Wacom Tablet Tutorial & Best Setup for Graphic Designers

[@4TheCreatives]

Do you own a Wacom tablet?

[@redbrimstone8701]

I do! I have a Large Wacom Intuos Pro! I use it on my laptop and desktop

[@4TheCreatives]

@@redbrimstone8701 Awesome!

[@luzooka2452]

I just purchased a medium. Your video helped me. Thanks!

[@4TheCreatives]

Yay! Happy to help 😊

[@s.d.n.k]

I have an Intuos pro. I just dragged it from the cupboard after not using it for a few years. I needed a refresh reminder and your video helped. Thanks 🙂

[@jacquin2]

I have just purchased a graphics tablet like yours. I really appreciated the quality of your video. Your presentation is well structured. Your comments are justified and helpful. Thank you so much.

[@4TheCreatives]

Great!! Let me know how it goes :)

[@lipher7570]

I bought one a year ago. I have to admit I never really paid attention to all the settings and all the capabilities. I am blown away! Thanks!

[@4TheCreatives]

I understand! That's why I made the video :)

[@honestly1970]

i've had this tablet for years and found it a tad intimidating. thank you for this tutorial.

[@BruiserFL]

I'm having tablet anxiety after just buying a medium sized Wacom Intuos Pro and this will help me set it up. Thank you!

[@4TheCreatives]

Sorry about your anxiety but just take it one step at a time.

[@Veritanky]

Funnily enough ive had my intuos pro for 2 years (used different model for 10 years before) and...never used shortcut keys and now i am setting it all up. I really like this tablet as its pen fits perfectly in hand when with previous one ive gripped it so hard. Decided to utilise tablet with hardsurface modeling in 3D as my hand started to ache when gripping mouse for 10 hours a day and your vid helped greatly!

[@4TheCreatives]

So glad it helped! Sorry you suffered for too long.

[@Veritanky]

@@4TheCreatives Hahah no worries, thanks for your vid it really helps.

[@mikeanik7694]

ever since the day I came across this channel I never allow myself to miss your new videos cos I know there must be something new to learn. Though I don't have a wacom yet. Thanks ma'am keep creating great videos, I love them

[@4TheCreatives]

That's so kind, Mike! When you get one, this video will be here for you.

[@nlnd6490]

Thank you for this. My Intuos Pro just arrived today.

[@damienabbott9805]

Thanks Lauren- I have never used a Wacom tablet before, but everything I need to know is contained in this video.

[@4TheCreatives]

Great, Damien! When you are ready it is here for you :) Glad to hear from you, by the way.

[@damienabbott9805]

@@4TheCreatives Thanks Lauren - hope you are well!

[@shirleybender]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I’ve had this for years and figured it was time to figure out HOW to use it or pass it on to be a BLESSING to someone else. Hopefully I can understand it and USE it!

[@4TheCreatives]

I hope you can navigate it with this video, Shirley! Let me know any further questions you have :)

[@Profartiste]

Very good, very well explained !

[@CJ4Africa]

Really helpful and concise. Thank you!

[@4TheCreatives]

You're welcome!

[@andyml1]

Thanks so much for this - clearly explained and well delivered. I’m a complete newbie with a design tablet - will be using with Affinity Designer mostly. 👍

[@4TheCreatives]

I am excited for you to dive into the tablet, thanks for your comment! I have heard great things about Affinity.

[@ZPDSurvival]

This Video was very helpful. I ordered an older version from Japan today. I hope it works. Peace.

[@4TheCreatives]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@hibhaven]

Thanks for the video. What you explained is a general setup of the Wacom tablet for any computer. Do you have any videos for setting up Wacom (esp the pen) to use in Illustrator - so as to change stroke width by applying more pressure etc.? Is that even possible?

[@4TheCreatives]

Good question. And yes, you can do it specifically to each application. Here is a blog they have: community.wacom.com/en-us/draw-adobe-illustrator-wacom-tablet/

[@Ancestors-of-the-4-Directions]

mine doesn't have a touch settings for intuos 4. Helpful to go through it even though you left it at all the presets.

