f'in wicked! you have to get one. the only way it could get better is if I got the video screen one, but even then I don't think I'd like it as much because I am running 3 monitors. this thing is soooo sensitive that the small fan I have in the corner of my office blows on the mouse and the cursor registers movement WTF! that's sensitive.

What an outstanding product. I have had it for about a month now and am very impressed in how it has enhanced my abilities to use Photoshop.

First off, I got the 9x12 thinking that bigger is better. That is not necessarily the case here. The larger the drawing surface, the longer your stroke must be in order to draw from one side of the screen to the other. In my case I have to move my arm an entire foot to draw across my screen. If I had bought a smaller one, then my drawing distance would be shorter and much easier. However, Wacom software allows you to minimize your drawing area so that only a portion of your drawing surface represents your entire screen. This is a real help and compensates for my overly large tablet.

Secondly, the drivers Wacom made uses VERY LITTLE system memory(about 18 megs)and overhead to operate----as a gamer this is important to me.

I don't use the buttons on the tablet as I am so use to the keyboard shortcuts with Photoshop. But what is cool is it allows you to program the tablet keys to practally anything you want in Photoshop.

So far I have used my tablet in Corel Draw, BodyPaint 3d, Cinema 4d and Photoshop CS3 and am thrilled with it.

I definately recommend it to anyone who wants to get one.

*************Important Note Here*************** Photoshop CS3 costs 650.00 and my tablet cost 420.00 If you to buy the tablet, then Wacom sends you Photoshop Essentials free. On the Wacom site, if you buy their tablet then you can take advantage of Adobe's upgrade offer of buying PS CS3 at only 299.00 So, for the price of PS CS3 and a little more, I got the Wacom Tablet and PS CS3. This is an incredible offer you won't want to miss out on.

Buy it is all I can say, I've painted for years with a mouse! I've fought some wrist pain and crap like that and I just bought this and it's WONDERFUL!

If you want to see my gallery to know I"m really telling the truth go here...

http://phoenixdreamangel.deviantart.com/art/Together-Fun-Times-Ahead-90196262

This is the pic I did with the tablet. I drew it my normal way then colored it with the tablet!

This tablet is what you NEED if you are looking for a career in digital art and or design, period. Look no further

I am a digital artist specializing in sketchwork and comics. This piece of equipment is an amazing buy, and if you have a big enough desk for it, I suggest going with the 9x12 intuos3.
Because the Wacom Intuos3 is compatible with CS3 and Corel, it was my tablet of choice. I got it last year and haven't looked back. It's got an extremely large drawing area to work with which makes it easier to create bigger pictures on screen. It also works with Open Canvas 4, a japanese art program that specializes in sketch work.
The pressure sensitivity levels are amazing. It allows art programs to change the brush sensitivity, better simulating real media and making it easier to get varied lines. Amazing!
The side buttons are all programmable and customizable. This is extremely helpful and basically eliminated the use of the keyboard for me while working. It has sped up coloring and layout times, and it just all around an amazing and fun tool to have.
This isn't for the beginner artist but I do suggest it for those seriously considering going somewhere with their art or photography. I love this product.

I'm not an artist by trade (I'm a jack of all trades) but I've wanted a Wacom tablet for the better part of 15 years. I recently set up a Mac workstation for film editing as well as other creatives (I've got Adobe CS3 installed there as well) and I was reminded and re-inspired to get one after watching Mike Krahulik of Penny Arcade fame (Penny Arcade Volume 5 (Penny Arcade)) drawing on UStream.TV (search for "Penny Arcade").

What can I say? It works beautifully. To me this is a pretty good size for most needs (drawing and most detail work). Including the border areas, it takes up a good deal of desk space (I've situated it between me and the keyboard--since I don't write much on the Mac--to keep things all compact). The pen feels great, like a real pen, so it feels much more natural than using the mouse when drawing, inking, etc. Erasing is so much easier with the eraser functionality (takes some getting used to since I rarely use pencils nowadays) though the two buttons on the pen often times get in the way if I'm not paying attention (switching around between eraser and tip or the mouse and the pen, for instance).

The pressure sensitivity and pointer functionality (you hold the pen an inch or two off the surface of the tablet) work nicely as well.

The only thing I'm not used to is the fact that the tablet represents a copy of the desktop/screen (as it should, no qualms about that). It's just not as intuitive as using a mouse so there's a lot to unlearn. Maybe if they finally incorporate a display into the tablet, everything will be perfect!! (C'mon Wacom...I know you can do it...)

