“Went to PC World for a microwave… came home with a graphics tablet. Turns out the Wacom One is brilliant for astrophotography editing. Here are my first impressions!”
First Impressions of the Wacom One: The Graphics
Tablet I Definitely Didn’t Mean to Buy
You know those days when you pop into PC World for something
sensible and grown‑up — like a microwave — and somehow walk out with a
completely different gadget that absolutely wasn’t on the shopping list?
Yeah. That happened.
Maggie (a.k.a. The Boss) left triumphantly with a shiny new
microwave to replace our dearly departed ten‑year‑old model.
I, on the other hand, walked out with a One by Wacom graphics tablet that had been sitting all
lonely in the “last one available” bin – the digital equivalent of a puppy at
the rescue centre giving me the look.
It was heavily discounted. It called to me. And honestly —
it would’ve been rude not to.
What Is the ‘One by Wacom?’
The One by Wacom is an entry‑level, screenless
graphics tablet designed for beginners, hobbyists, and people like me who
didn’t know they needed one until they were halfway to the checkout.
It plugs into your laptop or desktop and lets you draw,
paint, or - in my case - edit astrophotography with far more finesse than a
trackpad or mouse ever could.
Mine came with:
- A
lightweight stylus
- USB
cable
- Three
replacement nibs
- A
nib‑removal tool
- A
quick‑start guide that was… well… more “quick” than “guide”
Thankfully, Wacom’s website has proper manuals, drivers, and
setup videos. I downloaded the driver, plugged it in, and hey presto —
instant plug‑and‑play success.
“But Steve… Why Buy One?”
Excellent question.
I asked myself the same thing while Maggie compared microwave wattages.
A quick bit of research revealed that graphics tablets are
brilliant for:
- Selections
and masking
- Brush
work
- Fine
detail adjustments
- Anything
requiring precision
Basically, all the fiddly bits of editing Milky Way shots in
Affinity Photo that make a mouse feel like trying to paint the Mona Lisa
with a potato cut.
I’m no artist - this isn’t for sketching dragons or
designing logos.
This is purely a tool to improve my astrophotography editing workflow.
And after a few sessions… I’m genuinely impressed.
Strengths (So Far)
✔️ A bargain find
Discounted, affordable, and great value — especially
compared to online prices.
✔️ Ridiculously simple setup
No buttons, no fuss. Plug it in and start drawing.
✔️ Lightweight and travel‑friendly
Slim, portable, and sturdy enough to survive being thrown
into my rucksac.
✔️ Battery‑free stylus
Uses EMR technology - no charging, no batteries, no faff.
The nibs will eventually wear down, apparently, but I’ve no idea how long that
takes.
Feels a bit like using my favourite mechanical pencil – without the push button
bit at the top.
✔️ Feels like drawing on paper
Once your brain adjusts to “draw down here on tablet, look
up there at screen”, it becomes surprisingly natural.
Hovering the pen moves the cursor; tapping the surface clicks.
Accuracy is excellent.
✔️ Plenty of online tutorials
If you get stuck, YouTube has your back.
Weaknesses (Because Nothing’s Perfect)
❌ No Bluetooth
You’re tethered by USB.
❌ No shortcut buttons
Some tablets have customisable buttons for quick actions - this
one doesn’t. I’m ambivalent about this.
❌ The hand–eye adjustment period
Drawing on the tablet while looking at the screen feels odd
at first.
If your hand‑eye coordination is good, you’ll adapt quickly.
If not… practice helps.
❌ The pen feels a bit plasticky
Not fragile, but not premium either.
The two side buttons? Still not entirely sure what they do.
❌ Limited drawing area
When editing near the bottom of my laptop screen, I run out
of tablet space and end up repositioning my hand constantly. At times my hand
rests on the desk, my pen on the bottom edge of the tablet – uncomfortable!
Final Thoughts (For Now)
For the price I paid, the One by Wacom is
absolutely worth it.
It’s simple, compact, and has already improved my astrophotography editing
workflow - - especially for masking and fine brush work.
It’s definitely a beginner‑friendly or budget‑friendly
tablet.
Perfect for photo editing, perhaps a bit limited for serious sketching.
In a few months, I’ll revisit this post with real examples
of how it’s performed during Milky Way season and whether it’s earned a
permanent place in my editing toolkit.
For now?
I really like it.
