Product Reviews

Who needs a Graphire3? Well, unsurprisingly, Wacom's answer is 'nearly everybody'. Keen to stress the usefulness of this pen-based input system, Wacom is highlighting its relevance to users working in everything from traditional graphics applications to DVD authoring.

Those who have never used a graphics tablet might find it difficult to grasp its usefulness in anything other than Photoshop or Painter. However, there are features inherent in a pen-based input system that, after a little initial confusion, make life easier.

The benefits of using a tablet are obvious the moment you launch Photoshop, and it's here that pen-based systems get the most use. The hardware resolution of the tablet has been doubled to 2000dpi, and that, combined with the 512 levels of pressure sensitivity, means the Graphire3 range offers an unprecedented level of control for a consumer tablet.

It's impossible to quantify, but using a pen rather than a mouse or trackpad does feel more natural. It can take some time to get used to the fact that, by default, the whole area of the tablet corresponds to the screen dimensions, making it easier to select items directly by effectively pointing straight at them. It is this inherent trait that makes Wacom think it can create inroads into areas not traditionally associated with consumer-level graphics tablets.

Stronger tablets

When used in drawing or painting applications all the normal features are present; press harder for a thicker line, flip the pen round to use the eraser, and use the two-button rocker switch to give you access to additional functions programmed in the Pen Tablet preference pane. The Graphire3 range features a new surface, and it has now become a very good facsimile of paper. With earlier generations of tablets the pen was prone to sliding around on their shiny

As you would expect, the sensitivity of the pen can be adjusted along with a range of other settings in the preference pane, which has been redesigned to work more logically. Plugging in the tablet also activates Inkwell, Mac OS X 10.2's built-in handwriting recognition software, and it's worthwhile at least to make an attempt to use this software. It's remarkably intuitive, and you can issue some basic editing commands using bespoke glyphs.

More commands can be programmed using the pop-up menu, which replaces the launch buttons lined along the top of the drawing area that were present in earlier and higher-end tablets. Wacom wants to help you avoid having to glance from the screen down to the tablet, so the Pop-up menu, accessed via the rocker switch, can launch applications and run complex key commands, and with a little creativity could prove to be a huge time saver; it might even offer an alternative to QuicKeys.

The Studio XL is surprisingly light and easy to handle, and the surface can be removed to allow an image to be placed under it for tracing. A clear 'inkwell' is included, and the pen can slot into the top of the tablet when not in use.

What's in the box

The Graphire3 Studio XL comes bundled with a selection of software that is useful if a little basic. Photoshop Elements 2.0 provides a solid selection of elementary photo-editing tools, ACDSee provides a fast way to view pictures and videos, and the penPalette LE plug-in provides some handy tools for touching-up digital images. Annoyingly, the one bundled application that falls outside traditional tablet fare - the video editor, Pinnacle Studio 8 SE - only runs on a PC, but most Mac users will already have a better alternative in iMovie.

The inclusion of a two-button scrollwheel mouse is a peculiar but welcome addition. It is a matter of personal taste, but we found that mixing the two worked very well. The mouse is only included with this top-end A5 model though. The two A6 models, the Graphire Classic at £60, and the £85 Graphire Studio, only have pens, so if you think the mouse is important, go for the Studio XL.

The Studio XL is a slightly too expensive to be a must-have item, and the bundle of software may be slightly low-end for the serious amateur. But the Graphire3 Studio XL is a great choice for those looking for their first tablet.