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Info-page on Drawing Tablets
Nifty facts, tips and information about Wacom Drawing Tablets and Touch Tablets,
and choosing the right Wacom graphic tablet for you.
Help reduce and prevent Repetitive Strain Injuries & get better performance with a Wacom tablet.
WACOM wins again and again
WACOM, the world's leading manufacturer of drawing tablets, frequently won the coveted reddot design award, the international seal of quality for outstanding design.
- 2009 for Wacom's new professional, highly sensitive, reversible Intuos4 pen tablet
- 2008 for Wacom's hybrid: the Cintiq 12WX interactive pen display
- 2008 for BambooFun graphic tablet, a second-time winner for exceptional quality design
- 2007 for Bamboo graphic tablet, ideal for daily and creative work with a computer, is the first model in the series aimed at home and office use
- 2006 for Cintiq 21UX interactive pen display, superior in design, functionality, ergonomics, quality and innovation
- 2005 for Intuos3 graphic tablet series
- 1999 for Intuos graphic input device
And ...
2008 TIPA (Technical Image Press Association) voted Cintiq 12WX (the portable and compact interactive pen display) "the best digital accessory in Europe "
2008 Macworld Awards announced the Winner of Pro Creative hardware product of the year: WACOM Cintiq 12WX.
About reddot award
The difficult, prestigious and international reddot competition is divided into three categories: communication design, concept design and product design. In 2009, the product design category alone received 3, 231 entries from 49 Nations around the world - a record number.
Being the most sought-after award on the global market, the reddot award is a mark of highest distinction for being the best of the best. Winning the reddot award is a powerful, undeniable proof of creativity and innovativeness; certainly a most recognized and respected achievement.
RSI: A new occupational hazard
Mouse syndrome, also known as Trigger Finger (where the finger becomes locked down and unable to move) or Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) or even Repetitive Motion Injury, is an increasingly common, serious and painful injury (experienced by people who spend many hours, daily, working with the computer) and can be prevented and sometimes even reversed by using a pen tablet instead of a computer mouse.
By combining the light-weight, cordless and battery-free pen with the specially designed keys on the graphic tablet, you create numerous shortcuts at the tip of your fingers. This eliminates many frequent and repetitive actions thus significantly reducing both the muscle tension and the damaging painful strain on fingers, hands, wrists and forearms...a serious and sometimes chronic condition typical of Repetitive Strain Injury or the MOUSE SYNDROME.
A recent, independent study, (performed by TU Darmstadt under Professor Dr. Hardo Sorgatz *) discovered that "the mouse created higher stress levels on the musculature than the pen tablet." *
Despite our fond familiarity with the computer mouse, " the participants of the study found the <unfamiliar> pen tablet less demanding" * than the mouse.
Sadly, spending long hours squeezing, holding, drag-dropping, clicking, scrolling (which all cause tension in the targeted and overused muscles and tendons of the mouse hand / arm) has become widely considered as an occupational hazard !
At first, the numbness and the tingling in the hand, the burning sensation in the wrist, and maybe even some pain in the elbow, forearm or shoulder are simply slight annoyances while working. However, as these symptoms persist and progress, the pain and discomfort never go away, becoming acute, even after being at rest for long periods of time.
"This can interrupt sleep and make it difficult to work effectively. When the pain becomes acute, surgery is often performed to alleviate the pain."**
To relieve the pain and the discomfort of Trigger Finger or Repetitive Strain Injury, it is suggested that computer users alternate between computer input devices such as the mouse, digitizer pen and keyboard.
Pen in Hand vs Hand on Mouse
 When using a pen, the hand remains in a neutral position, closely resembling a hand at rest. This is not only the best and most balanced position, but it is also the healthiest and most efficient way to work. The wrist stays relatively straight, with fingers and thumb slightly flexed. The fleshy and cushiony part of the palm, not the wrist, is resting on the graphic tablet or desk.
Pen in hand, more muscle groups are in use, reducing extreme wrist contortions and movement. Tension is also greatly reduced because accuracy and precision can be obtained by using the fingers in a more natural way to control the pen tip instead of using the whole hand , forearm and wrist when trying to control a mouse.
Using a mouse, on the other hand, compels the hand and wrist in a contorted and unnatural situation. The grabbing pose assumes a palm down position and forces the thumb down and to the side. With the hand in an upward state on the mouse, the wrist is then compressed down on a hard surface which decreases blood flow.
With a mouse, the wrist takes on almost all of the work with incessant repetitive motions being executed thousands of times a day (moving the mouse back and forth, usually side to side). This overuse causes inflammation to the tendons and muscles and compresses the nerves. The constant muscle contraction required to control a tool which has relative precision and poor fluidity also adds to the injuries of RSI.
