topic Re: Wacom tablets in Modeling

Wacom tablets

Arcadia — Thu, 13 May 2010 00:27:36 GMT

Has anyone tried using archicad with a Wacom tablet? Is it even possible? I have never used a tablet for any application before and don't know much about how they work but if some tasks could be done on them it would take some of the mouse induced strain off my right hand.

Re: Wacom tablets

David Larrew — Thu, 13 May 2010 00:51:11 GMT

At one of my old firms we setup the designers with large tablets. Before I left, they were using the tablets fairly successfully with Photoshop. We tested ArchiCAD on them and had a few glitches with shortcuts and some of the on-screen appearance settings. All-in-all, they worked OK with AC.

Re: Wacom tablets

Rod Jurich — Thu, 13 May 2010 02:08:59 GMT

Arcadia wrote:
Has anyone tried using archicad with a Wacom tablet?/.....

I've been using a tablet for over a year and their latest is great. I have bought a
mouse also but it sits in a drawer rarely used.
Once you get used to the pen, after about a day, you will never go back to any
form of rodent again.
My work flow has speeded up and I use it for all other apps also.

Re: Wacom tablets

Arcadia — Thu, 13 May 2010 02:21:47 GMT

Thats interesting Rod. What model of tablet do you use?

Re: Wacom tablets

Dwight — Thu, 13 May 2010 02:45:50 GMT

On the other hand, I've used a variety of Wacom tablets throughout the years and never was satisfied with the stylus [not that i ever gave it an entire day of trying] for Archicad.

I use the tablet with the mouse and love it.

Re: Wacom tablets

Arcadia — Thu, 13 May 2010 02:53:34 GMT

I use the tablet with the mouse and love it.

How does this work. I mean what actions do you do with the tablet versus the mouse. I have never used a tablet so I am not really familiar with what you can do with them.

Re: Wacom tablets

Dwight — Thu, 13 May 2010 04:07:24 GMT

The mouse is extremely lightweight - no battery or cable.

You push it around the tablet surface.

Wacom makes a five button and scroll wheel unit.

So, you are working with your stylus on the tablet, and it is taking the space of a mouse pad, so why not use a wee mousie right there?

Re: Wacom tablets

Anonymous — Thu, 13 May 2010 04:37:51 GMT

I've been using a tablet for CAD oh... over 10 years now!
Like Rod, Once you get used to it - I'd say a couple of days worth of adjustment you will be off and away.
I keep a mouse (I call it the 'Guest mouse') for visitors and still use it occasionally where you need a steady cursor or where it's really useful to have the scroll button.
For the day to day Cad work I reckon it's faster. If you use an A5 tablet you have the whole 2 (or 1) screens in one wrist span. No mouse lifting involved. I use keyboard short-cuts extensively and this helps among other things not miss the zoom in/out scroll bar and pan button.
Unless you want to do some fancy p-shop work, a close to bottom of the range A5 tablet is plenty good enough - just pick a good brand (like wacom). I use a wacom bamboo at work and an ancient graphire at home. Both A5 size - I have really never needed more space from my tablets.
I started using one because I was doing allot of p-shop work (and for that alone they are worth every penny) but then just got used to using it exclusively instead of a mouse.
Note - I've had friends who have tried to switch from mouse to pen and given up. It's not for everyone.

Re: Wacom tablets

Rod Jurich — Thu, 13 May 2010 08:30:39 GMT

Arcadia wrote:
Thats interesting Rod. What model of tablet do you use?

The Medium
Dwight is right about no cord/batteries but the pen is mightier than the sword er mouse IMO.
The pen is so much lighter and you have the natural feel of a pen/pencil in your hand.

The scroll and short cuts are just so much better than a rodent.
My son just got the wireless version, mine is the one before.