[Sketch Notes] Ergonomic Arms
Lately, online artist friends and I have been discussing various digital drawing tools pros and cons. Since my back problems started last year, I've made all sorts of adjustments to my drawing setup, including picking up an ergotron arm for my Cintiq (I have an older 2nd gen 21UX).
Paired with a cheap kneeling stool (by no means comfortable, but takes some of the pressure off my lower back when I sit), it's been a huge improvement.
Here are some notes I made today while taking a break from drawing comics:
Some folks recently picked up the smaller Cintiqs or the Cintiq Companions for their portability, but I find it's so much of compromise with hardware that it renders the device less effective. If it's not the OS, it's the underpowered machine, or the small screen size. I don't even like working on a laptop with my tablet, to be honest.
My biggest beef with the Cintiqs have been the deskspace it occupies w/ the stand, and the limitation of range/angle of said stand. I tried various chairs, lifting my table with bricks, even setting it on top of a folding table on my desk to convert it to a standing desk set up. Each time, I found myself leaning up and over my desk to get to the screen, aggravating my back.
My last setup before the arm came in~
After the arm was installed~ (Yes, my hat is resting on the post nicely. :3)
I held off from buying the posable arms because I heard it wobbles... but when I researched them, they seemed pretty sturdy and even had newer models to promote standing -and- sitting positions. I picked up the Ergotron LX and it's been great... pretty much for all the reasons illustrated above. XD
Note: Since my Cintiq is an older model and smaller than the current HD models, the arm I use may not be compatible with the current line up, but it also works well for multi-screen set ups - if that's your thing. XD Having desk space again is very, very nice.
Note #2: If interested, you can pick them up at Amazon! I had to buy mine from a different vendor!
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