Creative Pen Display with Pro Pen 2
Review by Michael Corsentino
I remember when I got my first Cintiq Pen Display: It took up my entire desktop, weighed a ton, and cost thousands! There was no high-definition, retina-style screen resolution, but it still revolutionized the way I worked on images, and interfaced with my computer in general. The Cintiq series of Pen Displays are unique: They allow you to work directly on your images via a display and pressure-sensitive stylus, giving you a real-world, natural-style workflow for painting and retouching that’s hard to beat. They also have programmable buttons on the stylus and tablets, depending on the model you choose.
A lot has changed in every department since my first Cintiq. Trickle-down technology has lowered costs and boosted features significantly. Now you can own a Wacom Cintiq 16 Creative Pen Display (15.6″) for only $649.95; pretty amazing, given what they’re capable of, and what they used to cost. The smaller format of the Cintiq 16 is also considerably more manageable for most desktops. The entire display takes up a modest 16.6×11.2×1.0″, and it weighs a little over 4 lbs. without its stand. If a monster size is more your style, then the Cintiq 22, with a 21.5″ display, is just what the doctor ordered, and it costs under $1,200. If you want a touchscreen model, that’s available too, for just under $1,500 for the Cintiq 16 size. Amazing!
Did I mention the screen? The Cintiq 16 Creative Pen Display’s 1920×1080 high-definition, glare- and scratch-resistant screen provides outstanding clarity and color. Its companion stylus, the Wacom Pro Pen 2, provides 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity, a low activation force, and tilt recognition of even the lightest pen strokes. The Pro Pen 2’s programmable stylus puts your favorite actions, menu items, tools, and more right at your fingertips with the push of a button. If you want even more programmable shortcuts, optional ExpressKey and Touch Ring remotes are available.
Like Wacom’s standard non-display Intuos, the Cintiq takes some getting used to; however, as an illustrator, photographer, or retoucher, in short order you’ll wonder how you ever got along without this incredible tool. ■
