New Map Maker, Hardware Question
Hello, just recently acquired the software to begin making maps. I am wanting to get a tablet of some sorts that I could utilize a pen with. Any recommendations?
Thank you
Hello, just recently acquired the software to begin making maps. I am wanting to get a tablet of some sorts that I could utilize a pen with. Any recommendations?
Thank you
Comments
Hi Joseph :)
Try it with a mouse first.
I've tried it both ways because I use Intuos Pro tablets for my work, but I never use it in CC3. Mouse is simply easier.
Having said that, I know of at least one mapper who uses it on a Windows OS screen tablet and seems to be quite happy with it.
A bit of context for CC3+ and tablets:
The underlying model of the FastCAD engine that CC3+ is based on is "click-move-click". That's fine for puck-based digitizing table(t)s like the CalComp models popular once upon a time, but it's not a particularly good fit for more typical mouse or touchscreens that have converged on more of a "click-drag-release". The click-move-click model is very good for precise positioning and can be more accessible for folks who have limited flexibility in their fingers, but the results tend toward being less expressive. When using cc3+ with a touchscreen or pen-based input device, it's necessary to click, lift the pointing device from the surface, move it to a new location, and then put the pointing device back down the surface to click and make a new point.
Maybe I'm just old and too set in my ways, but I find using pen-based digitizing tablets with CC3+ to be quite cumbersome. Touchscreen isn't too bad if you're careful, and a mouse tends to work as long as you can remember the difference in use. As folks will point out "It's not a paint program" which is entirely true except when it's not for features like hex painting.
CC3+ does have a "freehand" mode that starts digitizing at the first click and then tracks the mouse until the second click happens, but the results always feel a little overly jagged to me when I try to use it.
Interesting! I use a Xence Labs drawing pad with a laptop (I actually use it as my mouse as well) and love it. I do very occasionally have to go to the touchpad if I need a node placed with super-exact precision, but that's such a rare occurrence for my use cases that it doesn't bother me at all.