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Wacom Intuos2 tablet problem

I have a 24" screen and 12x8" wacom tablet. In order to establish one:to:one mapping with the screen and the tablet, I have to reduce the screen area that mathces the exact length width and height of the tablet. The problem is that when I try to reach a place outside the drawing area with pen (in order to reach menu's and palletes), I have to change the tablet from pen mode to mouse mode so that the locked area is now freed. However; there are two disadvantages in doing so;

1. Since the mouse mode is "intented" for a mouse, pointing becomes a trouble
2. There is no shortcut key assigned for this purpose, so I either have to assign a button in the pen to switch modes, or press the correct button in the electrostatic surface

I just would wish to switch between "reduced display area" and "full mapping" options with a shortcut key. The current Wacom drivers has no support for it but perhaps another way exists ?

Regards

weed

Most folks dont bother trying to get 1:1 mapping. Why? Because you don't gain anything and 9x12 will never be the same ratio as 1280x1024, or most other screen resolutions. I have the same tablet and have it set for Pen mode, Entire Area, Entire Display, and Aspect ratio To Fit. I think thats how most folks have it set up and thats as close as youll get to 1:1 without the problems youre encountering.

Xephyr

ASKER

1:1 mapping is necessary because the screen area is much larger than the tablet itself. So while drawing, it becomes as if the lines are drawn onto a projected scree. Although this is no problem for CAD applications and general usage, it causes inconvenience in Adobe Photoshop and Corel Painter.

Indeed Wacom has a larger tablet which is 18x12 but it takes up too much space in the desktop. So for now I am waiting for a solution, either from Wacom driver support or this place. Perhaps there is a utility on the net that does what I want with the tablet ?

weed

No, 1:1 mapping only means that if you draw a vertical line on the wacom pad, and a horizontal line on the wacom pad, theyre the same length on screen. However, the screen and wacom pad are already VERY close in ratio so you will NEVER notice the slightly longer horizontal line. I do lots of very detailed work on a wacom and I have yet to notice any distortion. That's because i'm looking at the line im drawing on the screen, now how far my pen has traveled on the pad.

Xephyr

ASKER

Now if 1:1 mapping is not used, a line of 3 centimeters drawn on the electrostatic surface appears as a line of 5 centimeters on the screen. That is why they have put this option, but they could not develop enough accessibility for this. In the Wacom driver configuration window, the tab (mapping/speed) there you could select 2 options for "display area";

1. Entire Display
2. Portion of Display

I just want to switch from one to other with a shortcut key, that is the problem in its simplest explanation...

weed

Unless you have a 9"x12" screen a line drawn on the tablet will ALWAYS be a different length than what is on screen. 1:1 aspect ratio doesnt fix that. The 1:1 aspect ratio only makes sure that vertical and horizontal lines on the tablet are the same ratio as on screen.

Xephyr

ASKER

I am not talking about the aspect ratio here. The issue is with the calibration of screen area so that the true dimensions on the screen will match the exact dimensions of the tablet. That is, when the pen is moved upward left corner of the tablet, the pointer will be stuck in the middle left corner of the screen area, not reaching to the boundaries of the screen.

The problem is not that complicated at all, in tablet configuration window, under the tab (mapping/speed) - I repeat - there are two options called entire display and portion of display. I just want to switch between them with a shortcut key... Or should I write a macro for that reason ?

weed

Your original question was about aspect ratio. "establish one:to:one mapping". I don't think you understand the reason that using a portion of the display isnt going to gain you anything. In fact it's going to be a big pain, and if your photoshop window doesnt fall within the portion of the display that's being mapped to the tablet, you wont be able to hit it. Under very specific circumstances you might use a portion of the display so that your entire tablet was mapped to a photoshop window in a specific location. But usually at that point your aspect ratio is going to be whacked. Much more whacked than if you just left it at the default mapping.

Xephyr

ASKER

I will not get into more dispute over the matter. The only question was this;

- Switch between the two modes with a shortcut key (Indeed on the electrostatic surface, there are buttons, pen mode / mouse mode and qucik point mode)

I just wish to change the modes with a key instead of clicking on the approriate button on the surface. That is all...

weed

You cant. Because when you select to use a portion of the display you have to actually choose WHICH portion you want to use and that cant be done with a quick button.

Xephyr

ASKER

If something can be done while pressing a button on the electrostatic surface (and it is done immediately, without any configuration required) that thing could also be done with a shortcut key. It is a nonsensical implementation faiulre which has to be dealt with, perhaps a small macro application would do it.

Have you searched the web for it? It seems there are no clues...

weed

The mode youre entering is QuickPoint mode, not Portion of Display. Quickpoint is different in that you have two sections of your tablet that are active. You cant switch to Portion of Display mode from the tablet.

Xephyr

ASKER

And certainly, that is the exact problem... Any idea on how to switch to it with an easier way then ?

weed

You cant, because you have to define the area youre switching to.

Xephyr

ASKER

So, no chance...

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weed

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weed

Sometimes the only answer is "you cant". Still the correct answer.