Wacom just came out with a new Bamboo stylus that seems exactly like the old one except it can expand so it is smaller than the original. Wacom boasts that it can be stored in the headphone jack of your iPad or other touch screen device, but I can’t figure out how just by looking at it.
So far, I haven’t found any videos of the Bamboo Pocket stylus in use.
What do you think?
Wacom and Smith Micro have formed a partnership. In doing so, upgrading Anime Studio 8.1 will allow artists to use finger gestures on the Wacom Bamboo multi-touch tablets. The update also contains 30 new features and performance upgrades.
Multi-touch allows animators, graphic designers and digital artists to be more efficient and save design time. You can use more than one finger at once which saves time performing ordinary commands. By making the process more user friendly, digital artists can use finger taps and gestures to design, create, adjust scenes and objects as well as zoom, drag and drop, scale and rotate designs.
Anime Studio Pro is retailing at $199.99 and Anime Studio Debut is $49.99. Currently, Debut is selling for $34.99 and Pro is priced at $139.99 on Amazon.
If you don’t own a Wacom Bamboo tablet, you can read more on my Wacom review site!
Here’s my top five Wacom tablets list. Click on the menus at the top for the full reviews!
Wacom Cintiq 24HD Multi-Touch Tablet / Display (Links to Amazon)- Best of the Wacom tablets. The Cintiq 24HD multi-touch is the largest graphics tablet display and is considered the holy grail of drawing tablets. For serious and/or professional artists, designers and animators.
Wacom Cintiq 22HD Tablet / Display (Links to Amazon)- Expect the same high quality as the Cintiq 24HD, but for about $500 less and about $1000 less than the 24HD multi-touch.
Wacom Intuos5 Pen Tablet – Excellent for a professional designer/artist. Available in different sizes and a wireless option.
Wacom Bamboo Splash Tablet – Great for an artist who has never used a tablet before and seriously wants to make the leap from standard drawing to digital.
Wacom Bamboo Create Pen and Touch Tablet – Great for someone who is interested in the same things that the Bamboo Splash offers, but wants more drawing space. Also, this Bamboo tablet is bundled with more software than the Bamboo Splash.
:: Click here to read more or buy a Wacom tablet from Amazon! ::
Buying a Wacom Tablet:
I’m a self taught graphic designer who has used several different graphics tablets throughout the years and I’m offering my personal Wacom tablet reviews here. Having been disappointed by other brands, I was happy when I found Wacom. I had some confusion researching which Wacom tablet was right for me so I thought writing this Wacom tablet site might help other people make a decision.
For me, Wacom is the frontrunner in graphic design tablets. I believe they are a great company and more importantly, they design and produce high-quality products. I’ve used the other brands in the past and have been disappointed.
How to Choose a Wacom Graphics Tablet
Graphics Tablets for Kids
Wacom Cintiq 24HD Graphics Tablet Display Review
Wacom VS a PC Tablet
Which Wacom Bamboo Tablet is Best for Image Editing?
Why Buy Wacom Intuos4?
Intuos5
Wacom launched the new Intuos5 in Europe today! It will be in the U.S. soon, but no date yet.
The most talked about feature is the multitouch gesture support and “Express View” head-up display software and soft-touch feel. You will be able to create custom gestures while the head-up display shows current tablet settings on your computer screen. The gestures are similar to an Apple iPad where you can use 3 fingers to zoom in or out, for example.
The new Intuos5 will support all standard Windows and Mac multitouch gestures. The different tablet sizes are 13×8″, 6×8″ and 4×6″.
With the new Wacom tablets avaialble, I suspect the Intuos4 tablets will go down in price. Intuos5 is currently priced at £200 to £430 in Europe. They come in three sizes, 13×8″, 6×8″ and 4×6″. The small is priced at $229.95, medium at $349.95, and the large at $469.95. A pen-only version of the small tablet will also be available, but a price has not been confirmed yet. An optional wireless accessory kit is available to convert your Intuos into a wireless tablet to make it more convenient and comfortable.
I’m not sure how much better the Intuos5 will be compared to the Intuos4 model. So far, it seems like they are trying to keep up with technology by adding standard and custom gestures. Some people may argue that this new feature is not enough to make them upgrade. I can see how designers who are new to using a Wacom tablet and are used to using gestures will enjoy this new Wacom tablet the most. I want to keep an open mind since it launched today and there aren’t enough reviews yet, but based on what I know, I do not recommend upgrading yet.
For those living in Europe, you are fortunate because Wacom is including Meet the Masters on DVD with an Intuos4 purchase (excluding the XL). This DVD provides great tutorials from internationally known designers
The DVD includes:
There is picture-in-picture video of the teachers using the Intuos4 pen tablet. There is also a mode called watch & work that displays the tutorial in a small window on screen allowing you to practice along with the video.
If you are only interested in the DVDs, they can be purchased separately or together on the Wacom estore.
I’m a bit jealous that we don’t get this same deal in the U.S. I have no idea why they don’t make it available here, but it’s a very good deal for anyone in Europe who is interested in buying an Intuos4 right now.
You can find it on this site at Wacom Cintiq 24HD review.
Your young child may love drawing now, but the idea of dropping a lot of coin on an expensive Wacom tablet that might get broken easily is not something I would want to do. I’ve put together a list of fun digital tablets that are intended to not break your pocketbook or your heart if your kid decides to use it as a hammer. Click on each link to read more about each one on Amazon!
Genius: the Kids Designer Graphic Tablet
Boogie Board Paperless LCD Writing Tablet
DigiPro Graphic Tablet with Cordless Pen
Genius G-Pen 4500 Tablet with Mouse and Pen
Wacom Bamboo Touch Tablet – This tablet is the lowest priced of the Wacom tablets, but it only uses your hands and not a pen.
Crayola ColorStudio HD iMarker Digital Stylus – Not a drawing tablet, but great if you already own an Apple iPad.
Flexible Digital Graphic Tablet by iVistaTablet – List price is a little high, but you can usually find it for $35-$40 on Amazon
Lapazz FunPad Pressure Level Graphic Tablet
Choose based on level of artist/ designer:
Beginner/ Entry level – Never used a graphics tablet. Only knows pen and paper.
Intermediate – Has digital graphics software experience and could benefit from using more than just a mouse to create.
Advanced/ Professional Designer – Works in the design field as a designer and/or animator. Already uses a tablet, but wants/needs something a step up.
Choose based on type of artist/ designer:
The Casual Artist – Likes to draw or paint in their free time, but wants more than a sketchbook.
The Casual Photographer – Wants to manipulate photos.
The Hobbyist – Enjoys arts and crafts projects. For example, scrapbook making.
The Serious Photographer – Wants to enhance, manipulate or alter photographs with precision.
The Serious Graphic Artist/ Designer – This person is an artist and might be using a beginner-type tablet. Wants to translate their classic skills into digital skills.
Choose based on budget:
Also, check out the Wacom Inkling and the Bamboo Stylus for the iPad if you are looking for something other than a graphics tablet.
What qualifies me to review graphics tablets?
I’m a freelance graphic designer and I’ve been using graphics tablets for years. I have experience using Wacom and non-Wacom tablets. Back when there were barely a handful of affordable tablets available, it was easy to decide on which one to buy. Today there are numerous graphics/ digital tablets available for novice to professionals and in different budget ranges.
Manga Studio Debut 4
Adobe Photoshop Extended CS5
Autodesk Mudbox
LightWave 3D