What more can I say? It's a great product, set up was easy. It works as advertised. The mouse works well. The customization control panel gives you every option you can think of to customize each button (the tablet itself has four buttons plus a slider control on each side for a total of eight buttons and two sliders) for all functionality and for specific apps. Out of the box, PhotoShop supports the pen and pressure sensitivity which is great (no rummaging through settings to get it turned on).

If you're on a budget, you might consider a size down (6x9, I believe) to start with and then graduate to this one. I'd considered the larger 12x19 but I figured this was a better one to get since I could always upgrade to the larger one in the future if I get more serious about drawing/inking (and because I figured I wouldn't have enough desk space to fit it right now!).

Once you start using this you will never go back to a mouse. Using the pen is simply so easy, not only for drawing or editing in Photoshop but just overall.

This is a great size. I started with the smallest one, moved up to this and have been very, very happy with it. It is easier to edit photos when you have more room to work.

Very responsive, and I cannot emphasize how much easier it is to do detail work with the pen. The Intuos is a very good tablet; you will not regret buying this one and will use it for years.

I've been using Photoshop/PS CS for several years and this was the first artist tablet I have used. It's bigger than I had imagined, so you need to dedicate a lot of room for it.

It can feel extremely awkward using it initially, it feels too alien to naturally draw with; I think that's especially true for this one because of how large the tablet is.

But once you play around with the wacom tablet preferences--and you will want to keep adjusting them as you go along--you will notice a huge difference and it does feel like second nature after a while.

One of the things I first did to get used to the "feel" of it was to adjust the active screen area (so that the whole tablet is only working on one section of your screen), for some reason that helped speed along the level of comfort remote-drawing. This is also helpful for tracing or speed sketching when you dont want to worry about going off your photoshop canvas.

Another thing that is very helpful is the customizable buttons. I have the right panel left to default settings and have customized the left panel with CTRL+ALT+Z, Copy & Paste, and CTRL+T functions.

The sensitivity/pressure preferences need to be experimented with for quite a while until you can feel the difference with the slightest changes in setting combinations. But they are VERY powerful especially when you team them up with the detailed customizations you can do in photoshop's own pen pressure related brush settings.

This may be a little too intimidating for beginner artists, but if you are already comfortable with your traditional mediums, and know your way around photoshop/paint/gimp etc, then this will allow you so much more creativity. It looks as professional as it works, and the pen feels and weighs like a real one.

Firstly, you will only appreciate this tool if you draw. If you don't it may be a waste of money and you may enjoy it as much. For those who do draw, it opens up a world of potential and opportunities for you. Its versatile to say the least. Its worth every last cent, if you're a bit skeptical about putting out the cash; just be sure to take care of it and use it to its full potential. The bigger is better, even though some say start with the small because there's a learning curve. The thing is if you are a diciplined artist, this will work for you, as the bigger size gives you more room and freedom to color and draw. Its flat, lightweight and you can fit it in your lap. Its better suited toward ordinary sized monitors in contrast to widescreen monitors but you can still use it cause the tablet will adjust itself too your screen. The features also are worth note in contrast too the Graphire series, because you can do more and you have more flexibility with options and it expands your drawing/coloring experience. Also it will help a great deal if you understand the basics of Photoshop and Illustrator. There are also other great applications you can use with it like Toon Boom, Sketch Book Pro and Open Canvas.


I got my tablet yesterday and all I can say is that it was worth the money. I have no hang-ups about the money spent on it. It was a truly worthy investment and phenomenal tool. All I can say is wow, it is very impressive and there are so many things that you can do with this this. A lot of people have told me to go with the smaller one because of the learning curve and I've gotten a lot of so-so recommendations about getting one. People said I should get the Graphire, but I got a 9x12 Intuos 3 and thus far its been great! I think people who draw will appreciate this a lot more than people who don't. This opens up a whole new world to those involved in illustration. I highly recommend this to anyone serious about stepping up their game in terms of doing digital art, illustration, graphic design, comics and such the like.

What's particularly great about this product, aside from being a WACOM invention, is the size. For me, and for large-scale artists/photographers, this tablet allows me to efficiently work with larger images or multiple images faster, and with more workspace to actually work with.

For beginning users, or artists who are just starting to work with tablets, however, I would recommend buying one of the smaller tablets, like a 6x8, since it's more affordable and easier to start to get the hang of. Overall, this product has helped me out tremendously, but only because I use each of its fuctions frequently.

I'm an illustrator, and this tablet is a dream to own, as it makes my job MUCH easier. This is the perfect size for me, as an artist, to move around. A smaller one would've been too limiting. What a wonderful and helpful tool. I feel like a kid with a new toy (got it two days ago and have been drawing on it ever since).

