RESOLVED - Graphics Pads / Pens / Touch Screens

[LHammonds]

Does anyone use input devices other than keyboard and mouse when it comes to creating models or 2D artwork?

 

If so, what do you use and how well does it work?

 

Examples:

Watcom Intuos4

 

LHammonds

[Nimboss]

I got my self a solid 3D "mouse" that is fast and intuitive to navigate around in 3D programs in free fly to inspect the current objects. In my case I use a plugin for Blender to make use of it. Cost around 150€ where I live.

 

This was the instep model called SpaceNavigator looks a bit of a toy but is a heavy piece and distinct in using. More info here -> 3dconnexion

If you're made of money they have some real fancy models with lot of buttons and programmable functions :biggrin:

I have not used it in heavy modeling since in my case have right hand locked on mouse and left on keyboard for all commands. But it is fast and easy to inspect and move around to get a visual of current work with this tool.

 

 

The only other devices I can think of to speed up creation is modifiable keyboards like this -> Ergodex DX1 Input System

Have not tested that one but I can see the benefit if you have a fixed setup of commands and are serious to get best ergonomi and speed.

 

I'm also interested if anyone have found more devices that can improve/speed up creating things so please add on ... :)

[LHammonds]

Thanks for the reply. I was actually looking for a device to help in the "creation" of 2D and 3D objects. I have no problem navigating with keyboard+mouse at all. The connexion 3D mouse looks like it would not help much more than just providing a different method of navigation (speculation). Can you use it in painting programs or during the process of creating a 3D model...at least better than a normal mouse?

 

The ability to spin, flip, rotate and zoom are all easily done using a mouse wheel on a normal mouse. The demo I saw for the 3D mouse did not seem to do much more than that.

 

As for the keyboard with moving keys, I think I'd rather just have a programmable keyboard. I can easily see keys getting lost or finally getting the right "feel" of the layout only to have to re-config for something else and not being able to quickly / easily get the other configuration back...which kinda defeats the point I think.

 

LHammonds

[Nimboss]

Sorry, Bit late here have to hit bed, but I don't fetch if you use/used tablet when creating 2D or for that case 3D?

 

The 3D "mouse" is dependent of how much love it get from manufacturers and users creating plugins for their favorite application, for me I'm faster with mouse and keyboard too so currently it not aiding much in creation.

 

To generally speed up creation is more having a toolbox of nifty applications and plugins for the current programs you use or improve/change work flow because generally there is not much that beats keyboard/mouse (except a tablet when making 2d paintworks). The other way would be to use traditional methods like clay and hand painting and 3D or 2D scan to digital form. Not faster but gives totally another dimension for the artistic process :smile:

 

Cheers

Nimboss

[LHammonds]

Anyone using these kinds of tools with Photoshop, BodyPaint, ZBrush, Blender, etc.?

 

Just curious if there is any real benefit / use in having one. I'm guessing these are more like toys for anyone other than 2D artists that are simply use to (trained in) artwork holding a pen.

 

Thanks,

LHammonds

[Vagrant0]

Just curious if there is any real benefit / use in having one. I'm guessing these are more like toys for anyone other than 2D artists that are simply use to (trained in) artwork holding a pen.

When working on a 2d image, working with a pen is likely easier to manipulate for things like freehand circles, and other shapes which can typically be hard to do on a mouse, especially when you are using brush settings in photoshop where the time that the pointer remains in any one section is crucial to the overall look, passes cannot be overlapped without making things look bad (airbrush). If you can do this well enough for your needs with a mouse, the learning curve involved with adjusting to a pen might not provide any benefit in the short term. People who are more familiar with using a pen and not having to look at what they're doing, a skill artists often employ when sketching something, however would have an easier time.

 

For 3d work, I'm not familiar with anyone that uses a pen. A stylus that is mounted to a armature and is specifically designed to return points in 3d space however can be useful when you want to duplicate a complex real-world object into a computer model, but can be extremely costly and has limited application. I would imagine that a pen would not be particularly good for 3d work since, instead of needing precise control when moving points around, you really need more ability to switch between grabbing objects, selecting objects, rotating view, zooming in and out. 3d objects also tend to be far more forgiving when it comes to making minor corrections later.

 

Then again, I've never used one myself, and have only had experiences with older versions.

[dthumb]

I prefer the mouse over a tablet when it comes to blender, but for freehand drawings I'd use the pen. Zbrush is built for pen use, but compensates for the lack of a tablet with lazymouse, unless you really want to go serious about sculpting, then I'd suggest a pen.

 

For Graphics softwares, yes! It's sooo fun to use.

 

Vagrant0's right, there's a bit of getting used to using a pen.

 

Animation and Graphics Studios use tablet hardware to increase or speed up production. The cheapest you can go is with a Wacom Bamboo (this is what I have at home) , though it does come with a useless mouse that's more useful as paperweight. And even cheaper (depends on the region I think) is getting a Genius Tablet My link.

 

Difference between Wacom and Genius.

 

Genius - cheaper

- pen needs batteries

 

Wacom - expensive

- high pressure sensitivity

- they patent alot of their tech, so you won't see it anywhere else. (their old display screens get so hot you'll get a tan)

 

The Wacom Intuos line is too expensive for me. But if I had that kind of money, I'd go with a Cintiq My link.

 

As for games, don't use a pen. (I tried Fable a long time ago at work with a Wacom Pen and Display Tablet. The moment I touched the screen with the pen tip, the camera spinned all over the place!)

 

 

How to destroy (just putting it there, broke a Cintiq at work)

 

-pour alcohol/juice/water over tablet

-place desired magnet on tablet

[LHammonds]

I have come to the conclusion from extensive reading (and input here) that such devices are really for artists coming from a pen/paper world and are highly trained using a pen in the career field.

 

For me, I am not an artist, I am not trained in the arcane arts of pen-work and I do not have a career in the field...thus, it seems obvious that such a device would be underutilized and basically wasted in my household.

 

Thanks for the input everyone,

LHammonds