[Renderizer]

Hi all you Wacom users out there!



This post is especially for those of you who run a dual monitor setup in combination with a Wacom device.

If you do belong to this people, you have probably run into the fact that there is no fast and easy way to switch the tablet's mapping to another monitor.

Suggestions as to how to implement such a feature have been forwarded to Wacom for quite a long time now, but to no avail.

Wacom love to point out that the current driver structure (which dates back to '98) doesn't allow for such a feature.

Wacom stated that "It was definitely decided not to implement a button to toggle mapping, even so we basically find, that the idea is not bad."

There is a whole thread in the Wacom forum dedicated to this topic.

Go and have a looksee yourself at:http://www.wacom-europe.com/forum/to...=&TOPIC_ID=665

If you read the thread carefully and in it's entirety, you'll notice that it was started way back on 20/04/2002 - that's two years gone without any effect besides a lot of unnerved users.

Wacom says there are practically no users who run a dual display setup at all, which is definitely wrong these days, as I know from lots of specific threads on the CG boards.

All replys from Wacom do away with any suggestions in a pretty arrogant manner, and the tenor is: got two displays? buy another tablet!

The reason I'm posting all this is because I want you to go over to the Wacom site and post a request for some kind of 'toggle tablet mapping' feature.

Again, here's the link to the thread: http://www.wacom-europe.com/forum/to...=&TOPIC_ID=665

Please send your requests and/or suggestions also to support@wacom-europe.com to further broaden any possible impact.

After two years of 'we're not going to do that' some of us are pretty fed up...


Thank you for your support,


Renderizer (Mario)

[Mark]

Strange - I've been running a Wacom tablet with dual displays now for about 6 months and have no problems whatsoever. My Wacom simply maps across both screens with no difficulty at all....

[Renderizer]

Hmmm...I can now see that I should have been more precise...

There is no problem in mapping the tablet to both displays, that's not my point.

But: mapping the whole tablet to both displays not only effectively reduces the horizontal resolution (and hence the precision) but also distorts the aspect ratio of the screen/tablet relationship (shapes appear squashed horizontally).

Especially when doing real paintwork, this is rather annoying.

It would be nice to have a means to switch the mapped area to different monitors: the whole tablet is mapped to one single display, and with the use of a button (for example, you could use the Intuos' tabletbuttons for this) you switch the mapping to the 2nd monitor.

[MarkR]

I am running two moniters and was thinking of getting a tablet, any brand suggestions?

[Renderizer]

Well...given the quality, the precision and the overall handling, I'd always go with a Wacom, even though they come at a price.

But then, with the Wacom pens, there's not need for batteries, so that makes for some savings.

I'm using a 12x12 and are pretty satisfied with it (some specific driver functionality left aside).

So if you can afford it, go with a Wacom - preferably an Intuos2, but that's really up to your budget and to what you want to do with it.

Hope that helps!

[MarkR]

Thanks, that does help. How has working in Lightwave improved for you using the pen over a mouse? I can imagine it's much better for some things. Does it limit anything?

I just started an animation class at our local community college and we use Maya. The teacher used to work for Pixar, but had to quit because of a bad case of carpel tunnel.
I started to get that when I worked at a lumber mill and I know it's bad, your whole hand and wrist lock up and you're hand is either stuck open or in a fist. You have to pry your hand open.
I don't know but I see working for Pixar being like playing in the Super Bowl. Just give me a cortisone shot and put me back in the game.

[Mark]

Personally, I'd suggest not using a Tablet in Lightwave. I've tried to use mine on several occasions, but always revert back to the good old mouse.

Where the tablet comes into it's own though is in Photoshop for painting textures. You gain a degree of precision that you just don't get with a mouse. Plus, using the tablet feels much more 'natural' - like real painting - only without the mess.

[Renderizer]

Ouch, that hurts...I once got a very slight carped tunnel, as well as a tendon inflamation, from playing guitar - had to relearn my all my fingerings, which took some time, but now it's gone for more than six years!

As to my lightwave work using the Wacom, well...I have to confess that I'm using Maya... *runs for cover*

And with Maya I don't use it all too much, but I use it almost exclusively with Combustion and Photoshop.

I just can't imagine doing textures or matte paintings without the Wacom anymore. Rocks!

And here, for you to learn: mice are filthy and disease spreading rodents that belong on the floor not on your desktop! Brrrr...

As to your teacher: what a poor chap! I watched the making-of for monsters, and got the impression that working at Pixar must be huge fun. A very poor chap indeed...my condolences.