The Wacom Tablet is one of the best products I have ever spend so much money on but it is definitely worth it. Anybody can use this product even if it's just to start off without any practice. I am not excellent drawing but im good and the tablet let's you not only get practice but the freedom of being able to use any program and erase, add colors, effects etc. Definitely a worth buying!!

I bought this for my budding artist daughter and the entire family uses it. The software is excellent. I would also recommend it for older people that find it difficult to use a mouse. The pen allows extra control over the cursor. The pen has a button that can be programmed to open a program and the tablet has eight buttons that can be programmed to do common tasks. It is designed for either left or right handed users.
The only downside is that it takes up quite a bit of space. We bought the 9x12 for the detail work, but a smaller one may have been just as good.

This 9"x12" available digital tablet is actually 13"x17" as far as desktop real estate goes. The install software was easy and it meshed well with Photoshop. I've been reinvigorated to do more art now. There is still a learning curve on how to become comfortable and versatile with the Wacom grip pen and of course digital art software but I think it's well worth it.
Tip: Use or buy a cotton glove to preserve the surface of the Wacom and also place a clear, Mylar film over the surface to preserve the surface; just a note to prevent wear and tear. I opted out of the extra Nib Package but in afterthought I think it would be a good option.

This product is amazing and has opened up my creative possibilities. I have enjoyed creating art with my tablet. A must for anyone who is serious about digital projects.

I read several reviews on Amazon regarding the Wacom tablet and I have one thing to say....they were all on point. I decided to get the 9 X 12 version because I have long fingers and need room to draw objects. I haven't gotten a chance to use it to its fullest potential, but at this time it is definitely worth the money. I would've waited till next year, since the price would most likely drop, but I needed it now.

A very necessary tool for drawing objects and using them on your computer.

I got this for a friend who is a graphic designer and a flash animator. She used to use a much smaller Wacom for her work, but it was difficult to do larger pieces. To use her words, this larger tablet is "just like drawing on a sketch pad, only easier." For the professional or serious hobbyist, this is definitely the way to go.

This product is very helpful but there should be an 8x10 size. The 6x11 is much too small but the 9x12 is too large and bulky. Please come up with an in between. It is great to work with otherwize. The drawing tool is smooth and very easy to use. Just like pen and paper. The colors are amazing.

Wacom Intuos3 SE 6x11 - Special Edition Metallic Gray]]
My Intuos3 tablet gives me almost all the hands-on feel that I need when creating artwork.
I do commercial and technical art as well as fine art paintings and photo manipulation.
Working with Corel Painter X and Adobe Photoshop, I can produce drawings, brushwork or any texture I need for the job. Any experienced artist needs this tool!

This is a product for a very knowledgable graphics user. I am new to photo shop and thought this would be a good product to use as an interphase...NO WAY!! It is way over my head and after about 4 hours of failure I packed it up and sent it back to Amazon. Thanks for the quick return.. Amazon is great about these things

This has helped me get back into drawing like I used to be. The pressure sensors are pretty great, compared to the last tablet I had used. And I LOVE the different tips that come with it, so it feels much more like using a pencil or ink.

After having not used a tablet in a little while, it did take a little getting used to, but I absolutely will not go back to a mouse for most things. I mean, how much cooler can you get than actually DRAWING your city out when you play Sim City?

The Wacom Intuos3 9x12 tablet has been an awesome experience for our artistic daughter. It has far surpassed her and our expectations. In the first day of installing it on her computer, she was producing drawings beyond anything she was currently doing with pencils or charcoal, and that is saying a lot. Going to the 9x12 size was worth it. It couldn't be any easier.

Wacom Intuos 3, what can I say,
It's just whole a lot better than Graphire and doesn't have errors that graphire software had.

As I used the graphire 3 before, I was extremely flustrated by the errors it had on photoshop 7. The pressure system didn't work and the next time it worked. Just having too much problems which I don't like.

Intuos 3, as well knowned, is the best tool for graphical designers and artistic computer tools. Compatible with photoshop, painter, or any software which supports the tablet system.

But I was regreting to buy this one because of it's huge size. I thought 9x12 will be good for me since I have a great angle of using my arm, but as I purchased it, I noticed it just makes me tired and flustrated again. Intuos 3 is great but 9x12 is not the model I would recommend for people sick of moving their arms for drawing. Intuos 3 is great, but don't buy this huge one.

What more can I say about this great product that 350 other Amazon reviewers haven't said? I've been a Wacom owner for 7 years now and can't go back to using a mouse, even for everyday point and clicking. This tool is really indispensable and once you've gotten used to it, you won't go back to clumsy mice either.

