Of MICE and men

[JayC]

So my mouse died some time ago and I had to get a new one. Remember this is for art stuff only as I'm not a big PC gamer.

 

So my plan was to get a decent wireless desktop mouse with a couple of basic additional buttons.

 

I went one of the nearby computer parts shop and the only mouse I found that fit my hand was a gaming mouse.The one I picked was a Bloody R30. I have to say my experience with mouses is pretty limited to generic desktop mouses but this thing blew my mind. I had no idea there where switches available for changing the DPI of the mouse. I can understand this being helpful for gaming but low and behold, this is absolutely genius for art stuff!

I can switch between different DPI on the mouse for different kind of tasks, so if I need precision I select a low DPI and can really pin point those vector points, or if I need to move fast from one point to one other, a few clicks on the DPI settings is all I need to change the feel of the mouse.

 

Like I said, this may be something that all (or some) of you have figured out long ago, but this really helped alot in my way of working!

[THK]

get            a              cheap                 2nd                    hand                      wacom                     bamboo                         pen                         tablet

[Iggy]

^ Double this

[JayC]

I just knew you where gonna call me on that one, hehe...good call mate, I already have a wacom tablet though...but I'm afraid i REALLY REALLY suck at drawing! I tried it a couple of times just to notice I'm way more acurate/steady with a mose lol

[THK]

seriously, they are cheap, especially 2nd hand, and if you get used to it, its soooooo awesome, you'll curse anyone trying to get near PS without one

 

I have a gaming mouse with multiple dpi settings that can also be adjusted in the mouses software. But I only use it with gaming really, I use my pen tablet for everything else as it's more ergonomic and easy (no endlessly dragging your mouse with multiple high res monitors, very intuitive instant touch screen like placement) I highly recommend a pen tablet to anyone remotely interested in doing graphic related stuff, the rest is just bonus

[JayC]

I do understand the advantage and percs of using a drawing tablet, it's just that I have NO drawing powers what so ever...lol

[THK]

but I'm afraid i REALLY REALLY suck at drawing! I tried it a couple of times just to notice I'm way more acurate/steady with a mose lol

 

you really don't need to be good at drawing. If I ever plan to actually draw digitally on any level, I'll get a pen display. The tablet is just way more accurate and intuitive in most tasks you'll do in PS etc. The drawing that you do is nothing like drawing with pen/pencil on paper, don;t expect it to be. I'm still on my cheap bamboo just because I haven't broken it yet to have an excuse to buy a more expensive one. 

It's just really weird when starting out, but once the ball drops, you'll never look back

 

Just use it, try it in PS and even windows tasks to get used to it. You mostly don't need the pressure sensitivity, just make sure you set up your buttons correctly.

I have the tip set to left mouse button, the double buttons on the shaft set to double click & right click and the button on the back I never use, because turning around your pen isn't efficient anyway.

 

I used to be pretty good at hand drawing, spent most of my time at school drawing cartoons and graffiti. But yeah, I don't really use the pen to draw that way. And you really won't need for retouching/repairing/redrawing the stuff we do. It's not like we're drawing detailed stuff from scratch in Manga Studio or something

 

Even just with redrawing with shapes/paths in PS/AI, where you really just placing points and dragging anchors, no drawing whatsoever, the pen is faster, more accurate & more comfortable to use.