Wacom debuts Intuos3

Technology today introduced its new Intuos3 professional pen tablets with an array of improvements for better productivity. Intuos3 tablets incorporate ExpressKeys and Touch Strips as well as an on-board set of customizable ExpressKeys default to keyboard modifiers Ctrl, Alt, Shift, and Spacebar. In addition, new finger-sensitive Touch Strips allow users to zoom or scroll with their off-hand. The new Intuos3 pen tablets also include a new design with a high-gloss transparent surface, a redesigned Grip Pen with a larger rubber barrel for enhanced comfort, an improved ergonomic, battery-free mouse with five programmable buttons and a scroll wheel, doubled resolution of 5080 lines per inch, and a new software bundle.

"Intuos3 is a major step forward in state-of-the-art computer input
systems for serious photographers and graphics professionals," said Mark
Mehall, Wacom Sr. Product Manager. "It greatly extends the functionality
of Wacom's pen tablets and introduces an exciting new look and ergonomic
design to optimize 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."



Wacom also updated the software bundle, which now includes Adobe Photoshop Elements 2, Corel Painter Essentials 2, and nik Color Efex Pro 2 IE. Adobe Photoshop Elements 2 Elements 2 comes with over 15 pressure-sensitive tools that are designed to work with the Intuos3 pen, while Corel Painter Essentials 2 is a limited edition of the industry-leading natural media drawing application Corel Painter; nik Color Efex Pro 2 IE is a Photoshop plug-in that simplifies application of filters to selected parts of an image, quickly and easily.



The new Intuos3 tablets (USB-only) will be available by the middle of
September. The Intuos3 tablets will be produced in three sizes with
active areas of 4x5 ($200), 6x8 ($330), and 9x12 ($450). The previous version, Intuos2, will be continued for customers who require serial connectivity or larger sizes (12x12 and 12x18).

by MacNN Staff