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Posted on 29/07/26 3:00:37 PM |
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DavidMac
Director of Photoshop Posts: 6421 Reply  |
Using the side buttons on a digital pen.
I have used pen and slate for about thirty years now. It is so natural to me that I use it for everything and barely touch my mouse. Aside from the very early days my slates have always been Wacom. Nobody ever showed me how to use a pen ……. I just followed instinct. I have always used my pen with the side buttons on the upper side and worked them with my forefinger. After all these years I only just recently discovered that many people do the exact reverse of this and use the pen with the buttons on the underside and work them with their thumb. I tried this and found it a bit awkward but, after thirty years of ingrained habit of using my forefinger with the buttons on the upper side, that is going to be inevitable. I was intrigued and did a bit of research and discovered that Wacom suggests both methods equally (depending on comfort and how you like to hold your pen), but that the thumb on the underside is their recommended method. It seems to me that, regardless of the make of your pen and slate, there is a general principle of usage here. I am very curious ................ so how do you do it? _________________ The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it ....... |
Posted on 29/07/26 5:05:23 PM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7205 Reply  |
Re: Using the side buttons on a digital pen.
I only use the side buttons for 3D modelling, as many operations require middle button/right button control. I never use them in Photoshop. |
Posted on 29/07/26 5:52:48 PM |
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lwc
Hole in One Posts: 3700 Reply  |
Re: Using the side buttons on a digital pen.
I only have a mouse. |
Posted on 29/07/26 8:28:56 PM |
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DavidMac
Director of Photoshop Posts: 6421 Reply |
Re: Using the side buttons on a digital pen.
Now why am I not surprised? 
To be truthful, I find mouse really difficult for photoshop. I am astonished by what you achieve with it.  _________________ The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it ....... |
Posted on 29/07/26 8:34:46 PM |
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DavidMac
Director of Photoshop Posts: 6421 Reply |
Re: Using the side buttons on a digital pen.
So two questions please Steve. I am still curious whether you use thumb or forefinger for them? With 3D in Photoshop, which I know you loved, gone for good, what do you use for 3D now? _________________ The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it ....... |
Posted on 29/07/26 10:06:10 PM |
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lwc
Hole in One Posts: 3700 Reply |
Re: Using the side buttons on a digital pen.
David, I've been using a mouse since Windows 95, originally with 'Paint'. I can't imagine using anything else, I admit having looked at Wacom, but I've never been able to draw much of anything with a pencil so it never went further than a curious look. |
Posted on 30/07/26 00:33:30 AM |
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dwindt
Realism Realiser Posts: 1160 Reply |
Re: Using the side buttons on a digital pen.
Lol Loyd, you and I both. I have a slate but still prefer using the mouse. If I do intricate work in Zbrush, I use the slate. _________________ The grass is greener on the other side of the fence because there is more $hit there. |