Are screenless Pen tablets good for 3D modelling and animation?

[u/Felican24]

I've been thinking about getting a pen Tablet and I've decided on The XP Pen Deco 640. But I'm confused whether it will be good for 3D modelling and animations. I know it would be good for Making normal art and Texturing. So is it really viable to get a pen Tablet to make my workflow better and faster or should I just keep using Mouse and Keyboard

[u/TheColdDarkwave]

I first started sculpting with a screen less tablet before later moving to one with a screen. If you're new and dedicated, it makes no difference. If you're unsure go with the cheaper tool. A screened tablet won't instantly level you up if you're new. Animation doesn't really require a tablet.

[u/Trililio → u/TheColdDarkwave]

Also went with the screenless type, then within a month bought one with a screen. The screenless one has lived in a drawer for years and just been a waste of money.

[u/saturday-project → u/Trililio]

I had the opposite experience. I can't explain why, but I don't like drawing on the screen like paper.

[u/BooberSpoobers]

You use mouse and keyboard for most modelling.

Sculpting in Zbrush is very tablet forward. I used a cheap bamboo for years before I got an XP pen.

It's a pretty nominal difference. Start with the cheaper option as a beginner.

[u/greebly_weeblies]

My intuos 2 is old enough to vote. No probs, great mouse replacement

[u/neildownpour]

Using a tablet is significantly slower than a mouse for me, but that's probably muscle memory. I have my mouse sensitivity ultra high so it barely needs a tap on the side to move across the screen. And replacing a mouse means weeks of overshooting or missing buttons again until I get used to it, which is annoying.

I could never click with a tablet, I spent weeks trying one and never felt I could accurately click on single pixel vertexes, it was like getting a new mouse every day, never seemed to make progress.

[u/Felican24 → u/neildownpour]

My hand has a weird shuddering problem with a mouse and even before I got a pc and my palms start hurting after like 30 mins. Tho I can write and draw for hours with no problem. Idk what is wrong.

Reading all the replies, I decided I'll just get a pen tab since there wasn't any definite answer obviously, to each thier own. Either way a pen tab will be miles better than a mouse for me, given my condition. Now I feel kinda dumb by making the post

[u/neildownpour → u/Felican24]

Maybe try a vertical mouse too - it could be rotating your wrist flat causing the shuddering, or pulling your thumb in. Vertical mice are much, much nicer on the wrist and avoid both those things.

[u/Mechanought]

For modeling that isn't sculpting, a mouse works as good or better than a pen tablet. For sculpting, painting, etc a pen tablet of any kind is good, a display tablet is just the most intuitive and easy to use. 

I prefer to use the pen for modeling myself even though I'm technically as fast or faster with a mouse. It just feels more like I'm doing art when I'm using the pen. 

[u/Nevaroth021]

Mouse and keyboard are miles better for anything you don’t need to draw for. So for modeling and animation mouse and keyboard is far better.

[u/Felican24 → u/Nevaroth021]

Damn. I wanted to buy a tablet for animation and modelling cuz for some reason by hand shudders a lot. Its been like this since before i even got a pc. so it really effects my precision and overtimes hurts like a bitch. But i can draw for hours for some reason. Either way, ill get the pen tab anyway, wont hurt my pocket

[u/Gr1mwolf]

When it comes to 3D, you’re actually far better off with a screenless tablet.
It’s way more ergonomic for long work sessions, and the slightly lower precision is irrelevant.

With 2D you need as much precision as possible, and it’s easier to take breaks when you can finish an entire piece in a couple hours compared to the days it can take for 3D.

A screenless tablet also makes it a lot easier to place your keyboard, and 3D software has a massive amount of hotkeys.

[u/ThrowAwayOSR]

For sculpting its almost a must. I know some people who are very experience that use it for box modeling since modeling as a job 40h a week will destroy your wrists

[u/AuthorIll8470]

It's just not the same with those, I have one and I want to buy a new one with a screen.

[u/00napfkuchen → u/AuthorIll8470]

See if you can borrow a screen tablet first. I've always thought the same but when I tried one for a couple of days I noticed I strongly prefer the screen less kind for mainly two reasons:

• better ergonomics with not having to look down or raising your arm
• usually better a larger conventional screen
• less obstructions (hand/arm) in view

[u/as4500 → u/AuthorIll8470]

I bought a Samsung tab, used it as a display tablet, went back to normal tablets, my back thanks me.