Wacom Cintiq 12WX Review

Draw on Your Screen with the Wacom Cintiq Pen Display

The Wacom Cintiq is basically a graphics tablet and LCD monitor rolled into one. Yes, it is a computer monitor on which you can draw! I had a chance to work with the Wacom Cintiq 12WX for several days and thought I would share my thoughts on that experience with you.

Setting up the Cintiq was straightforward. I was not previously aware of just how many cables are required. The Cintiq attaches to a converter unit (a black box about 4 by 6 by 1 inches). The converter unit sends the appropriate video signal to your computer (both VGA and DVI cables are included) and allows you to adjust your display just as you'd adjust a typical PC monitor.

From the converter unit, two cables run to your computer--one USB, and one video. A cable from the Cintiq display attaches to the converter unit, another cable runs to the power brick, and yet another cable goes from the power brick to the power outlet. This creates quite a rat's nest of cables wherever you set up the display!

Wacom currently offers Cintiq pen displays in three sizes--the small 12WX, which I used for this review, the 20WSX in wide-screen ratio, and the 21UX in standard 4:3 ratio. According to my Wacom contact, the larger Cintiq displays don't require a converter box, making for a more elegant cable solution. A converter box was used with the 12WX in order to keep it thin and light.

The smaller size of the 12WX has its pros and cons. If you think its portability will be an advantage, the cable situation should make you think twice about taking it on the road. Its small size does, however, make it easier to work with the display in your lap, and the price is half that of the 20WSX. The 1280 x 800 pixel resolution of the small model is quite confining. If I were buying a Cintiq as my primary display for daily use, I would definitely want a larger model.

When setting it up, you are instructed to first connect the display and get it configured before connecting the USB cable and installing the Wacom control panel and driver software. The display was recognized immediately as a secondary display connected to my MacBook Pro notebook, and did not require any additional configuration. To my eye, the color looked fine right out of the box, so I didn't make any adjustments there.

I had some trouble installing the Wacom control panel, but it was an operating system issue unrelated to the Wacom Cintiq. Once I resolved that, the control panel installed fine and I calibrated the pen to the display by simply following the on-screen prompts.

Working with Cintiq

Once I got Cintiq connected and configured, working with it was a dream! Response was instantaneous and it was very liberating to draw directly on the screen (even the dinky 1280 by 800 pixels screen of the 12WX). Like Wacom's professional pen tablets, the Cintiq offers 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt sensitivity of 60° in any direction.

Cintiq includes a cordless, battery-free grip pen with two side buttons. Inverting the pen switches to an eraser in most pen-aware software. Several replacement nibs are included. On each side of the display panel are five programmable buttons called ExpressKeys and a finger-sensitive touch strip. The Wacom control panel lets you assign functions for the pen buttons, ExpressKeys, touch strips, pen feel, and so on. I found myself accidentally touching the right touch strip often, so I had to disable it in the control panel.

A display toggle feature in the control panel allows you to use the pen to move the cursor on your primary display (as you would with a tablet) or confine it only to the Cintiq display. Cintiq uses the same control panel the Wacom Intuos3 does, so it may be familiar to you. In fact, all Intuos3 accessories also work with the Cintiq displays and you can use the Intuos and Cintiq concurrently.

If you have your standard monitor mapped to an Intuos tablet and a Cintiq as your second monitor, you can use the same tools between them and never have to switch to the mouse or use the display toggle. Prior to setting mine up like that, I was getting a bit annoyed with having to use display toggle or switch to the mouse to access my primary display, but once I added my Intuos3 into the mix, it truly brought the experience to another level.

The surface of the Cintiq has a matte finish and slight texture which feels very much like drawing on paper. I am not an artist, so much of my work with the Cintiq was doodling or photo touch-up, but I could definitely see how working directly on the display is an advantage, especially for people who have trouble with the hand-eye coordination required to use a standard graphics tablet.

The 12WX has a built-in stand and can be used in two different inclined positions or flat on your desk (horizontal). When used horizontally, a pivot point on the back allows you to rotate the display for the most comfortable drawing position. The stand doesn't lock in place, though, so it may move on you unless you have a light touch. (Other Cintiq models have different incline and rotation capabilities.)

Despite the matte finish, I experienced some lighting reflections in the display, so I used it primarily in an almost upright position. The display can also be attached to any VESA-compatible LCD mount. Although I only got to use the Cintiq for a couple of weeks, it feels well-constructed and durable.

Conclusion

The Cintiq pen display is compatible with Macintosh and Windows and works in any software, taking advantage of any pressure and tilt capabilities built into the software. For my review, I worked with the Cintiq in ArtRage, Painter, Painter Essentials, and Photoshop. It comes with Painter Essentials and Photoshop Elements.

The Cintiq doesn't come cheap--the small model I reviewed will set you back a grand at press time--but for anyone who does creative work every day, the comfort and convenience of working directly on the screen could be priceless. If you're a professional artist, animator, designer, or photo-retoucher, I can say with confidence that you won't regret getting the largest Cintiq you can afford. If you're more than an amateur and the 12-inch model is all you can afford, I would advise saving up for one of the larger models.

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