Anybody know where I could play around with one of these in a store? Im considering investing in one, but based on the price, I would like to demo it first. Even if I could try out the Cintiq 12 inch model, that would be helpful in making a decision.
Im located in NJ. Anybody know of any places in the area?
I’ve got both and honestly, I wish I had the 1k back for the 12" so I could get some more software or something. The 21 is ridiculously good; the 12 doesn’t track well at all and you lose a lot of the border resolution for some reason.
While I don’t know where you can go to demo one, I heartily recommend the 21UX if you’re amenable to a tablet at all. Best tech purchase ever.
Thanks for the input. I have a 6x8 Wacom tablet, but I find it awkward drawing on it and seeing the results on a screen that is a couple feet away. Plus the 6x8 is on the small side. Im looking to upgrade from that one because I’m going to be getting into game design with a friend of mine who’s starting his own company, so a Cintiq might be a productive investment… hopefully one that I can get my money back on if the project is a success.
Aside from the price, everybody who owns one and has posted on forums about is pretty much in agreement that it is the best purchase they have made when it comes to tablets.
J&R Music World ( computer store)
Park Row, NY
Nice. Any chance they have ZBrush on it? Im looking on their site. It looks like they even have refurbished ones for $1500.
21 doesn’t look that good to me. 1200 x 1600 on a 21" screen is less than hd for sure. It looks all plastic like a kid’s toy. Not to mention it was released four years ago, which by hardware standards makes it almost outdated. The 12 looks like a nice little $500 toy that’s ridiculously overpriced. I’ve been itching to buy either one with the money ready and all, but screw it, I’m waiting for the next crop or blowing my dough elsewhere…
Wow, it’s that old already? 1600 x 1200 would be an upgrade for me anyway, since Im on a 19" ViewSonic monitor at 1280 x 1024.
Has anyone heard of anything coming out from Wacom in the near future that would be in upgrade to this? I’ve held off from making this purchase for a while & I can do what I want without one, so waiting a little longer wouldnt matter to me.
I have the smaller black one. so natural. I monkeyed with the settings and got it to match my cinema display perfectly. when you want it big just move the window to another monitor. It really depends on how you work. I use zbrush and painter on it and photoshop and modo on the cinema.
So Skullbeast, how’s yours on the bad edge calibration? Any jittery or drifting cursor going on with it near the edges? What about the hotspot on the bottom where a right handed artist rests the wrist? I’m just wondering if any of these issues were addressed since it was first released.
It looks overpriced for sure. What’s your opinion? Both are within my new toy budget, but just don’t look worth it to me. I can’t see myself working on a screen that isn’t even as tall as the Intuos pen is long! I too have a 30" Cinema and 9 x 12 Intuos at home and work, so I don’t think I can justify a grand for a 6" tall screen.
Messiah, when they recently discontinued the 20wsx, which was a widescreen version of the 21ux, I read some random info on a site that sold them. The company had called Wacom and asked about the discontinued version, and if it had anything to do with a new version coming out. They were told there wouldn’t be a new Cintiq coming down the pipeline for at least 9 months, which was in the beginning of September. So that would mean no sooner than June or July.
Keep in mind this was totally random info that is probably irrelevent speculation. It would make for a good summer though…
Here’s a pair of videos that demo the Cintiq 12WX, made by Lemec, a long-time, hard-core Cintiq user and 2D artist/animator who swears by it. He’s also an accomplished coder who has customized the Cintiq drivers to enhance the pen’s functionality and merge in other device input while drawing.
Here he covers the good, the bad and the ugly…Working with a Cintiq
Building on that, he has also posted a second video addressed to Wacom Inc. in which he demonstrates all the shortcomings and functionality he would like to see corrected and/or enhanced. Cintiq Enhancement requests
Wacom should hire him.
Note that the 2D animation application he uses here is called TVPaint (the US version was called Mirage before the Bauhaus distributor shut down).
Sven
No, I’ve been researching Cintiqs skeptically trying to decide whether or not to invest, and that was exactly what I wanted to know! Thanx
While I think it would be fun to work on, my big thing is productivity. The Intuos is very natural to me in all aspects, even sketching. The 12wx almost seems like it could slow me down in some ways. Plus, if you still have to focus your eye on the cursor due to inaccuracy, what’s the point? I’ve seriously almost bought one about ten times. Every time, I end up with my doubts about the bang for my buck, and those vids definitely have confirmed them. If the 21 wasn’t getting old with a screen that you could visibly see the pixel grid on, I’d venture there instead. Maybe next time.
