Pixels and your health

[DrNoodles]

So ... I recently got back into pixelling but I noticed that my abusive computer abuse has created some problems for me. I started to notice that my right hand/arm gets 'tired' after a while to the point where it starts hurting at times. I do have an A5 intuos table but for some reason I can't use it fluently for everything. Anyway, my question is: How do you make your pixelart? + If you recognize the symptoms or have it yourself, how do you deal with it?

I recently got one of those powerballs to strenghten the muscles in hand and arm but I'm curious if there are more options out there.

[Ryumaru]

hah, i think the only possible damage to your arm/hand from pixeling is carpel tunnel. what you need to worry about is your eyes.

[Godslayer]

Not really. If your really paranoid, just remember, 20 minutes, 20 seconds, 20 feet away. Every 20 minutes, look at something for 20 seconds that is 20 feet away. But even neglecting that, your eyes will not get damaged unless... I don't know, you strap your cornea to a strobelight animation for a couple years.

[Conzeit]

I tend to move the mouse with my fingers....and I always rest my wrist, at the begginging I did have trouble but I think I have adapted to do it harmlessly.

what worries me is my eyes an my column. make sure you get good chairs people!

my eyes...they have definitively taken damage =/. I gotta admit I liked it at first, because...that "I cant really see it clearly" aspect of pixeling is much of what I like to it.....that contrasted to how clear it looks up close is what really drives me nuts about pixeling.

use UV glasses people...and make sure you dont work on low-res pics in hi-res...you'll strain your eyes and screw em up like I did.

[pkmays]

Tablet for everything. It takes time to adjust from mouse, but at this point using the mouse even to browse around in Windows Explorer or model in 3D feels weird. My posture is horrible. Eyes are always red. I'll go to a chiroprator once I can afford one. I'll start wearing glasses when my eyes start to fail me. Oh and I jump roap every day.

[Gunne]

owyea, the red eyes, I have them too, and my mouse-hand always feels very cold . And I also got the arm problem, but I don't really pay attention to it, because well, most of my joints hurts of sitting in an almost (twisted)45 degrees position!

I've a tablet which I can't use because I don't really have space for it, although I can use it on my lap, but that's kinda awkward

(And I got some mental problems because of this computer)

[Skull]

I've been gazing longingly into a computer screen since I was like, 5.. Nothing has ever affected me..

I'll probibly get real messed up when I'm older. 

[Panda]

While it's not exactly a health problem, after 8+ hrs of straight pixelling I turn grumpy  .
And well, at times red eyes, muscle pain from sitting for a long time, but normally it doesn't really happen to me (except the first thing).
I pixel with light (I can't stand staring at a screen in the dark. For movies it's alright, but for pixelling it kills my eyes.) and mouse/tablet depending of how I feel like.

[Xion]

Sometimes I go for like halves of hours without blinking (or maybe it's dozens of minutes [or just two or three]), from 12:00 noon to 1:00 am, and when I finally try to go to sleep my eyes burn when they close but are too heavy to keep open. I don't know if my eyes are red or not 'cause I never look in the mirror.
Sometimes I blink properly and am only on from four to eleven, but then my eyes get sore and tense and I have to overfocus. Just to see normal. It's amazing I don't need glasses.

[fil_razorback]

My eyes are still perfect (maximum score at medical tests) even after many years of hardcore computer utilisation...but my column is messed up...some kind of 3d sinus trajectory on the radios .

[Dogmeat]

I'm old, ( almost 30 ) and I've found that if i'm not in the most extremely relaxed position I will begin to have severe neck pain. It takes me a good 5 minutes just to prepare for my pixeling activity. I always find myself leaning into the screen if I don't pay attention. I destroyed my eyes this way and I now have to wear glasses whenever I use a computer because the light from the screen causes my eyes to get extremely tired at a very rapid rate otherwise.

[AdamTierney]

I only tablet to rough art out (if then). Using a tablet for everything will indeed hurt your arm.

- Adam

[ptoing]

how does use a tablet for everything hurt your arm? You dont always have to move the whole arm do you? You can only move your fingers, your wrist, or your arm depending what you are doing.

I use the tablet for EVERYTHING, including the windows interface. My mouse is collectiong dust.

[pkmays]

Using a tablet is better for your arm and wrist than using a mouse. There's an ergonomic study on Wacom's website that you should check out. It's 10x more comfortable and healthy to use a tablet for hours on end than it is to use a mouse.

I like my tablet so much, I'm eventually going to pony up the money and get one of these bad boys.

[Frychiko]

Using a computer everyday (ok, I went outside somteimes) since I was 6 or so has resulted in my eyes turning into jelly, so I've had to wear glasses since I was 17 (I held out as long as possible). Using the mouse to pixel sounds so painful. I still use the mouse for everything besides art though.

[ptoing]

Using a computer everyday (ok, I went outside somteimes) since I was 6 or so has resulted in my eyes turning into jelly, so I've had to wear glasses since I was 17 (I held out as long as possible). Using the mouse to pixel sounds so painful. I still use the mouse for everything besides art though.

I think you have to blame your genes there. Some people have a disposition to get their eyes fucked up.

I got my first computer when I was 8 and i used It pretty much every day from then on more or less, with the ocassional breaks of going on holiday and since 2 years I work at a computer for 8-12 hours each day (at work and home) and my eyes are perfectly fine.

[Frychiko]

Lucky you.