Tablet Ergonomics

[Basil]

i've been doing a lot of digital painting lately so i thought i'd get discussion going about tablet ergonomics. that is to say, how best to setup your tablet/computer/monitor when doing digital painting/drawing so you don't hurt yourself.

for example, i'm pretty sure my current setup sucks. i use a macbook pro on a drafting table at a slight incline and mostly draw with the tablet on the right side at the same level. because the macbook pro doesn't tilt back very far i have the desk set to a few inches below by chest, which is way too high for mousing/keyboarding.

so have any of you had similar problems? do you balance the tablet in your lap while you draw? do you mod your workspace somehow?

[Basil]

oh yea, i found this article on wacom's site, http://www.wacom-europe.com/int/use-it/ergonomics/index.asp?lang=en

[Senira]

I balance mine on my lap while I work. I never understood how folks could use the "next to the computer" setup; most of my friends work that way, and I always thought it defeated the purpose of the tablet being light and mobile if folks just left it stationed on the desk.

It's a lot less of a strain on my wrists, too, since my tabletop is always higher than my chair arms can reach. I can already see the carpal tunnel I'm going to get down the line for that setup.

[Dile_]

oh shit. I had my tablet for almost 1 and a half year now. Never tried to have it in the lap, god , such an improvement of comfort haha. Now I just need to adjust my chair.. so the wacom doesn't slip heh.

Always had it in front or on side of the keayboard.. I chat to much :E stupid postcount .

[Basil]

i think a lot of people never think about it until they start hurting.

i just found out my macbook pro tilts back further than i thought, it was just tight. so i was able to adjust my drafting table down to a good height and then prop the macbook up on a targus podium pad. once i get used to balancing the tablet in my lap and add one of those new apple keyboards, there may be hope for my wrists yet.

[Dallas]

In my experience, if you have the pad on the table, just make shure you have support for your elbow/elbows. Adjust your chair and table height until you are relaxed and you're set. I can work like this for nights on end with no particular stress. Of course some stretching and walking and coffeeing goes in between. :)

[HunterKiller_]

Some go as far as making a mini angle adjustable table for their tablet.

I put mine on the keyboard tray most of the time. On the lap is nice, but it's hassle having to juggle it around when I shifting/getting up/etc.

[ciots]

i've had my tablet for years, i still find using it uncomfortable. argh.

[tarc]

Minimalist

[Basil]

wow you paint sitting on the floor? :)

[tarc]

I have tried many scenarios but flat on a table is one of the best for me.

It also depends on the size of the tablet, I have a 9x12.
Being a lefty, I use a numeric keypad on the right of the tablet to access my tools.

[Jabo]

I have it on the right side of my screen, like I would use a mouse. Having it in front of the screen is a pain in the a... shoulder because you have to put your arm in front of the screen. With the tablet on the right, I have my shoulders spread broad and my arms in a healthy position.

After reading Senira's post, I tried to balance it on my lap, but it didn't work. Felt like sitting in a shoebox. Really bad when you tap your foot like I do all the time.

[Gory]

Tarc- Doesn't that position hurt your neck after a while? My neck starts to hurt when my monitor is only 8 inches below eye level.

I have all sorts of issues when it comes to ergonomics. I keep my monitor and keyboard on my drawing table (which I'd much rather have for the use of drawing) and I have a really tall non-adjustable chair with screws poking through the bottom of the cushion. I have no wrist rest either, which ends up giving me these imprints on my wrists when I'm doing a lot of typing... otherwise it's just my left wrist. (always hovering 'alt' in photoshop)

I didn't want to start a new thread, and this one seemed similar enough: Does anyone here have issues with eye strain when using their computer? What can I do to help relieve it? If it matters, I have a 17" LCD. It's about 6 months old. I'd like a bigger one, but I wonder if that would even help.

[Jabo]

Eye strain often comes from looking at the screen from to close a distance. Here's an illustration I found about how you should set up your desk and screen properly:

http://www.chairslimited.com/knowledge/images/Chairs_ergotips_LRG.jpg

It's been discussed a lot and for the past years, it was always stated that sitting like this is the healthiest working position. As I read some time ago though, it seems like science has changed it's mind and now claims it's healthier to rather linger comfortably on your chair, back and head tilted backwards, legs forward or whatever you feel most comfortable. Being what my mother used to call a "bag of nerves", I can't stop tapping my feet, so working like illustrated above is nearly impossible for me. It's rather S/M than healthy.

[Idiot Apathy]

I use a really soft setting so I barely have to press to paint ... otherwise lots of RSI :P

[Caskin]

Well at least I'm not the only one who works on the floor ;P Course a laptop makes all kinds of options available.

Actually I work all over the place, floor, couch, bed, top of couch (that was quite comfy). In all kinds of positions too, cross legged, lying on belly, lying on back. Whatever I'm doing I always have the tablet right smack up against me. One of my favorites is to put my laptop in my lap, lean back against something (or lie on my back on the couch). Then I put the tablet over the laptop's keyboard and draw that way. If I need to type something I just pull the tablet up against my chest and type away.