Intuos 4 art pen

[JohnMalcolm1970]

Got a reply from Wacom's European shop stating that the Intuos4 Art Pen will be delayed. They are not expecting it to be available until mid to late August.

[BlackARK]

What I don't understand is why doesn't Wacom just combine all the different pens into one and let the user interchange grips. Paying almost an extra $100 for an additional pen is a played out marketing technique that needs to cease. It's also ridiculous. When I leave the house with my laptop, I often wonder if I might have accidentally left one of the pens on my counter. I think we can all agree, less moving parts simplifies maintenance and in most cases, maximizes efficiency. Maybe I should write a letter to the EPA, letting them know that Wacom could reduce their carbon footprint by combining the functions of the Grip pen, 6D Art pen, and Airbrush into one. That should rattle someones cage a little harder, hehe

[Arshes Nei]

The nib is different on the Art Pen as it's a chisel tip. Also I don't mind buying the extra pen, it's not really a marketing scam considering the tool ID is there (I find it handy.) It is an optional purchase that you can make the decision if it benefits you or not. It's kinda like complaining your pencil doesn't ink. While the tablet does a lot, it's up to you whether or not you need the peripheral. I can still do the same amount of painting with the default pen than with the extras, the extras just make it easier.

[BlackARK]

A pencil costs anywhere from $0.15 to $4.00. Just about any inking tool usually hits the ceiling at $7. This averages less then $10. Wacom wants an average of $100 fresh out the gate for each one of these extras. To be clear, my gripe is more about functionality than cost, professionals readily plunk down dollars for good tools that get the job done. I understand the differences between the tools as I have all of them. The tool ID is a simple hardware switch that can be set in software easily. This being said, is it not so hard to implement a finger wheel, interchangeable grips shaped like an airbrush and the oval shape of the 6D art pen, and even make the default grip pen nib a smaller chisel shape variant? No, it isn't. Now having more than one pen with a different brush assigned to it in software according to the respective tool ID is beneficial, but it seems to me that Wacom would have evolved the default pen in this manner. To me it's a bit of a "hustle" when a student pays for the software, pays for the tablet, uses both and then finds out they are "required" to buy not one, but *two* additional pens to fully utilize their investment, but wait, if they bought a medium size tablet, these pens will have collectively cost half what the tablet alone cost them in the first place. I can see buying a separate pen shaped like the Airbrush and maybe having an actual finger trigger instead of the wheel(after being an airbrush artist for 13 years and Wacom user for 8, I still wish I could cram and Iwata HP-C finger trigger in that slot where the wheel goes and make it work), but I don't see why the 6D Art Pens physical features and function can't be combined with the Default Grip pen. Now, for a person who uses the tablet daily for whatever reason, usually getting paid as a result, having the different pens is a worthy investment, initially. My point is that *everytime* they release a tablet, I am absolutely 100% positive one of their product designers pitched this same idea and they scrapped it in favor of "the hustle". Seems that a better way would be to release a pen and driver model based on this, charge a little more for the tablet initially, then when the artist sees the need to add on another physical tool, they have more of a choice as what they need and want to use with the number of pens they own and how they have them configured at any time. An artist could "rough it" with one pen for a while, maybe even become satisfied and realizing that they only need one pen, but whether they have the need for one pen or three pens, they have more of a choice in how they go about their upgrade path. Don't think it a hustle? The Airbrush tool hasn't changed since the first generation, all they do is plug a chip in it that says "only work for this generation of Intuos" and bang you in the head for another $100. LOL At least the Intuos3 Grip Pen was a sweet default upgrade and the 6D has a nice texture and oval barrel shape to it, but the Airbrush? It still comes with the first generation pen stand, they're probably holding some third world elderly man's family hostage with a watergun while they order him to spray paint all the unsold airbrushes the new Intuos color. Total scam. The worst part about it is, after all this ranting and raving, I'm still going to have to buy one, I just wanted to get it off my chest before I let them extort another $100 of me. DAM

[Arshes Nei]

Originally Posted by BlackARK

This being said, is it not so hard to implement a finger wheel, interchangeable grips shaped like an airbrush and the oval shape of the 6D art pen, and even make the default grip pen nib a smaller chisel shape variant? No, it isn't.

