ZBrushCentral

Tips for Wacom pen users

ZBrush Artworks
#1

I shocked my pen a while ago by dropping it on the floor (tip #1, don’t keep your pen in that springy stand it comes with. :stuck_out_tongue: )
Anyway, the front part of my pen doesn’t work anymore, only the back of the eraser part. So I stopped using it until it has winked from the table at me just now, so I finally drop my clunky mouse and experiment.

Things are a bit different when painting with the eraser end. :slight_smile:
As well, a note to Pix or Aurick, the Blur brush is the Sharpen brush and the reverse is also complimentary. :wink:

But if you’ve ever wanted a quick change of the editing tools on the fly (those positive, negative modifiers), just flip your pen and it’s instantly in reverse mode.

Painting tools seem to work on the zsub mode, though dropping 3d spheres and such will cause them to pop back up.

But it seems I won’t be Zbrushing for at least a month - my pen will take a trip to the Wacom factory soon, meanwhile I wish there was a way to reverse or turn off eraser mode to just regular mode (perhaps in the Tablet palette) for both ends.

I don’t know if it’s just my lack of use, but painting with the eraser mode seems more comfortable. :slight_smile:

#2

Have you tried holding down the Alt key while using the eraser? That may switch it back to the regular mode…

#3

Thanks Aurick, but no luck… It still resides in a negative/zsub mode.

Btw, the pen is really faster if you cover the surface with that clear, smooth sheet the tablet came with and not as shaky in the case of the eraser end.
I first used it as a dust cover, but I figure it has other uses as well. :slight_smile:

#4

Hi Gummie,

Have you tried using pliers to remove
the pen tip? It may just be jammed into
the body. I’ve cracked mine in half rolling
over it with a studio chair. There’s nothing
inside that ‘should’ break by simply dropping
it. For it to stop working completely would
mean severing a wire.
You may be able to reverse the rear function
using the Wacom Control Panel.

Pat

#5

Thanks for the insights, Pat :slight_smile:
My dad removed the pen tip and put it back inside, but still it didn’t not work. He thinks it’s something related to the side switch, maybe something interrupted. (It’s not just the movement, the clicks and right clicks don’t register either.)

I know it’s odd, the first time something like this happened to me - breaking a piece of hardware so easily although I had a knack for springing it out of that stand for a while. I have the tablet right in front of my keyboard and that pen stood right in the middle. One accidental flick and it bounces like crazy.
I dropped it on a hard floor as well, and it kind of amplified the fact that it didn’t land so good either.

I will try to check out that Wacom control panel in depth, thanks. :slight_smile:

#6

IN my wacom panel I can reverse the tip to the eraser… maby this will help

#7

>He thinks it’s something related to the
>side switch, maybe something interrupted.
>(It’s not just the movement, the clicks
>and right clicks don’t register either.)

You forgot to mention that. :slight_smile: Something
is out of alignment. You can remove the
back third of the pen, but you’ll need
the proper size tools to manipulate the
tiny parts. May be cheaper to just replace
it.

>I have the tablet right in front of my
>keyboard and that pen stood right in the
>middle.

I use an 18x12 ArtPad II with a USB miniKB
clamped to the top corner. Works great for
shortcuts! A regular KB sits to my right
for WP.

Pat

#8

hey gummie, I have dropped my pen a gazillion times…on a c0ncrete floor here at the desk no doubt…the side button has come off a ton of times…now I have never taken the tip off but when the pen tries to act up on me , I tap it gingerly against the sides of my pad or the desk itself and it unhanges whatever quirky thing its doing…I dont think from the way I have abused this one that they are that delicate of an instrument. Good luck though :+1:

#9

Well, I’m no good with tiny parts and I will probably put more out of alignment than notice anything out of alignment and my dad is only good with computer board transistors. I also can’t manage to get the switch off. Does that top open? It looks solid.
Sounds like an operating room.

Thanks Ron, maybe I’ll bang it a few more times against my wall. :wink: :smiley:
Or roll it. :slight_smile:

Looks like it’s headed for good ol’ warranty. Hope it doesn’t get smashed in the mail.