• Wacom's Classic Pen, in addition to the Intuos3 Grip Pen, for those seeking a different look and feel.
• A Professional Accessory Kit that includes five standard nibs, five felt nibs, five stroke nibs, five flex nibs, an alternate pen grip without side switch holes, one nib removal tool and one replacement side switch.
• Transparent Overlay to substitute with the traditional Gray Overlay should the need arise.

The Intuos3 Special Edition pen tablets can be found discounted at Amazon.com. The Intuos 3 Special Edition 6x8 is $369.99. The Intuos 3 Special Edition 6x11 is $409.99, and the Intuos 3 Special Edition 9x12 is $489.99.

See the full the line of Wacom tablets at Amazon.com (offered at the best price). Also see Wacom tablet pens, tablet accessories, and the most popular tablets.

The Intuos3 Special Edition pen tablet line comes with an innovative feature set that turns on the full power of Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter and over 100 other leading software applications. Four programmable ExpressKeys and a finger-sensitive Touch Strip, located on each side of the tablet surface, are within easy reach for modifier keys, keyboard shortcuts, toggling between displays, scrolling, zooming, controlling brush size and more.

The comfortable cordless, battery-free Grip Pen offers 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity for superior creative input and reduces repetitive motion when used alternately with the ergonomic five-button Special Edition mouse.

The Intuos3 Special Edition pen tablets ship with software for Windows and Mac OS. Included in the box are Adobe Photoshop Elements 5 (Elements 4 for Mac) for digital photo editing, Corel Painter Essentials 3 for creating natural media art, Nik Color Efex Pro 2 IE for selectively applying photographic enhancements and Wacom Brushes 3 for even more brush choices in recent versions of Photoshop and Photoshop Elements.

Wacom Introduces Cintiq 12WX Interactive Pen Display

Wacom announced today the Cintiq 12WX, a new addition to the Cintiq family that combines all the advantages and power of direct pen-on-screen input with a new low-profile, lightweight and flexible design.

The new Cintiq 12WX is aimed at professional creators of digital content looking to improve and streamline their workflow. Storyboarding for 2D or 3D animations, compositing for post production, designing graphics, as well as retouching photos are just a few of the many creative applications where the Cintiq excels. Read full story...

See the full the line of Wacom tablets at Amazon.com (offered at the best price). Also see Wacom tablet pens, tablet accessories, and the most popular tablets.

PhotoshopSecrets - Wacom Tablets and Photoshop CS3

Our friend Colin Smith (of PhotoshopCafe.com fame) has updated one of his very popular training DVDs — PhotoshopSecrets - Wacom Tablets and Photoshop CS3 — a video training package that teaches you everything you need to know about working with a Wacom tablet in Photoshop. This updated edition now includes lessons with material that addresses some of the new features found in Photoshop CS3.

According to Colin's site, this is "the most complete training on the Wacom Tablet and Adobe Photoshop ever. This fully updated video will show you how to unleash the power and creativity that only comes from a pressure-sensitive tablet. Set up your tablet correctly and stop working like a mouse user in Photoshop. Two of the Top instructors in the industry combine their talents to bring you a video that will totally change the way you approach graphics on your computer. This fast loading CD ROM contains over 2 hours of sharp video with crisp digital sound."

Colin says, "Wes Maggio and myself went back to the studio and completely re-recorded all the lessons for this new version. The content is better, Wes included techniques for all the latest tablets and Cintiq. All the Photoshop techniques are brand new to this edition of the disk. Many of the new CS3 features are explained and covered, including Quick select, Smart Filters, Clone Source, new Curves, Black and White adjustment and more."

The simple-to-use interface frees you up, and you can instantly jump to any lesson with complete control over the playback. All the lesson files are included, so you can follow along at your own pace. If you currently own, or are considering a Wacom pen tablet or Cintiq, this video is one of the best investments you can make. For more on these tablets, see our Wacom Pen Tablets Resource Center. Lessons include:

• Tablet overview
• The Brushes palette in Photoshop
• Maximizing pressure sensitivity
• Customizing the pen
• Setting up the ExpressKeys
• Programming Touch Strips
• Grayscale and color in same image
• Collaging Techniques
• Adding 3D shadows and highlights
• Customizing the depth of field
• Dodging and Burning (the new way)
• Making custom grunge brushes

About Colin Smith
An award winning designer, best-selling author and trainer, Colin is founder of one of the world's most popular Photoshop resource sites, PhotoshopCAFE.com. Colin is also a regular columnist for Advanced Photoshop, Computer Arts, and Photoshop User Magazine.

