Reviews

Wacom’s Cintiq 16 pen display makes retouching photos a lot of fun

Editing with a mouse is a difficult way to make local adjustments to a photograph. Professional editors like us and Photoshop artists have long used pen displays and tablets as a way around the awkwardness and imprecision of a mouse. The price tag was pretty steep but now with the new Wacom Cintiq Pro series, you be amazed at the results and the price!

The Cintiq 16 doesn’t offer the same high-resolution screen or a wide range of colors, but it keeps the same pen technology, which means the cheaper version is just as responsive as the more expensive one, with over 8,000 levels of pen sensitivity it’s pretty impressive.

We tested the pen tablet with Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, and Adobe illustrator, and it should work with all pressure-sensitive brush programs out there. The Wacom Cintiq 16 is compatible with Windows 7 and later, and macOS X 10.2 or later.

Having spent years editing with a mouse, making the switch to a pen is not without an adjustment period, but compared to a pen tablet, no screen, the pen feels like second nature. The learning curve isn’t that steep.

It’s very easy setting up the screen and pen!

Performance

The Wacom Cintiq 16 is not the company’s best display, but with identical response time and pressure sensitivity as the 16-inch Pro version, Wacom kept what matters most intact. 

Yes, your photos will look better on the Cintiq Pro’s 4K screen, but the cheaper Cintiq 16 ultimately gives you the same result.

Pros:

Fast accurate pen

Pressure points really reliable

Price

Cons:

16” is a bit small for editing photos

Usually, I am happy if the article does what I expected or if the reviews I read before about this article are also correct.

In the case of Loupedeck CT, it was a little different. I let myself be deterred from buying here for a long time by the reviews that were read online here.

Fortunately, I made the decision to order the Loupedeck CT.

I've been a Loupedeck user since the very beginning.

I started with the first generation and yes it was rather plastic in the processing quality, but the functions were already very good in relation to Lightroom.

Followed by the second generation, which I bought right after the introduction.

The functions for Lightroom were almost identical, but the processing quality was much better and more valuable.

But now to the real highlight from the Loupedeck series, the "CT" model.

From unpacking to the first impression of the workmanship in hand, I was absolutely thrilled.

The Loupedeck looks like it has been milled from a block of metal and has a value that I only know from Apple devices. But I didn't find any Apple stickers in the package here. ;-)

So quickly downloaded the latest software for the Loupedeck and started my Lightroom CC.

What can I say it is just an amazing relief in my workflow!  I can finally focus on my screen and look at my image and the changes with every adjustment via the Loupedeck. Before, I always had to search for the appropriate controller with the mouse, move it and switch back to the image.

The added value of this free and faster processing is "almost" worth every penny that the Loupedeck CT costs.

What I am missing at the moment on the Loupedeck or I have not yet found it is the function to activate the ALT key directly via the Loupedeck.

Pros;

Fast, multi-functional, plug and play

Solid aluminum body

Solid knobs and feeling

Cons;

Price, steep price, this might be a hurdle but it’s worth it.

Finally, I can only recommend buying the Loupedeck CT for everyone who works with Lightroom or Photoshop CC in the photo area.