u/baralong

I recently bought a couple of Koh-I-Noor kneaded erasers (I was putting in an order for other things and got them on a whim). Trying one out, it bent in half, then sprang back into it's original shape. I figured it just needed to be warmed up and worked a bit (it's the middle of winter where I am) and proceeded to warm it up and kneed it for a while. It did soften up, but it went back to its too-firm state.

Questions:

This was Koh-I-Noor Artist Putty Eraser, has anyone used or had problems with this product?

Is there anyway to revive a kneaded eraser that's dried out? I've seen something that says to knead a few drops of water into it, but it seems fairly waterproof.

I've got a Lockby Mini pocket journal that takes A7*, I've been looking for some slim sketch books for it. I've decided to the Traveler's Company Sketch and Wqatercolor paper a go. The Passport size is affordable, available, and not too much bigger. I think I need to trim about 20mm off the height and width. What's best way, with the neatest result? Metal ruler and a craft knife? The guillotines I have access too aren't really rated for many sheets, and my local print shop didn't do a good job the last time I tried them.

* The Lochby A7 notbooks are 10mm narrower than standard A7. A7 fits, bit it fits better if it has rounded corners. Pic of the Lochby A7, Midori MD A7, and the Traveler's Company sketchbook

https://preview.redd.it/xslkr1g04d9h1.png?width=675&format=png&auto=webp&s=26a94946ab0d8cf13a5e48222c528b85fd01c48e

Just wondering if it's a quirk of my X4 or if it's common. I can't eject the micro SD without using a tool of some kind. My fingernails are fairly short and aren't long enough to do it.

Does anyone else have trouble?

I went to a lego meetup last night. A friend there came over and said "I see you got a new ereader" (she'd seen my FP post). Took out my X4 and someone else on the table said how they'd seen it in their socials but not in person. They were all quite impressed at the size, apparent build quality, and how good the screen looks.

The fact that's so open, a single use device, and that the books not tied to particularf store were also big draw cards.

Having this as my lock screen probably also helped 😊

I'm no influencer, but I think that's 10 converts I've made 😁

Anyone else convincing friends to join us?

https://preview.redd.it/n06de8v9066h1.png?width=888&format=png&auto=webp&s=c43935302e29112079a6b5af4845d29935a0ce45

So, early on I wasn't careful removing a keycap and one of the tabs broke off in the switch. Later, I managed it again with it in my bag. The spare switches are great, but now I'm down to one. Fortunately there are also spare keycaps, so I haven't had to get too creative with them.

Anyway, is it possible to remove the broken tab? Or am I better off just buying a few more switches?

Xteink X4: it's bigger than I expected, but still a great size. I can carry it in my pocket and I barely notice it's there. It's a lovely piece of kit. A screen light would be nice, but having sleep/wake on cover open would be my pick of hardware changes.

The screen resolution is amazing. I've got the lego patent as my lock screen https://www.readme.club/wallpapers/lego-patent-white-a7713660, there's a lot of detail there, I wasn't expecting it to be so crisp.

CrossPoint is great. Flashed it using the unlocking tool, after discovering the AliExpress seller was wrong about it not being locked. Knowing what I know now I'd have gone for the X3 and gotten it from the official site. Lesson learned.

I couldn't load the file transfer page when connecting to the hotspot on the X4, I'm assuming it's user error. After getting it to connect to my phone's hotspot, it worked perfectly.

My only request would be markdown support, and being able to edit a text/md file via the web app, Though the API looks like you could build a very light/small phone app to handle it all.

readme.club also very helpful. Out of interest, what does the "Enhanced Lost & Found" do? More formatting uptions?

Comics How are people finding reading comics? Is it actually useable?

Edit to add Fonts? At this stage I'm pretty happy with Noto Sans, of the ones that come with Cross Point. Are there any other's that a particularly recommended? (the preview on readme.club isn't great for it)

I'm a hobbyist with a Sony A6700 I do some macro and had the iT30Pro and riser recommended as a good starting point. Elsewhere I've seen reccomendations that, while one on camera flash is good, getting a second will help with some shots.

