator, it could add to your overall photo editing time instead of speeding it up. Plus, who has room for another space-hogging peripheral on your desktop anyway?

The new completely redesigned Intuos4 from Wacom—which replaces the Intuos3—just might begin to blur the line between the "lovers" and the "haters" of pen tablets. There are a slew of design changes to the Intuos4, making it more attractive, ergonomic and intuitive than the previous model, while increasing the tablet's performance and, theoretically, the user's productivity.

Having said that, there are other unavoidable things about the Intuos4—including its intrusive footprint—that might continue to turn off non-pen tablet users.

Truthfully, I'm on the fence about whether I want/need a Wacom tablet in my photo editing workflow. Though there's a lot I admire in the Intuos4, including its new "ambidextrous" design— very appealing to lefties like me—I may be too set in my "point and click" photo-editing ways to want to change at this point.

But if you've used and liked Wacom's products in the past or have an open mind about shaking up your workflow, the Intuos4 is a bold step forward in pen tablet technology. Heck, it's even made me consider putting down my boring old mouse and picking up Wacom's graphics pen the next time I open Photoshop. And that's saying a lot.


IMPROVED, REVERSIBLE DESIGN

Our online reviewer, Theano Nikitas, looked at Wacom's Cintiq touchscreen display tablet last year and it should be noted that there are still distinct differences between that high-end line, which is sort of a tablet/touchscreen hybrid, and the Intuos4, which is a "traditional" graphics tablet.

The Intuos4 does seem to take one small cue from the Cintiq by adding illuminated OLED displays next to the ExpressKeys on the tablet. These screens are programmable via the Intuos4 driver—available under "Other" in System Preferences on a Mac—and help you remember what functions you assign to the ExpressKeys, i.e. Option, Shift, etc. Particularly useful is that they automatically change depending on what applications you're in, offering one set of functions for Photoshop and a different set for Illustrator, for example.

They also come in very handy when setting the Intuos4 for left-handed or right-handed users.

Instead of putting a sets of keys on each side—as with the Intuos3—you can change the orientation of the illuminated icons on the OLED displays in the software if you reverse/rotate the screen. There are also two USB ports—one on the "top" and one on the "bottom"—so the cord isn't left dangling and in the way for either left- or right-handed users. A small touch but it's much appreciated.

(Incidentally, Wacom's changed the sizing of its Intuous tablets from the confusing dimensional schematics, i.e. 6 x 11, 9 x 12 etc, of its previous products. They now come in Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large, but the OLED displays are not available in the Small.)

Instead of the old finger sensitive "touch strip, " the Intuos4 adds a programmable Touch Ring that can control four functions in any application such as zoom, scroll, on-the-fly brush size changes, and layer selection in Photoshop. Nifty.

A radial menu which is accessible through the ExpressKeys lets you get deeper into your regular workflow such as accessing your e-mail or launching a Web browser right from the tablet.

The design of all the parts in the Intuos4 package—tablet, pen, pen holder, and mouse—are subtly but noticeably changed from the previous version, making the tablet feel sleeker and more comfortable to use. As usual though, I had to push my keyboard out of the way to make room for the tablet—I tried out the Medium size—but still needed to keep it close enough to type with which was awkward.

I know this sounds crazy but since the Intuos4 comes with shortcuts for checking your e-mail or accessing the Internet, I started wanting Wacom to somehow integrate a keyboard into it. That would, admittedly, look absolutely hideous however.


PEN PERFORMANCE

Along with the redesign, the other major change to the Intuos 4 is in the pen itself. First off, it's a better, more comfortable pen with a smooth, rubberized grip that feels nice and balanced in your hand.

Accessing the two customizable switches on the side of the pen is fairly intuitive but because I have big hands I wish they were further down the shaft. (Wacom is offering a thicker, wide-body replacement grip as an optional accessory but I'm not sure if it changes the position of the switches.)

The replacement nibs for the pen—ten in all including five custom nibs—are housed in the weighted pen holder which is a great solution for runaway nibs. The pen also comes with color rings if you want to customize it. This is more than just for style though. It helps differentiate pens if you have several people using Wacom tablets in your studio.

But beyond the design and look of the pen, Wacom has doubled its sensitivity to 2048 levels of pressure compared to 1024 on the Intuos3. The pen now starts with just one gram of pressure—compared to 10 grams from before—giving it a much more natural feel.

For photographers who work primarily in Photoshop, this might not seem as dramatic a change as for those who work in Illustrator, Corel Painter X, and more design-based programs that involve simulated "drawing."

Even in Photoshop though, I immediately noticed the effects of the more sensitive pen, particularly in delicate retouching work I was performing on a series of portraits, including removing stray hairs, correcting blemishes, and healing artifacts.

To get even better accuracy, a Precision mode in the software helps you reduce the shake in the pen and improves accuracy during quick movements.

Though a lot of the editing work I do is automated via plug-ins and Photoshop actions, for any close-up corrections particularly in Photoshop CS4 where you can easily zoom in to fix pixel-sized details, Intuos4 is a lifesaver.


THE BOTTOM LINE

If you're the type of photographer who feels more comfortable with a pencil in your hand than a mouse, the new Intuos4 tablet is a vastly improved digital palette from Wacom that will get you making Photoshop edits like a true artist. But if pen tablets were never really your thing to begin with, you might find you still don't have room in your life for this well designed though somewhat intrusive editing peripheral.

Wacom Intuos4

www.wacom.com Pros: Improved ergonomic design that suits both lefties and righties; helpful OLED reminder screens for ExpressKeys; doubled pressure sensitivity gives pen a more natural feel. Cons: If you're the type of person who just doesn't like pen tablets, this product upgrade still might not be enough to change your mind; increases desktop clutter. Pricing: $369 (medium size tablet)