(Part1: First Impressions: HERE)

In Part II of our Intuos 4 Review, we will let the images speak for themselves

(Part III: Usage/Feedback HERE)

Part IV: Wireless Intuos4 NEXT

 

INTUOS4 - GENERAL FEATURES

 

Based on the images above:

• TOUCHRING-EXPRESSKEYS STRIP (Default Left side. No connectors underneath. Flushed inwards for ergonomic handling/grip of fingers)
• MICROUSB X2 and SLIDER SELECTOR (Default Right Underside. A slider allows you to open (and close the opposing end) a standard microusb slot. Ingenious functionality indeed!

 

INTUOS4: ACCESSORIES & PEN

 

 All New Pen Performance

• PRESSURE: The Intuos4 Grip Pen features Wacom’s new proprietary Tip Sensor technology, offering users near-zero (one gram) starting pressure for the most natural-feeling experience of any digital pen to date.
• 2048 levels of pressure
• Software compatability/Barrel Rotation feature: For example, the Art Pen supports the barrel rotation feature within such applications as Adobe Photoshop(R: 28.26, -1.5492, -5.2%), Illustrator(R: 28.26, -1.5492, -5.2%) and Corel(R: 28.26, -1.5492, -5.2%) Painter(R: 28.26, -1.5492, -5.2%) 11, allowing users to create natural brush effects by rotating the pen, much like a calligraphy pen.

 

 INTUOS4: DRIVER SOFTWARE

 

Inside the latest Wacom Drivers, are options to:

• Adjust Pen Modes: No changes from Intuos 3
  
• Adjust Eraser Modes: No changes from Intuos 3
• Firmness and Softness: New Tip Sensor results in fantastic tactility. Only 10g of pressure required on its default setting. Previously, I have had to apply the settings slightly softer to generate the same strokes as set on default now with its new 2048 levels of pressure

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Wacom Evangelist - Europe

Here are a comparison of various Wacom A4 tablets compared with the CINTIQ 21UX

WACOM GENERATIONS 

 

 

WACOM GENERATIONS Summary

As you can see, with each evolution of the Intuos gene line, the tablet has gone towards a:

• Standardised widescren aspect ratio
• Features more matte stealthlike composite plastics
• Retains some slight elements of the shiny Intuos 3 A4 Special Edition
• UK/Europe folks are missing the fantastic Wacom Mouse unfortunately :(
  

 

 WACOM INTUOS4 A4 vs INTUOS3 A4 SE

 WACOM INTUOS4 A4 vs INTUOS2 A4 LANDSCAPE

 

 

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Wacom Evangelist - Europe

WACOM INTUOS4 A4 PACKAGING

 

Notice the packaging and contents are a simple minimalist affair.

Included in the box are:

• Tablet
• USB cable
• Fat grip holder
• Intuos4 Pen
• 3 coloured pen ring to customise each pen
• Software/manual 
  

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Wacom Evangelist - Europe

koshime:

Here are a comparison of various Wacom A4 tablets

Brilliant. Thank you.

 

Lastly, here are the Intuos 4 Menu settings, options and radial function keys.

 The genius of this is:

• 8 ExpressKeys (default setting): 

1. Help
2. Radial Functions Menu (you can dump a whole lots of shortcuts for acess on your Mac/PC similar to menus used in 3D max/maya)
3. Precision (mode): Slows your cursor (to goooo into sloooow motion) to provide exactitude for those hard to hit/reach corners or careful lathing/selections
4. Toggle (switch between monitors)
5. Shift
6. Command
7. Option (alt)
8. Pan
   

•  TouchRing (four options):

1. Auto Scroll/Zoom
2. Scroll through layers (On mine, it is currently disabled, reset to application defined)
3. Keystroke (brush size increase/decrease)
4. Keystroke (Canvas rotate)
   

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Wacom Evangelist - Europe

RADIAL FUNCTIONS wacoms hidden ace in the hole....

Holy cows. OMG. Sweet Manna from Heaven. Wacom Intuos4 is a must have for those seeking to have the ultimate workflow experience. And here is the reason why, that even you shoudl be singing from the rooftops singing its praises.

So, whats so great about the Intuos4, besides its increased ergonomics, sexy matte finish, tactile and increased "durex-like" sensitivity. Well, as it says on the tin, Radial Functions

CLEVER CLEVER WACOM

The really reallllly clever bit is the Radial Functions setting.

Get this, the radial functions spawns a semi-opaque radial menu of 8 SLOTS.

Each slot can be adjusted into:

• Mouse Mode (eg. Right click - opens action X, Left click opens action Y, etc)
  
• Pen Mode (specific Pen related functions)
  
• Keystroke (Application shotcuts)
  
• Open/Run (Application)
  
• Media
• Web browser
• Email
• Submenu
• Disabled

Shortcut your Workflow to Increased Productivity

Whats so great you say. Well, wacom allows you to add various applications for which, each application has EIGHT slots. For each slot, you can virtually propagate another 8 submenus. With each submenu having access to 8 slots

All in all, this means.....

