Which Wacom Tablet is the Best for Photoshop? – 3 Options by Budget
Photo editing in Photoshop requires precision, control, and the right tools. Among the many devices available, Wacom tablets stand out as the go-to choice for professionals and enthusiasts alike. In this article, we’ll explore three exceptional Wacom tablets tailored to different budget ranges: Wacom One, Wacom Intuos, and Wacom Intuos Pro. We’ll also delve into the differences between Wacom Intuos and Wacom Intuos Pro to help you make an informed decision.
1. Wacom One: The Budget-Friendly Option
For those entering the world of Photoshop or those on a tight budget, the Wacom One is a stellar choice. This tablet offers a seamless blend of affordability and functionality, making it an excellent starting point for beginners.
Key Features:
- Screen Display: Unlike many budget tablets, the Wacom One features a 13.3-inch display, allowing you to edit photos directly on the screen for a more intuitive workflow.
- Pen Performance: The Wacom One pen offers 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, ensuring accurate and natural brush strokes in Photoshop.
- Compatibility: This tablet is compatible with various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and certain Android devices.
- Ergonomic Design: Its lightweight and compact design make it easy to transport, perfect for editors who work on the go.
The Wacom One’s built-in display enhances the Photoshop experience by providing direct interaction with your work, bridging the gap between traditional and digital artistry.
2. Wacom Intuos: The Mid-Range Marvel
Stepping up from the Wacom One, the Wacom Intuos caters to those seeking more advanced features without venturing into high-end territory. This tablet strikes a perfect balance between performance and affordability.
Key Features:
- Pen Pressure Sensitivity: With 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, the Intuos pen allows for precise control over brush strokes and editing tasks in Photoshop.
- Active Area: The tablet provides a generous active area, ensuring ample space to work on intricate photo edits.
- Connectivity: It supports both USB and Bluetooth connections, adding flexibility to your workspace setup.
- Software Bundle: The Intuos comes with a selection of creative software, including Corel Painter Essentials and Corel AfterShot, to kickstart your editing journey.
The Wacom Intuos proves that you can access a high-quality Photoshop experience without breaking the bank. Its user-friendly design and responsive pen make it an excellent choice for hobbyists and more advanced users alike.
3. Wacom Intuos Pro: The Professional’s Choice
For those who demand the highest level of precision and control, the Wacom Intuos Pro is the ultimate tool. This tablet is tailored for professional photo editors who require advanced features and superior performance.
Key Features:
- Pen Technology: The Pro Pen 2 offers an astounding 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt response, ensuring unparalleled accuracy and detail in Photoshop.
- Customizable ExpressKeys: The Intuos Pro features customizable ExpressKeys and Touch Rings, allowing you to streamline your workflow and access essential functions with ease.
- Multi-Touch Surface: The multi-touch functionality supports intuitive gestures for zooming, rotating, and navigating your edits effortlessly.
- Build Quality: Constructed from premium materials, the Intuos Pro is designed for durability and long-lasting performance.
The Wacom Intuos Pro is the go-to tablet for professionals who need the highest level of performance and customization. Its advanced features cater to the demands of intricate photo editing tasks in Photoshop, making it an indispensable tool in any professional’s arsenal.
Wacom Intuos vs. Wacom Intuos Pro: Key Differences
While both the Wacom Intuos and Intuos Pro are excellent tablets, they cater to different levels of expertise and requirements. The primary difference lies in their pressure sensitivity: the Intuos offers 4,096 levels, whereas the Intuos Pro boasts 8,192 levels. This difference translates to greater precision and control in the Intuos Pro, making it better suited for detailed editing tasks.
Additionally, the Intuos Pro includes customizable ExpressKeys and a multi-touch surface, features absent in the Intuos. These additions enhance productivity and streamline workflows, especially for professional users. The build quality and materials used in the Intuos Pro are also more premium, ensuring durability for long-term use.
One Important Point – The Size of the Tablet is Not That Important
A lot of beginners tend to think that a bigger sized tablet is better but that’s not always true.
And it certainly isn’t true if your main purpose is to use it for Photoshop.
But why?
Because you don’t use the whole area of the tab anyway. The image below will make it clear:
You can see here that we can assign a small part of the area of our tab, which will map the entire screen of the computer. This is called as Mapping.
This is done to make our movement more efficient because we don’t want to be moving from corner to corner on the tab to make a corresponding movement of the cursor on the screen because it takes too much time and effort.
Instead we assign a small portion of the tab to do this. Almost everyone who uses Photoshop uses this feature.
So that means you don’t need a big-sized tablet anyway for Photoshop because you will only be using a small portion of it. Even on a small sized tab like One by Wacom, you will still not be using the whole area.
Conclusion – Final Recommendation
Our final recommendation, considering the point above about mapping, is that if you are a beginner, we would recommend that you go in for One by Wacom:
Why?
- It’s cheap
- Now you know it being of a small size doesn’t really matter
- It lets you experience the feeling of using a tab. If you feel it’s for you, you can make the jump to a more professional tablet like the Intuos Pro.
P.S – If you are someone who is interested in learning how to use Photoshop, then do check out our photo editing courses, which are available via Udemy.com.