Many Wacom graphic tablet users have stated that their careers have been saved or reinvigorated because of pen tablet technology. Ergonomics and alternating between multiple tools to relieve mouse-related stress is more crucial to people with extended and prolonged computer-work schedules.
Better caution at first than tears afterwards !
Drawing tablets are rapidly becoming an easier and healthier way of working at a computer station. It is "strongly recommended that due to the significant reduction in muscle tension when using a pen tablet, mouse users - with or without Trigger Finger, Repetiitve Strain Injury or typical Mouse Syndrome symptoms - should switch to using a pen tablet as often as possible." *
*Study by TU Darmstadt (Germany) : "RSI prevention by changing computer input
devices"
** Chris Sorrells, Occupational Therapist OTR, CHT, CEAS
Drawing tablets fire up the imagination as well as creativity. But, which pen tablet will best suit your needs ? Basically, one has to take all of the following factors into consideration.
- What is the graphic tablet being used for ?
If you are a beginner in computer tablets, and just want to make quick sketches, doodles, scribbles or mark up documents and sign your name to letters or e-mails, then Bamboo Pen is the easiest and simplest pen tablet to work with.
If you are a beginner in graphic or digital arts and require more pen pressure sensitivity, the 3 Bamboo Pen & Touch offer double the pressure sensitivity levels than the Bamboo Pen. But, if you require even more precision plus pen-tilt control for more detailed work, then Intuos4 pen tablets and Cintiq interactive pen displays are recommended.
However, if you just need a much better alternative than a mouse to navigate, scroll vertically or horizontally, zoom in or out, drag and flick through webpages, and are not interested in drawing or sketching, then a Bamboo Touch Tablet will outperform an ordinary computer mouse.
- How much desk space do you have ?
If in cramped quarters, Bamboo/ Bamboo Touch, Intuos4 Small pen tablets, and the Intuos4 Wireless are perfect. Intuos4 Small also features a detachable USB cable (from the pen tablet and the computer) which makes it super easy to store or transport.
- How big is your wallet ?
Size does not impede in quality performance when it comes to Wacom drawing tablets - they all offer top-quality excellence. However, if the budget is an issue, Bamboo / Bamboo Touch and Intuos4 Small drawing tablets are excellent deals.
- You are not interested in graphic arts - just better computer navigation.
Then a touch tablet is just the thing. With just a touch of a finger, you can click, drag, scroll. zoom, and even rotate images. Bamboo Touch is a multi-touch input device that goes beyond the mouse at many levels.
But if you are not interested in multi-touch technology, you can opt for pen input. Bamboo Pen also helps you navigate faster and better than a conventional mouse by using a battery-free, cordless pen. Plus you can add handwritten notes to e-mails and personalize any document with sketches and doodles.
- Do you wish to be totally unattached ?
To your rescue comes Wacom's only wireless graphic tablet: the Intuos4 Wireless. Work as far away from your computer as 33 feet ! Recharge the battery after 18 hours with a 8-foot cord and keep on working while you wait ! This is the ultimate portable pointing tool for conducting seminars, workshops and classroom environments or for mobile people.
Tip #1: The Bamboo line is considered the "entrance level" of graphic tablets. Since they have less features than the hire end of pen tablets, they are easier to master. They are perfect for beginners, students, and basic office work or photo-editing projects.
- Are you in the mood for crafts?
If you desire to spruce-up your digital photo albums or other projects, Bamboo Craft Pen & Touch drawing tablets are just the right thing. These silver pen and multi-touch input tablets come fully loaded with graphics software, tutorials and bonus scrapbooking material that will enhance any creation.
- Afraid to live without a mouse ?
Then all Intuos4 pen tablets (except for the Intuos4 Wireless) come with a cordless, battery-free, laser-free, and ball-free matching mouse for your convenience.
- Do you need an eraser at the tip of your pen ?
All Wacom Drawing Tablets and Pen Displays are partnered with a digitizer pen adorned with a pressure sensitive eraser at one end to draw expressive or organic-looking lines, and create subtle, graduated shading. (Except for Bamboo Pen models whose eraser can only be used for erasing purposes.)
- Searching for a well rounded package ?
Only the Bamboo Touch does not come with any software. All other Wacom tablets come bundled with different software packages to suit personal needs.
Ti p #2: The Intuos4 models and the Cintiq pen displays are considered the "intermediate and professional
level" of pen tablets. Their numerous features provide serious graphic artists, designers and other professions more control, more precision and pixel-perfect results.
- How do you work ? Do you use big arm movements or just a flick of the wrist ?
The bigger the arm movements, the bigger the graphic tablet should be. Try this: cut out a piece of cardboard fitting the active surface dimensions (the actual drawing area of the tablet) of the pen tablet you desire. Using a pen or pencil, try doing a few things with it - imagine drawing, writing, correcting, editing pictures... If you find that the piece of cardboard is too small to allow you to work properly or comfortably, choose a bigger graphic tablet. However, please remember that with any drawing tablet, all you have to do is point to get anywhere on the computer screen. You will no longer need to drag long distances to get anywhere on the screen.
