The Virtual Tablet is a new feature that Xencelabs has developed for our Pen Displays. If you are working on multiple displays and like to have your Brush and color pallets or other tools and references on a different display than the one you are drawing on, the Virtual Tablet allows you to select what you want from a different display quickly using your Xencelabs pen. 


This allows you to keep your Xencelabs pen in your hand, use the Virtual Tablet feature, and access assets on a different non-Xencelabs display while never putting your pen down. 


Before you dive into using the Virtual Tablet, there are a few elements that you need to review to make the Virtual Tablet fit into your workflow.


  • Virtual Tablet - This feature allows you to use your Xencelabs pen to select and control objects on a non-Xencelabs display.
  • Switch Displays - This feature cycles you through your displays using the Virtual Tablet (assigned by default to the right Device Control Button).
  • Display Switch Cycle - This is how you set up which displays to cycle through in Virtual Tablet mode (located in the Settings panel under Dispoaly Controls).
  • Virtual Tablet - This function allows you to assign a button to quickly turn On or Off the Virtual Tablet. 


I will first walk you through setting up the displays you will want to use (cycle through) in the Virtual Tablet.


And then, I'll give you some examples of how to use the Virtual Tablet to increase your workflow.


We have also created a video that will give you a Virtual Tablet walkthrough also: https://youtu.be/IEyqnrLjKUU


If, for any reason, you would like to reach out to Xencelabs Customer Care, please send an email to [email protected].



Accessing the Display Controls and a walk-through of the controls:


Opening the Settings Panel:
To access the Display Controls, you are going to need to open the Settings panel.

[1] Press the left Control button on the Pen Display 24. By default, this is set to open the Settings panel or click on the Xencelabs icon in the Mac Loader bar or the Windows Taskbar.



Device Contol panel layout:

Once the Settings panel is open, [2] select Device Settings from the left-hand navigation column.

[3] Select Display Controls.

This is the section that you will use to set up how your Virtual Tablet looks and functions on your Pen Display 24.

[4] Display Switch Cycle: This shows you the order in which the Display cycle will go through.

[5] This is a representation of how the Virtual Tablet will be displayed on your Pen Display 24.

[6] The Edit Virtual Tablet allows you to edit the size and placement of where the Virtual Tablet appears on the Pen Display.




Setting the Size and Placement of the Virtual Tablet:

[7] To change the size and placement of the Virtual Tablet, click on Edit Virtual Tablet.

[8] By default, the Virtual Tablet is set to Medium.

[9] You can select any of the other sizes and placements that best meet your workflow needs.

[10] This will give you a visual representation of how the Virtual Tablet will be shown on your display.




Setting up how the Virtual Tablet cycles through your displays:

[11] This configuration will allow you to cycle through all your displays.

[12]] This configuration will allow you to cycle through only the Pen Display 24, the Built-In Retina, and All Displays

[13] This configuration allows you only to view and use the All Displays setting. 

Cycling through the different Virtual Displays:

Once you have your Virtual Tablet setup, you can easily activate it by pressing the right-most button on your Pen Display or assigning the Switch Display feature to your Quick Keys or Pen buttons.

You can click the on-screen X to exit the Virtual Tablet, or you can cycle through your whole Display Switch Cycle, which ends with exiting the feature. The next time you activate the Virtual Tablet, it will bring you back to the display you were on when you exited it.




Now that I have the Virtual Tablet set up, how do I use it?

In the image on the top-left, the All Displays mode will allow you to drag and drop files, folders, and windows onto any other your other displays from the Pen Display 24.

Now that your Virtual Tablet is setup, you can easily access or move files from one display to another. 

What Virtual Tablet configuration works best for me?

That depends on your workflow and the number of displays you use when you are creating.

I have three displays, but when I am creating, I use the Pen Display 24 as my canvas, and I use my BenQ as my brush, color, and reference display.

[14] This configuration allows me to only show my BenQ display, and it does not cycle to my other display as I do not use it when I'm creating.




Take-A-Way:

The Virtual Tablet feature is easily customizable to your environment and workflow. Allowing you to fully utilize your other displays while creating on your Pen Display 24.