Wacom Cintiq 21UX interactive pen display

As a general display for web browsing, e-mail or text-based tasks, using a pen to navigate feels more awkward than beneficial. A standard mouse, of course, is the simple solution here, and I found that using a mouse as well helped the process. It makes most sense to use the Cintiq as a second monitor, reserved purely for illustration work.

Pricey, but could well suit old-school artists moving into the digital domain

Indeed, this might be the best way to go, as seasoned Wacom users will be aware, the surface of a traditional tablet soon gets scratched with repeated pen use. I haven’t used the Cintiq for long enough to know if this will be the case here, but having a plastic, rather than a glass surface – no doubt necessary for pressure sensitivity – suggests that scratching may well take place, which, on a tablet of this size, would entail an expensive repair.

Verdict

Wacom could have made the tablet vastly more appealing by the inclusion of the OLED buttons used in lower-end tablets, and it’s surprising that it chose not to do this on its flagship product. I've been asking for a pop-up virtual keyboard since the Cintiq first appeared, which would obviate the need for a nearby keyboard for many tasks but, alas, this has yet to make an appearance.

While it may be the ideal solution for traditional painters moving to a digital medium, as a designer used to a standard pen/monitor combination I found that the huge travelling distances I now have to make simply results in tired arms; there’s also the perennial problem that my hand, inevitably, gets in the way of the design. At £1800, the Cintiq 21UX is a considerable investment, and you'll have to decide for yourself whether this way of working is worth the outlay. ®

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