tablets vs cintiq ( or similar)
insane polycounter
so yeah finally got around to trying my missus' ugee for sculpting( in zbrush) and i now realize that I don't really like working directly on the screen.
My brain is so attuned to working on a tablet/monitor setup that it just seems alien - also half of the screen is hidden with my flipping hand:)
I wish I could switch between left and right handedness
The worst thing is it really gives me eye strain and I feel too close to the screen, kind of hunched over.
In terms of brush strokes it's interesting to try at least ,as I had to change my approach slightly to get the same results. I ended up working in a more sketchy fashion, but maybe I am just not used to it or need to adjust the pen pressure settings ( not many options tbh)
looking at some other forums re 2d work, a lot of people used them for line work only, but paint with the tablet/monitor
I might try it again tomorrow, but I am a tad disappointed tbh, not with the ugee but the concept itself. I really love my intuos 3, had the same nib for about 2 years now
nice to hear some other opinions
My brain is so attuned to working on a tablet/monitor setup that it just seems alien - also half of the screen is hidden with my flipping hand:)
I wish I could switch between left and right handedness
The worst thing is it really gives me eye strain and I feel too close to the screen, kind of hunched over.
In terms of brush strokes it's interesting to try at least ,as I had to change my approach slightly to get the same results. I ended up working in a more sketchy fashion, but maybe I am just not used to it or need to adjust the pen pressure settings ( not many options tbh)
looking at some other forums re 2d work, a lot of people used them for line work only, but paint with the tablet/monitor
I might try it again tomorrow, but I am a tad disappointed tbh, not with the ugee but the concept itself. I really love my intuos 3, had the same nib for about 2 years now
nice to hear some other opinions
Replies
I can understand why it would appeal to people with traditional drawing/painting backgrounds but I have pretty much exclusively worked digitally since the day I got my first tablet so I have no real nostalgia or habits from traditional work.
the biggest issue I've had, and it's a doozy (thanks posture), is that my arm has been raised high to use the fucking screen. causing pretty big back issues. I try not to slouch forward and I put the screen as low as I'm able now, but for quite a while I was painting/sculpting with my hand at head height. Not good. The other issue is where to put the keyboard to use it. With the Arm it's easier since it floats above, but in the past I'd have to fit it behind the cintiq somewhere, as on the side was far too uncomfortable.
I will still occasionally use my intuos for comfort or just modelling in general. It really is a tradeoff, and I'm glad both options are available.
aside from that it would seem fiddly to use complex interfaces that way with palettes and buttons placed all over the screen.
Mostly same reasons as you other folk, I want to see as much of my work as possible - don't want my hand covering up any of it, better for my eyes to sit farther away from my screen, etc.
I love me some pencil/paper, but for some reason a tablet/monitor setup to me feels more natural and closer to traditional media than something like a Cintiq. Maybe it's the feeling of the tablet surface. Maybe it's that it feels notably unnatural to have my face inches away from a screen emitting hundreds of colored lights into my eyeballs.
I think perhaps part of the reason I never liked the Cintiq type deals was that - yes, while there is a disconnect between what your hand is doing and what you're looking at when working with a tablet/monitor, that disconnect is part of what helps isolate the work. It hides some of the discrepancies that come with working digitally. With a tablet/monitor, all I'm looking at is the screen and the things that show up there. I see the size and shape of my brushes, and when I use them - they show up as expected, just as I see them. When I'm working on a Cintiq, I can see that my pen is touching just a small portion of the screen with the nib, but I might be using a huge brush with all sorts of texture to it, and my brain doesn't like that disconnect in the results compared to what it's expecting. Maybe the tablet just helps hide some of that, and lets me focus on "I made a mark, and a mark has appeared. Yay."
I also dig desk space. And having more money.
if this is directed towards me then the only cintiqs i have ever used were the 24HDs with the big stand. that stand was a major improvement but i still tend to hunch and look down somewhat, giving me 'text neck'. and it's still too close to the face for my taste. the ones with the older stands or the short stubby legs i find properly unusable (without an aftermarket stand/arm).
tbh. i wouldn't want to do a job where i was looking down onto a sheet of paper for extended periods either. i seem to recall these classic disney animators in the old days suffered from all sorts of ailments as well. i find the standard computer posture quite relaxing on the other hand. and it does allow to readjust the eyes frequently for longer distances.
so far my best solution is to just rig up most used hotkeys to the numpad and slide it to the left, it is funny though I have been drawing more then normally the past 2 weeks and thus have been hunched over my tablet, but until you guys mentioned posture I didn't realize the pain in my neck right now might be related lol.
I definitely hate hunching over it. My work habits are going to turn me into the hunchback of Notre Damme i guess.
Also, don't buy a cintiq. Nobody needs to buy a cintiq. They're over-priced, have unsexy build-quality/materials, and design. Should be leagues better considering what they go for. The largest one is 1440p resolution (that price should get you 4k). I'm just an edge-case that got sprung out of depression by buying one and am still using it, but now that I don't need that kickstart I'm realizing that it creates bad posture and habits. Good thing I still have an intuos medium to fall back on.
I always found the tablet on desk option super awkward and doing lines or fine precise work felt really awkward and irritating.
I guess to each his own, just try out the options and go with what makes you feel comfortable / happy.
I have had to mount my cintiqs at work and home in creative ways so I am not hunched over all day. I would also say stretching, exercise, weight training after work to open up your back after hunching over so long is super important. I find I have to do that.
For modelling and sculpting i prefer an intuos pro Large ( i also own an intuos 3 but i want to upgrade to a new intuos pro L, my brother has the past generation of intuos, and compared to mine, is a huge diference, in response and pressure).
I know too many people that own intuos, cintiq and now the new Mobilestudio 13/16. At the end, all is to practise and get customised to the intuos or the cintiq.
I know when I used to use a Surface Pro, it would always cause me either neck pain or wrist pain depending on where I placed it.
Theoretically a big enough Cintiq would circumvent that, since you wouldn't need to lean in so much. But I think most people would be inclined to lean forward regardless to get a closer look. Artists definitely do that a lot in the videos I've seen.
lately bought a odys vario pro 12, which is a atom based convertible with pen. feels way more comfortable,
for budged (odys is about 250€ and cintiq about 800)
=> pen enabled convertibles /tablets are way better (atleast when one likes drawing liing on the floor, or on couch)
eye strain stuff is the same on both tho
Cabling was an issue for me (smallish desk) and I just couldn't adjust the brightness of the Cintiq to a level where it was balanced between straining my eyes and giving accurate colour ref.
I have an pretty old Cintiq 21UX, which I love.
But 1600x1200 is not that much space.
For travelling I have an intuos pro S.
So I installed this too.
Now I have both worlds.
On Cintiq it is much easier for me personally to work very precisely.
But this is often not necessary, specially in some sculpting processes, like tweaking or blendshapes creation, imho.
Now I can use one of the 1920x1200 monitor with intuos pro S and as soon as I need more precision, i'll switch to my cintiq.
The Cintiq stands on my L formed table on the side, as I am not using it on a daily basis.
I used to work on a intuos2 A4, which was too big and always in my way.
As I said, I am not using it fulltime, more or less than 15% of my work.
Since I got my ipad pro 9,7" with Apple pencil, infinite painter & procreate, I am not using the Desktop that much for sketching anymore.
Huions are dirt cheap and look like they could do the trick but since they never get mentioned I have reservations...