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  1. #1

    Default Tablet Position

    While looking at the PenMoto video I noticed that the tablet was set up square to the keyboard and screen. I normally use my tablet at an angle....

    I did some google-foo and discovered the "ergonomic" approach is square:

    Once you find a comfortable location for your tablet you will want to affix it to the work-surface in order to maintain its exact position in relation to your monitor, aligning them to each-other along the same parallel plane. This is critical to learning, and mastering the necessary eye/hand coordination between your monitor and the tablet. If the table is moved or rotated even slightly you will need to relearn the necessary eye/hand coordination. You can affix the tablet to your desk with double-sided tape or museum putty.
    This was from the brilliant illustrator Kevin Hulsey.

    He also has suggestions on layout:


    (from http://www.khulsey.com/computer-work...rgonomics.html )

    I also need a mouse as I find it is hard to do node manipulation with a tablet in most software.

    Any graphic tablet users want to share their layout?

    -Rob A>

  2. #2
    Community Leader Facebook Connected torstan's Avatar
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    Default

    I have mine to the right of my laptop and at a slight angle. I like to be able to have the same distance to my keyboard as my tablet as I use both constantly - so having the keyboard further away would not work for me at all.

  3. #3

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    My tablet is usually stored behind my monitor, when I bring it out I have it directly in front of my keyboard. I've been meaning to move my second monitor to the right (I'm right handed ) for some time but it means a total reorganisation of cables etc. so...sometime soon.
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  4. #4
    Professional Artist Facebook Connected Coyotemax's Avatar
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    My desktop setup is very much like Ravells - except my monitors are ahead and to the right (the way you say you want it set up). I have a keyboard shelf that pulls out under the desk, that's where I keep the tablet and mouse (usually I use the one on the tablet), then reach up to use the keyboard.

    When I'm using the laptop at the dining room table I use the tablet directly in front of the keyboard (square), no mouse, just the pen. If I'm sitting at the couch I keep the laptop on the tray in front of me and the tablet in my lap. No angles, though I can deal with it if need be (not so much now that I was able to justify upgrading to cs5 and can rotate the canvas on a whim)

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  5. #5
    Guild Journeyer Moe's Avatar
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    I had to get used to a different layout as I am not at home for one year. Normally I prefer a slightly different setup back home but now it looks like this:

    ____[Monitor]____
    |
    _[Keyboard][Mouse]_
    |
    ______[Tablet]______
    |
    ______[Moe (°.°)]_____


    I reach the Keyboard easily with my elbows situated left and right to the tablet (usually the pen is behind my right ear ),
    the center of the screen is the center of the tablet is the center of the Moe.
    If I stare at the country long enough
    I can prise it off the paper,
    lift it like a flap of skin.
    - Moniza Alvi, 1993 -

  6. #6
    Community Leader jfrazierjr's Avatar
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    ROFL... ergonomic is NOT how I would call most of my drawing(perhaps that's why I have such problems!). In about 80% of the time, I am sitting in my adjustable bed with head raised about 45 degrees and knees/legs about the same with my laptop on my lap... then.. my tablet is sitting SIDEWAYS on my chest to that it's inline with my right arm bent at around a 30 degree angle... yea... I probably looks as funny as it sounds....

    Since I have a laptop.. the other 20% of the time, I usually have the laptop close to the edge of the work surface and my tablet to the right and away from the edge a few inches and at about a 10-20 degree angle...
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  7. #7
    Guild Expert eViLe_eAgLe's Avatar
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    Default

    Computer
    Tablet - Mouse.

    And I am right handed, I dunno why my setup is like this.

  8. #8
    Administrator Facebook Connected Diamond's Avatar
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    My computer table has a separate shelf underneath the main table for the keyboard, which makes it easy just to roll it out of the way/roll it back out, allowing me to leave my tablet right in front on the main table surface. I'm right handed, so when I first got my tablet I tried angling it to the left slightly, thinking that would be more ergonomic, but through trial and error, I've found that for me, having it directly aligned with the monitor actually does work better, with the mouse to the right of the tablet.

  9. #9
    Community Leader Facebook Connected Ascension's Avatar
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    Mine is much like Moe and Ravs but I sit in my easy chair and when I work with the tablet I turn to face the monitor head on and sit cross-legged and then draw. Otherwise I sit in my easy chair normally so that I can turn my head and see the tv in the other direction (in this pic it would be lower left) and do everything with my right arm on the desk manipulating the mouse. I have a cordless keyboard and mouse so I move them around a lot but this is how I look when drawing. The pic makes it look like I sit on the arm of the chair but I sit in the middle of the chair, I just don't draw well with a mouse. When not using the keyboard and/or tablet they go on the roll-out shelf underneath the desk top.
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  10. #10
    Administrator waldronate's Avatar
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    When I use my tablet, it's usually held in the crook of my left arm like I hold a writing tablet (I have the 8"x6" Intuos 3 that's just the length from the crook of my elbow to the crook of my wrist). Then again, my artistic ability is slightly less than that of a rock.

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