The CLIP STUDIO TABMATE controller is a new device that allows you to register CLIP STUDIO PAINT commands to the buttons and use them with your pen tablet or PC tablet. It can be held in one hand for easy operation.

We interviewed redjuice to ask about his thoughts after using the controller, the advantages of using the device, convenient ways of using it, and his recommended settings.

 

[Artist profile: redjuice]

An illustrator and designer from Kochi, Japan.

He has contributed art to manga and illustration magazines, and also designed anime and manga characters and character figurines.

He is most known for his character design for the anime Guilty Crown, and illustrations for the novel BEATLESS, which was made into an anime series in January 2018.

 

 

“A well-finished product that is useful for professional work”

Celsys: How did it feel when you used the CLIP STUDIO TABMATE for the first time?

 

 

 

I think it’s a really well-finished product that is useful for professional work. I felt that this device would meet the expectations of a lot of users.

 

 

 

C: Thank you! We’ve made a lot of changes since the previous Tab-Mate Controller. What do you think of these?

 

 

 

It’s a little bigger than the old version, and weighs just slightly more than a battery. The lightness of the controller is just right. I’ve been using it for about two weeks, but the battery hasn’t drained yet.

 

 

 

C: We’ve heard that you’ve previously used a hand-held device that you made yourself, along with an external numeric keypad. Have you found that these kind of periphery devices improve your workflow?

 

 

 

If I need to use keyboard shortcuts while drawing, it always takes me out of the moment. With a keyboard you have to press Control, Shift, and other keys as if playing a guitar. But you can hold a device in your hand. They definitely improve my work speed.

In my case, I often use the same tools over and over at the line art stage and the rough sketch stage, so that’s quite tiring. When I was working in animation, I ended up getting tendinitis because of this. With the TABMATE, it’s not tiring at all.

 

“Having a wheel makes a huge difference”

C: What do you like most about the CLIP STUDIO TABMATE?

 

 

 

I love the wheel that’s been added. Having a wheel makes a huge difference. The device I made myself also has a wheel, but the one on the TABMATE is great because it’s much more responsive.

I’ve assigned the wheel to adjust the brush size. When coloring, it’s essential for me to be able to change the size of the brush without any effort.

And then, this is just a matter of aesthetics, but I like that the TABMATE is black because it matches my other computer gadgets.

 

 

 

C: What have you assigned to buttons other than the wheel?

 

 

 

I think I use quite ordinary settings. I’ve assigned the buttons to the tools I use most, like the [Hand] tool, [Zoom In] and [Zoom Out], and [Move layer].

The buttons are clustered tightly around the wheel, so they’re very easy to press. So that I can reach all the buttons easily, I usually rest my finger on the space between the Q button and the Up button on the direction pad.

I’ve assigned the tools I use less often to my external numeric keypad.

 

“I can focus on my work without looking away from the screen”

Q: Do you feel that the TABMATE works well with other features of CLIP STUDIO PAINT, such as the [Quick Access] palette?

 

 

 

I always have the [Quick Access] palette displayed on the screen, but this is extremely convenient.

I can compress a toolset into one button. As I continue to use the TABMATE, I want to try out even more convenient ways of using it.

I also like that I can quickly bring up a Tonal Correction layer. That’s a life-saver.

 

The [Tile 4 Columns] display setting is perfect for me, so I use that. The [Quick Access] palette works well with touch capabilities, and I like that you can change the icons to any picture you like.

Another feature the TABMATE works well with is navigation, such as rotating and zooming in and out of the canvas. It’s much easier than using the keyboard. Depending on how you use it, it could also be useful for flipping the canvas.

And of course, the TABMATE is best for [Undo] and [Redo] functions. It’s completely different to be able to have those tools at my fingertips instead of moving a distance.

 

 

 

C: We added a lot of new and so on such as long presses and double presses, on/off execution, pop up palette palettes, and tool rotation. Have you used these?

 

 

 

I’ve set it to switch from drawing color to transparent color while holding the button down, and to switch to pencil with a single press and pen with a double press. I set the button assigned to the [Lasso] tool to deselect the area with a long press, and the button assigned to the [Eraser] tool to [Delete] with a double press. I’ve set it up so that I can focus on my work without looking away from the screen.

 

“People who are just starting out are really lucky to be able to use this right from the start”

C: Finally, do you have a message for people who are thinking about buying the CLIP STUDIO TABMATE?

 

 

 

It’s wireless, light, and has plenty of buttons.

This is the kind of tool that everyone’s been wanting. I feel like no-one was making this before, but now it’s finally here. I think a lot of people have been waiting eagerly for this kind of device.

The price is reasonable, so I recommend it to anyone from beginners to veterans.

People who are just starting out in digital art are really lucky to be able to use this right from the start. Of course, I recommend that people buy the TABMATE as a set with CLIP STUDIO PAINT to start with.