I like it. Its more like the real thing. no lag that I notice. Its not like the first version I saw. I have come from a traditional art background so it feels much better to me than the regular wacom I3. I have become so use to it that I would not want to return to the regular wacom. A bigger screen would be a plus. but not a deal breaker.
This guy looks like he knows his stuff. He seems quite passionate about it too. If he’s smart enough to point out and fix the tablet’s flaws himself, then why not work on releasing a version of his hacked .dll to the public, rather than making videos about how it doesnt work the way it should?
He does point out some good things though, and it has made me kind of reconsider buying one now. If these are things that need to be addressed, then maybe I should wait until some new hardware comes out from Wacom that corrects these issues, as well as the fact that the Cintiq 21UX is kind of “aged” technology at this point.
That’s exactly how I feel. Problem is, I can afford it, and would rather get one if it’s going to be a year before a new release. That’s a problem I’m glad to have after years of struggling, though.
That guy does seems picky as hell, so it might actually be a good buy! Also Messiah, take note that the 21 is a different beast. The screen’s lower res, the surface provides more friction, and it’s huge so you don’t notice the bad edge calibration. Better and worse.
Skullbeast it’s good to hear that you’re satisfied with your purchase. I haven’t heard a complaint about lag, the inaccuracy I’m referring to is the cursor being distant from the tip and the wobbly cursor near the edges. In most reviews I’ve read the screen size is big enough to work on easily. It’s more of a $ vs. actual value thing.
I used to use pencils, airbrushes, oils, acrylics, etc, which is why I’m so interested in the Cintiqs. I think reducing the cintiq size to the 12wx is what emphasized the technology’s issues. The next one that comes out of the oven will probably be much better. Should we wait is the question…
I’ll have to say to each their own. I don’t have any of the problems in the video, I almost had to laugh. It looked like the guy was using one at the computer show. How far off is the line gap from a regular tablet to the screen? what! About one and a half feet or so. I believe that it is now up to you.
Haha, good point (even though I’m used to the hand eye coordination). You salesman.
So…this freakin’ thing is great! I’m glad I took the risk after reading so many bad reviews and strongly having my doubts. The screen looks so small in vids and pics, but it’s plenty of workspace and it’s nice to have everything at your fingertips. It’s nice and sharp, and the whole experience takes me right back to oil painting. Something I haven’t felt like I was doing since I made the digital jump 3 years back. The issues brought up on the web aren’t even noticable during work, and it’s a much more artistic experience. I highly reccomend this to anyone having their doubts. A few other reccomendations regarding the Cintiq 12wx:
Order some extra felt nibs, for a nice pencil like feel and to keep from scratching the screen. I have the pen set a little more sensitive than on the Intuos, and its just like sketching.
Get a Smudge Guard. Good for keeping it clean, and good for a smoother drawing experience (even on an Intuos or paper as well).
[http://www.smudgeguard.com/](http://www.smudgeguard.com/)
Get an Ergotron Neo Flex LCD desktop arm. Enables awesome positioning of the sketchbook tablet, full tilt, AND rotation. The allen wrentches provided wth the arm can be used to lock it into a perfect position, and all of the movement can be tightened or loosened. Awesome combo. The LX model is best for the 21 or large monitors, but overkill for the 12.
[http://www.ergotron.com/Products/DeskMounts/tabid/71/ctl/Product/mid/396/PRDID/9/language/en-US/default.aspx](http://www.ergotron.com/Products/DeskMounts/tabid/71/ctl/Product/mid/396/PRDID/9/language/en-US/default.aspx)
Calibrate with the display resolution set to it's lowest setting (you'll have to bring the preferences window onto a second monitor), then bring back the hi res setting. This is a trick I read on the Wacom Europe forum, and it worked great for me.
For me, this is far more artistic than a normal tablet. Great for ZBrushing, great for digital painting. It's a much greater buy than I anticipated:+1:I’m glad you likie!!! 
I know I can’t live without my Cintiq’s for sculpting and painting. 
-K
I want to get one but am waiting for the next update. Here’s hoping they makea 24" model @ 1920x1200.