Wacom Pen in SketchUp?

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.

kaas · 8 Aug 2014, 06:06

@mistro11 said:

...I would like to know a good effective way to assign buttons.

I switched to a simple bamboo a while ago and it works perfect in SketchUp. My setup is:

richt-click on the pen is richt-click: the context menu's are too nice to give up.
left-click on the pen is middle-click. Hovering over the tablet while pressing left-lick = orbit & with shift = pan.
I don't use the buttons on the tablet it self.
for staring tools in Sketchup I use a combination of clicking the menus/icons or using the keyboard shortcuts.

The above works really fast and easy for me. Working for quite some hours at a time is far more easy on my wrist compared to using a mouse.

nickchun · 8 Aug 2014, 16:37

I have had the same problem with 'mouse ache' in the shoulder and have tried a cheap pen and tablet in conjunction with a Razer Nostromo gaming pad for shortcuts on the left hand. The Razer speeds things up a lot but the problem is quick zoom and orbit when using the pen. Ended up re assigning the buttons on the razer for zoom and orbit and fitting a sturdy tray under the desk to get arms at right height.
Has anyone used the touch capability on the Wacom to rotate and zoom? Would it work on SU?
Also looked at vertical mouse but thought might not be as easy to make small movements for accuracy. Anyone tried that?

john2 · 26 Aug 2014, 14:39

I bought today a wacom one tablet. It's working fine in illustrator and photoshop. However, when i try to use it in sketchup pro 2014, it doesn't work. What should I do? Strangely, when I press the down button of pen and drag up and down on the tablet surface, I'm able to zoom in and zoom out realtime. But I can't draw anything in SketchUp. I've tried with all commands. Even I can't get the cursor to move.

Dave R · 26 Aug 2014, 14:42

I'd start with Wacom's tech support. You should have some tech support from them available.

Very likely you need to make some adjustments to settings for the tablet and pen in the tablet's panel.

Mistro11 · 26 Aug 2014, 19:49

I ended up returning that CTH 680 for the Intuos Pro Medium. Cost more but it has more buttons for customization in programs a pen holder and wireless kit included. I"m getting used to using it in SU. The best thing I'm experiencing is I finally find the freehand drawing tool very useful. Making freehand contours and actually drawing on a surface is a breeze now.

John2- If your tablet can support it, check the properties to see if you can bring up Sketchup in a list to customize commands.

hermyboy3000 · 25 Jun 2015, 06:10

I've been using Sketchup with a Cintiq 21UX for years now and I love it. As great as the 21UX is, my new mobile option, a Cintiq Companion, is having a one quirky issue with right-click context menus. When I click the right pen button (back toggle), I have to move the cursor ever so slightly to activate the menu. This is a slight bug that I need to work around or get used to I guess. The ease of use and natural interfacing with the rest of the design software I use makes this bug seem insignificant.

sicksickisck · 14 Dec 2016, 22:25

yes in sketchup zoom function suxxl ; shortcut system is very old; but anyway I like have set [shift]+ [ctrl]+ [alt]+[spacebar] for "camera/zoom" in my wacom drivers