Mice or tablets?

by **Mjinga** on Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:29 pm

I'm just curious... how many mapmakers have/use tablets and how many use mice.

by **wcaclimbing** on Sat Jul 26, 2008 11:17 pm

I use both, at the same time!
I'm left-handed, so I use the tablet with my left hand, and my right hand controls the mouse at the same time.
Its really fast. I use the mouse for all the point-click stuff and the tablet to draw stuff. No awkward switches between tablet and mouse for me.

Only problem is when I have to use keyboard shortcuts. I must use my feet! (j/k)

by **ZeakCytho** on Sat Jul 26, 2008 11:19 pm

For what little graphics work I do, I use a mouse. I don't have a tablet, but then again, I don't really do anything that necessitates me having one, so I'm not inclined to spend money on one. If I had one, I'd probably use it, though.

by **TaCktiX** on Sun Jul 27, 2008 12:52 am

I presently use a mouse and due to all the nitpicky little details I shoved into The Citadel, I've gotten really good at controlling it. However, I know the usefulness of a tablet and will begin using one as soon as I have the money handy to afford it (shouldn't be much longer).

by **mibi** on Sun Jul 27, 2008 9:42 am

I use both. Having dual monitors, I have to limit the scope of my tablet area or else I get an elongated effect. So sometimes I just have to use the mouse for things especially if I have moved pallets and toolbars to the other monitor. I use the 6x8 Wacom Intuos3, which i recommend over the Graphire, which I also have.

I use the tablet or mouse depending on the type of creating I am doing. Troy was almost entirely tablet as there are hardly and straight lines, where as Supermax was alsmot entirely mouse as there are hardly any curved ones.

I do reccomend a tablet though if you really want to take your skills to the next level, although I must warn people, it can take a long time to get used to and can be very frustrating at times. I got a tablet, got frustrated which it, and shelved it for a several months before i took it out and tried again.

by **bryguy** on Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:21 pm

I use a mouse. I have never had a tablet, but if I could get my hands on one, then I would use both

by **edbeard** on Sun Jul 27, 2008 11:10 pm

I use the touchpad on my laptop

by **pamoa** on Mon Jul 28, 2008 9:41 am

edbeard wrote:I use the touchpad on my laptop

Is that why you prefer not doing maps?

by **edbeard** on Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:08 pm

pamoa wrote:
edbeard wrote:I use the touchpad on my laptop

Is that why you prefer not doing maps?

well if I had a good tablet, I might be more interested in messing around with graphics but the reason I'm leaning towards not doing more maps is because of all the time and work involved.

I've always been one to post my ideas in the ideas sticky and I think the ideas forum allows for that much more so. That's why I posted the congo idea. I hope someone will take it up but I don't really feel like making it.

by **gimil** on Sat Aug 02, 2008 8:17 am

edbeard wrote:I use the touchpad on my laptop

Touch pads suck >.<

I had to use it on portugal, it was the most frustrating thing ive ever had to do. I now use my lil ol reliable mouse. However I would probably like to try a tablet to see what its like.

by **oaktown** on Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:50 pm

I have the same tablet (wacom) mentioned above by mibi. It is extremely helpful for some work, but I wouldn't recommend that new mapmakers rush out and buy one hoping it will make them an artist overnight. It takes a lot of experimenting and getting used to in order to figure out how you want to use it - and everything you'll need to learn about Photoshop (or another app) you can learn with the mouse.

by **Timminz** on Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:10 pm

We have 2 Wacom 4x5 tablets. One completely unopened. I don't do any graphic design (these days), but my fiancee is taking 3D animation in school.

If anyone is interested in an unopened 4x5 tablet, they should PM me.