Ok if it's so simple, and you own them, go ahead and do it and make one. Be happy to prove me wrong.

Considering the pens, and tablet last longer than the traditional equivalents, again this isn't a big deal. The intuos1 given to me as a gift a long time ago was still working just fine and I was able to purchase a missing stylus before I upgraded my tablet and gave it back. My pencils don't cost me 15 cents, the ones I purchase cost 3 or 4 dollars because I use drafting pencils instead of regular ones. I still have to buy replacements. Not my intuos pen. Still lasts. Well taken care of. I understand the value of that intuos pen and its functions. I probably spent the the traditional equivalents of the intuos pens that can do much more 3 or 4 times over the cost of 1 intuos pen. I don't need to buy ink refills, lead refills, replace brushes, get more turp, paints, canvases, sketchbooks etc... I can do it off the pen (and depending on the software - which a lot of it is cheap these days). Doing the math, another intuos pen is a drop in the bucket. It's just balking at the cost because of the initial purchase because it's 100.


The pens are not interchangeable due to signals and different technology iirc. You don't *have* to buy the latest tablets either. It's up to you to upgrade knowing you can't use the older pens. Also, with the intuos3 and Cintiqs you could interchange the pens. It's not an entire need to upgrade the tablet up to a point - but because it's shiny... Just like you don't have to upgrade to the latest version of Photoshop, Painter and other programs.

[Jason Manley]

I don't mind shelling money out for this stuff. Wacom changed my entire world with their products. Without them digital art would not be what it is and Id still be spending three hundred bucks a month on art supplies.


Jason

[Beelow]

What it comes down is using what you buy. Simple as that.

[BlackARK]

Excellent points made, but nonetheless already obvious and to be honest, quite redundant and stale when making a foundation in interest of progressive debate. I still feel there's room for improvement to the current pen/driver model available and well overdue with all things considered, this is my point. My rant about cost is a small matter as I'm sure we can all agree that it is in fact "a drop in the bucket" when compared to the average expenditures of traditional media ( this is a fine point I realized well after my adoption of Wacom, I was more so excited about not having to carry 35-50+ pounds of supplies in my baggage when traveling, which eventually becomes a big deal when getting from the airport in Narita to inner city Tokyo as you might have to utilize trains for at least an hour whilst carrying 2-3 months worth of clothing, shoes and condoms, hehe ) It's only a matter of time before another company adopts these ideas and utilizes them. Me myself, I'm a loyalist, I see room for improvement, so I rant. I scream and holler, but in the end, I will buy the pens, use them, and in all honesty be grateful for my purchase later on (they still could stand to at least pretend to upgrade the airbrush by slightly altering the shape, the thing reminds me of a sore mistake I made 12 years ago when I slipped up and bought a plastic airbrush called an "Aztek". I don't even want to talk about it. Seriously.) All this "Ok if it's so simple, and you own them, go ahead and do it and make one. Be happy to prove me wrong" is funny to me, simply because I don't think I was trying to prove anyone wrong by making my original point. Once again, I reiterate, progress of form and function is my point, cost is only a factor thereof. Professionals who utilize a Wacom usually cover the cost of a tablet and 5-6 extra pens as a result of using the tool for a solid commission, but a conservative individual doesn't leave the light on when they walk out the room just because they can afford the electric bill. If a better pen/driver model can provide a more common sense and updated alternative, wouldn't this make the product waaaaaay more attractive in the future and definitely in the face of future competitors who might have an equally performing product, but not as much of a loyalist base and credibility? Yes, it will, but if no one says anything, then the model will be slow to update. This is business and regardless of what anyone says, when production costs are minimal and wholesale profit is marginal, there is room for improvement where "form an function" is concerned. Another good point stated was that a person doesn't have to upgrade if there's no need. Well, I really don't know of anyone who still rocks a Pentium 200mhz MMX, Painter3 and a whopping 128mb of ram to get the same amount and scope of work done in a month that even a PC or Mac made 5 years ago could get done in 2-3 days, especially if they went over to an associates house and took their shiny new rig for a spin. Even more close to home, my Intuos has been collecting dust (with the first generation airbrush) on my Hall of Fame and Honored Retirees shelf ever since I came back from Japan with my Intuos3 6x11 2 years ago. Why? Because it was an obvious improvement in "form and function", combined with upgraded hardware and software it made my digital art venture faster, more intuitive and definitely even more irresistible, thus leading up to the moment where I'm typing this post now. So, no we don't "have" to upgrade, but anyone who knows there is way to improve their workflow by doing so in an affordable fashion most certainly does. Those who do upgrade, most likely want to do so in a common sense manner. This manner of common sense leads one to question options and methods of the upgrade path, therefore I posted my opinion about possibly combining the different pens in a way that might be an improvement. Thanks for the helping me find humor in how much I used to spend in materials though, I had forgotten about that, not to mention how I rarely find myself having to take extra time cleaning paint and airbrushes anymore