About Weston Maggio
As an Adobe certified Expert in Photoshop and Wacom sales manager, Wes is an authority on Photoshop instruction, and has taught and held workshops at PhotoshopWorld, Seybold, Macworld, and PMA.

Wacom Tablets and Photoshop CS3 - Special Discount Price
PhotoshopSecrets - Wacom Tablets and Photoshop CS3 - $39.99 - (DVD version)
PhotoshopSecrets - Wacom Tablets and Photoshop CS3 - $39.99 - (instant download)

Don't have Photoshop CS3 yet? Get Photoshop CS3 now at the Adobe Store. This DVD training is also available for earlier versions. Here are the links:
PhotoshopSecrets Wacom Tablets and Photoshop - $39.99 - (DVD version)
PhotoshopSecrets Wacom Tablets and Photoshop - $39.99 - (instant download)

Photoshop CS3 Upgrade Options And Bundles From The Adobe Store

Photoshop CS3 Extended is ideal for film, video, and multimedia pros and for graphic and web designers using 3D and motion. Get the full version for US $999, or upgrade for US $349. The standard version of Photoshop CS3 is available for US $649, or as an upgrade for US $199.

Photoshop Extended is also available as part of Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Premium ($1,799/$440), which combines all-new CS3 versions of Photoshop, Flash Pro, Dreamweaver, Illustrator, InDesign and Acrobat 8 Pro. International options are available at Adobe's UK Store, Europe Store, and Australia Store.

Wacom Intuos3 4x6 For Widescreen Users
Wacom’s patented new Wacom Intuos3 4x6 pen tablet is designed for serious photographers, designers and artists seeking optimal pen control and comfort when working with a widescreen display.

The Intuos3 4x6 joins Wacom’s Intuos3 6x11 and 12x19 models to form a complete range of professional pen tablets that feature active areas matched to the screen aspect ratio of widescreens and dual monitors.

This latest Intuos tablet provides 20% more active area than the model it replaces (Wacom Intuos3 4x5).

The Intuos3 4x6 comes with all the features that have made the Intuos3 line of pen tablets the de facto standard among serious photographers, designers and artists. Intuos3 turns on the full power of Photoshop, Corel Painter and over 100 other leading software applications with its intuitive controls.
Read the full press release.

See the full the line of Wacom tablets at Amazon.com (offered at the best price). Also see Wacom tablet pens, tablet accessories, and the most popular tablets.

Wacom Widescreen Pen Tablet Review
Cian Walsh has written a review of the Intuos3 widescreen. From the intro: "Having recently upgraded (or sidegraded maybe) from a laptop to a desktop based system, I was looking for something other than a mouse/trackpad for ergonomic reasons.

"My Powerbook had been a trusty companion on the road for 18 months clocking up 63,000km of use in hostels, river valleys and airport terminals. One thing that you do arguably sacrifice with a laptop is good posture. Laptops are balanced on knees, bent over in connecting lounges and typed on at awkward angles.

"A mouse was only occasionally used in these scenarios as large flat surfaces were in short supply. However after a period of use, necks will start to ache and prolonged trackpad usage will be detrimental to your wrist. So to avoid this discomfort with a desktop, I decided to start using a tablet, more specifically the Wacom Intuos A5 Widescreen Tablet. How does it stack up against a trackpad or mouse?"
Read the rest of the Wacom Widescreen Pen Tablet Review.

New Wacom Intuos3 12x19 Pen Tablets Announced
Wacom Technology Corporation's new Intuos3 12x19 pen tablet is specifically designed for photographers, designers, artists and engineers who are using multiple large monitors or a large widescreen display such as the 30" Apple Cinema HD display.

Like the recently introduced Intuos3 6x11, the Intuos3 12x19 features an active area with an aspect ratio (height-to-width) that is a great match to the screen aspect ratio of either a widescreen display or standard displays used together. This provides optimal pen control and efficient use of the entire tablet. Additionally, Intuos3 12x19 users reap the benefit of a unique feature for extra-fast navigation.

