ExpressKeys

Overview

ExpresKeys is a Wacom-specific term, but people use it in general additional inputs for any tablet. Drawing tablets often have additional "inputs" such as:

  • Buttons (both physical and capacitive)

  • Dials

  • Touch-sensitive strips

Other names

Huion calls these buttons "Press Keys"

Disabling Express Keys

Some people love using these kind of inputs, but some people do not like them because either they

  • take up space on the tablet

  • are accidentally triggered

  • or their workflow just doesn't benefit from them

For these cases, you should be aware that these inputs can often be configured in the tablet driver to "do nothing".

Actions

You can map the buttons to take a variety of actions. Broadly the categories are

  • Mouse-related actions - right click, left-click, double click

  • System navigation - scroll left, scroll right, zoom in/out, pan, switch applications

  • System tasks - run application, open a file

  • Keyboard - Press a key, hold down a modifier key

Global vs application configuration

Tablet drivers also let you configure how these buttons work depending on the app you are using.

For example you can set a button to

  • Increase brush size when you are using Photoshop

  • Increase opacity when you are using Clip Studio Paint

  • Increase the volume of your speakers under all other conditions

Common useful assignments

Buttons

  • Undo | Redo

  • Zoom In | Out | to 100% | Zoom to Fit

  • Increase | Decrease brush size

  • Increase | Decrease burhs opacity

  • Rotate Left | Right | Reset to 0 degrees

  • Switch between tools (brush, eyedropper, etc.)

  • Select All | None | Invert | Lasso selection | color similarity selection

  • Go to layer above | below

Rotary dials

These are great for "paired" tasks

  • Zoom In / Out

  • Increase / Decrease brush size

  • Increase / Decrease brush opacity

  • Rotate canvas

Some rotary dials support turning as well as a third press action. This is useful for a situations where there are three related actions such as rotate right, ritate left, and reset rotation.

Examples

Wacom Intuos Pro Large PTH-860

Huion Inspiroy Dial2 (Q630M)

Example UI from Wacom Tablet Properties App

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