Playing with colours and shades is not just an art. It is a passion that conveys feelings to a canvas. Sometimes, it is displayed in illustrations, while others make assumptions about an abstract piece. Whatever the form, the purpose is the same.
Since the oldest times, drawing and painting have been a sophisticated obsession and a peaceful escape from the horrors of the world. Even today, when the world has become a global village thanks to technology, there is no less value for drawing and paintings; just the modes are changed!
Applied Visual Arts, today, have been evolved to become technical Graphic Arts. The technology has facilitated the scope, and now, rather than having a thorough knowledge of stained papers and dripping inks, one can learn the art of drawing by simply using a digital art tool.
Are you a digital artist looking for a gadget to boost up your passion for drawing? Or are you someone who wants to pursue a career in this field? Well, in either case, the very first thing that you should have is a digital art gadget that can compete with its alternatives in this growing world.
So buckle up your seat because here you are going to learn everything about the most popular, efficient, and valued digital art tools: Wacom Intuos and Wacom Cintiq. Both out-date their counterparts with their sharp features and excellent performances.
First, we shall learn about the specifications of each, and then a comparison will help you understand them better. Let’s go!
Wacom Tablet Intuos
A gadget that never disappoints its users, Wacom Intuos is a non-screen tablet that works along with a display screen. Now, you might be wondering what that means. Simply stated, unlike modern tablets which allow you to have hands-on experience on the tablet screen itself, Intuos is more of a surface connected with a screen, such as that of your monitor.
This digital art gadget works with the stylus pen moving on the tablet screen, and the actual illustration being sketched on the monitor screen. Thus, you are drawing on the tablet surface while looking at the screen. Though it may look like an odd way of drawing to beginners, it gives a more natural outlook in practice.
Now, let’s talk about its other features, such as stylus!
Stylus
Every tablet comes with a pen stylus, but in the case of Wacom Intuos, it is outstanding! Packed with the latest technology, it has a smooth, neat body that gives fingers a natural touch. It will not slip in your hands, neither it is heavy, but maintains a balance in its magnitude, giving you a strong grip over it.
If talk about the features, the 4,096 pressure sensitivity levels are no exception. Exclusion of battery not only eliminates all the power-related issues but also provides a smooth, continuous work-flow without any interruption. The reading height is 7 mm, and digital tolerance +/- 0.25 mm: both specs make Wacom Intuos a must-have for every artist out there!
The stylus doesn’t lag either, thanks to the inclusion of various Felt and Flex nibs which are stored in the pen-interior. Not only that, but you can also customize the buttons and express keys on the stylus body as per your needs. What else is required then!
Design, Function, Appearance
As elegant as it can be, Wacom Intuos comes with a luxurious exterior that is not only super slim and lightweight but also highly portable. The black canvas surface is exceedingly interactive and gives the gadget a stylish look. Whatever the version is, there is always a built-in pen tray that keeps your stylus on the spot. Four express keys ease the working, while the inclusion of Bluetooth connectivity in some models lets you instantly connect your tablet and the screen.
Pros and Cons
When it comes to the features, one can hardly think of any other digital art tool. Other than the interactive surface and sensitive stylus, what a user gets with the latest Wacom Intuos tablet is a long list of advantages:
Highly compatible with Windows, Mac, and Android.
Can work in both right and left-hand positions.
Comes with only USB or USB/Bluetooth models
The stylus has 4,096 pressure sensitivity levels
Battery-free stylus pen with built-in pen tray
Standard, Felt, or Flex nibs to choose from
Supports multi-touch hand gestures
Highly portable and lightweight
The sleek design is available in two colours: black, Pistachio green.
However, there is no denying that being a traditional gadget, it does have some cons too:
Can be costly
As a beginner, it can take time to get used to it
Some find the pen less portable
Now let’s move to our second gadget!
Wacom Tablet Cintiq
For those who may think working on both a tablet surface and monitor screen at the same time is more of a hustle, look no other than Wacom Cintiq: A perfect tool for artists-to-be, Wacom Cintiq serves both in comfort and price. Since the Intuos range tablets were highly costly and thus inaccessible to a larger audience, Wacom released Cintiq with a lesser price tag than its counterparts.
But the lower price doesn’t make it any less valuable. Rather, it is in full accordance with the modern requirement: this digital art gadget has combined the features of both tablet surface and display screen, Meaning, now you don’t need to shift your eyes again and again between both devices. All you need to do is to draw on the tablet surface which serves as a display screen in itself!
With rich, vibrant colours, Wacom Cintiq offers a satisfying, organic experience towards drawing and painting, and fills in the passion with more enthusiasm. The usage of such a tablet feels more like working on a touch-screen phone, and thus feels more user-friendly. While there is no denying that it is most popular among hobbyists and beginners, the truth is that there is so much more to it than just a combination of traditional devices.
Let’s go find out!