[@jds7460]

Thanks for your video! It's very helpful for me!

[@marwasa7344]

Please answer.. I really appreciate your time and efforts .. does the led light during working via bluetooth?? I have one today, when I working via bluetooth the led near wacom logo is off.. It only goes amber during working via usb

[@4TheCreatives]

Look at this link and see if it answers your question: 101.wacom.com/UserHelp/en/Wireless_Bluetooth.htm

[@undoriel]

Is it possible to map the on-screen controls to one of the buttons on the pen? I've got the basic S version of One by Wacom and it doesn't have physical buttons on the tablet.

[@4TheCreatives]

Yes it should work. If you go to Settings ---> Wacom Tablet ---> Pen, there should be the option to either set the left or right-click button as On Screen Controls. I wish I could attach pics here, but I was just able to do it.

[@undoriel]

@@4TheCreatives Unfortunately there is way less options to choose from on my basic One by Wacom comapring to what you have available for Intuos. Which is weird because I can manually launch the screen keys bar and make it stick on the screen but I'd rather call it or a radial menu on demand. Also I can activate the Precision mode only from those screen keys, there is no option to map it to one of the pen buttons :(

[@4TheCreatives]

@@undoriel I am so sorry about that! Try contacting Wacom and suggest this as something they upgrade on future models. Or possibly they could even give a tip on the model you have.

[@nicktyler2572]

Thanks, nice 2 in 1 tutorial: basic Wacom driver features, and "how to draw beautiful female eyes with surprised expression" 😊 I work on Intuos Pro M for 2 years now, and overall I agree with your points: radial dial - mostly useless (modern soft have better mouse control systems, like in Krita you can shift+LMB drag to adjust brush size, or shift+space+drag to rotate canvas. Photoshop has it too, but a bit worse.) Express keys - somewhat useful, but... not much, I need keyboard anyway. Touch and gestures - disable and forget it! One thing I can disagree is eraser on ProPen 2 - I love it! Use it all the time, and in krita I can even use it instead of main nib to draw! It is always soft&smooth, doesn't wear out, back side of pen is thinner to hold, and has no buttons to interfere with my grip. One thing about pressure or Tip feel - slider is fine, but curve is much better as it allows to adjust initial activation force. In general hard preset gives more control and range, but... It will force you to work with extra force, which is unnatural and tiring to hand & fingers, and it can wear your nibs very very fast. In general it is better to adjust pressure curves in apps per brush (like in Krita or CSP), but Photoshop for example still doesn't have it. First year I worked in PS only on hard preset, and I killed like dozen nibs per year! Common question is does surface suffer from working hard? No, no visible signs of wear after 12 nibs, but it can be easily scratched by keyboard back, if you put it on top of tablet.

[@4TheCreatives]

Thanks for the detailed feedback and for sharing your experience with the pen!

[@vijaydesigns]

Thanks. I bought my pen tablet a couple of months back. Still not totally used to it. Looks like it may take a while to get used to.

[@4TheCreatives]

Just keep practicing! It took me about a month or two. But this video should help!

[@Bearded_Fox]

Very helpful ✨

[@collinsonyegbado309]

Thanks for the video. If i have an interactive Board Software on my pc, can i make use of Wacom tablet to write on the Board ? for example, if i want to give a tutorial on Mathematics

[@4TheCreatives]

From my understanding, you can use a Wacom tablet to write on interactive board software on your PC. The tablet acts as a digital drawing tool, allowing you to draw, write, and annotate in real time, which is great for tutorials, especially in subjects like mathematics. Just make sure your board software supports input from graphic tablets, and you should be all set to create engaging lessons.

