drawing with Wacom Intuos 2

[Dorkenstein]

Anyone else here draw sketches with an Intuos 2 from Wacom? I find that when I rest my palm on the drawing surface and re-position my hand for comfort, the pointer skips around and I find myself drawing in the wrong spot. Also, and this doesn't really pertain to the tablet, but each blank canvas I create is always around 55% displayed until I zoom in. When I zoom in, I find myself drawing too large or in the right spot to be proportionate. Is this a noob sketcher issue or can I create a large enough canvas to suit me? I'm not sure how else to describe this. Thanks!

 

[mpilchfamily]

Your hand shouldn't be touching the drawing surface at all.

What application are you using for drawing with?

 

[Dorkenstein]

Really? I have a major habit of resting my palm for drawing. What do you suggest? I use Corel Paint. I found out that if I make the canvas only 6x8 inches, which is the size of my Wacom surface, it gets a little easier. But that's not very big, I am trying to draw a size of about 9x12 ideally. As a side note, I just started using this program and am pretty lost in it. Are there any guides for drawing with it? Or a guide for a program that's similar? Thanks.

 

[corkyg]

Been using Wacom pads for over 5 years, and have never had any movement of the cursor caused by hands. Sounds like something ain't kosher. I can't use the drawing stylus at all without resting my hand on the pad. It has no effect at all.

 

[Dorkenstein]

Well, putting my hand on it doesn't make the pointer move, afaik. When I bring the tip of the stylus near the surface I can see it move, then when I make contact the pointer skips away. I really hope I don't have to replace this thing, I got it from my father who has used it for years. From what I gather they're still pretty expensive.

 

[corkyg]

Yes - the stylus willcause cursor movement any closer than about 1/2-inch from the pad. So, you need to develop a reflex action to raise that tip. That's what's causing cursor movement - not your hand.

 

[Dorkenstein]

Oh, okay. What do you suggest? What is a reflex action? Thanks.

 

[Modelworks]

Go into the wacom software and adjust the area and sensitivity to something that works for you.
If you just use the standard drivers that vista/7 come with it will not work correctly. Also wacom updates drivers regularly so make you get the latest released on 4/9/2009
http://www.wacom.com/downloads/driver-detail.php?id=194


Your hand will not effect the tablet, but don't place electronics like mp3 players, cameras, mouse, etc on the tablet as those will effect it and the device that is placed on it. Wacom tablets send out a low level rf field that interacts with electronics in strange ways. I set my camera on it once and the pointer went nuts. If you are wearing a watch on that hand it could interact as well.

 

[corkyg]

Agree with Modelworks. What I mean by reflex action is training your hand to lift the stylus above 1/2 inch from the pad.

Another example of what Modelworks is describing is this . . . my Wacom is a Graphire - and it has a wireless mouse in addition to the stylus. I use both - mouse for macro navigating, and stylus for micro drawing. If I leave the mouse sitting on the pad and try to use the stylus, it literally goes bananas.

Wacom installation puts an icon in Control Panel, and you can adjust sensitivity there. And, always check for new driver sets about every 2-3 months.

 

[Rottie]

You put your tired hand rests on drawing surface is unusual time to call wacom to make drawing tablet with resting pad

 

[corkyg]

Not really unusual. The Wacom pad is not a touchpad - moving hand or fingers causes no action. The bottom area is inactive. A rest pad is easy and common sense.

Wacom

Hand and wrist are positioned exactly like they would be if you were using a pencil and paper.