Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 Review
In the realm of digital art and design, the tools you choose can significantly impact the quality and efficiency of your work. For professionals across various creative fields, the Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 stands out as a game-changer, merging cutting-edge technology with ergonomic design to redefine the digital art experience.It isn't just a tool; it's the bridge between the artist and their canvas.
The Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 caters to a diverse range of creatives such as illustrators, graphic designers, animators, and even video editors. It represents a culmination of years of innovation in the field of graphic tablets and pen displays, a testament to Wacom's commitment to empowering artists with technology that mirrors the fluidity and natural feel of traditional mediums. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the Cintiq Pro 27, dissecting its features, functionality, and overall impact on the creative process.
As we delve into this review, we'll explore how the Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 fits into the modern creative workflow, examining its build quality, display capabilities, pen technology, and more. Whether you're a seasoned digital artist or venturing into the digital realm for the first time, this review will illuminate how the Cintiq Pro 27 could transform your artistic journey, providing insights into its potential to unlock new levels of creativity and efficiency.
Price and Availability
It’s expensive in the USA, and no doubt the Cintiq Pro 27 is a significant investment. However, its advanced features, exceptional build quality, and emphasis on ergonomic and intuitive design justify the cost for serious professionals seeking the best tools for their creative endeavors.
Availability really is going to be at specialist stores or online, so feel free to check our links below to find the the current prices and availability near you.
Design and Ergonomics
This latest model boasts a sleek design with a thin bezel, maximizing screen space while minimizing its desk footprint. It's even more compact than its 24-inch predecessor, making it suitable for creatives with limited workspaces.
Additionally, it incorporates ergonomic features like optional stands and arm solutions for better posture and new grip-type ExpressKeys that facilitate smoother hand and pen coordination.
Coming from the older 24-inch model, I found it took a while to adjust to the smaller bevels. However, once you use it for a while, you realize the palm recognition tech kicks in and automatically rejects accidental inputs.
Another thing I picked up was the optional swing arm mound, which for me, in the way I work, made for a far more intuitive use case where I can bring the tablet in to do touch-ups and throw it back out the way again to keep the clutter of my workspace. This is by no means a necessity for people who switch tasks constantly; it makes a lot of sense.
The included pen was also great with a good weight, and the adaptable tips made it feel just right whether I was doing photo editing or drawing. It is by quite some margin an improvement over the older versions of Wacom’s tech.
Display and Visual Performance
The Cintiq Pro 27 features a superior 120Hz refresh rate and HDR Gamma support, enhancing visual comfort and reducing eye strain. For something you can be looking at for upwards of 8 hours a day, that’s pretty important. The refresh rate is so buttery smooth that I don’t think it’s possible to go back to a lesser display. If you haven’t used one with 120hz before, it’s not as much of an issue as when you do use one, and then maybe you need to downgrade. Everything just feels smoother, slicker, and more natural.
Another top point is the AG etched glass surface and 4K resolution. Everything is crispy and defined which made edge work and trimming very easy whilst reducing the amount of zoom I had to apply to get clean cuts. The 10 ms response time provides near-zero latency and parallax, ensuring an authentic pen-on-paper feel. It’s instantaneous, with no lagging or gapping on the draw. Even when I started aggressive shedding and cross-hatching, it always kept pace.
The display also boasts an impressive color gamut of 98% DCI-P3 and 99% Adobe RGB, offering natural color accuracy and depth, essential for precision in creative work. If you are into grading, you will be happy to know the Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 outperforms most of the high-end computer monitors on the market when it comes to accuracy.
Pen Technology
The Pro Pen 3 is a standout feature. It’s a battery-free, customizable pen offering unparalleled precision. It allows users to adjust weight, grip thickness, pen buttons, and the center of gravity, catering to individual preferences and enhancing the overall drawing experience.
The weight is adjusted by the balance point depending on whether you want the pen to be more front or back-weighted.
