My Wacom tablet stopped working 10 minutes before a client review

I was in a coffee shop in Brooklyn last Tuesday. Pen just stopped responding mid-stroke. Had to finish the shading on a character portrait using only my mouse. Client actually liked the rougher look, but I nearly had a meltdown. Anyone else had a hardware failure at the worst possible moment?

3 comments

3 Comments

brian_rivera592mo ago

Pen just stopped responding mid-stroke" - yep, been there. Now I always carry a cheap backup tablet in my bag for this exact reason. A used small Wacom or even a Huion 420 is like $40 and takes up no space. Also, if you're on a Mac, try plugging the tablet directly instead of through a hub, those things drop connection all the time in coffee shops. Your client liking the rougher look is a happy accident, but for real, keep a spare stylus too if your model uses batteries.

the_laura2mo ago

And @brian_rivera59 totally nailed it with the spare stylus tip, I've been burned by a dead battery mid-sketch more times than I care to admit. Makes you wonder how we ever survived without backups.

dylanmurray1mo ago

Are you really hauling around a whole second tablet just in case your first one dies? That feels like more trouble than a dead battery honestly. I'd rather just keep a charger handy or learn to work with a wired stylus like my old Intuos that never let me down. @the_laura, in a pinch I've even finished a sketch on my phone with a finger, not ideal but it works without dragging around backup gear.