How a Shortcut Controller Can Save Time for Artists

In this article we will look at how useful shortcut remotes are and who they are for.

What's a shortcut controller or shortcut remote

A shortcut remote is small keyboard with limited keys and sometimes with other controls such as switch, toggle, dial or wheel, such as the XPPen AC-19 shortcut remote shown above.

Most shortcut remotes I know are compact and designed for handheld usage. Many companies make shortcut remotes, such as XPPen, Wacom, Xencelabs, Xenx Tech, Huion and more.

The main use of a shortcut remote is to customise shortcuts into those keys so that you won't have to hit combination keys for the same shortcut. E.g. Imagine hitting Cmd + Opt + Shift + S just to export an image vs a single key to do the same.

Keyboard vs shortcut remote

In case you don't already know, using keyboard shortcuts with your drawing apps can save a lot of time. In fact, if you don't use keyboard shortcuts, you're actually less productive. Imagine using keyboard shortcuts vs going into the menu each time to use a command.

While shortcut remotes are useful, there is a limit to the number of shortcuts you can create. Because of the limit, I still prefer to use a keyboard because I can get access to all keyboard shortcuts. However, shortcut remotes can be more convenient depending on your setup, and sometimes the drawing apps you use.

XPPen ACK05 shortcut remote

For example, with the XPPen ACK05 wireless shortcut remote (review), you can customise up to 36 shortcuts with the 10 keys, and 4 commands for the dial. This shortcut remote can be used in any orientation and hence can suit left and right handers.

It may be difficult to remember all the shortcuts but you can even customise one key to show all the shortcuts you've customised to help with your memory.

Shortcut remote with XPPen Artist Pro 14

Compared to a keyboard, you can keep the shortcut remote close to the drawing display.

With a keyboard, your hand will have to stretch to the side, more so if you're using a huge pen display.

Especially convenient for Windows tablet users

Microsoft Surface Pro 8

Windows tablets, e.g. Microsoft Surface Pro, are the best devices to pair with shortcut remotes because those tablets do not have hotkeys, and the keyboard is usually attached to the front which isn't ergonomic. As such, using a shortcut remote with Windows tablets can increase productivity significantly. You can also do so with a Bluetooth keyboard by the side but a shortcut remote is just more useful.

One of my favourite drawing apps is Concepts and this is an app that's inconvenient to use on a non-touchscreen pen display. With the help of the shortcut remote, the app now becomes entirely usable. While it is possible to use the app with a keyboard, a shortcut remote is more convenient because shortcuts can be saved into a single key and does not require stretching my hand to hit combination shortcuts.

Other things to note

It's possible to pair a shortcut remote from one company with a pen display from another company.

There are also shortcut remotes made for iPads, but unfortunately not many for Android tablets.

There are drivers that can create shortcut groups for specific apps you use, and load the shortcuts when those apps are active.