THIS POST IS FOR PEOPLE WHO OWN AN AVERATEC C3500 TABLET PC AND ARE TRYING TO GET THE BRUSH TOOL IN MACROMEDIA FLASH TO NOT "LAG" BEHIND THE STYLUS

Are you an artist or animator who recently bought an Averatec C3500 Tablet PC with the intention of drawing with the stylus in Macromedia Flash? That's what my friend just did and I've been helping her out a lot for the past few days. You can check out something thst she just animated real quick at www.snacktimestudio.com/averatec/birdo.html

If you've already installed Flash and tried drawing you were probably in for a major shock. Your $1300 sketchbook has some issues. Namely, a lack of pressure sensitivity in Flash and the issue I mentioned above about the "lag" on the brush tool. Does it have to do with the memory? The initial computer settings? I'm not sure why it doesn't work but the fix below will at least let you "brush" in "real-time"

The problem that I can't solve is the fact that you can't access the pressure sensitivity options in Flash that you can when you're using, say, a Wacom tablet. The line can only be one thickness. Does that make no sense? Check it out: when you plug a Wacom tablet into a computer with Flash, the program automatically realizes the tablet is there and this special button pops up that you can push to activate the pressure sensitivity of the stylus. As far as I've figured out there is no fix for this. I can't even believe it. Maybe someone can prove me wrong. It just seems so weird that you can have pressure sensitivity in the frickin' Windows Journal application that comes with the computer, but not in the most insanely popular drawing application for web cartoons. Someone please prove me wrong. Maybe flash will pick up the ball in their later releases. Or maybe my release of Flash MX is just not new enough. Needless to say, please email me if you have any info on this: sliberto******.com

Now, onto the fact that when you draw a line with the stylus there's an incredibly annoying lag. This, I actually figured out how to beat. It's a four step process. Do the first two steps and if it still doesn't work, then do the third and fourth step. The first two steps are totally anti-intuitive so just do it and see how it turns out.

If anyone thinks one of these steps is not actually needed just let me know. Should I write a disclaimer? Like, if you do these things and somehow mess up your computer, I'm not responsible. I really don't think it's necessary, but you never know, so there you are. Also, I've written these instructions for the totally computer illeterate because I'm only a step above that myself and not only was it a miracle I figured this out, I don't even know how to explain anything "correctly" to a person who is smart about computers anyway.

:::::Step 1:::::

Right click on "my computer", which is located on the desktop
Choose "properties" from the list that pops up
Click on the "advanced tab"
In the performance area click on "settings"
Click on visual effects
Click on the circle button next to "custom"
Only a few boxes need to really be checked (although this part might not be madatory for the "lag" fix) they are:
- "show shadows under menus"
- "show shadows under mouse pointer"
- "show translucent selection rectangle"
- "use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop"
- "use visual styles on windows and buttons"
the rest can be unchecked
Now click on the "advanced tab"
In the "Processor Scheduling" section click on the circular button next to "background services"
In the "Memory Usage" section click on the circular button next to "programs"
Under "Virtual Memory" press the "change" button
Click on the circular button next to "custom size"
For both the initial size and the maximum size put in 4096
Hit "OK"
Hit "OK" again
HIt "OK" once more
It asks you to restart the computer so do it
If it doesn't ask you to restart, restart anyway

:::::Step 2:::::

Start Macromedia Flash, but you're not done yet!
Go to "edit" and choose "preferences"
Click on the "editing" tab
None of the boxes under "pen tool" should be checked
For drawing settings follow this, again, this bit might not be mandatory, it's just how I set it up:
connect lines = must be close
smooth curves = smooth
recognize lines = off
recognize shapes = off
click accuracy = normal
Then hit "OK"
Press "control-alt-delete". Have you never pressed control-alt-delete before? do it ONCE ONLY. Here's how: First you put your fingers on "Ctrl" and "Alt" and hold them down at the same time and keep holding them down and then with your other hand you press the "Delete" key once and let it all go. The "backspace" key doesn't work. It has to be the "delete" key.
Click "Processes"
Right-click on the word "Flash" (you might have to scroll down to see it)
Choose "Set-Priority" from the list that pops up
Set it to "low" (don't ask me why)

So, now try drawing in Flash with the stylus. Does it work? Great. Our job is done. Next time you start the computer again try Flash and if it lags behind again, just hit control-alt-delete and make sure it's set to low. In other words, repeat "step 2" if you restart the computer and the lag comes back. If anyone knows a way that you can permanently set the "prioirty" to "low" please just email me: sliberto******.com

If it "lag" is still apparent, keep reading:

:::::Step 3 (optional):::::

Click on the tablet icon in the system tray (next to the clock, on the lower right hand side of screen).
Choose properties from the list that pops up.
Click on the tab that says "Pen Options".
Click on the words "Press and hold".
That line should be highlighted now.
Click on the "settings" button.
At the top of the window uncheck the box next to "Enable press and hold for right-click".
Click OK, the click OK again.

Explanation: You still have the right click option with the stylus button, so you're not really shooting yourself in the foot in terms of stylus functionability, and I think that the "press and hold for right-click" might give you issues when it comes to just drawing. Like, say you pause for a second while you're drawing to think about the line; you don't want the right click feature to activate.

:::::Step 4 (optional):::::

This is the first thing I did in an attempt to make the stylus not lag. Alone it didn't help at all, so that's why I've included it as optional, because I don't know if it was a necessary step or not. Go to the Windows XP Configurations page at blackviper.com. Read the dude's instructions and then look at pictures of his cats. He seems to really know his stuff. Plus, he makes his cats sit on toilet paper. Essentially, I think you're disabling all the stuff on computer that's running all the time to do nothing that you even need to do, hence you're computer will have more time to think about you. This next sentence won't make sense until you look at his instructions: I didn't disable the stuff about the wireless conenction and the smart media cards because I figured I might need that stuff.

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If you use a tablet pc for animtion I would love to see some of your stuff. Also, if you're intrested, you can enter your work into the 2004 Portland Indy Animation Fest, which takes place here in Portland, Oregon. The deadline is in early August. The website is www.pdxanimation.com.