[@collinsonyegbado309]

@@4TheCreatives great Thanks

[@the_flushjackson]

I draw traditionally, but have a need for digital tools (also have used an iPad Pro since they were released) unavailable on iPadOS. After painstakingly going through review after review, post after post in regards to pen display devices I arrived back at a more traditional'esque option and ordered a Wacom Intuous Pro Large. The logic of it was obvious -- it's a relatively simple piece of technology, even moreso than the iPad they seem to last forever (you can see people all over still using and seeking out Intuos 3s and 4s), doesn't draw a bunch of power, require cooling and doesn't present the glaringly awful health / ergonomic issues. Additionally, you can control the display technology that you're connecting to -- thusly being completely future-proof to your needs versus a static pen display. I'm excited to put it to use! Sidebar: I went with Wacom because of the history of longevity with pen tablets in general, and the currently superior pen, but it was tempting to go with a competitor. I'm guessing 2 - 3 years from now that Wacom is going to be eclipsed by one of these competitors and will have to drop their pricing. From what I understand Huion is very close to the quality pen-wise to Wacom (within 10%). Yeah it hurts to spend $400 on a relatively low-tech option, with the likelihood of a cheaper and possibly superior option on the horizon -- guess we'll have to see how that works out (and I can write it off anyhow).

[@4TheCreatives]

This is a fantastic review of Wacom and I agree their durability and non-overheating or power-sucking is so beneficial especially to us creatives who work long hours. Let me know how you enjoy it when it comes! As for competitors, I don't have the heart to try out any other brand. I am not a big techy person anyway and when I find something that works for as long as I have been using it (over 13 years), I can't go to anything else, nor have the time or patience to test it out. I think Wacom will always have a loyal fan base and that is why I am such an advocate of them. It is also cool that their headquarters happens to be 20 minutes away from where I live.

[@the_flushjackson]

@@4TheCreatives "If it ain't broke don't fix it". I know that people really love the large Wacom Cintiqs, but there's definitely technological, economical and ergonomic disadvantages to that kind of setup. My personal preference would be to invest in better system and display hardware to pair with the pen tablet, but I understand the allure of the display pen tech.

[@4TheCreatives]

That’s another type I’d love to try out. But yes good points.

[@silvercrow4173]

Hi I'm a newbie. I draw alot on paper. My brother bought me one of these stuff but I dont know what app to download/buy so I can draw on pc

[@4TheCreatives]

You could download Affinity or Adobe programs.

[@yurizafurizaki5574]

I have wacom intuos pro medium, and no tilt sensitivity settings in the wacom center/wacom properties. why?

[@4TheCreatives]

Do you have the latest updates to the software?

[@yurizafurizaki5574]

@@4TheCreatives Yes i do

[@denisebohartbrown4676]

So helpful, thank you!

[@4TheCreatives]

My pleasure!

[@ArdyFrans]

Can I use wacom for Canva apps ?

[@4TheCreatives]

Yes for sure

[@ArdyFrans]

@@4TheCreatives thanks

[@Sefton419]

What free software works well on the Mac with the Wacom tablet?

[@4TheCreatives]

I only use the Adobe Suite. Have you tried Canva or Affinity?

[@tommydaq2]

Great video. What I'd like to see is how to adjust the sleep timeout on a Wacom Intuos tablet. (also, thank you for pronouncing Wacom properly! Ugh. I hate hearing WHACK 'em. Ugh!!! :) )

[@4TheCreatives]

Lol! I know what you mean on the WHACK em...haha! I live very close to their US headquarters in Portland, so I better know how to say it :) I did a bit of a search on the situation you mentioned and found this article: 101.wacom.com/userhelp/en/PowerSavingFeatures.htm

[@tommydaq2]

@@4TheCreatives Thank you! I know it says it can be adjusted, but I can't find settings for it anywhere. I had gotten my first Wacom - a 12"x12" hardwired tablet back in '94. I LOVED that tablet - then met the Wacom family at a MacWorld shortly thereafter and that's when they told me how to pronounce the name correctly. Funny how many different ways people pronounce that name!

[@4TheCreatives]

Sorry you aren’t able to find the adjustment! Maybe call Wacom. That’s funny you met them and they told you 🤣

[@redbrimstone8701]

Good video!

[@4TheCreatives]

Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@jesperweng4193]

Fine video. Super informative in a speed that makes it able to comprehend and very beautiful to watch to! Yours cinserly Jesper Nørgaard Weng Roskilde Denmark

[@skyeblue6834]

nice easy to follow vid now im set up and ready to draw i use affinity photo and so far so good think im gonna be an artist yet ive always had a wacom tablet for just messing around now i got me the intuos pro spent hard earned money on it but hate the slipping and sliding surface and now to find wacom have discontinued texture sheets for it so was a waste of money in the end anyway think im gonna try the feel like paper protectors you get for android tablets and see if thats any better otherwise im going over to huion tabs!!!

