> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.sevenpens.com/drawtab/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.sevenpens.com/drawtab/basics/scenarios/replacing-mouse.md). # Replacing mouse with a drawing tablet If you are a creative, the benefit of using a drawing tablet instead of a mouse is obvious when drawing. Some people simply want to use the drawing tablet as a mouse replacement. They can definitely serve this purpose. ## **My personal experience** I did this for about 10 years. Although I always had a mouse connected, 99.9% of the time I used a drawing tablet. ## **Size** I used a medium-sized tablet, about the size of a Wacom Intuos Pro Medium. For a few years, I used a small tablet, about the size of a Wacom Intuos Pro Small. During that period, I was in a less artistic phase, so I was not drawing much. I generally recommend medium-sized tablets as a mouse replacement, but small can also work. ## **Wrist pain** One of the reasons I avoided using the mouse was that it was causing wrist pain. The pen was helpful in **reducing** the pain. However, if I do draw a lot over a month or so, I can develop **wrist pain**. So a drawing tablet might help, but it will not eliminate these kinds of problems. ## **Holding the pen while typing** To make switching between typing and pen use easier, I always held the pen in my hand, even while typing. When drawing, I held it like a normal pen. When typing, I extended my fingers and rotated the pen so the tip pointed up and to the side. ## Pen pressure The vast majority of drawing tablets support pressure sensitivity. For a mouse replacement, tilt is not important. ## Pen tilt The vast majority of drawing tablets support tilt. This is useful for art. Even then not all artists use the tilt feature. For a mouse replacement, tilt is not relevant. ## Sturdiness Modern mice are incredibly sturdy devices. They don't even have moving parts except for the buttons. You could drop them from your desk and they will still work. Drawing tablet pens are much more sensitive. They have more delicate and sensitive parts. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you DO NOT DROP THEM. Sometimes they work perfectly after that. But they can malfunction in all sorts of ways after a drop. And keep in mind that the pens are not cheap. If you need to buy a replacement it will be anywhere from $35 USD to $90 USD. ## Pointer positioning Mice move the pointer through relative positioning, while drawing tablets use absolute positioning: [Absolute versus relative positioning](/drawtab/core/active-area/absolute-versus-relative-positioning.md). However, you can configure the tablet driver to use mouse mode. This provides relative positioning and makes it feel more like a mouse. More here: [Mouse mode](/drawtab/core/active-area/mouse-mode.md). ## Aspect ratios If you are using a pen tablet, you absolutely should configure the active area to match your monitor. More here: [Matching aspect ratios with Force Proportions](/drawtab/guides/customizing/force-proportions.md) ## Moving the pointer vs clicking With a mouse, you can move and click independently. That means you can move the pointer without accidentally clicking. The same is true with a drawing tablet pen, but the mechanics are different. * To move without clicking, hold the pen above the tablet within about 10 mm. This is called hover. More here: [Pen hover](/drawtab/core/hover.md). * To click, tap the pen on the tablet. * To move and click at the same time, press the pen down and move it. The click lasts as long as the pen touches the tablet. ## Holding pointer position completely still With a mouse, this is very easy. You can simply stop moving it. You can even let go, and the pointer will stay still. With a drawing tablet, this is much harder. You have to hover the pen over the exact same spot. Any small hand movement will often move the pointer. ## Not clicking It's easy to avoid accidental clicks with a mouse. With a pen, you have to hover. If you accidentally touch the surface, it counts as a click. ## Drivers For the vast majority of mice, you can just plug them into a computer and they will "just work". This is because the computer has drivers for mice already installed. That isn't quite the case for drawing tablets. You will need to install the tablet driver. ## Compatibility with apps Once you install the tablet driver, the tablet is compatible with all applications. ## Wired vs Wireless Mice can be: * Wired only * Wireless only * Wired + Wireless Drawing tablets can be * Wired only * Wired + wireless There are no drawing tablets that are wireless only. ## Wireless issues **Latency** - There is a little extra latency when using wireless. Some people don't use wireless for this reason. **Interference** - Tablets usually use Bluetooth. Nearby devices like phones may interfere. This often appears as an unresponsive pen or stuttering pointer movement. ## Tablets that work well as mouse replacements Lots of them would work. The easy choices are: * One by Wacom Small (CTL-472) * One by Wacom Medium (CTL-672) * Wacom Intuos Small (CTL-4100) * Wacom Intuos Medium (CTL-6100) Of these, my strongest recommendation is the CTL-672. [One by Wacom (CTL-x72) notes](/drawtab/catalog/drawtabs/wacom/one-by-wacom/wacom-ctlx72-notes.md). You could get the CTL-6100, but the extra cost mainly gives you tablet buttons. Other brands also have tablets that work as mouse replacements, but the safe choice is Wacom because of their track record of reliability. ## Resources * [PiXimperfect - 7 Reasons Why Tablet is Better than a Mouse!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yTA1P8SrqI) Feb 24, 2020 * [r/wacom - Replacing your Mouse with a Drawing Tablet/Pen "Guide"](https://www.reddit.com/r/wacom/comments/136u00y/replacing_your_mouse_with_a_drawing_tabletpen/) (2023-05-03) --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. 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