09 - Maximizing my Adobe Fresco experience on Windows

General / 22 January 2021

Hello fellow artists, since August 2020. I've been playing around with Adobe Fresco brushes, and I've found a whole new exciting way to enjoy this app on my Windows desktop.

As you can see on the picture above, I have:

  • a 13-inch Cintiq weighing on two sheet metal screws on a wooden drawing board,
  • Wacom Express Key Remote with (17 buttons and one touch ring) on the left side (I'm right-handed),
  • a wireless Logitech keyboard on the top left corner is resting on an easel in case I need to press some extra keys,
  • Five 25-mm binder clips to keep the drawing board and the remote stay in place,
  • I have just switched to the Microsoft SideWinder x6 with 30 programmable keys (it will be fun when I figure out how to deal with all of them), and surprisingly, the numpad key can be attached to the left side of the keyboard. Can you believe that? It's awesome!!!)

I have made a video showing briefly how I use them here (https://youtu.be/K3Fl8-sQF90):

Here is how I usually layout panels of Brushes, Brush Settings, Color Wheel and the Touch Shortcut on my left-hand side. I love drawing on a square canvas and position it to my right-hand side.

For the Wacom Express Key Remote, I assign as shown in the image below based on what I usually press during my drawing process in Fresco. In future software updates, I hope to see shortcuts for Smudge and Mixer brushes or I will be allowed to assign customed keys to each of them right in Fresco. I still have three empty slots on my Remote for that reason.

I think that's it, for now, and I hope it's useful for you. If you like it, feel free to apply these tips to make your drawing experience with Adobe Fresco using a Cintiq on your Windows desktops/laptops more comfortable.

You can connect with me on social media as well via @khang_ta_art on Instagram.

Thanks for reading this blog and have fun with your art journey, my fellow artists!