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Wacom Graphire 3 Studio

Iain Laskey examines a graphics tablet bundle for digital media users 

Graphics tablets used to be the domain of professional artists and had high prices to match. One company, Wacom, above all others has helped promote the graphics tablet as a tool whilst reducing the prices to more consumer friendly levels. Wacom have now produced a new range of 3 different tablets each aimed at slightly different markets. This review will centre on the Graphire 3 Studio although there are models above and below this one.

Digital Media Bundle

The Graphire 3 Studio bundle consists of the tablet itself plus a clutch of very decent software titles. The A6 sized tablet looks smart and connects via a captive 1.5 meter USB cable. It features a 2000dpi tracking resolution and has 512 levels of pressure sensitivity. When used with graphics packages, the pressure is used to control how the pen draws. For instance, if you select a paintbrush mode, the harder you press the pen, the thicker the line that is drawn. The driver also installs a control panel applet that lets you fine tune the tablet’s response as well as controlling what the different buttons do. As well as the nib and side mounted rocker switch, you can also flip the pen over and draw with it upside down which with compatible software switches it to erase mode just like a real pencil.

The software bundle includes Adobe Elements 2.0 (PC/Mac)which is a superb photo editing tool from the same stable as the industry standard PhotoShop. Elements 2.0 is easier for beginners to get to grips with whilst sacrificing very little in terms of function. Related to this is penPalette LE (PC/Mac) which adds some interesting filter options to Elements. Our test PC already had Elements installed and initially, penPallette didn’t seem to work. We uninstalled and reinstalled Elements from the copy provided and everything then worked OK. A minor irritation though.

Video fans are catered for with Pinnacle Studio 8 SE (PC Only). Studio 8 allows you to capture and edit video from a variety of sources before outputting it to a range of destinations including DVD. Whilst a good package, the benefits of a tablet when using Studio 8 are less marked than with the other software provided.

Finally, you get ACDSee 5.0 (for PC) or 1.65 (for Mac). This is another highly respected tool for cataloguing, tweaking and printing your photo collection. ACDSee supports some 50 different formats of picture and video so you can be sure it can handle whatever files you have.

In Use

It has to be said, it does take a little bit of effort to get used to the tablet way of doing things. If you’re used to a mouse then using a tablet for editing your images can be strange to begin with. You can move the pen over the tablet without making contact which is much the same as moving your mouse. Once you press on the surface though it will start drawing. As such, hitting the surface with the pen is considered to be a left mouse click. Once you have got used to it though it makes life much easier. It feels far more natural working with a pen and tasks such as dodging and burning images or removing backgrounds is much easier. The pressure sensitivity means you have fine control over the size of area you affect with each stroke of the pen. Anyone with a digital camera will find their creative juices start to flow when they see what can be achieved with the tablet and software provided.

Of course, you can also use the Graphire 3 for creating original art. It feels far more natural working this way compared to a mouse and after a short while it’s difficult imagining working any other way.

Conclusion

Wacom’s Graphire 3 Studio is a fine piece of hardware backed up by a top notch bundle of software. If you’re a first time user of a graphics tablet or looking for a cost effective upgrade from an older model, you’ll be more than pleased with the Graphire 3 Studio. If you already have the software you may want to consider the cheaper Graphire 3 Classic which includes the same tablet but without the software bundle. For those who want to take their digital photography to the next level, Wacom’s tablet could be the perfect upgrade.

Iain Laskey

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