My Set Up!

 What are Specs?

Specs or Specifications is the term used when referring to the detailed information about the hardware you are using, in most cases being a personal computer. Different specs affect the overall performance and capabilities of the computer. This is important to keep in mind when buying equipment, as different programs have specific requirements. When it comes to designing content digitally, the specs of the equipment you use can be the determining factor for what you are capable of actually creating.

My Set Up:

Device (Laptop): Dell Inspiron 15 3000

Processor: Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 4205U @ 1.80GHz   1.80 GHz

Installed RAM: 8.00 GB

System Type: 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor

Pen and touch: Pen support

Accessories:

Drawing Tablet: Huion Inspiron H1060P

It wasn’t until I started looking into equipment that I realized how bad my specs were, especially for certain requirements for software. As an example, below are the recommendations for Adobe Photoshop.

Not only are my specs part of the minimum requirements, but my processor barely meets the minimum specification. As a result, my computer has to work really hard to run the software. This doesn’t only apply to Photoshop, but extends to the other programs in the Adobe Suite. For some of the prototypes I am required to use After Effects, and due to my horrible specifications, the feature of Mercury 3D is not supported. Therefore, it limits my capabilities for 3D motion graphics. 

Having a computer with a good CPU (Central Processing Unit) and GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) is very important for 3D Design. The more details and the higher the quality of the piece will need hardware powerful enough to run the necessary features. If I were to upgrade my setup, I would for sure go for specifications that will allow me to dive more into the 3D design space as this will open more options for my projects. I would also go for A drawing tablet that has a screen.

The tablet that I currently have, I have owned for about a year. What I have noticed over time is that my brain has a hard time connecting what I’m doing on the tablet to what I see on screen. This often leads to more time spent working on pieces as I need to put extra effort into ensuring each stroke is done properly. Having a screen would remove the lack of Hand-Eye Coordination and better mimic the process of traditional drawing.

References

• www.lenovo.com. (n.d.). Make the Right Choice - Explore PC Specifications | Lenovo US. [online] Available at: https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/glossary/how-to-check-pc-specs/?orgRef=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.google.com%252F.

• ‌Adobe (2019). Photoshop System Requirements. [online] Adobe.com. Available at: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/system-requirements.html.