Looks like another great product release from Wacom. For more info, read the full press release.

Wacom Presents World's First Wide-Format Pen Tablet - The Intuos3 6x11 Is Designed for Use With Widescreen Displays and Dual Monitors

Wacom's new Intuos 3 6x11 pen tablet is specifically designed for photographers, designers and artists who are using multiple monitors or a widescreen display like the 23" Apple Cinema HD display. The Intuos3 6x11 features an active area with an aspect ratio (height-to-width) that is a great match to the screen aspect ratio of either a widescreen display or two standard displays used together. This provides optimal pen control and efficient use of the entire tablet.

"With as much as 50% of the creative community soon using either widescreens or dual monitors, we're confident that the Intuos3 6x11 is going to be very popular," said Michael Marcum, Wacom's Director of Product Management. "The Intuos3 6x11 is really a demonstration of the importance we place on identifying emerging customer needs and providing products in a timely way to meet those needs."
Read the full "Wacom Intuos3 6x11 Wide-Format Pen Tablet" Press Release

New Wacom Graphire4 Pen Tablet Is Released
Read the full Wacom Graphire4 Pen Tablet Press Release (and see a much larger photo). Buy the Wacom Graphire4 at amazon.com. See our Tips page for the new Graphire4.

The Wacom Graphire Or Intuos 3 Pen Tablet?
On the fence about which Wacom pen tablet to buy? Read Jennifer Borton's "How I Learned To Love The Tablet." This extensive review by a professional illustrator details how she transitioned to working with a pen tablet.
Read Jennifer Borton's "How I Learned To Love The Tablet."

Wacom Graphire Bluetooth Pen Tablet - Review
It's a real gem and a whole lot of fun to work with. Read our review.


Advantages Of A Pen Tablet
If you spend any time at all creating and working with images on a computer, a pen tablet will allow you to be much more productive. The pen's absolute positioning is also faster than a mouse, allowing you to access all areas of your screen quickly.

Natural Control
Wacom's tablets are all pressure sensitive, which means they feel the full range of pressure from the pen on the tablet. With a pressure-sensitive tool like Photoshop's Rubber Stamp or History brush you get full control. Press hard and for a more opaque clone, a fatter paintbrush, and a darker stroke. Press lighter for a transparent clone, a thin brush, and a gentle stroke of color. And an Intuos tablet can also sense the tilt of your pen.

3 Wacom Tablet Choices
Wacom makes three tablets. The most high-end is the Cintiq 21UX, which is an interactive pen display where you work directly on the screen, but it costs almost $3,000. The Graphire4 (also available as a wireless device) is an entry-level tablet. From just $99, Graphire4 is available in a choice of two sizes (4x5 and 6x8). The Intuos3 is our personal recommendation for a pen tablet. You can read a full outline of its features and benefits below.



The 3 Wacom Pen Tablets
For the budget-conscious, the Graphire3 is the best tablet to buy. It is economical and yet still a professional tool, although it will not have the higher end features of the Intuos3.

If you plan on creating print quality designs on a tablet, then you should purchase the Intuos3 as it is a more precise tool that features 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity. The Graphire3 only supports 512 levels of pressure sensitivity.

The Intuos3 also features ExpressKeys, a Touch Strip, and Tilt, which gives the tablet the unique ability to sense the angle at which you are holding the pen. Both the amount and direction of tilt are measured and communicated to Photoshop to allow your tools to behave in a natural way.

Pricing
Expect to pay between $99 - $199 for the Graphire3. See amazon.com for special prices on Graphire3 Wacom tablets. And expect to pay between $219 - $449 for the Intuos3. See amazon.com for special prices on Intuos3 Wacom tablets.

See the full the line of Wacom tablets at Amazon.com (offered at the best price). Also see Wacom tablet pens, tablet accessories, and the most popular tablets.



The Intuos3 has a cool new industrial design that includes an elegant transparent surface with a matte-finish active area. New features such as the built-in palm rest and tapered sides make it comfortable and easy to use. Plus, Wacom have doubled the coordinate resolution to 200 lpmm (5080 lpi) vs. 100 lpmm (2540 lpi) with the Intuos2.

