STACK #143 Sept 2016

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TECH FEATURE

ART A WORK OF The mighty Wacom Cintiq 13HD

sparkle, but not enough to create too much glare in bright spaces. Equally design-friendly is the forked cord system. A central cord connects to an AC power supply at one end, while the other end shoots off into three sub cords: one for the Cintiq itself and an HDMI and USB for a computer. Along the side are a series of small, rubber control buttons. They’re intuitive and can be set to perform shortcuts that end up being not only great timesavers, but excellent tools for digital work flow. As for image quality, two words: crisp and colourful. The Cintiq features Full HD 1920x1080 native resolution and supports 75% Adobe RGB colour gamut to display up to 16.7 million colors! The array of colour works towards realistic images and illustrations – even the most intricate are smooth and entirely Wacom’s focus is dedicated artists anddesigners, so it comes asno surprise that the device blends utility with elegance .

A n item of heaven for digital artists, the Cintiq 13HD is an interactive pen-on-screen display that acts as a secondary monitor for a PC or Mac. It’s a tethered device, requiring a HDMI connection to a computer (Mac users take note). And while its look and feel might be tablet-like, the only way to draw on the screen is with a Wacom pen (included). Wacom’s focus is dedicated artists and designers, so it comes as no surprise that the device blends utility with elegance. It has a quality build and a smoothed edge design that’s comfortable in the hand, yet not flimsy.

Weighing in at a little over a kilogram, it can rest on one’s lap, lie flat on a table (rubber feet prevent slippage), or be propped up by attaching a multi-level kickstand (at 22, 35 and 50-degree angles). The display is wrapped in a wide black bezel, which is great for handling without leaving behind greasy thumbprints on the actual display. It has a pseudo-gloss screen, nearly verging on

pixel-free. Luminance is standard at 250 cd/m², compared to the modern Mac Retina Display that reaches 300 cd/m², though it’s ample for

the art task. It also has a 78-degree viewing angle for showing designs off to others at a slant without losing the image.

matte; it’s got enough shine for images to

Interaction between the pen and the screen is excellent. What you’re looking for is natural hand-eye coordination that

doesn’t miss a beat on the screen. Wacom’s Pro Pen ensures

this with 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity on the tip (and

the eraser) for natural looking pen strokes. A side-switch on the pen activates when it’s within half a centimeter from the screen, for right or double clicking, which are customisable options. The pen is even recognised when tilted (to 60 degrees) and can be adjusted for lefties or righties. It offers precision for elaborate work. It’s also easy in the hand thanks to a comfortable latex rubber grip. The pen is cordless and is battery-free. It comes with a protective case for travel and a stand for desk use.

As for image quality, two words: crisp and colourful .

All up, the Cintiq 13HD is a classy and purpose built device that draws beautiful images.

SEPTEMBER 2016

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