Hear-hear, Emily!

Yes, if you're planning to work long hours at the computer, do take  
more breaks than with hand work!

My system is set up similarly to Britt's it sounds like: Wacom is  
small, 4x5 (I had carpal tunnel so smaller is better for me) and sits  
to the right of the long keyboard, all at the same level, right at  
elbow height.

I do use number keys so do have a wider keyboard, though, and I push  
it further to the left when I'll be doing lots of Wacom tablet work.  
One other trick I have as a remnant from the CTS days is a set of  
Ergo Arms, desk clamp-on arm rests I use when I have to do extensive  
editing, long hours of typing, etc. I also alternate chair and  
Swopper stool, too, which is a bouncing, swiveling, moving stool to  
keep from holding too still for long periods of time. No back rest,  
though, so I alternate, like I said!

I also don't use a laptop for lots of visual work, though, and have a  
24" monitor I use.

Barbara

.... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... ....

B A R B A R A   G L E A S O N
Newsletter Editor, Guild of Natural Science Illustrators
[log in to unmask]
541-345-3974

BGleason Design & Illustration
http://www.bgleasondesign.com




On Jan 2, 2009, at 10:00 PM, SCIART-L automatic digest system wrote:

> Date:    Fri, 2 Jan 2009 20:07:02 -0500
> From:    "Emily S. Damstra" <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: digital workspace
>
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> Consie, My keyboard and Wacom are both on the same surface. I found  
> that a
> keyboard with a shorter width enables me to place my Wacom a little  
> more
> toward the center, but sometimes I will shift the keyboard way to  
> the left
> and put the Wacom front and center. The keyboard I use doesn't have  
> the
> extra numbers off the right:
> http://www.amazon.com/Compact-Mechanical-Switch-Keyboard-Interface/ 
> dp/B000FOJ4YY
> I've never really used the numbers off the right anyhow.
>
> But no matter how ergonomically ideal my set-up is, I have found  
> that in
> order to be able to work on the computer all day I have to take  
> frequent
> stretching breaks, and I found some free software that reminds me  
> to do so.
> It's called Time Out (for Macs): http://www.dejal.com/timeout/  I  
> really
> like it.
>
> Best wishes!
> Emily
>
> On Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 6:26 PM, Consie Powell  
> <[log in to unmask]>wrote:
>>
>> Can some of you who do lots of digital artwork possibly share how  
>> you set
>> up your workspace, and what sorts of things you have found are  
>> most helpful
>> for working efficiently and comfortably? If you have links to  
>> images of your
>> setups, that would be lovely. If you can describe, or suggest,  
>> that would be
>> lovely too.
>>
>> Thanks in advance to anyone who can give me some input on this. I  
>> know I
>> could figure some things out for myself, but if I can get a  
>> jumpstart on
>> what to avoid, and what might work well, that I haven't thought of  
>> or tried,
>> then that's all wonderful.
>>
>> Consie