New programmable buttons called ExpressKeys and an integrated touch-sensitive strip are controlled by the non-dominant hand. Each tablet features ExpressKeys that provide quick access to shortcuts or modifier keys.

The new Touch Strip provides scrolling, zooming, and quick tool adjustments with the touch of a finger. Users can edit their photos with the pen in one hand and adjust brush size, opacity, etc. with the other hand using the Touch Strip – all from the tablet.

The Intuos3 Grip Pen is longer and has a larger grip area for enhanced comfort. The Intuos3 comes with a choice of interchangeable tips that provide different "feels" – a standard white nib, a gray spring-loaded nib, and a new black felt material that feels like a felt-tip marker. Intuos3’s all-new 5-button ergonomic mouse provides up to 4 times the resolution of an optical mouse.

Photoshop Benefits
Adobe Photoshop is specifically designed to be used with a Wacom pen tablet. Pen pressure, pen tilt, and even the Airbrush's finger-wheel can control attributes like opacity, size, color, and exposure. With 1,024 levels of pressure-sensitivity the Intuos3 gives you complete control. Photoshop has more than 20 customizable tools that perform at their best with a Wacom pen. Simply press a little harder or softer with your pen for more or less effect. Photoshop feels every slight adjustment that you make with your Wacom pen.

Photoshop Quick Masks and Layer Masks are designed to be used with a Wacom pressure-sensitive pen. Color temperature, exposure, blur, and any other Photoshop effect can be applied with pressure-sensitive pen control. To selectively undo the effect, simply turn your pen over and use the pressure-sensitive eraser.

Intuos3 6x8 at amazon.com - best price available.
Intuos3 9x12 at amazon.com - best price available.

See the full the line of Wacom tablets at Amazon.com (offered at the best price). Also see Wacom tablet pens, tablet accessories, and the most popular tablets.



On the Wacom site there are over 40 Photoshop tips in 3 categories.

Beginner Photoshop Tips

• Healing dust and scratches • Quick and easy exposure correction • Turn beer into broccoli • Big Fish Magic • Create cool edges. • Clean up an image

• Improve old photos. • Remove red eye from a photo. • Layer mask and Rubber Stamp tool • The Gaussian blur and the history brush • Layer mask and Pressure sensitivity • Erase to saved

Intermediate Photoshop Tips

• Blending images and textures • Creatively combining images • Water Motion • Halloween Magic • Improve your digital photos. • Liquify with Photoshop 6 • Paint realistic snow.

• Painterly effects with the Art History brush • Turn a photo into a painting. • Colorize black and white photos. • Create the look of painting with light. • Pressure-sensitive smudge tool. • Turn a photo into coloring book art • Create a new brush and use it

Advanced Photoshop Tips

• Jellybean Retouch • Creative Dodge & Burn • Car into night • Put a logo on a shirt • Photoshop Santa • Layer mask magic

• Hand-coloring photographs • Painting with the History brush • Paint with the Art History brush • Make a chalk drawing come to life • Zig-zag filter and smudge • Photoshop's adjustment layers

The Photoshop and Painter Artist Tablet Book: Creative Techniques in Digital Painting — by Cher Threinen-Pendarvis
As much art book as guide, this book uses traditional drawing and painting theory exercises, coupled with real-life projects, to show readers how they can use Photoshop with pressure-sensitive tablets to draw and paint with a computer. Award-winning artist and author Cher Threinen-Pendarvis shares her own drawings and paintings with the readers, sharing her creative thought processes and composition design secrets that she uses in her own work.

In this gorgeous, large format, full-color book, Cher takes readers step-by-step through a variety of projects designed to improve their drawing, composition, and conceptual thought processes while exploring different uses of the many brushes available in Photoshop. Along the way, Cher shows readers how to set up a pressure-sensitive tablet and stylus; create tonal, gestural, and contour drawings with a pressure-sensitive tablet and stylus; incorporate scanned artwork into digital paintings; use photos as a reference for the illustrations; simulate canvas and paper; create mixed media; and more.
available at amazon.com




PHOTO CREDIT: Company logo (© Wacom) plus blur on color pools.
© 2005 Eric Martin of Futura Studios