Make Eyedropper Tool activate on middle click instead of alt?

#1

I’m using a tablet PC and the Wacom tablet properties dialogue doesn’t allow application specific buttons. Which sucks cause I can’t set my barrel button to alt for the eyedropper. Well, I could, but I’d have to change it back to middle click when I’m done so I can use it for web browsing. Is there somewhere in Photoshop (CS3) where I can change the eyedropper from alt to middle click? I’ve looked through the keyboard shortcuts and didn’t find anything. I’ll do some searching around to see if there’s another Wacom driver that will enable app specific buttons, but I don’t think there is one that works with my Gateway C-140.

#2

The Wacom tablet properties allows for redefining the buttons for each application. Along the top, where it says ‘Application’, you can add PS.

#3

Yes I but that’s for a Wacom tablet. I’m using a tablet PC and the Wacom properties doesn’t have that tab because it uses a different driver.

#4

Oh, sorry. I didn’t pick up on that. I would love to have one of those tablet PCs. How do you like it?

#5

I love it. It’s nice an portable, I can take notes on it for school (which is really easy with OneNote that came installed), and it’s great for painting! It’s a little hard to get used to at first… it’s not quite the same as a tablet, and not as accurate as a Cintiq. And the screen gets hot when in tablet mode because of where the power source is located. But it makes it so easy to draw, even at angles. I have a habit of turning my paper crooked when I draw, so trying to match my Intuos tablet up to a straight monitor was hard to do. But having the tablet built into the display lets you rotate it any angle you want.
My only qualms is that when I’m using it for drawing, I can’t get to the keyboard, so keyboard shortcuts are useless. That’s why I’m trying to figure out how to make my pen button do what I want it to. I could get one of those unfolding keyboards… that would be cool and would solve most of my issues. Or, I could spend $50 on a new pen that has 2 buttons and make one alt and one middle-click. But, I don’t really have the money for it.

Anyway, here’s a great website for reviews: http://www.tabletpcreview.com/
Their forum is a good resource as well.

#6

When will tablet companies realize we need more buttons. I would love it if my Wacom had twenty buttons down the side.

I’m not sure how I would take to a tablet PC, or a Cintiq for that matter, I am a wrist and fingers type, and prefer a smaller tablet. But even with that said, they sound great, and I would love to have one. I can’t imagine my next laptop not being a tablet PC of some kind.

Thanks for the objective assessment - sorry I could not help, maybe next time.

Ron

#7

I used to be a wrist and fingers artist… but that had to change after I got my laptop. I’ve gotten a lot better about making broad, confident strokes(especially because of the Undo function). I took a drawing class that had me drawing with charcoal on 18"x24" newsprint. That’ll change your perspective, that’s for sure!

Anyway, I sort of solved my problem. I sent a message to Wacom tech support to see if they have a solution, but in the meantime I figured something else out. I have this Bluetooth mouse with a 4th button and I thought if I changed the 4th button to alt, then I could hold it in my other hand while I paint and just press the button when I need it! That came with some issues though since my mouse isn’t supported in IntelliPoint and I couldn’t change the button’s function (don’t buy the Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000). After MUCH searching, I found a third party application called X-Mouse Button that can remap your buttons! So I got it working and tested it out! Yay!! Im so glad to have an alt button now so I can get better blending without all the hassle of clicking the eyedropper, selecting a color, then clicking back to the brush.

Although, if I could get Photoshop configured to use the middle-click instead of Alt, or find a Wacom driver that supports application specific settings for my tablet PC, that would work better.
If anyone has any suggestions, let me know. At least now I have one way to make it work :slight_smile:

#8

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