In this post we’ll look at why you might want to consider grabbing yourself an old Wacom tablet. We’ll compare four different drawing tablets I’ve got my hands on: a legacy, first generation Intuos, the Intuos3 and Intuos4, and the Graphire3 I first started digital art with. Sometimes you can find these at great prices on second-hand marketplaces, and they tend to be reliable. This can make SOME of them great options for beginners.
(This is an evolving post and will be updated with the dedicated review videos and artworks as I get them done.)
**IMPORTANT NOTE**
These tablets were all tested on Windows 10 machines with no hassles BUT I’ve heard there are compatibility issues with newer MacOS versions. Please be sure to pop over to the Wacom subreddit to ask other users if an older tablet you are considering will work with your MacOS version.
Keep in mind that it’s important to get the right driver to be able to set up your Wacom tablet if you get one. The latest Wacom drivers might not support older devices so it’s best to type your model into the search bar on the Wacom drivers page to get the correct one for your system.
Comparing old Wacom tablet specs
| Intuos | Graphire3 | Intuos3 | Intuos4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Release Date: | 1998 | 2003 | 2004 | 2009 |
| Model Code: | GD-1212-U | CTE-430 | PTZ-630 | PTK-840 |
| Working Area: | 12×12″ | 4×5″ | 6×8″ | 8×12″ |
| Pressure levels: | 1024 | 512 | 1024 | 2048 |
| Battery Free Pen: | Yes | Y | Y | Yes |
| Tilt Support: | Yes – 60deg | No | Yes | Yes |
| Resolution (LPI): | 2540 | 2032 | 5080 | 5080 |
| Express Keys: | Menu stripe at top | No | 8 + 2 Touch Strip | 8 + Touch Ring |
Arting around with each drawing tablet
I wanted to put each to the test to see if I could easily create similar work to what I normally do in Photoshop using my Deco Pro S or in Procreate using the iPad Pro 2020. So below are my experiences with that.
FYI I’m testing these on my Lenovo laptop running Windows 10. It’s also important to point out that these are screenless graphics tablets. This means they must be connected to a monitor, and behave like a sophisticated mouse input. It can take a bit of time to get used to, looking at your monitor while drawing on a different surface, but it gets easy pretty quickly with practice.
Wacom Graphire 3 (2003)
Let’s start with an old Wacom tablet that I wouldn’t necessarily recommend: the Grahire3. This was my first tablet. The active area is really small and the surface a bit too glassy for my liking. Though I wouldn’t go out and buy one, if you do happen to be given one, there’s no reason you can’t use it to start your journey in digital painting.
It was definitely challenging to work at this size after working with pretty much a minimum of double the working area for a good while now. I actually had to whip this tablet out to finish an artwork while waiting for a replacement stylus for my Deco Pro a couple of years ago. Though I didn’t have too much trouble getting the piece done, it’s a different feeling when you have to do an entire painting.
The original Intuos (1998)
This old Wacom tablet is part of the first generation of Intuos tablets that came in a range of sizes. Initially I took a while to get the USB tablet working but once I did, I was pleasantly surprised.
This Intuos doesn’t have the express keys in the way we are used to having them on tablets today. Instead there is a menu stripe at the top of the working area. I didn’t find these particularly useful as the buttons are activated by the stylus and not your finger. This means you have to move your attention away from your screen, and your stylus away from where you’re drawing. I mostly just used my regular keyboard shortcuts while using this. Because the tablet is quite big, I might have liked a small keypad to the side with some programmed shortcuts.
The surface is a bit harder, and the one pen I got has this metal tip (ink pen) which I find odd. So I mostly used the plastic tip airbrush pen that also came with it.
A feature that might be helpful to beginners that want to digitise their sketches, is the thick trace film on the tablet. You can pop one of your paper drawings underneath, and just draw directly on top of that to get a neat digital drawing. To do this, you also need to make sure that the mapping is correct otherwise you will have distorted lines. Okay, you could also just snap a photo of the drawing and import that into your drawing software to redraw, but that wasn’t quite so easy in ‘98 as it is now.
Wacom Intuos 3 (2006)
Ah, the Intuos3; a favourite among many! The size is more comfortable, and the express keys and touch strips on the sides are a feature I actually quite like having. That being said, I know a lot of people still prefer using the keyboard shortcuts. Or they opt for separate keypad/remote off to the side to program.
The drawing experience with the pen is significantly better here. Though the pressure sensitivity for the 1998 Intuos is the same, I felt that the Intuos3 picked up the lighter strokes much better than the earlier models and was more accurate. Again, 1024 levels seems plenty to allow for getting a smooth transition from light thin strokes to heavier or thicker ones.
Overall, I think the Intuos 3 is going to be one of your best options when it comes to older Wacom models in terms of availability, price, and durability.
Visual effects artist, Jerry Kung, used the Intuos 3 while working on post-production for Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit, seen below. He wasn’t the only one either. Many of the crew at Wētā Workshop working on the film were also armed with one of these.
Wacom Intuos 4 (2008)
*GASP*
Now this tablet I was really excited to find and test out. And it has not disappointed. Released it 2008, it’s not really an ‘old’ Wacom tablet, and it definitely still holds up today.
There is a noticeable step up from the Intuos3, with a sleek black design, a slightly different feel to the drawing surface, and double the pressure sensitivity in the stylus than that with the previous model. Instead of the touch strips, we now have a touch dial with four modes. That coupled with all 8 express keys on one side of the tablet, and the option of an on-screen radial menu, make this a highly customizable tool.
Except fort the Small version, the express keys also have an illuminated display next to them as digital labels so that you know what you programmed them to. That’s maybe a nifty feature if you have different key presets for the different software you work in. This tablet feels like the real start of that premium Intuos Pro series we know today.
Below is my 2021 video review of the Wacome Intuos 4 Large drawing tablet…
EDIT: I managed to get my hands on a 2013 model of the Wacom Intuos Pro as well which I’ve reviewed at last.
Should you get any of these tablets and need drivers for them, you’ll find them on the Wacom website here.
The artworks
Wrapping up
So, if you happen to come across someone tossing out or selling their old Wacom tablet, you might want to consider grabbing that for yourself. These older tablets are durable and reliable. At the very least they are great to have as a backup for your newer one. Or if you are a beginner ready to start pushing pixels around for the first time, they are a trusty companion on your journey.
So search your second-hand marketplaces online, and maybe you’ll get lucky! You can also check for renewed/refurbished models of some of Wacom’s drawing tablets over on Amazon. If you want a brand spanking new tablet, then head to Wacom’s official page there or their website.
Also take a look at this 2013 Wacom Intuos Pro Medium:
But if you do want a display tablet, look at these affordable options from XP-Pen.
This post post contain affiliate links. As an Amazon affiliate, I may get a small commission should you purchase through them. This doesn’t affect your purchase price in any way, and goes a long way to support the growth and maintenance of the DrawYourWeapon website.
