Wacom announced their New Professional Graphic Tablet range with the release of the Intuos3, which is well deserving of the slogan." Seriously-Enhanced , Interactive & Creative", Wacom has entered a new age of Graphic tablet functionality with a complete revision of the ergonomics and features from previous models and with industry Firsts including built-in programmable Express Keys and Zoom/ Scroll Touch Strips!

Other Key Features Include a New Industrial Design, re-designed Grip Pen, Improved Mouse, Doubled Resolution up to 5080 Lines per Inch, and a New Software Bundle .

Sep14, 2004 - Wacom Co., Ltd. today introduced its new Intuos3 Graphic tablets, offering an array of meaningful improvements that provide higher levels of productivity for digital photographers, designers, illustrators and artists . Intuos3's revised features have been focused into 3 key areas - Productivity, Performance, and Customization.

Productivity

Intuos3 tablets now incorporate ExpressKeys and Touch Strips . An on-board set of customisable ExpressKeys default to keyboard modifiers Ctrl, Alt, Shift, and Spacebar and are completely customisable. In addition, new finger-sensitive Touch Strips allow users to zoom or scroll with one hand while working with their Wacom battery-free, pressure sensitive pen in the other.

The significance of Intuos3's new ExpressKeys and Touch Strips is that they greatly speed up workflow in graphics and other applications. The innovative ExpressKeys provide quick access to commonly used modifiers, mouse click, keystrokes, and other time-saving operations used by photo editors, graphic designers, and digital artists. Similarly, the Touch Strips bring an even higher level of functionality to the tablets. Each Touch Strip can be used to zoom, scroll, or perform a custom keystroke action such as changing brush size in Adobe ® Photoshop ® , all without having to move to the keyboard.

Productivity is further enhanced with substantial improvements in ergonomics and a completely re-designed Grip Pen with an improved contour profile on the rubber barrel for enhanced comfort and reduced grip strength. A new industrial design with a high-gloss transparent surface completes the transformation and naturally they include the Patented Wacom Pen Technology with DuoSwitch and digital Tool ID.

Performance

Horizontal and vertical Resolution doubled to 5080 lines per inch , a Report Rate of 200 pps (points per second) via a 12 Mbps USB connection, enhanced Mapping accuracy, 1024 levels of Pressure Sensitivity with refined Linear pressure response, +/- 60 degrees of Pen Tilt Sensitivity and more. There are so many high performance enhancements, that the more you explore, the more you will benefit from the experience!

Customization

Intuos3 comes with 3 different types of pen nibs allowing you to further customize your drawing experience. Included are Standard pen nibs (3 pieces), a stroke nib that incorporates a dual-spring action for extended tip travel and a more brush-like response, and a felt nib , that is formulated to increase the friction between the pen tip and the tablet surface, resulting in more of a "pencil on paper" feel.

The new Intuos3 tablet driver allows users to Customize of all the aspects of the Intuos3 pen, mouse, and tablet operation. The Intuos3 control panel has been totally redesigned and streamlined to help optimize the way Wacom customers typically work. It provides application and tool-specific settings, from the pressure sensitivity of the tip and eraser to the programming of the Touch Strip(s), ExpressKeys and DuoSwitch buttons as well as tablet proportioning and mapping.

Intuos3 Optional Accessories

Optional Intuos3 accessories include the popular Airbrush, an Ink Pen, a refined five button mouse and a new kit of accessories for customizing the Intuos3 Grip Pen.

Intuos3 is a major step forward in state-of-the-art computer input systems for serious photographers and graphics pros. It greatly extends the functionality of Wacom's pen tablets and introduces an exciting new look and ergonomic design to optimise the way users interact with computers and software. Our customers have emphasized the need for short-cut keys and zoom/scroll control along with requests for design enhancements, so we are very pleased to be able to offer these benefits with Intuos3.

User comments

"Intuos3 will improve my workflow in all my graphics applications. Being able to assign essential shortcuts to ExpressKeys will be a huge timesaver; having all this power right on the tablet will absolutely change the way I work!" ----- Noah Klabunde, Motion Graphics Artist, Vinton Studios

"I've been a Wacom user for many years, and I'm really excited to see the new ground you're breaking with Intuos3" ----- John Nack, Adobe Photoshop Product Manager

Software Bundle

Intuos3 also includes industry-leading software:
nik Color Efex Pro2 standard edition and Corel Painter Essentials 2

Configuration and Availability

The Intuos 3 series of Graphic tablet s (USB only) will be available by mid September. The Intuos3 tablets will be produced in three sizes with active areas of 4x5, 6x8 and 9x12(inch). The previous version, Intuos2, will be continued for customers who require larger sizes (12x12, 12x18). Intuos3 supports both Apple and Microsoft platforms.

About Wacom

Wacom introduced the SD series tablet with the world's first cordless, battery-free, pressure-sensitive pen in 1987. The company is the leading manufacturer of pen tablets, interactive pen displays, and pen input technology for mobile devices. More than 2,000,000 customers worldwide use Wacom tablets, pens, and mice.

All registered® names and trademarksT are the property of their respective owners

For more information about Wacom Intuos3, please visit
http://www.wacom-asia.com/products/Intuos3/Intuos3_index.html.