[@4TheCreatives]

Sorry you are running into that. Have you tried reaching out to their customer support team at Wacom?

[@skyeblue6834]

Hi yep customer support were the ones who told me the sheets have been discontinued for the one I have intuos pro medium shame really cos I always thought wacom would be my go to tablet even though they're expensive I considered them to be good value just not anymore oh well such is life 😐

[@javezkeith2537]

Does the wacom work on chrome?

[@4TheCreatives]

Yes

[@IrinaHulse]

My settings on my Mac is very limited ? Why don’t I have more options

[@4TheCreatives]

What OS do you have?

[@IrinaHulse]

14.3.1 (23D60)@@4TheCreatives

[@RobertHopkinsArt]

Since you have been using pen tablets instead of drawing displays, I am curious why you didn't transition to drawing displays? I'm an artist and I have an older Wacom 27" QHD display. And, I also have a Large Intuos pen tablet. I ran into issues lately, while painting, that I am not seeing all of the detail of my painting using the QHD drawing display. When I use my iMac at 5K resolution I can see my mistakes or the places where there is too much texture. Plus, using the drawing display I can sometimes hurt my neck while painting in a bad posture. With pen tablets we can keep ourselves in a good posture while we paint and look forward. Any thoughts you can give me would be great! Plus: I need to setup my Loupedeck controller and use it too. FYI: The StreamDecks are better. I have both.

[@4TheCreatives]

Great question and interesting findings on your part with the difference in display. I got so used to using a Large Intuos from my job for 6 years and even though I did do illustrations sometimes, the majority of the work was design layout. So when I was looking at what to buy for myself, I didn't want to re-train myself to a Cintiq-type display. But I have this as a bucket-list item to get down the road as I think I would love it. I could see the problem with postures, but if it is angled well this could help, but I wouldn't be able to give great advice until I dive into using it deeper. Good tip on the StreamDecks being better than Loupedeck.

[@RobertHopkinsArt]

I tried using my Intuois Large again, for about two hours and I just couldn't get used to the "disconnected" feeling. It's so strange to not see or feel your hand directly above the display. But, there is the advantage of not having your hand in the way too! Doing line work (or tracing) seemed so much harder. I think that I will end up having to pop for the Wacom 24, 4K display. Thanks for your reply! Keep up the great work!

[@4TheCreatives]

I can see that! I felt the disconnect at first too but I think it takes a few weeks to get fully used to it but it would be hard going from regular use of the Cintiq back to this one. Let me know how it goes!

[@davidcue1]

I bought a wacom tab to use in illustrator but damn the pen tool is so erratic to draw with. I like to use the pencil tool and just trying to draw a straight line when trying to copy a font is so difficult. It's so jagged and easy to go off path that I have to super focus. Doesn't feel normal

[@4TheCreatives]

It may be a setting you have. Did you check your pen tool settings for Illustrator specifically?

[@davidcue1]

@@4TheCreatives hi. yes i've been all through the pencil settings, fidelity etc. I can't see any pen tool settings in illustrator. I've been through pen settings in Wacom

[@4TheCreatives]

@davidcue1 can you contact their customer service?

[@holohulolo]

I wish wacom develop that aide panel more and include a knob and slider. It would be so nice to have physical sliders to control opacity. A horizontal scroll on the pen to adjust opacity or brush size would be nice too. Therr just so much possibility with these physical control that i feel qould make the work flow more comfortable than having to navigate through the tools with the crusor. There could be different typesnof knobs like one that click every 30 degree turn, wome every 15degree, some spins smoothl, some spin endlessly and others only say 330 degree and you can directly assign these to adjust different things. Thats why i use the touch on, because I didnt like navigating the crusor with the pen. Yo me its about as awkward and trying to draw with a mouse even if say a mouse has pressure sensitivity too.