- Would you like a textured pen-on-paper feeling ?
The Bamboo series, the Intuos4 models & the Cintiq 21UX feature a textured drawing surface area. (The Cintiq 12WX has a smooth active area).
- Do you wish to write, design or draw directly on a monitor screen ?
Both Cintiq interactive pen displays win hands down. Click here to compare the specs between the first Cintiq 12WX and the newest Cintiq 21UX.
- Are you a professional graphic designer / artist or a professional photo-retouching specialist ?
Then, the larger Intuos4 digitizer tablets allow you more active surface area to work with, while the Cintiq interactive pen displays offer unequalled, natural, pen-on-screen accuracy plus tablet adjustibility.
Still have a difficult time deciding which Wacom graphic tablet is just right for you ?
Once you have chosen your own Wacom tablet, you are well on your way
to a more enjoyable, professional, personnalized and healthier way to work with your PC or Mac.
Drawing & Touch Tablets: Better than a mouse
Improve Academic Performance
Worried about your children falling behind in school or having difficulties writing or drawing ? Using a pen tablet can help them do their homework better and faster while having fun doing it !
Ergonomically superior compared to a mouse, drawing tablets
- improve hand-eye coordination,
- help students learn new and valuable computer skills and software programs,
- assist children in discovering more creative ways to write and draw with a digital pen,
- offer a wider range of ways to embellish and improve computerized documents and artwork.
This gives them a definite competitive advantage, in this fast-paced technological world, at any grade or university level.
The numerous pressure sensitivity levels of the cordless and battery-free pens (one included with every Wacom graphic tablet) also allows you to create various brush strokes easily and quickly.
In the Kotani / Horii * analysis "the performance with the pen tablet exceeded the performance with the mouse" * right from day one, with results of the TU Darmstadt showing a "300% increase in performance after a 2-hour training session with a pen tablet." ** In addition, fewer errors and faster navigation speeds were recorded.
Increase Productivity
Time is wasted when one drags a computer mouse to draw. While it can be done, (and some artists and designers have created digital masterpieces using a common mouse), it takes a lot more effort to control an awkward, unresponsive one-pressure sensitive level mouse. With a pen however, it is more natural and comfortable, and digital creations come alive faster and easier, all while applying finer control and increased precision.
To increase productivity, pen tablets also offer a wide range of shortcuts which help you navigate, work and draw rapidly with more efficiency while producing professional quality results. By not having to constantly move the hand to the keyboard dramatically improves workflow.
Users have reported an improvement by as much as 100%. "All you need is a relatively short period of training time to obtain quality results."**
As for the prices, those of the Bamboo and the Intuos4 pen tablets are equally comparable to the prices of many new video games
and video game consoles on the market today. With a Wacom graphics tablet, homework might become just as fun to do as playing a video game ! Furthermore, if used for academic and office / work purposes, it is tax deductible !
Using Wacom drawing tablets is definitely the smart approach to an old challenge of how to interact more effectively with a computer.
* Kentaro Kotani and Ken Horii "An Analysis of Muscular Load and Performance in Using a Pen-tablet System". Journal of PHYSIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY and Applied Human Science Vol. 22; 89-95 (2003)
**Study by TU Darmstadt (Germany) under the direction of Professor Dr. Hardo Sorgatz: "RSI prevention by changing computer input devices"
Wacom Tablets: Plug & Play
Whether you lay it on your desk or on your knees, Wacom's Plug and Play technology helps you enjoy and use the pen tablet immediately upon installation. All Wacom graphic tablets are simple to use, easy to install, and come with default settings which allow you to use the tablet as soon as you plug it in. Once you get the knack of using a pen tablet, pen display or touch tablet plus all of the features each one has to offer, (which usually takes about a day or so), you can then customize the tablet and/or pen to work the way you desire.
The stylish, slimline, ergonomic design of all Wacom drawing
and touch tablets provides a comfortable supplement to any keyboard input. Small or large, Wacom tablets are all easily portable.
Absolute positioning
When using a Wacom graphic tablet, every point on the active surface of the tablet has a matching point on the monitor. The cursor precisely follows the pen movements on the digitizer tablet. That is, if you touch the middle of the active surface of the tablet with the Wacom digitizer pen, the cursor immediately moves to the middle of the monitor screen. No more searching for the cursor ! No more falling off the mouse pad to reach the far corners of your wide screen monitor !
This simple concept saves time, improves accuracy and eliminates many strenuously repetitive actions thus reducing muscle strain and discomfort in the fingers, wrists and hands.
The edge of a mouse pad will never again limit your movements.
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