{"id":11364,"date":"2022-03-23T07:49:50","date_gmt":"2022-03-23T14:49:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/us\/?p=11364"},"modified":"2026-06-05T13:41:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T20:41:13","slug":"blurring-the-line-between-2d-and-3d-sketching-with-mental-canvas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/blurring-the-line-between-2d-and-3d-sketching-with-mental-canvas\/","title":{"rendered":"Blurring the Line Between 2D and 3D Sketching with Mental Canvas"},"content":{"rendered":"<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mentalcanvas.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Mental Canvas<\/strong><\/a> brings digital sketching out of the traditional 2D realm and into the 3D space <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">by providing artists and designers a new way to approach sketching and environment building. With preset scenes and the ability to add and position independent canvases within a single \u2018sketch\u2019 file, artists can develop astounding depth, dimension, and interaction to sketch concepts.<\/span>\n\n<iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cLEsxQ58HOE\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With a clean and simple User Interface, artists can immediately focus on developing their ideas. Brushes are beautiful in their simplicity, color options are curated, and file management tools are straight forward. <\/span>Each transparent canvas within a scene has its own layer stack, allowing for separation of sketch color and linework, typical in most sketching packages.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11376\" src=\"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/Mental-Canvas-Full-UI-Brushes-e1647960420664-204x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"349\" height=\"512\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/Mental-Canvas-Full-UI-Brushes-e1647960420664-204x300.jpg 204w, https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/Mental-Canvas-Full-UI-Brushes-e1647960420664-480x705.jpg 480w, https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/Mental-Canvas-Full-UI-Brushes-e1647960420664.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 349px) 100vw, 349px\" \/>\u00a0 \u00a0<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11375\" src=\"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/Mental-Canvas-Full-UI-Colors-e1647960258659.jpg\" alt=\"Mental Canvas Color Menu Wacom Cintiq\" width=\"431\" height=\"512\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/Mental-Canvas-Full-UI-Colors-e1647960258659.jpg 768w, https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/Mental-Canvas-Full-UI-Colors-e1647960258659-253x300.jpg 253w, https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/Mental-Canvas-Full-UI-Colors-e1647960258659-480x570.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 431px) 100vw, 431px\" \/><\/span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Toggle between Draw and View Mode to build and explore worlds and ideas as they come to fruition. Whether it's a room, panorama, or a scene divided into foreground, midground and background, Mental Canvas delivers a new way to plan and execute 2D sketching in a 3D space. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use the camera and navigation controls to fly through a village, examine details of a new kitchen cabinetry design, or have a peek at what\u2019s hiding behind those bushes over there.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Artists can also save canvases and camera angles as scene bookmarks to jump back to specific views, create flythrough animations, and export animations as video.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mental Canvas is an excellent tool for design exploration and story development. Canvases can be developed quickly and bookmarks set to create a very effective storyboarding tool with the ability to export animatics (without sound).<\/span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11365 size-full aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/800x450x12fps.gif\" alt=\"Animated Bookmark Loop\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" title=\"\"><\/span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBlank canvas paralysis, is typical with all digital sketching software, and can be a challenge for new users of Mental Canvas. However, with the provided basic templates, tutorial scenes and sample scenes, the developers have significantly shortened the learning curve. Sketching and building scenes with new canvases based on camera view quickly becomes quite intuitive.\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being that Mental Canvas is a digital sketching tool, it goes without out saying that Wacom pen tablets and pen displays deliver an absolute best-case-scenario.\u00a0<\/span>\n<h2><strong>Setting up your Wacom Device for Mental Canvas<\/strong><\/h2>\nThere are countless ways to customize your Wacom tablet setting for Mental Canvas. Below you'll find a few configuration suggestions with a couple different Wacom pens and devices.\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cintiq Pro pen displays with Touch provide a completely intuitive navigation solution using two fingers to control Pan, Zoom and Tumble\/Rotate, all while still holding your pen in the same hand. Combined with a few Express Key customizations, there is little need for a keyboard to work effectively.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For Wacom pen tablets and non-touch displays, some minor adjustments to Pen settings in the Table Settings Window will get you on your way in no time.\nCurrently, Mental Canvas supports Wacom devices on the Windows version of the application.<\/span>\n<h3><strong>Pro Pen 2 for Cintiq Pro (with Touch)<\/strong><\/h3>\nEven with the touch display, it's nice to have scene navigation controls mapped to the buttons on the pen.\n<ol>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CTRL + LMB to PAN across the scene<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ALT + LMB to Zoom in and out of the active view<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11385\" src=\"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/CintiqPP2_Pen-Settings-Copy-255x300.jpg\" alt=\"Wacom ProPen2 for Cintiq with Mental Canvas\" width=\"435\" height=\"512\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/CintiqPP2_Pen-Settings-Copy-255x300.jpg 255w, https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/CintiqPP2_Pen-Settings-Copy-480x566.jpg 480w, https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/CintiqPP2_Pen-Settings-Copy.jpg 729w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 435px) 100vw, 435px\" \/>\n\nThere are a number of shortcuts that could be mapped to these buttons or the ExpressKeys, to streamline workflows. Toggling\u00a0 between Draw mode (1) and View Mode (2) with the shortcut 'T'. Assigning 'E' to an ExpressKey will switch to Eraser , and 'F' will activate the Fill tool.