Keyboards and Mice are probably the most overlooked piece of equipment when it comes to CG Artists tools. While everyone else is raving about the best tablets and the nicest screens, these everyday items go unmentioned and oh so many artists just settle with what they’re given at their company.

All the while they forget that this is literally the stuff they end up using the most in their process and its something that, had they spent a bit more time figuring out what’s best for them, would improve their experience, their performance, and their health substantially.

Early on in my career, I started getting plagued by Carpal Tunnel Syndrome as I was working long hours at work and at home to improve my skills and prove myself in this industry.

I thought a pen tablet would help me mediate the effects, and while it did help, there would have been an easier solution to that as well.
Had I spent just a bit of time and money, and got me a good Keyboard and a good Mouse, I could have spared myself the hassle of requesting things from the company, waiting, sending dozens of emails back and forth just to get a tablet.

Although these days, ergonomic equipment is basically standard and will be given to artists who request it without a problem, sometimes the wait times for that stuff are still quite long.
So why not show a bit of initiative and get your own stuff?

So here are my top 2 Keyboards and Mice that I have used extensively throughout the years and are perfect for a VFX artist’s diverse set of tasks they have to fulfill from day to day.
I am making an effort to show you two versions of each, depending on one’s preferences.

The Winner

The Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard and Mouse Combo (Buy it on Amazon) are probably one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. It’s perfect for everything I do each day.
The Keys are flat and have just enough resistance to not feel too floaty. The ergonomic design helps my hand position while typing.

The great thing in its ergonomic design though is, that it has helped me rethink my hotkey setup for within Maya. I have now set up everything so that I don’t have to lift my right hand off the mouse unless I’m entering numbers. This has given me a huge speed and productivity boost.
In our hectic environment these days, this can make a nice difference between you and your competition.

It’s also wireless which I love as it allows me to move stuff around depending on whether I use a tablet or not. I have owned this thing for 1 1/2 years now and have only had to change the batteries once, so battery life is definitely no issue.
If wireless isn’t yours, then there is also a wired version available.

The Runner up

The Logitech Craft (click to see on Amazon) is an extremely fancy and slick piece of equipment. It is arranged in the traditional square layout which might be preferred by a lot of people as compared to the ergonomic “Boomerang” kind of layout in the Microsoft Keyboard.
I’ve tried it out several times and had everything I value.

  • Quality materials and solid construction
  • Light touch keystrokes that don’t fatigue your fingers
  • Great design with end-user in mind
  • Wireless and able to control several devices

The little turn wheel at the top might be a gimmick and I have not used it enough to really figure out if it helps in a production workflow. But Logitech is one of the few companies that is still evolving and trying to innovate, that’s why I’m a fan of their products.

The downside here is that it doesn’t come bundled with a Mouse while it is already fairly expensive. I usually don’t like buying the newest, coolest, most expensive gear, that’s why this is only the runner up and also why you are not going to find this Keyboard on my desk at the moment.
But if you have a bit of money to spare, this is likely your best choice.

Mice

Now let’s look at the next overlooked tool. Even more than Keyboards, your hands will be resting on your Mouse. I have tried so many and found that in so many ways, simpler is once again the much better way to go.

You don’t need a crazy gaming mouse, you need a simple tool, that doesn’t give you Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and doesn’t get in the way on your desk.
Just like with Keyboards, I have picked two winners that I’ve been using through the years and that I’ve found the most helpful yet gimmick-free tools of the trade.

And just like with the Keyboards I have picked one that is very much geared towards ergonomics and one that’s a bit more traditional. Both are available on Amazon where you can also find more specs and all the detailed info that I haven’t listed here.

The Winner

I have tried many vertical mice, and a lot of them are extremely clunky and just too big and heavy to move around. On the other hand, I’ve found that a lot of the smaller mice don’t have a 3 button setup which I really appreciate.

To elaborate a bit further on this point. Most mice these days use a 2 Button setup and add a click function to the mouse wheel to replace the middle mouse button. While with a bit of practice this is ok, I’ve really come to appreciate a dedicated middle mouse button when working within Maya.

When working fast, it just takes a millisecond of focus to press the wheel without turning it and I’ve always found that irritating. I know I’m complaining on a high level here, but we are professionals and these are the details that can make a difference.

That’s why I’m offering you two different options as the winner of this category because they both have flaws, but I’d still prefer any of them over the runner up.

Winner #1 is the Logitech MX Vertical Wireless Mouse (Check it out on Amazon). It’s no wonder it’s a Logitech product, its construction, and design just stands out as well thought through and created for the end-user.

As mentioned above, it doesn’t have a dedicated middle mouse button but makes up for that with the solid all-round performance.
Features like being able to choose if you want to use it wired or wireless and the easily reachable thumb buttons complement the design perfectly.

I have literally just ordered this one myself (March 2020) for my home office after having had the pleasure of using it during my time at Animal Logic in Sydney.

Winner #2 is the Evoluent Vertical Mouse 4 (Click to see it on Amazon).
It’s not the most beautiful piece of equipment, but I’ve animated my way all through War for the Planet of the Apes until Avengers: Infinity war with this sturdy mouse.
She has the 3 Button setup that I mentioned above and it has enabled me to speed up my workflow, especially when manipulating in the Graph Editor, substantially.

The downside with this mouse is that after having tried its co-winner from Logitech, I’ve found that it is just a bit too big for my hands. If you have larger hands, then you’ll have no problems with it, but this is definitely something to keep in mind.

The Runner up

And just with the Keyboards, nontraditional designs are not everyone’s cup of tea, and for everyday tasks like emails and browsing the internet you might be considering going for a more conservative type of mouse. Well donchu worry, I got you covered with that as well.

My most recent employer has just set me up with a computer so I can work from home and he’s given me the best standard mouse I’ve ever had.
For below $30 you get a mouse that does everything you need from it.

I’m talking about the Logitech G203 Prodigy (Check Amazon for current pricing). Simple, pretty, does what it should.
You might suspect that I have a slight Logitech bias here, but I just can’t say enough good things about their products that are simple, elegant and do their job perfectly all while not adding a premium because they’re “Gaming” products or have fancy lights or a million extra buttons.

Practicality over Unnecessary fluff all the way.