Xencelabs Tips & Tricks No. 14 – Getting the most out of your Xencelabs products

Hello All -

I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the move into Fall. Each year, I’m amazed by the spectacular transition that nature shows as she transitions from late Summer into Fall. You think that I might become accustomed to the transition from the dark greens to the brilliant fall colors, but I do not, and each year, the pageant of changing colors is a little bit different and just as spectacular. Thank you for creating this view in a ProPhoto color space, ever pushing my ability to see the slightest transition in color, and knowing there is more color depth than I can take in. Awesome -

FROM THE DESK OF

Mike McBride

Director of Customer Care / Global Training

Tip 1

How to customize my Pen Tablet/Quick Keys to meet my needs?

I would like first to say that if you are new to Pen Tablets, I suggest that you use your new Xencelabs Pen Tablet for three to four days before you start to make any changes. This allows you to work on building your eye and hand coordination and to become familiar with your new tool. If you start making changes right out of the box, you might get into the situation of not knowing if the Pen Tablet is not working properly or if you made a change that is causing an issue. Become comfortable with your Pen Tablet, and then start making changes.

I have placed three links below, “Getting to know your Pen Tablet,” and “Getting to know your Quick Keys”, and “Pen Tablet Settings Panel Walkthrough.” These will guide you through learning the different components of the two devices and the Settings panel, where things are found.

Getting to know your Pen Tablet

Getting to know your Quick Keys (Video)

Pen Tablet Settings panel walkthrough

Tip 2

Maintaining Xencelabs Products

I’m often asked if there is any maintenance that needs to be done to my Pen Tablet, Quick Keys, or Pens. The answer is yes, it is not much, and in most cases, once a month, attention to your Pen Tablet and Quick Keys works fine and will keep them in great shape for years to come.

Your pen nibs need to be checked weekly to make sure the nib is not becoming pointed. This is addressed in the article that is linked below.

Pen Tablet, Quick Keys and Pens Maintenance

Tip 3

I need to use two mouse clicks at the same time. Can I do that?

Yes, we have a tool allowing you to select two or more mouse clicks simultaneously. This is used in many 2D/3D applications. The Settings panel has a feature called Modifiers. Using this selection with a button on your Pen, Tablet, or Quick Keys will allow you to use mouse-click combinations simultaneously.

Explore Modifiers.

MIKE'S MUSES:

I’m always looking at other people’s artwork, and most of the time, part of my brain is looking at it in a way that I can relate it, to what I do. Not to steal it per se, but how I can incorporate new ideas, curves, lines, movement, and the capture of light or dark into my work. I have heard and read many people talk about this process as a form of cross-breeding new ideas into their work. This is a common thread with people who create. I have heard others talk about it in different ways. Martin Salisbury has published a book, “Illustrator’s Sketch Books,” that allows you to easily thumb through a collection of 60 different artists' sketchbooks, giving you a glimpse into their innermost creative processes and styles. It is a super-charged inspiration source. It is not a read-it-from-start-to-finish type of book as much as it is an inspirational book – I hope you enjoy it and you find new inspiration in it.