Intuos2 Professional Graphics Tablet

For purposes of this tutorial, rotate the Wacom tablet so that the word WACOM is on the left, and the power indicator light is on the right. This will make the “top” of the tablet (as understood by the software) point in an intuitive direction (farthest from you). This will make more sense when you actually begin using the tablet.

The tablet interface is simple and very intuitive. You may “draw” on it with the Wacom pen, or move the Wacom mouse on top of the tablet. As you do so, the tablet translates the movements of the pen or the mouse into on-screen mouse movement. Pressing down on the tablet with the tip of the pen as if you were writing will translate into a left-click-and-drag using a traditional mouse.

The Pen

The pen tip and eraser tip (there may be a removable foam rubber protector on the eraser tip. If so, simply pull it off to allow access and use of the eraser button) are pressure sensitive, for applications that support that, such as Adobe Photoshop. The button on the side of the pen is actually two buttons in one. Pressing on the button end near the tip is equivalent to right clicking a traditional mouse. Pressing on the end nearer the eraser is equivalent to left clicking a traditional mouse. There’s not really much else to say about the pen, other than it is a perfect digital equivalent to a real world pen.

The Mouse

The mouse functions just like a regular mouse, except it must be positioned above the Wacom tablet in order to function. The left button performs a left click, the right button performs a right click, and the scroll wheel scrolls (or can act as mouse button 3, for applications that support it).

Adobe Photoshop

The only Photoshop setting that the Wacom tablet really changes is the options available with brushes.

• Click window/brushes to bring up several artistic changes you can make to the way the pen writes
• You can change
  • the size of the line (which you can also vary by adjusting the pressure you apply to the pen)
  • Shape Dynamics (the real magic of the pen; this is what makes the variable pressure of the tip work)
  • Scattering (to simulate ink leaving the pen in tiny-drops, instead of as a continuous line)
  • Texture (to vary the line to make it seem more realistic and less perfect)
  • Color Dynamics (changes color as you write), and Other Dynamics (to change various other attributes of the pen as you write)

For Further Information

The Wacom install includes an online manual in PDF format. It is located in the Wacom Program Folder (Program FilesWacomIntuos User's Manual.pdf)

Questions? Contact the Help Desk

Copyright©2003
last updated June 02, 2003