Wacom Cintiq 12WX Review (Video)

Picture this, you’re working on an image in Photoshop, and you need to do a little precise brush work to clean things up. So you pick up your display, sketchbook style, grab a pen and go to work just like you would with pencils or pastels – “drawing” directly on the displayed image with your pen to lay down the edits. If this is what you are looking for, you may want to check out the Wacom Cintiq 12WX.

Wacom Cintiq 12WX Specifications:

* Dimensions: 16” x 10.5” x .67” (WxHxD)
* Weight: 3.6 pounds display only, 4.4 pounds with video controller
* Screen: 12.1” WXGA (1280x800)
* Display/Tablet Area: 10.3” x 6.4” (WxH)
* Display Input: VGA, DVI-D
* Number of Colors: 16.7 million
* Color Management: ICC profile, 6500K white point
* Tablet Pressure Sensitivity:1024 levels
* Data Rate: 200 pps
* Resolution: 5080 lpi
* Function Keys: 10, user assignable
* Touch Pads: 2, user assignable

For photographers and graphic artists, this scenario captures the allure of the Wacom Cintiq 12WX, a combined tablet interface and LCD from the company that’s name has become synonymous with “graphics tablet.” Sure, Tablet PCs can offer a lot of the 12WX’s flexibility; hence their popularity with artists and other creatives. But for hard-core graphics work, portable machines rarely match the processing power (or obviously, the file storage capabilities) of a well-speced desktop. To this end, as a tablet that offers the same functionality afforded by the Wacom’s professional-grade Intuos models merged with a thin and light 1280x800 LCD display, the Cintiq brings the feel of direct-on-the-image editing to any computer with a VGA output.

Design and Build

The Wacom Cintiq 12WX is the smallest of the company’s three Cintiq pen displays. At 3.6 pounds and significantly less than an inch thick, the 12.1 inch display and integrated pen tablet is also the only one of the three that’s small and light enough to pick up off the desk and work with right on your lap. With a thickness of just .67 inches thick, it’s thinner than all but the most svelte notebook computers. Unlike the larger 20 and 21 inch versions, which come by default with conventional LCD monitor stands, the 12WX uses an integrated swing-out stand to support the display at any angle from 25 to 60 degrees, For those looking to more permanently affix the 12WX, a standard-sized VESA four-bolt mount is also standard fare, Connections are made via the Cintiq’s external video control unit.

The display side of things is driven via either VGA or DVI output, with a single USB connection controlling the input side. Power is routed through the 12WX’s video controller as well. The 6.5 foot cord tethering the display panel to the video controller gives you the ability to work with the Cintiq at a pretty decent distance from your desk – great for sketching with the display on your lap.