[@4TheCreatives]

You should submit this request to Wacom! They may listen.

[@brodriguez11000]

@@4TheCreatives Use a third-party macropad.

[@raheelamin1654]

Mem.....can you teach us detergent packaging design in illustrator

[@4TheCreatives]

I don’t do packaging in Illustrator but you can see this packaging done in InDesign: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5XXcpxnhdVqj6c

[@fridaytuesday]

hi , how do i keep my pencil from teleporting?

[@4TheCreatives]

Here is an article about this: support.wacom.com/hc/en-us/articles/8342308503063-My-pen-is-lagging-jumping-or-always-drawing-without-touching-the-surface-What-can-I-do

[@samuele3775]

ok so when i delete the wacom driver, the pen pressure does not work (of course) and the pen movement works just fine. but when i install again the driver, the opposite happen: the pen pressure works but the movement on the pen goes crazy (the cursor doesn't drag, instead it "jumps") and it's impossible to work in this way. I'm stuck with this problem i'm desperate :/

[@4TheCreatives]

Hmmmm have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling the Wacom driver?

[@samuele3775]

@@4TheCreatives i tried, the problem is still there. i'm desperate

[@4TheCreatives]

@@samuele3775 Call this number for Wacom support: 1 [phone]

[@4TheCreatives]

@@samuele3775 Or chat with them here: support.wacom.com/hc/en-us

[@samuele3775]

@@4TheCreatives thanks, I'll try😭🤞

[@brandonwhitehead1573]

When painting in Photoshop, my cursor turns into an arrow, and sometimes then disappears. How do I eliminate that because it is very annoying???

[@4TheCreatives]

What version of Photoshop are you using? I’m finding 2023 version from CC super annoying and it’s doing weird things like that the 2022 version doesn’t so I usually just stick with 2022. Curious to hear which one you use.

[@brandonwhitehead1573]

Hi I'm using the latest version of Photoshop 2023 24.7,,,,,

[@4TheCreatives]

@@brandonwhitehead1573 I am having difficulty with using the brush in that version as well. It always switches back to the arrow for me too!! I would recommend going back to the Adobe Photoshop 2022 version.

[@anfalalansari3465]

Does it connect with Bluetooth? because mine doesn't.

[@4TheCreatives]

I don’t like relying on Bluetooth for much so I always keep it wired for better connectivity.

[@kumarideva3497]

i can't find system preferences

[@4TheCreatives]

What computer are you on?

[@pse2020]

wait what? so you cant use the pen and touch at the same time?

[@4TheCreatives]

You could but it gets confusing. If you have the Touch option on when you are using the pen your hand will accidentally move things that you don’t want.

[@pse2020]

@@4TheCreatives i used to paint alot on my surface pro... but it is very outdated now and cant really handle big images. I really love the touch functions, was hoping this would be as good :( and i cant find any alternatives.

[@4TheCreatives]

Have you tried a Wacom Contiq? Or something like this? amzn.to/42MBgzm

[@pse2020]

@@4TheCreatives a bit to expensive. And that one does not seem to have touch. I have looked at the kamvas, xp pen and none have touch. Only the studio version has and they cost 3000-4000... I guess i have to wait more :)

[@4TheCreatives]

Sorry!

[@oriondsigns2836]

I DISABLED WINDOWS INK... NOW I CANT DROP FILES IN BROWSERS... ONLY DRAGING IS POSSIBLE

[@4TheCreatives]

Can you clarify?

[@funkyXmode]

Reenable windows ink

[@MarttiSuomivuori]

I bought one a year ago and still haven't got the courage to actually use it. It is so full of features, it is useless.

[@4TheCreatives]

Sorry to hear you haven't used it. You don't need to use all the features.

[@DIY-Sally]

I need my computer to simply recognize that the table is connected first!

[@4TheCreatives]

Do you have it connected with cord or bluetooth?

[@Smxyclan]

this is to advanced

[@4TheCreatives]

Did you have a specific question you were looking for help with?

[@Smxyclan]

@4TheCreatives yes .how do you start drawing with it on something that is not a mac book