[artmessiah]

Originally Posted by BlackARK

Excellent points made, but nonetheless already obvious and to be honest, quite redundant and stale when making a foundation in interest of progressive debate. I still feel there's room for improvement to the current pen/driver model available and well overdue with all things considered, this is my point. My rant about cost is a small matter as I'm sure we can all agree that it is in fact "a drop in the bucket" when compared to the average expenditures of traditional media ( this is a fine point I realized well after my adoption of Wacom, I was more so excited about not having to carry 35-50+ pounds of supplies in my baggage when traveling, which eventually becomes a big deal when getting from the airport in Narita to inner city Tokyo as you might have to utilize trains for at least an hour whilst carrying 2-3 months worth of clothing, shoes and condoms, hehe ) It's only a matter of time before another company adopts these ideas and utilizes them. Me myself, I'm a loyalist, I see room for improvement, so I rant. I scream and holler, but in the end, I will buy the pens, use them, and in all honesty be grateful for my purchase later on (they still could stand to at least pretend to upgrade the airbrush by slightly altering the shape, the thing reminds me of a sore mistake I made 12 years ago when I slipped up and bought a plastic airbrush called an "Aztek". I don't even want to talk about it. Seriously.) All this "Ok if it's so simple, and you own them, go ahead and do it and make one. Be happy to prove me wrong" is funny to me, simply because I don't think I was trying to prove anyone wrong by making my original point. Once again, I reiterate, progress of form and function is my point, cost is only a factor thereof. Professionals who utilize a Wacom usually cover the cost of a tablet and 5-6 extra pens as a result of using the tool for a solid commission, but a conservative individual doesn't leave the light on when they walk out the room just because they can afford the electric bill. If a better pen/driver model can provide a more common sense and updated alternative, wouldn't this make the product waaaaaay more attractive in the future and definitely in the face of future competitors who might have an equally performing product, but not as much of a loyalist base and credibility? Yes, it will, but if no one says anything, then the model will be slow to update. This is business and regardless of what anyone says, when production costs are minimal and wholesale profit is marginal, there is room for improvement where "form an function" is concerned. Another good point stated was that a person doesn't have to upgrade if there's no need. Well, I really don't know of anyone who still rocks a Pentium 200mhz MMX, Painter3 and a whopping 128mb of ram to get the same amount and scope of work done in a month that even a PC or Mac made 5 years ago could get done in 2-3 days, especially if they went over to an associates house and took their shiny new rig for a spin. Even more close to home, my Intuos has been collecting dust (with the first generation airbrush) on my Hall of Fame and Honored Retirees shelf ever since I came back from Japan with my Intuos3 6x11 2 years ago. Why? Because it was an obvious improvement in "form and function", combined with upgraded hardware and software it made my digital art venture faster, more intuitive and definitely even more irresistible, thus leading up to the moment where I'm typing this post now. So, no we don't "have" to upgrade, but anyone who knows there is way to improve their workflow by doing so in an affordable fashion most certainly does. Those who do upgrade, most likely want to do so in a common sense manner. This manner of common sense leads one to question options and methods of the upgrade path, therefore I posted my opinion about possibly combining the different pens in a way that might be an improvement. Thanks for the helping me find humor in how much I used to spend in materials though, I had forgotten about that, not to mention how I rarely find myself having to take extra time cleaning paint and airbrushes anymore

Good Gravy - now thatz a lengthy rebuttal BTW what part of Norfolk are you at? Off Little Creek Road, the Naval base, Ocean View? Just curious - Take Care

[MrSmith]

100 bucks is pretty steep, but i'll be buying one if they ever get around to selling them. i needz my rotation sensibility!

