Mouse Tablet

Over the years, no matter which graphics tablet I was using, whether it was an Aiptek or a Watcom, there are certain techniques that I've found to apply regardless. After the first couple that I tried and got used to, I noticed that tablet pen drawing is much more about technique than it is about technology.

So hold off on cursing the new slim tablet you just bought. Or, heaven forbid, decide to go back to the sketch and scan days of old. I've outlined seven tips below to get you through those initial awkward stages so that you can get to being a productive production artist as soon as possible. I've covered things from finding the right height and angle to what software options you should be using. Consider this a quick start guide to gearing up your new digitizing drawing hand.

1. Find the right height Ergonomics are obviously important in any work space. For tablet drawing, reducing the chance of reptitive injuries is important, but equally important is finding a comfortable pen drawing height so that you can create without distraction or annoyance. A good rule of thumb for finding the right height is for the tablet to rest at the same height as your elbows will be when sitting in a working position in your desk chair. This does not have to be exact however, and there is certainly leeway to be a bit higher or lower. It's up to you to determine what works the most comfortably, but generally I've found that slightly lower than elbow height works the best for me, and it also alleviates any unusual pressure on my wrists.

2. Angled or flat? Conventional thought is to work on a flat surface. However, I've had most of my drawing experience drafting or sketching on an easel or angled drawing board, and I find this works well for tablet drawing too. I find this gives me finer motor control if the tablet is angled up. Some designers that I've talked to find that a slightly downward angled position is the most comfortable as it allows their arm to move smoothly. There is no disadvantage to not being able to see what you're doing on the tablet as you'll be looking at what's occuring on the monitor anyway. Experiment with a few different angles or flat surfaces for your first few projects until you discover what's most comfortable for you.

3. Don't use stylus on paper directly! Some people complain that the way the stylus moves on the tablet is too smooth and artificial feeling. It also becomes a matter of control as certain lines might slip well out of your prefered arc. To solve this, I've known some people to place a piece of paper between the pen and the tablet in order to recreate the feel of natural drawing. This isn't a good idea as the stylus tip can wear down more quickly due to the added friction and will have to be replaced. Instead, in 7 Tips for Tablet Pen Drawing- Part 2 I've outlined an alternate solution to this problem...

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