Wacom has introduced the Intuos3 A3 Wide and A4 Oversize pen tablets as successors to the Intuos2 A4 Oversize and Intuos2 A3. The new pen tablets were developed specifically for video editing, industrial design and CAD. They are available either in a graphics version with an Intuos3 Grip Pen or in a CAD version with an Intuos3 Lens Cursor featuring an adjustable crosshair magnifier.
As the largest pen tablet in the Intuos3 range and Wacom’s second widescreen model, the Intuos3 A3 Wide is suited to modern working environments with widescreen displays, HDTV or multiple monitors. Addressing the rapidly growing market for LCD monitors and notebooks with widescreen displays, the tablet has an active area of 12 x 19 inches (304.8 x 487.6 mm) and a 16:10 aspect ratio. This matches the dimensions of modern widescreen displays and provides more space for freehand drawing and precise work. Wacom also says the aspect ratio accurately maps the proportions of widescreen displays and multi-monitor work environments, avoiding unnecessary distortion of objects.
The Intuos3 A3 Wide has a transparent overlay for tracing original artwork. It also includes a QuickPoint Area that enables navigation across the entire screen within a small area.
The smaller Intuos3 A4 Oversize model provides an active area of 12 x 12 inches (304.8 x 304.8 mm). Wacom is targeting both CAD customers who work with specialized menu templates and graphics users who want to work horizontally or vertically in A4 format. The Intuos3 A4 Oversize also has a transparent overlay and a QuickPoint Area for rapid navigation.
Both tablets are available in two configurations. The DTP/graphics configuration is aimed specifically at graphic artists, illustrators, designers and other digital-media creators, and is therefore supplied with an ergonomically shaped Intuos3 Grip Pen. Its rubberized grip provides a secure hold and reduces strain on the arm muscles. The Grip Pen also has a two-way side switch and an eraser. Both the pen tip and the eraser at the upper end of the pen are pressure-sensitive. The interchangeable nibs come in three different versions. The pressure-responsive Stroke Pen nib can be used to draw soft shading and fine lines, while the fibre/felt-marker nib gives users a firmer drawing feel intended to resemble drawing on paper with a real felt-tip pen.
The second version is a CAD configuration. Instead of the Grip Pen, it includes the Intuos3 Lens Cursor, which has five freely programmable buttons and an adjustable crosshair magnifier that can be tilted by up to 50 degrees in either direction. This gives both right- and left-handed users an unobstructed view of CAD menu templates or originals being digitized.
The Intuos3 A4 Oversize and Intuos3 A3 Wide provide the same features as the other pen tablets in the Intuos3 range. These include eight integrated, freely programmable ExpressKeys and two Touch Strips positioned to the left and right of the active area. They can be operated conveniently with the free hand directly from the tablet. The ExpressKeys can call up keyboard shortcuts, complete key combinations or user-configurable pop-up menus to accelerate frequently repeated tasks. The Touch Strips can be operated with a finger to zoom in graphics programs, scroll through documents or access user-selected functions directly. The Intuos3 pen tablets offer a resolution of 5,080 dpi for highly precise work. The tip and eraser of the Intuos3 Grip Pen also respond to 1,024 pressure levels, an important requirement for natural handling and for producing fine colour gradations and masking effects. Each input device also has its own Tool ID, which the tablet recognizes automatically so that application-specific settings are loaded when the relevant software supports this function. All Intuos3 pens are compatible with the Cintiq 21UX Interactive Pen Display.
The tablets connect via USB and run on Windows 2000, XP and XP 64-bit, as well as Mac OS X 10.2.8 or later. The warranty period is two years. According to the manufacturer, both new tablet sizes will be available from the end of January 2006. The Intuos3 A3 Wide will cost €729.90 excluding VAT for the DTP/graphics version with the Intuos3 Grip Pen, or €679.90 for the CAD version with the Intuos3 Lens Cursor. The A4 Oversize will be offered for €529.90 in the DTP/graphics version with the Intuos3 Grip Pen, or €489.90 in the CAD version with the Intuos3 Lens Cursor.