At this point I'm sold on the iT30Pro. If I were to get a second flash, what would pair well with it? If it's more expensive than the iTPro, could/should I just get a second one? That would have teh added advantage of having a backup while I'm out and about.

Here's my current layout https://configure.zsa.io/voyager/layouts/MWma4/latest/0

What I'm trying to do is have ESC in layer 0, but still have a way to do ALT-TAB between windows. The difficulty is that I need to hold ATL so I can tap repeatedly on tab to cycle through the windows with TAB. An ALT-TAB combo won't work because it fires off a single ALT-TAB and then I can't cycle through all the windows.

I can do it if I hold "F" taking me to my text nav layer, but then it becomes a 3 key gesture.

I tried to use the <Del> key (small left thumb key) so that when I hold it it activates layer 3 with the alt key pressed, then I could hold it and cycle through with tab. When I tried setting the hold function on that key to "LM - Momentary Layer with Modifier" (change layer to layer 3 while held, with the "ALT" key held), I found that you can't have a tap trigger on that key, so I lost my DEL key.

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Or, to put it a different way, what's the easiest way to leave my base layer largely untouched, but allow me to do an ALT-TAB cycle through windows.

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A nice to know would be: why can't I have "LM - Momentary layer with modifier" on hold and also a tap trigger?
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I'm not sure if that's just the way it works, or if I'm doing something wrong. The key I have mapped to Del I have as Alt on hold. I've realised I want to change my Tab key for Esc, as I use it more frequently. However I also do alt+tab all the time. I created a layer where all keys were "transparent" except Esc, then it was tab and tried to make the Del key momentary layer with modifier that goes to that new layer with Alt pressed. It deleted my Tap mapping.

So, am I misunderstanding what it does?

Why do I lose my Tap capability?

Is there a way around it?

I don't think I can use a macro as I need the Alt to be held, and making the macro alt+tab doesn't work, I need it to be hold alt then tap tab to cycle through.

I need some advice of art journals, paints, and brushes for daily art journalling and travel journalling. There are so many options for everything. Paper is my most pressing issue.

Then building a palette, what pigments to use, minimal CMYK or a set.

Finally brushes, I'm going ok with pentel aquash, but the synthetic vs natural, size and shape are overwhelming

I don't want to be held back by my materials and equipment, so I'm sticking to professional grade paints.

(Long rambling story follows)

I started my art journey with a blank Midori MD A6 notebooks and a fountain pen. A sketch a day. A while ago I started using washes of ink and watercolor pencils and I found I that what I enjoyed were plants, animals and fungi. I got the John Muir Laws Nature Drawing and Journalling, it's a fantastic book and I keep referring back to it.

I've now started doing d some actual watercolours, rather than just watercolor pencils.

Midori MD were ok with the pencils and wash but it's not great with actual watercolours. I've tried the MD cotton, but I'm finding it even worse for bleed through.

The talens art creation were ok, but I found it didn't work well with masking fluid and just the feel of the paper.

Stillman and Birn Alpha was better, I felt it was a bit rough after the smooth Midori MD, but they are quite expensive

I've got some MD thick coming and will try that.

I'm also considering Seawhite travel journal 200gsm and Daler-Rowney Ebony 150gsm

Once decided to stay with a minimal CMYK pallet as a starting point. Daniel smith were recommended by Laws in his book: phithalo blue (green shade), Hansa yellow light, and Quinacridone pink. I've also added neutral tint for black and white gouache for highlights. And

Burnt Sienna (I needed Browns)

Am I just making things hard for myself? Or is it a good way to learn to mix colour?

On that, should I consider other pigments? I like the value and convenience of the Daniel smith paint sticks, but that's not available in Quinacridone pink, so I'll need an alternative to that.

Alternatively there's the Winsor & Newton Professional Half Pans Watercolour 13 Piece Set Field Box, which I'm tempted by.

I'm using pentel aquash water brushes, but I wonder if I should use something "real"