It’s a case of how you want it, you can have it. If you're curious, I configured mine with the lipped grip, maximum back weight, and the three custom button triggers attached. It made switching quick functions easy, and I found the lipid grip best for reducing fatigue and the added weight best for stabilizing my shaky grip. Of course, you might like a completely different setup and that’s the great thing about this pen is that you can fully customize it.
Oh, and as someone who lived through the hell of attaching a lightning cable to the original Apple pencil, the lack of batteries is always welcome.
What about storage? Well, there are no magnets here, and certainly, you won’t be storing it inside the tablet. You get an included mount to hold it that is beefy and robust while also being able to mount it to the side of your choosing. Its fairly was fairly easy to grab, but the mounting screw does get slightly in the way depending on what hand you use to pick it up.
Workflow and Control
Efficiency and Streamlined Setup
The Cintiq Pro 27 significantly streamlines the workflow for professionals, particularly in color-intensive tasks. A major advantage is its reduced physical footprint without sacrificing performance. Traditional setups often involve multiple devices and a plethora of cables, but the Cintiq Pro 27 consolidates these into a single 4K, P3 color-accurate touchscreen interface. This integration greatly reduces the time and physical space required for setup, allowing for a more efficient start to any project.
Intuitive User Experience
The design of the Cintiq Pro 27 fosters an intuitive user experience. Users need everything at their fingertips, eliminating the need to constantly shift focus between the display, keyboard, and mouse. This aspect is particularly beneficial for tasks that require sustained concentration and precision. Users have reported significantly reduced body and head movement, contributing to a more comfortable and efficient workflow. The ability to program the ExpressKeys further accelerates this efficiency, allowing for quick access to frequently used functions and tools.
Software Integration
For a tool to be truly effective in a professional workflow, it must seamlessly integrate with essential software. The Cintiq Pro 27 excels, offering smooth compatibility with industry-standard applications like DaVinci Resolve and Pomfort Livegrade Pro. This compatibility ensures that the Cintiq Pro 27 can be effectively utilized in various professional contexts, from color grading to graphic design, without the need for cumbersome adjustments or workarounds.
Future Applications and Ergonomic Benefits
The potential applications of the Cintiq Pro 27 extend beyond its current uses. Users have highlighted the device's ability to facilitate a rapid interface changeover from traditional methods, offering a more tactile and engaging experience. This adds an element of enjoyment to the workflow and introduces ergonomic benefits. By reducing the need for excessive head movement and promoting a better posture, the Cintiq Pro 27 contributes positively to its users' long-term health and comfort, which is crucial in demanding professional environments.
Comparison with Other Models
Compared to its siblings, the Cintiq Pro 24 and the 16 (2021) model, the Pro 27 stands out with its advanced screen performance, ergonomic design, and enhanced pen technology. It offers a significant upgrade in screen real estate, usability, and overall performance, making it a formidable tool in the professional creative space.
Compared to the standard 27 the pro ups the performance with a better screen, smaller bezels, and better accuracy.
Other than that, I think this is a case where the 27 is the current cream of the crop, and there are no real alternatives to Wacom’s product line.
Conclusion
The Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 represents the pinnacle of digital art technology, offering an unparalleled combination of ergonomic design, exceptional display performance, and customizable pen technology. It's an investment that promises to elevate the creative process, making it a top choice for professionals in various creative fields.
I love so many features, and the biggest compliment I can give it is that there is no going back to a lesser model from this point forward. My workflow just felt more natural and less irksome than with previous tablets. The fatigue in my eyes was less due to the high refresh rate and anti-glare coating. My frustration levels were lower than ever because it finally felt like Wacom had ironed our bugs seen on older models.
Of course, the price will be the most prohibitive factor to many buyers, but when you look at it as a tool with which we make money, that cost is dissipated over multiple years. It’s likely the use span of this product could be 5-10 years, so when that is taken into account, the upfront cost is less of a harsh blow. I will leave by saying this. Is it necessary for most workflows? No, you can get the same tasks done with cheaper models, but with this one, you will enjoy the experience a whole lot more.