[test8025]

any news when this item would be available? I thought it's end of August?

[test8025]

The art pen is now available Anyone purchasing it could you give a review on the Pen itself, it seems like it's different from the old intuos 3 pen.

[Arshes Nei]

Debating on waiting when Amazon has it, or just getting the stuff off wacom's site. I like avoiding the crazy tax and shipping so I usually end up with Amazon.

[Sebastard]

i'll be curious to read the first CA.org reviews on the little toys. Not really important for me yet, but maybe once i actually accumulate some usable skill.

Also, i agree with Mr. Manley. While the production cost of the pen may be as low as 10 bucks, Wacom has with it's high-end qualitative products and patented techniques changed the whole way i view drawing & painting and were one of the major contributing factors on why i actually came back to drawing after 5 years. If i feel i need an art pen, i'll pay the price they ask for it. And BlackARK, please; make some damn paragraphs if you're going to post that much .

[Featherbeard]

Just for a little tidbit of info on the Art Pen: This isn't meant to be a cranky, complainer message, but if it sounds that way, I apologize! I would suggest if you can find the Intuos4 Art Pen for purchase from anyone besides Wacom, to get it there. Wacom has *excellent* customer service, very friendly, helpful, etc, but their standard processing time for orders, two to four *days*, is beyond silly. I ordered mine on Saturday (a weekend, I know), but after not having any sort of shipment emails whatsoever, I called them. Even though if they let me, I could drive down two hours and pick up the pen at their shipping place, she told me it takes 2-4 days to ship out. I can order a computer from Dell and get it faster, in fact, I can't even remember ordering something in the last few years that wasn't shipped the same day if I ordered it in the morning. She also told me that their email servers are "currently being worked on" and no shipment emails are going out. (I don't know about confirmation emails however.) Moral of the story is: If you can find it somewhere else, buy it there, and if you buy it direct from Wacom, don't bother with overnight shipping. (Which thankfully I didn't get!)

[test8025]

Hey FeatherBeard,

Once you get your art pen, could you do a bit of review, and even better take a picture of it. Because i'm not sure how does the nib work compared to the old intuos3 pen. Thanks a lot.

[Featherbeard]

Absolutely! If it ever arrives.

[freshblocks]

Featherbeard,
Did you just order it this past Saturday? (9/12) I'm currently in the same boat as Arshes Nei. Debating whether or not to wait for Amazon.com to have it in stock. I check with Academic Superstore and others but they couldn't really give any info because they're getting it from Wacom as well. I guess I'm just wondering if I should skip the middle man and go straight to the source.

[Featherbeard]

I just recieved my pen today, woo! Yes, I did order it in the morning on Saturday. Their ordering department seems a little disorganized, but that might be because their computers are down. (I called last night and the guy couldn't tell me if it shipped or not!) I shouldn't complain though, as I got free ground shipping. (But yet again, I'm really close. )

First impressions: It seems to be a lot thinner than the normal pen, but that MIGHT be because I have very thick hands, and the fat buttonless grip on my normal pen. The tips are MUCH bigger, and they have chisel tips as well. The feel when painting with this thing is VERY nice however, I like it MUCH more than the normal pen for painting work, it just feels smoother. Here are some photos: (And I apologize if they're too big, and crappy quality! Even though I'm a photographer as well as an artist, this isn't my camera! )

*EDIT* I just realized there's no nib puller in the base, I wonder if there's supposed to be one?
*EDIT 2* I just called Wacom, and they said as the pens are brand new, they don't have nib pullers yet, but she suggested I use a pair of tweezers. I managed to get the old puller to work by forcing the regular nib puller around the tip, and it didn't bend it at all, so I think that'll work too, I just worry about crushing the tips as the puller is a bit tight around them. She said she'd try and find the right puller and send one out.

