Drawing / Sketching / Digital Painting

So I got a 13.3" pen display that is technically awesome. (cheap too @ $250)
The problem is the workflow is so foreign to me I got frustrated from lack of workflow coordination with hot keys. I am regretting not getting a galaxy tab lite 6 for the portability and UI designed for touch and pen.

So those that use tablets, how long did it take you to get comfortable? How did you develop your workflow and hot keys?
I am left handed which I'm sure is part of the problem. I think my wires are really getting crossed as I do create art with my mouse right handed, yet draw traditionally with my left.

One of the reasons I did not get the galaxy tab lite 6 is the minimal software support. The rub is, you can use the galaxy tab as a pen tablet for a desktop...

Seriously though, the Huion Kamvas 13.3 (non pro) is a great piece of hardware at a great price. If you are an experienced tablet user and want to incorporate a screen into your workflow, get it without a doubt. (of note, it works with laptops too)

i have never used hotkeys on a tablet. so... *shrug* In fact mostly i find they just get in the way when i lean on them accidentally.

As for how long it took to get used to... not really sure, i never really tried drawing with a mouse so i pretty much went from hand drawing to tablet drawing seamlessly (more or less - the disconnect between looking down at the tablet and looking up at the screen took a little while to get used to).

Weirdly, i have trouble now going to tablets with a screen just because i'm so used to NOT looking where i'm drawing on them now that the screen ends up being somewhat redundant.

That could be part of the problem too.

It would explain the awkwardness when I first set it up and it detected it as a second monitor. I fumbled through the settings to get it to mirror my main display. It was the only way I could even start scribbling in paint programs.

If you don't use hotkeys, how do you pan and zoom?

keyboard shortcuts. I just use a teeny tablet right now so my other hand is free for photoshop. I'm also one of those infuriating self-taught types who do a whole bunch of stuff the long, laborious way 'cause nobody taught me any differently

Have you thought about getting a tablet with touch for gesture pan and zoom with pen drawing? Or does that sound awkward to you since you are comfortable with your workflow?

thought about getting a lot of things, it's the paying for them that's the biggest issue

pyxistyx wrote:

keyboard shortcuts. I just use a teeny tablet right now so my other hand is free for photoshop. I'm also one of those infuriating self-taught types who do a whole bunch of stuff the long, laborious way 'cause nobody taught me any differently

Same. I don't think I have ever used the buttons on my tablets.

A new version of Design Doll has been released and I have to say it is definitely the easiest virtual manequin software for posing I have used. https://terawell.net/terawell/
It has a free version that is fully functional but won't let you load files you've saved. The full version is $79. It can load files and it can export the models (I believe posed and/or scenes) for use in 3D programs. I have also scene videos with custom body parts like robot arms in addition to armor and weapons imported from other 3D programs.
This scene took me about 15 minutes to get comfortable with the interface and another 20 to pose both characters. In other 3D programs, not counting the hours to setup a character for posing, one character's posing would take 1-2 hours.
IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/aj4Avy3.jpg)

It has a free version that is fully functional but won't let you load files you've saved.

This is why we have a print-screen button

Heh, yes! As the picture above shows...
Unfortunately, I made changes to the model (default model head is still too big/chibi).
If I want to re-use the changed default model, I have to be able to load it once I've saved it.
Hence the need for the pro/paid version. $79 is not that much even if it is just used to prototype a scene and then tweak it in blender.
I mean, in about 20 more minutes I did this:
IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/0geDtb9.jpg)

79 is sadly WAAAY out of my price range right now.

pyxistyx wrote:

@Prederik : This might be of interest.

Helloooooooooooooo

I think I mentioned this before, but I do feel like I have to be very careful not to overload myself with material. It's AMAZING how much "How to draw" stuff there is out there, but also it'd be insanely easy to start 100 different "how-to" books and guides and finish nothing.

Thank you for the recommendation though, I just copped it.

In personal news, the work continues.

Oh, and speaking of Tablets and stuff, I may personally be doing my work in PS right now, but Clip Studio Paint is 50% off and the broad majority of the reviews I've heard of it thus far have been fulsome in their praise. Hell, if you're interested in it but can't afford $25 at the moment, drop me a PM and I might be able to pay it forward for you.

I may have recently bought it. I think I did yesterday, I'll have to check.
If not, I'm buying it today. I have been putzing around with the trial and found some slick "Why Clip Studio Paint?" videos on youtube that show amazing features!

Well I can tell you for sure that my Samsung galaxy tab s6 lite arrived a few hours ago and I love it! The pen is really nice. The drawing feeling is much better than my windows laptop.
I am typing this post on it as we speak

fangblackbone wrote:

Well I can tell you for sure that my Samsung galaxy tab s6 lite arrived a few hours ago and I love it! The pen is really nice. The drawing feeling is much better than my windows laptop.
I am typing this post on it as we speak :)

That sounds awesome! Enjoy!

A quick drawing from this morning. I'll probably color it, but I'm not sure yet...

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/7UiPT7E.jpg)

Aaaaaand I colored it.

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/hofnlLf.jpg)

Made an eye yesterday.

Screwed around with the smudge tool in PS too! And i didn't hate it!

Looks good!

Are you secretly developing a mascot for Amazon.com? It’s just. The smile.

Hahaha! It totally looks like the Amazon smile!

I may be WAY behind on Inktober 52, but I DID manage to draw something in honour of the new Honey Heist game

IMAGE(https://smackfolio.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/sugar-bear.jpg)

Here's Bear no 2 , Brennil's "Holly" Chubbiest Grizzly bear on Mars

IMAGE(https://smackfolio.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/bears-holly.jpg)

aaaand here's a D&D party commission for Eleima's D&D group that i've been working on the last few days...

IMAGE(https://smackfolio.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/eleima-group-2-final.jpg)

aaaaaaand one more (I'm on a roll). Line drawing version of a poster for the Euro GWJ D&D group. As we're nearing the end of the first full campaign (more or less - in a couple of months at least) i thought i'd do something to commemorate it

IMAGE(https://smackfolio.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/campaign-poster-1-scourge-of-apex.jpg)

Scourge of Apex? I have family that live in Apex!

Just having some fun...

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/V2voIQI.jpg)

Somebody got an iPad with an Apple Pencil and procreate.
There is something to be said for being able to do something and actually enjoying doing it. I am not an Apple fan but I cannot deny that as far as digital drawing goes, Apple wins I need a lot of practice but for the first time in 2d I am having fun.
IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/A7bwJd0.jpg)

More practice. I think I really like sketchbook pro. Coloring is an absolute blast
IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/nT8WUg1.jpg)

One of the other reasons I got an iPad is for the awesome app uMake.
It is a subscription so cost is an issue. They have a perpetual license for $400 which actually is reasonable for what is essentially Sketchup if they hadn’t ceased development on it over 10 years ago
It is a powerful program and as slick as it is on the iPad, I’d buy it in a heartbeat on Windows. There is also the fact that with less slickness and uniformity, I can mimic similar functionality in blender.
However, here is something I threw together in 15 with the app(note this is a 3D object and only one of those curves is a bevel):
IMAGE(https://imgur.com/afWSTR1.png)