Can You Get Animation With A Graphics Tablet

"He reached his hand for the mouse, and the interview was over."

Using a mouse

Mouse

There's an industry tale about a guy interviewing for a VFX position and when asked to perform a certain chore he reached for the mouse instead of the tablet pen. At that moment his verdict was determined.

However, this is merely an amusing story and I do know very talented and capable visual artists who use a mouse. I still use it for most things, and until a few months agone I was using it for 3D animation. I used it when animative my entire first short film.

Using a tablet

Wacom Tablet

I bought a Wacom tablet in my senior year of higher. I thought I needed i to exist more professional. I simply used information technology for cartoon in Photoshop though. I never managed to utilize it as a mouse replacement for other things, and every time I tried, it resulted in a slower work pace, so I gave up.

When I bought it, I thought I'll employ it for compositing (since I knew people who were working on node-based compositing software such equally Nuke with a tablet) and Photoshop drawing. I never thought this could be used for 3D animation, since most of information technology is moving joints and controls around – which seemed easiest with a mouse.

Why I started animative with a tablet

After graduation I was accepted to an animation summertime internship at Framestore, which was definitely an amazing opportunity. Information technology'south one of the best VFX studios there is.

On my first twenty-four hour period I was seated at my desk, and in front of me was a Wacom tablet. I looked around and saw that other animators were using it too. At that moment I had to brand a decision:

Practise I stick with the mouse and never give myself the chance to get used to something that might be much improve?
Do I take a chance?

I decided to go for it. Nobody knew me or what I usually apply, then I just pretended that this is what I utilise every day, and similar in many other cases – necessity brought accomplishment. I was a big sluggish at first merely I had to push button through it.

You wouldn't believe how fast I got used to information technology once I had no other selection.

Why is it ameliorate to animate with a tablet

Mostly considering it'southward faster. Fashion faster.

If you've ever worked with a 3D software likeMaya or 3D Max you lot know that you spend a lot of your time looking at the character model and moving its body parts around. Doing that with a pen feels then much more natural than a mouse, it'due south like touching the model with you hands. Yous go more precise with your tweaking and yous move effectually incredibly faster.

Read more than well-nigh this topic in our book – Animation For Beginners.

Which tablet should you utilize?

First of all let's assume we're only talking about Wacom tablets, since they clearly dominate the animation and VFX industry.

For most uses (including 3D blitheness) the best choice would be the Intuos Pro model. I use the Intuos Pro medium. Information technology features a great size and multitouch surface.

Wacom Intuos Pro

For a bigger budget, y'all tin can use one of the Cintiq models ($799 – $2,799) for using the pen directly on the screen. I don't remember information technology's necessary for 3D animation merely for second animation they are ideal.

Wacom Cintiq

How to practice using a tablet

Other than just starting to utilise it, the best way to practice and get better and faster with a tablet is to do some exercises. Lynda has a comprehensive course for learning to apply a Wacom tablet, but it'south not for costless.

A great complimentary resource is Wacom's learning pages. You tin can learn the basics by watching videos on their tutorials folio.

Start animating!

If yous have a tablet and you're set up to first animating, check out whatever of our animation courses. We have courses for the most pop animation programs such as Flash, Maya, Blender and more.

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