Japanese Artist Builds Custom Cintiq-Embedded Desk
Artists have struggled for years to create workstation solutions for their clunky and oversized Wacom Cintiq tablets.
At least a decade ago, some animators came up with the idea to retro-fit the Cintiq onto a traditional animation desk, where the tablet took the place of the rotating disc.
That’s a fine solution, but what happens if you need a dual-monitor set-up, as many artists require nowadays? A Japanese illustrator and animator, Taqro, decided to build his own custom Cintiq-embedded desk. His creation, which cost less than $400 to build, has earned a lot of attention online, generating over 110,000 likes and retweets on Twitter:
私のDIY力みて…… pic.twitter.com/PoHmqN5gwn
— TAQRO®コミティアC01b (@taqqqro) October 7, 2016
As with any custom-solution, it’s not perfect. Some online commenters have noted that it’s not ergonomic-friendly, while others have observed that it wouldn’t function well as a traditional dual-monitor set-up. But the highlight of Taqro’s elegant design is that saves space because the Cintiq is flush with the desk. When it’s not in use, it can be covered to create additional desk space:
@taqqqro 使わない時に邪魔になりません。 pic.twitter.com/yZ8c6Aeqro
— TAQRO®ポミティアC01b (@taqqqro) October 8, 2016
— TAQRO®ポミティアC01b (@taqqqro) October 8, 2016
A fan underneath prevents the Cintiq from overheating:
— TAQRO®ポミティアC01b (@taqqqro) October 8, 2016
— TAQRO®ポミティアC01b (@taqqqro) October 8, 2016
But when needed, the Cintiq is adjustable too, and can be inclined at different angles:
— TAQRO®ポミティアC01b (@taqqqro) October 8, 2016
— TAQRO®ポミティアC01b (@taqqqro) October 8, 2016
Taqro’s desk was inspired—in part—by manga artist Yoshikazu Hamada, who has an even more ambitious custom standing-desk solution for his Cintiq:
流れに乗る! よっかかり椅子はまだ完成しておらず、変化ない作業場。座りと立ち半々ぐらいで作業してます。#絵描きさんの作業環境が見たい pic.twitter.com/wxM2qmoQ8e
— 浜田よしかづ@つぐもも18巻発売中 (@yoshikadu2010) March 2, 2016
カウンターチェアーが届いたので設置。これで立ち、座り 両方いけるようになりました。基本は立ちですが、今後プロットやネームなど極度の思索的な集中時は座っていこうかと考えています。 pic.twitter.com/WEQ9EZ8h7V
— 浜田よしかづ@つぐもも18巻発売中 (@yoshikadu2010) March 23, 2015
Do you have a custom solution for animating on a Cintiq tablet? Share your workstations in the comments.