Mike Thompson is a Clio Award-winning illustrator and 3D sculptor who has worked in the entertainment industry for decades, with clients such as Netflix, Marvel, Hasbro, Dimension Films, Cartoon Network, and WB. His work has also been featured in books, video games, on movie posters, and on toy packaging, as well as in advertisements for companies like Nike, Infiniti Motors and Coca-Cola.
He’s been a long-time Wacom user, so we thought he’d be a perfect person to try out the new Wacom Movink OLED pen display. His review, followed by a summary of this thoughts, is below.
Mike’s Experience with Wacom
“I’m a professional artist, and I’ve been using Wacom products to create for the film, television, and collectibles industry for more than 20 years,” he says. He usually uses a Wacom Cintiq pen display for his work, but the new Movink, built for portability, is much smaller and thinner. Will that be a problem?
“My Cintiq’s been used to make everything from statues of my favorite heroes to Clio Award-winning movie posters. But what about when I need to leave the studio? Having a portable Cintiq in the past has meant packing multiple cables, power bricks, as well as everything needed for my laptop.” Seems like the Movink might be perfect.
First Impressions: Design & Portability
The main factor of the Wacom Movink is its portability. “The HDMI cable, USB-C cable, and power cord were replaced by one USB-C cable. It can be plugged into either side of the device, making it easier than ever to use your display,” he says. But speaking of the display, does it hold up?
The OLED Display: Surprisingly Good, even at HD resolution?
Some artist, including Mike, were worried about the lack of 4K resolution on the Movink. But once he turned it on, his worries faded. “I have to apologize to Wacom, since I heard ‘1080p display’ and prejudged what it would look like. I’m used to working on a 4K screen, whether it’s my Cintiq 27 or my iPad, so I was wondering why Wacom would choose HD resolution for a new display — until I turned it on.”
“The OLED screen produced such rich and accurate colors that I did a double take. The brightness and clarity, combined with the high contrast and deep blacks, make this Cintiq look right at home sitting next to my 27. The highly saturated colors I use in my illustrations look fantastic on the MovInk, and I couldn’t be happier.”
Cables & Connectivity: Big Upgrade!
In addition to the single USB-C cable, which simplifies connectivity and increases portability, He really appreciated Wacom Center and how so much can be customized through it. “If you’re like me and use more than one Wacom device, like the Movink and a Cintiq, the Control Center makes managing them a breeze. You can quickly switch between devices in the interface and configure each one individually. In short, the Wacom Control Center gives you full control over your Wacom devices, allowing for deep customization, optimal calibration, and easy management of your settings.”
Pro Pen 3: What’s Different?
Pro Pen 3 is Wacom’s latest and greatest stylus, and it come with Wacom Movink. But He points out that there are two versions of Pro Pen 3. “The Pro Pen 3 for the MovInk is a standard, non-customizable version built for portability. It’s lightweight and designed for on-the-go work, but it still delivers the same 8,192 pressure levels and tilt recognition as the Cintiq Pro version.”
Mike preferred the size and customizability of the Cintiq Pro version of Pro Pen 3. Luckily, any Pro Pen will work with Movink. “The smaller, lighter pen is not my favorite choice. I’m used to the Pro Pen 2, which had a larger footprint and felt more substantial in my hands. I really like being able to take my Pro Pen 3 and make it feel a little heavier, more like the 2. That being said, you can use almost any stylus you want with this device, so I just take my desktop stylus with me when I pack the Movink.”
How It Fits Into His Workflow
“It fits perfectly into my workflow,” he explains. “I keep my reference images and tools on my laptop screen while I use the Movink for painting, sculpting, and fine-tuning my projects. The ability to separate my workspace like this really helps me stay focused. The Movink’s display feels like an extension of my studio setup. I use the onscreen controls and menus, which are easy to access and customizable, so I don’t need to constantly reach for my keyboard.”
About the artist
Mike Thompson is a Clio Award-winning illustrator and 3D sculptor who has worked in the entertainment industry for decades, with clients such as Netflix, Marvel, Hasbro, Dimension Films, Cartoon Network, and WB. His work has also been featured in books, video games, on movie posters, and on toy packaging, as well as in advertisements for companies like Nike, Infiniti Motors and Coca-Cola.
Follow his work on Artstation, Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube, or check out the Stylus League website or YouTube channel.