Stylus
Unlike the traditional pens, the stylus of Wacom Cintiq holds the premium quality with the latest, advanced features greatly compatible with modern needs. Even the finest details can be achieved with the 8192 pressure sensitivity levels, which lets the users create drawings and paintings in as precise measurements as they want.
Before we move to the addition of different versions of the Cintiq stylus, have a look at its innovative features. The stylus doesn’t include the battery, which means no battery-related issues. But what makes it different from others is that with a 2-in-1 surface + display, you can easily carry your tablet anywhere without thinking much about the power.
The advanced technology covers natural tilt recognition which by no means is ordinary. Extra nibs can be customized with a nib removal hole to facilitate you even more. You can choose from Fine Tip to Ballpoint and even a Pro Pen 3D for complete navigational drawings. The most advanced version is Wacom Pro Pen 2 which comes with a pen case and is remarkable in its performance.
Design, Function, Appearance
The Wacom Cintiq has a sleek design and an elegant outlook. Shortcut keys which can be customized as per needs go side by side with a Touch Ring, a Home button, and a USB plus Bluetooth connectivity options. If black colour gives it a luxurious appearance, then a highly interactive, smooth display screen makes it no less alluring. The medium and large sizes of
Wacom Cintiq include Paper Edition that lets the user transform any paper image into a digital drawing to take their creativity to the next level!
Pros and Cons
The Wacom Tablet Cintiq is made to keep up with the pace of the ever-changing world, and thus it hardly lacks anywhere. The advantages one gets with this digital art tool not only refine their artwork but blends it with a little magic as well:
Includes Paper Edition to convert any paper drawing into a digital one (unavailable in small size)
Compatible with both Windows and Mac
Comes with both USB and Bluetooth connectivity options
Can work in both right and left-hand positions.
The stylus has 8192 pressure sensitivity levels
The stylus is available in a wide range of versions
Express keys, Touch ring, Home button inserted
Standard, Felt, Fine Tip, and Ballpoints nibs and refills to choose from
Comes with a desktop pen stand
If talk about the cons, they are very limited and are not demerits if you think of them in modern times:
Since the tablet itself has a touch-display screen, hand gestures are not supported
Some beginners find extra keys a lot to handle
No Paper Edition in the smaller version of Wacom Cintiq
Which One You Should Get?
Undoubtedly, both the Wacom Intuos and Wacom Cintiq are appealing and fascinating at the same time, but not to forget: not everything is for everyone. Though it may seem surprising, the former one is used by professionals more than the latter one. The reason is that it gives you a large area to cover, something that you won’t find in Cintiq Pro since the tablet itself is a display.
When it comes to the features, the Cintiq tablet is surely one step ahead of Intuos, as it is built by keeping in mind all the specs a modern tablet should have, especially the inclusion of Paper Edition. However, at the same time, one doesn’t get the advantages of using free software, which elevates the importance of the Intuos tablet.
About the additional features, such as Express keys, the Intuos tablet is more organized in its working. You get specific buttons for specific functions and this makes it less complex. But at the same time, the inclusion of additional keys is also not a problem in the Cintiq tablet if one gets habitual of their functioning.
The stylus pen of Cintiq is more advanced than the Intuos one and even comes in 3D versions. And it also comes with nibs and refills options far more than the Intuos tablet. The Cintiq is also less expensive than Intuos, but this price drop has also made some sacrifices in the digital art gadget: the removal of hand gestures causes an interruption in the workflow if you are used to finger-painting.
So, which one you should get? As you can see, though both look alike, each has something that the other lacks. Thus, the selection of any would require the sorting of your preferences, as well as comfort. Surely Intuos has a larger working area than Cintiq and seems more professional with organized keys, you should only go for it if you are already familiar with its functioning.
However, if you are not used to working on two devices – tablet surface and display screen – at the same time, the better option will be Wacom Cintiq. Not to forget the price, Wacom released the Cintiq tablet because of the inaccessibility of a large audience to Wacom Intuos due to its initial high price. Thus, think of an Intuos tablet if you have smooth eye-hand cooperation and need a large screen to work.
Contrary to this, if you can afford Cintiq, and prefer a natural and comfortable drawing experience, then the best option is the Cintiq tablet. You should also get this one if you just want a tablet for drawing and painting purposes as a hobby to adopt. Though this does not make it any less recognizable option for professionals. Don’t worry about the keys, in this modern-day world, you will easily get the hang of them.
Bottom Line
This brings us to the end, hopefully, now you have an idea of the major and minor differences between both digital art gadgets. Both contrast a lot, but each has something that the other doesn’t offer. The best piece of advice here is to think of your comfort. Familiarity with eye-hand coordination is the most important point in Intuos. While the portability is more prominent with Cintiq and it is also more advanced. Lastly, it depends on your budget too. So, be sure you are making a wise choice by keeping all the factors in mind!
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Note: Prices are accurate and items in stock as of the time of the published post.
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