I'm a power user and use a lot of shortcuts. I can't stand seeing people right click with the mouse, scroll down to the menu choice they want and click it. It just takes up too much time-- something like 5 seconds compared to the fraction of a second it takes to just tap in the shortcut combo. I save even more time with the Wacom by how i've set mine up. What I do is rest my keyboard on top of the upper portion of the Wacom and remap the pen coordinates to the lower half of the pad. I keep the pen in my hand and just shift it back and forth between the pad and the keyboard, without wasting time moving my hand to pick up and drop the mouse. The pen is light and comfortable, so you can hold it all day without even noticing. Sometimes, I put it in my pocket and forget it's there.

I'm a graphic designer/illustrator/web developer and I've owned Intuos 1, 2, and 3's in a number of sizes, but predominantly use my smaller pads.
If $400 is too much for you, consider a Wacom Intuos3 6X8 Pen Tablet. It's about $300. I've found my 9x12's to be a bit too big for my desk. 4x6 or 6x8 is perfect for users who don't have a lot of space, or don't want/need to swing their arms around a lot when they work. The smaller sizes are also more portable, so you can take them back and forth, if you commute and your job is too cheap to pay for one (as previous employers have been reluctant to do).

For anyone that does photo editing and or restoration. This is one of the best investments you could ever make.

Most of the reviews already given to this product are very accurate and can help you decide whether or not to buy this tablet. It's really meant for professional use. So casual artists; you may want to go with a smaller size, unless you really have the dough to spare.

Let's just remember that it IS just a tool, much like Photoshop or Painter or any other artist's tool/medium. It won't magically make you an art master over-night.

I'm so happy with this tablet. It is so accurate and responsive. It makes graphics art design and photo editing so much easier. I don't know how I ever got along without it. It takes my work to the next level. I previously owned the graphire, and while it was fun, this one is fun AND a work horse. It's a must have for all serious designers!

This is a really fine piece of technology. It is accurate, easy to use, and has exceeded my expectations.

The Wacom is being used by my son, and he has taken to it immediately and very successfully. He probably isn't using it to its fullest, but is very satisfied with it.

I'm not as qualified as the other reviewers when it comes to sweeping Wacom recommendations, but I can fully support the following points:

I purchased my Intuos3 from Amazon on June 28, 2005. I've used the device thoroughly in the two years that have passed. I have no regrets regarding the purchase. Wacom is still the world leader in tablet technology; this is reflected in their unparalleled creative application integration (Adobe Photoshop CS3, Adobe Flash, Corel Painter, etc) and spectacular usability. (I'm Joe-Consumer, not Wacom-PR-Spy-Man - for me to use these words when describing any product is extremely rare.)

Even at 9x12 inches, this tablet is light enough to comfortably place on your lap.

Intuos3 is *still* the cream of the crop in tablet sensitivity.

The learning curve is 1-3 days, depending on your previous experience with digital art technology.

Once you've used this tablet, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.

My Grand-Daughter is the artist in the family. She has done some magnificent sketches and effects using this tool with Photo-Shop.

Excellent piece of equipment. I love it and makes work so much easy and fun. I encourge anyone doing graphic, web or any kind of design work to get one of these.

This is a note to amateurs; pro's already know about Wacom so no need to read. I'm an amateur photographer. I have been using Photoshop for about 7 years for photo corrections, effects, etc... I just purchased the Wacom 9x12 tablet. I now know the purpose of Photoshop brushes, pens, pencils, and similar tools. Using a mouse, you'll never discover the true power behind Photoshop. I still have volumes to learn to unleash the power behind this tablet. However, Photoshop is now making a lot more sense and is now more useful.

Notes:
1. If you never have drawn, first buy a book on drawing, some paper, pencils, etc... & enjoy getting away from the computer a few hours a week while learning a new skill. Make sure you like drawing before spending a lot of $$$. You don't have to be great, but understanding the basics is important.

2. You can download 30 day trial versions of Photoshop or Elements from the Adobe[...] site

3. You get what you pay for... Wacom & Photoshop are pricey, but they are best of the breed.

4. Although the Wacom driver software is cheesy circa 1980, it's effective. Get the latest version from Wacom[...].

5. If you are a student, buy[...] has an academic version for less than 400, free shipping, etc...

I started with a 6x8 tablet and it worked great for the 2 years that I had it. But after up-sizing my monitor to an Apple Cinema 23" HD Flat-Panel Display, I noticed a difference in precision. Upgrading to the 9x12 tablet was a smart move. Have a more 1-to-1 tablet-to-screen ratio was a smart move.

EXCELLENT! costs a little too much, well actually way too much, but it is a great product.