\n<h3><strong>Pro Pen 3D for Cintiq Pro (with Touch)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, if you\u2019re using a Pro Pen 3D with the additional barrel button, we\u2019ve found that this button assignment works very well:<\/span>\n<ol>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CTRL + LMB to PAN across the scene<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ALT + LMB to Zoom in and out of the active view<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Erase (Found in the Tablet section of the dropdown menu)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11386\" src=\"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/CintiqPP3D_Pen-Settings-Copy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"435\" height=\"512\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/CintiqPP3D_Pen-Settings-Copy.jpg 729w, https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/CintiqPP3D_Pen-Settings-Copy-255x300.jpg 255w, https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/CintiqPP3D_Pen-Settings-Copy-480x566.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 435px) 100vw, 435px\" \/>\n<h3><strong>Pro Pen 2 for Intuos<\/strong><\/h3>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For scene navigation control with the Pro Pen 2, we recommend mapping the 2 pen buttons as follows:<\/span>\n<ol>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CTRL + LMB to PAN across the scene<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ALT + LMB to Zoom in and out of the active view<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11387\" src=\"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/IntuosPP2_Pen-Settings-Copy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"444\" height=\"512\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/IntuosPP2_Pen-Settings-Copy.jpg 754w, https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/IntuosPP2_Pen-Settings-Copy-260x300.jpg 260w, https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/IntuosPP2_Pen-Settings-Copy-480x553.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 444px) 100vw, 444px\" \/>\n<h3><strong>Pro Pen 3D for Intuos<\/strong><\/h3>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re using a Pro Pen 3D with the add<\/span>itional barrel button, we\u2019ve found that this button assignment works very well:\n<ol>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CTRL + LMB to PAN across the scene<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ALT + LMB to Zoom in and out of the active view<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 Shift + LMB to Rotate the canvas. (alternatively, you could also map this button to Eraser. as the Pro Pen 3D doesn't have a physical eraser like the Pro Pen 2)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11388\" src=\"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/IntuosPP3D_Pen-Settings-Copy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"444\" height=\"512\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/IntuosPP3D_Pen-Settings-Copy.jpg 754w, https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/IntuosPP3D_Pen-Settings-Copy-260x300.jpg 260w, https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/IntuosPP3D_Pen-Settings-Copy-480x553.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 444px) 100vw, 444px\" \/>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo take full advantage of the pressure sensitivity of your Wacom pen, ensure that 'Use Windows Ink' is selected for Mental Canvas (and any creative application). There are some procedural applications like web browsers and office tools that function better with Windows Ink turned off.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11373\" src=\"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/Corner_Room_Window-300x161.jpg\" alt=\"Corner Room Window Sketch\" width=\"953\" height=\"512\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/Corner_Room_Window-300x161.jpg 300w, https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/Corner_Room_Window-1024x550.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/Corner_Room_Window-768x412.jpg 768w, https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/Corner_Room_Window-1536x825.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/Corner_Room_Window-1080x580.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/Corner_Room_Window-1280x687.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/Corner_Room_Window-980x526.jpg 980w, https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/Corner_Room_Window-480x258.jpg 480w, https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/03\/Corner_Room_Window.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 953px) 100vw, 953px\" \/>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mentalcanvas.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Mental Canvas<\/strong><\/a> is a revolutionary digital sketching application that blurs the line between 2D and 3D sketching. Artists can develop 3D sketches of environments, products, architecture, storyboards by creating a series of canvases in an 'infinite' 3D space. Combined with a Wacom tablet or pen display, Mental Canvas offers a unique and powerful digital sketching experience like nothing you've experienced before.\n\nTo learn more about what can be done with Mental Canvas, head on over to the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mentalcanvas.com\/use-cases\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mental Canvas Gallery<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0for some incredible examples.","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":55,"featured_media":11368,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2332,2331,2317,2329,2337,2333],"tags":[1419,1279,1260,720,1047,1411,266,1262,91,185,80],"class_list":["post-11364","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cintiq-and-cintiq-pro","category-design","category-digital-drawing-painting","category-intuos-and-intuos-pro","category-media-arts","category-partners","tag-3d-sketching","tag-art-and-design","tag-art-programs","tag-cintiq-pro","tag-creative-software","tag-design-workflow","tag-digital-art","tag-digital-drawing","tag-illustration","tag-wacom-cintiq","tag-wacom-intuos"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11364","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/55"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11364"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11364\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11368"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11364"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11364"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11364"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}