[Sebastard]

Looks real sweet, i must say. For me, it'd be like strapping a warp drive to a mule . Definitely a year or two of waiting before i get one of these, if i find myself needing one.

Definite minus on the nib-puller though. I hope they fix that quickly. Haven't even tried extracting the nib on my intuos4 pen yet, and i doubt i will. The default nib seems perfect for me .

[Featherbeard]

I'm surprised you haven't had to switch nibs yet! Mine wore down in two days before I used the "adjust max pressure" trick. I REALLY like the feel of the Art Pen though. The thicker tip really does make a difference, and as this is my first time using rotation, I can honestly say I never want to be without it.

[Sebastard]

Yeah , i read around alot on the forums about the nibs, and after wearing down my bamboo very quickly, i decided to go about it differently on the intuos4. Really cranked the sensetivity up, so now i only need to brush lightly in order to get a sketchy effect, much like with an 2b-8b pen. When i block value or paint, i still press down though.

I hope the nibs that came with the kit will last a few months

[Arshes Nei]

It appears they definitely made the improvements I wanted in the first Art Pen. Duo Switch and "Eraser" end.

[Featherbeard]

One thing I wanted to add, after using it for a bit: I'm not sure if this is a driver issue, and I have a feeling it is, but sometimes when barrel rotating, it glitches, and skips about a 30 degree step. It only happens when the pen is at a certain degree, so hopefully a driver updated will solve it. If anyone else has their pen and can say if theirs does this, please let me know! Maybe there's some interference or something locally here.

[freshblocks]

Hi Featherbeard,

Wow. So jealous. I think I'm going to order mine shortly. Do you know what they're sending you for the nib puller. Is it the Professional Kit? https://direct.wacom.com/stores/5/In...r_P1450C65.cfm

2nd question, did it come with it's own stand like it says on the website? I see 1 in your picture, but I wasn't sure if that's the one that comes with the tablet.

[Featherbeard]

She didn't really know what the new nib pullers looked like. I'm *assuming* they'd look almost identical to the older ones, just with a thicker hole for the thicker nibs, but I can't really be sure. I don't think they're sending me a whole kit, just the puller, but I sure wouldn't say no to a kit. It does come with it's own stand, identical to the one that comes with the tablet. The Art Pen's nibs are a little thicker, but they still fit in there fine.

[freshblocks]

Interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing what they send you for the nib puller. In the meantime, I just gave up on Amazon.com and ordered from Wacom directly. I also opted to order the Professional Kit as it comes with a Nib Puller. That's of course, hoping that the Nib Puller in the Kit works with the Art Pen. If it doesn't, oh well. At least I get a ton of extra nibs. It wasn't that much more expensive, and I'm sure I'm going to need extra nibs eventually.

[Featherbeard]

It's nice to have the professional kit as it comes with the 'chubby' grip as well as other useful things. I use the fatter grip on my normal pen which I do pencil work with, and it's a nice change to have different-sized grips.

[Featherbeard]

Another update! I'm not sure if all of the art pens have ever been like this, but strangely, the eraser side of the pen doesn't seem to have barrel rotation. Can anyone else that has (or when they get) their pen confirm this? Or is this normal? Thanks!

[Featherbeard]

Yet another update! I have a slight issue with the pen, and I'm not sure if it's a driver issue or a bad pen, and after calling Wacom they couldn't tell me either. They don't have the actual pen in the support area yet so they can't troubleshoot or recreate until they do. Around 180 degrees of rotaton, every once in awhile, fairly frequently actually, the rotation will suddenly glitch down to 0.4 degrees or 88.4 degrees for a split second, then immediately back up to where it's supposed to be, around 180-190. It can be frustrating if I'm trying to maintain a certain line angle, so hopefully they can figure out what it is. They told me they'd either get the new driver fix put in quickly (If it was that), or ship me out a new Art Pen was defective, so we'll see what they say whenever they get the pens into the support department.