Each application can have up to 64  4096 shortcuts.

Sorry. 4096 shotcuts you say? Yes well, in your overall menu, you can assign:

• Tier1 - Submenu (8)
  
• Tier2 - Submenu (8)
  
• Tier3 - Submenu (8)
  
• Tier 4 - Submenu (8)
  

 

How this looks like is thus for say a submenu called MAIN:

 MAIN (remember, this counts as a submenu)

• Submenu 1
• Submenu 2
• Submenu 3 
  

 

 

HOW TO REACH N BREACH 4096 SHORTCUTS

Incidentally, we figured out how to maximize all these shortcuts via a repetetion or redundancy method of the shortcuts.

eg. Say you really really liked accessing the main tools:

Let us assign 1 submenu as Main

1. Brush
2. Eraser
3. Clone
4. Line Tool
5. Gradient Tool
6. Smudge
7. Marquee
8. Lasso
   

To keep you shortcuts clear and uncluttered, for each submenu, you could always assign the Main (submenu) always in the same location (eg. 12;Oclock) in each tiered submenu.In essence, you can repeat and rinse this for all your favourite and must have shortcuts. The drawback of having a submenu tiered into 3 other submenus, is there is no return to previous tier menu option or key shortcut that I know of, so it will mean diving through from the main menu again m'fraid.

 

IN CONCLUSION

So this means, you will never ever run out of shortcuts. The permutations are mindboggling. You could have Photoshop, Painter, Email, Media Player, Maya/3D max, Flash all with its own unique set up.....The most you'll need your keyboard is to type and twitter away....

Wacom have seriously upped the ante, and moved towards a keyboardless tablet function. Worth its weight in gold for sure!!!!

 

WACOM WISHLIST

NB: Now if we can just ask for a way to export/save these setting as unique profiles. That'll be indeed a super solid product for Wacom in the tablet industry.

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Wacom Evangelist - Europe

why? why must you torture me so T-T

 

which one are you using btw? I'm thinking of getting medium.

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Portfolio

Freiheit> Hi Melanie, it is not our intention to torture. But hopefully to be able to share/justify the new goodness that goes beyond the aesthetics, ergonomics, I believe wacom have had practically almost a total rebuild from ground up, keeping what is good, and totally ruthlessly discarding the non functional or minimally used issues from previous old wacom gene lines.

Our I4s in the studio are of the A4 (Large) variety, as that is our normal industry standard (if you notice the wacom generations images, they are all A4 variants from different generations - mising Intuos 1 A4, A5, A6, Graphire, Bamboo as its boxed up)

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Wacom Evangelist - Europe

Hi koshime

 I just want to say thank you for taking time to reveiw and post all the info on the new intuos4, far more helpful then wacoms own site i might add.

I must say I am sold and cant wait to place my order only trouble is cant decied on the size, Large or Meduim i like the idea of the large but not sure if will be to big and trouble is i dont know of any stores near me where i could try them out.

Using A6 size at moment and not really had any problems only when doing large lose sketches etc. mmmmm  dont want to buy one then think should have gone bigger or smaller. any ideas?

thx all.

Personal Recommendation for Intous4 Sizes:

Here are options If your primary usage is: :

1. Heavy work usage/Stationary (Not practical for Portable use): Large (A4 wide)
2. Entry level/Portable: Medium (A5 wide) 

Personally, for digital artist, I am personally only recommending A4 or A5 for procurement. As a general rule, in prevention of (RSI) Repetetive Strain Injury and optimal use of workflow, the bigger wacom, the better. However, the A3 may be practically too large for most folks with the A4 being ideal for a majority of digital artists (utilizes a mixture of wrist/forearm with slight shoulder movement).

Some folk, (however) never adjusted to tablets larger than A5. For these category of folk, the 12 WX or the Intuos4 is idea. However, because it is smaller ther eis increased risk of RSI due to a tendancy of artists to use their wrist primarily.

The adjustment and compensation required to mature from A5 to A4 is slight, and both are reasonably calibrated well to most wide screen/iMac monitors these days.

 

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Wacom Evangelist - Europe

How big is the difference between large and medium? I want to buy what's best long term... but there's stilll this 200$ difference between the two and my graphire is slowly dying.. the cord is damaged T^T

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Portfolio

Medium is pretty good long term and will serve you well. If you do become famously good, you can treat yourself to a A4.

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Wacom Evangelist - Europe

I like the sticker on the old I2 tablet there in the pic...

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Wizard's First Rule

if I do ever get famously good, I'm buying myself a pool full of gummybears! ^0^

 

Now to raise 393,65! ... 390,77 accually, I think I'm gonna skip my energy drink this monday. I'm thinking I could get some 20 small commissions and then file the tablet as a "spending" for 'em so I don't hafta pay taxes on it.. I wonder if I have to buy it after, during or before though...

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Portfolio

Skip the energy drinks. they dont work (but taste darn addictive somehow... in a sicky way)

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Wacom Evangelist - Europe