Wacom Pen in SketchUp?

harnstein · 8 Apr 2012, 12:11

I guess different strokes for different folks.

True.

I' always open to change my way of working, so may i ask how (roughly) you do work?

The difference between the Intuos4 and 5 is just the optional touch capability (and optional wireless extension), right?
I don't really like the buttons on the side of the tablet, they work but could be better.

Anyway, you have set the buttons on the side to match the mouse buttons i guess? But you need to use two hands to orbit and zoom etc.?

Where do you think is the benefit of using the tablet instead of the mouse (beside no having the pain from using a mouse too long)?

pilou · 8 Apr 2012, 12:39

@unknownuser said:

No but perhaps I should.

But maybe Sketchup will lost a fervent Guru

mwm5053 · 8 Apr 2012, 15:01

@unknownuser said:

@unknownuser said:

No but perhaps I should.

But maybe Sketchup will lost a fervent Guru

I doubt and hope that doesn't happen but what a price difference in the Wacom Pen and the Genius F509

sonder · 8 Apr 2012, 21:04

@harnstein said:

I' always open to change my way of working, so may i ask how (roughly) you do work?

The difference between the Intuos4 and 5 is just the optional touch capability (and optional wireless extension), right?
I don't really like the buttons on the side of the tablet, they work but could be better.

Anyway, you have set the buttons on the side to match the mouse buttons i guess? But you need to use two hands to orbit and zoom etc.?

Where do you think is the benefit of using the tablet instead of the mouse (beside no having the pain from using a mouse too long)?

I actually have the Intuous 3 so, I am in need of an upgrade. I set all the buttons to specific key controls and mouse conrols. Yes you use two hands to orbit, one to zoom (slide bar). It feels very natural and the simple fact that the tablet actually matches the screen, there is no scroll/pickup on the mouse. This is a huge difference for speed and accuracy when moving through the model. And while it takes two hands to orbit, you can also orbit and zoom at the same time.

andybot · 9 Apr 2012, 11:22

This is an interesting thread! I have a Bambu that I use for Photoshop, but I've never thought to try it for Sketchup. Might not have the functionality to make it useful, but anyway, makes me think it's worth a try.

@Sonder - so with two hands for the 3d mouse, do you use the keyboard at all? I use keyboard shortcuts constantly, so seems it would be a pain to have to switch back and forth.

sonder · 9 Apr 2012, 15:42

@andybot said:

This is an interesting thread! I have a Bambu that I use for Photoshop, but I've never thought to try it for Sketchup. Might not have the functionality to make it useful, but anyway, makes me think it's worth a try.

@Sonder - so with two hands for the 3d mouse, do you use the keyboard at all? I use keyboard shortcuts constantly, so seems it would be a pain to have to switch back and forth.

I don't use a 3d mouse. My keyboard sits right above my tablet, so switching is extremely easy - no more difficult than it would be with a mouse.

Krisidious · 23 Jan 2014, 21:04

Ended up not liking the wacom with SketchUp... Resold it on ebay for the same price I bought it for.

hygicell · 25 Feb 2014, 11:32

I spent 4 extremely painful days in which I absolutely could not use my right hand any more, even had to lift and carry it with my right hand. Painkillers didn't help. Bought a pen and tablet and a space navigator, am now learning to use them

pbacot · 25 Feb 2014, 16:01

Have a pad and never used it. Lazy? Complacent? IDK. Always think I'll try.

Regarding mice, I wish to interject--people need to learn to use them, if they still do. Vary height position, type of mouse, pad. speed etc. I learned early to rest my hand in a natural position, turn the power way up, and move mostly with fingertips. Always working on it though--posture that is. Not only the wrist but shoulder and neck have to be watched.

kaas · 25 Feb 2014, 16:14

@andybot said:

This is an interesting thread! I have a Bambu that I use for Photoshop, but I've never thought to try it for Sketchup. Might not have the functionality to make it useful, but anyway, makes me think it's worth a try.

I have a bamboo too but never used it in SketchUp more than 5 minutes. This thread gave me the idea to try it and I must say: it takes an hour to get used to but it works fine. The bamboo has 4 programmable buttons but the click sound annoyed me after a while so instead I use my keyboard shortcuts. The pen-button is configured to double click. I used the same pan and zoom shortcut in LayOut and that works fine as well.

Bamboo area is 15 x 9 cm. I wonder if having a double area is better or not.

Will try it for the next few days.

kaas · 4 Mar 2014, 13:38

Question: is there a way to exit a keyboard activated pan/zoom/orbit operation without 'breaking' the use of a tool (for instance the line tool) other than right-clicking and choosing exit?

For instance: choose line - click a point - click a point -press keyboard for pan - ... - continue from last point of line?

dmatho · 4 Mar 2014, 13:49

FYI, way back in the days of @Last SketchUp guru-extraordinaire Yasser used a Wacom+Pen. I was sold and amazed (this was v1.xxx); his hands moving around the UI were like a ballerina on a dance floor

. Diego .

Box · 4 Mar 2014, 13:51

Kaas, if you set the pen button to middle mouse button you can orbit and pan without needing to change tools.

Dave R · 4 Mar 2014, 13:54

Did you try hitting Esc? That works for me.

kaas · 4 Mar 2014, 14:08

@Box and @Dave R -> you both are right! A bit <duh> moment for me... Thanks a lot!

Dave R · 4 Mar 2014, 14:15

I don't like using SketchUp on my Cintiq but if I did, I would probably set one of the buttons on the side to Esc so I wouldn't have to reach for the keyboard for that one.

tt_su · 4 Mar 2014, 14:19

@dave r said:

I don't like using SketchUp on my Cintiq but if I did, I would probably set one of the buttons on the side to Esc so I wouldn't have to reach for the keyboard for that one.

That's what I did for my Intuos 4 at my previous office. Ditto for modifiers such as Shift and Ctrl.

Dave R · 4 Mar 2014, 14:22

I have the bottom four buttons on my Cintiq set to Ctrl, Shift, Alt and Undo since I use those modifiers with image editors and the like.

I bought an Intuous4 about a month before I bought the Cintiq. Just couldn't get on with it at all. It's sitting in its box. I ought to sell it or something.

Box · 4 Mar 2014, 14:27

I have the wireless wacom with four buttons set to the relevant modifiers and touch disk thingy thing for zoom etc, two hands works perfectly with it sitting on your lap. An onscreen keyboard can be used quickly for anything else.

Mistro11 · 8 Aug 2014, 02:17

I just bought a Intuos CTH 680 yesterday. This is my first drawing tablet as I'm learning animation. But I wondered if it would be useful in Sketchup, googled the question and found this topic. I tried it out and so far I feel like I can get used to it with practice. It feels comfortable. I just wish my tablet had more buttons. I'm thinking about assigning the middle mouse button to the right-click on the pen for orbit and panning. I can't think of much use for right-clicking in Sketchup. But the only drawback is I'm constantly using keyboard shortcuts going from tape measure to line tool etc. For all who use the tablet, how do you manage switching all the tools?

Edit: I'm guessing to just tap the tools from the tool bar and menus with the pen....duh?...
I also just remembered the right-click brings up the all important context menu. I would like to know a good effective way to assign buttons.