YOUR DESIGN COACH

Chou-Tac

Your Messages & Questions

I am from india.i want to learn sketching products....
I am from the midlands in England...
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I'm from Cameroon, I love shoes and want to invent and create mines. I've being thinking a...
I am a hobbyist...
Hi i’m Midhun from India and I need to improve my sketching skills...
I´m from México. I would like to know what this book offers...
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To improve my architectural sketching...
I can't get my free book :(...
Ola Michael, Quizas te quieres el "Designer Starter Kit" en espanol. If yes, please send...
I discovered Nomad Sculpt on iPad. https://nomadsculpt.com/ It's crazy interesting. It ...
I am from Holland and I love to design or sketch or sculpt on my iPad...
Quero voltar a desenhar...
Hi Dalila, You are starting an amazing journey! Congrats !!...
Awesome. I hope learning drawing is helping you at your house building activity!...
Welcome Haonan :)...
Hi Rena, if you have any link where we could see your work, I am curious when you mention ...
Awesome! Hope you find valuable content and tips in the blog :)...
I'm from China, and I'm an industrial design student...
Hi! I study sculpture in High School of Fine Arts in Athens,Greece. I"ve just watched the...
I‘m from China,I am a student majoring in industrial design...
I'm from cameroon and i built houses...
I am from Algeria , I am first year industrial design student...
Minimalism is simple but often not easy to find the right curve or line. That is the beaut...
Hi Nicolas, You don't need to change any of your cables. You just need to buy a travel ad...
As another artist travelling US to france with a fat cintiq, a simple question: how did yo...
Like minimalism designs in my crafts...
sadhique from kerala, india...
Hi Mikhael, How are you doing? Thank you! The cover changed, but the guide remains the s...
Hello Rabia, Glad you are looking for sketching improvement besides your school :)...
Hi Marion, I made a beginner introduction to start drawing from imagination. It will help...
Hi Roy, You are starting an amazing journey! Congrats!...
I am Ajayce Roy From India Right now I am looking forward to study product design....
I love sketching but I would like to have more use of my imagination...
ı want to learn draw,ı am a student...
I see a new cover, then I'm curious to download it again, because the book is very solid a...
Hi Dalila, After you go through the Designer Starter Kit, I invite you to try this tutor...
Ola Ruben, If you want to receive the designer starter kit in Spanish, please send me an...
Hi James! Lack of patience is a double-sword quality! I am glad it brings you here. :)...
Hi Julius, awesome! Hope you will find valuable tips and techniques in the blog....
From Rwanda, looking forward to becoming an industrial designer...
USA. Art has always been in my life is various mediums. MY LACK OF PATIENCE seems to bring...
Hola, soy de México, me inspira mucho tu forma de enseñar a dibujar, tus videos y la inf...
I am from Algeria. Want to get better at sketching objects...
Want to get better at sketching objects...
Hi-I'm Terri. I want to learn to draw...
My pleasure Marcos. Estoy feliz para ayudar te a dibujar mejor cada dia. Hope my Spanish...
Superbe Shammi, Glad you are back in track for sketching :) Bravo!!...
My pleasure Sven, I hope you find helpful content for your drawing journey! Cheers, Chou-T...
Hello Eliss, Glad you love drawing and spend time to learn. Awesome! You are gonna do gre...
Hi Estelle, I am glad you enjoy the blog, and that it helps you in your sketching journey ...
Hi Chou-Tac, Your site on sketching is SO Inspiring! I am Estelle, I live in China. I am a...
Kelantan,Malaysia I want to learn to sketch because I love drawing.I always drawing when ...
Thanks Chou Tac for sharing. Love to improve my skills....
thanks, Chou-Tac, your tutorials are exactly what I needed to start sketching again. The b...
Eu sou do Brasil, gostaria de aprimorar minhas técnicas de desenho, muito obrigado....
Hi Vinicius, thank you for sharing about Worldskills. https://worldskills.org/skills/id/5...
Hi chan. My name is Vinícius Arduino, from Brazil. I'm a worldskills competitor, do you k...
I want to get book...
I am glad to accompany you on your learning design journey Gabriele :)...
Hi Musab, The book is free and it is delivered to you by email. Did you well receive it?...
Can I order this book?...
Eu sou do Brasil, e quero aprimorar e aprender mais sobre design. A artes me fascinam...
Hi Adrian, Oops, just saw your messages by chance. :) Please say hello to the team Creapo...
I'm from central California and have an interest in urban design. My goal is to design wal...
Thanks for sharing good information I read this post I really like this article....
I have always been interested in industrail design....
I'm from Japan. The reason I want to learn sketching is because I want to be a product de...
*Cheap*, sorry!...
Because of you I bought A5 Fabriano sketchbook and a couple of cheab BIC roundstick black ...
Thank you for sharing these awesome books for free. I’m from Myanmar. I always intereste...
I saw your Youtube tutorial...
Hi, I got my BA in 2010 at the age of 50. For my final project I wrote a short story and i...
ola a todos. sou do brasil....
brasil....
I was able to find it. Thank you! :)...
I was able to find it. Thank you! :)...
I'm ami from India and I'm looking for best technique and better skill for my design...
Hello! Maybe the beginner guide play hide and seek in the spam folder. Can you have...
Hey, I really appreciate it that you're able to provide beginners a free guide but I still...
Hi Sanjay, Glad to have you on board! You will get tutorials in the upcoming days and we...
A Mechanical product designer by profession learning to draw perspectives and human figure...
My pleasure Zahra. I am always happy to help, and glad you wanna improve. I learned s...
Hi Chou-Tac Chung, im so happy to find you again,my major is Industrial Design but im not ...
Hello Titi, Please thank the person who recommended the book to you. :) Feel free t...
That's an awesome goal you have Ruan! The gaming industry never stops growing. Bravo!...
I'm taking an animation degree and was referred to your book. I caught a glimpse on how to...
i like scathing...
I'm learning myself programming and game development on my own. And I want improve my draw...
I'm glad you enjoy David! By the way, in case you may be interested, the registration...
Hi, Chou-Tac Chung - Just wanted to say hi, and thanks for doing the videos. They're all r...
Estoy feliz porque te gustas la video de tutorial y ayudarte a dibujar las formas del arte...
Excelente contenido para aprender y para enseñar .Muchas Gracias por compartir...
Hey. How to determine in which scene I should be drawing a parallel source of light or a d...
Hi Daniel,  Yah, these days, it is better to rest if you feel any pain from your injur...
Hello I am from Montreal Canada, I've been sketching on and off for a while but more often...
I also hope you will find valuable content on the blog during your journey Deep. You sa...
Hi Stefan, I like your expression of a Chronic overthinker. You can find multiple vid...
Hi :-) hailing all the way from Denmark. I´m getting into portrait drawing and I was hopi...
Hi from Portugal I want to improve my drawings....
Hey, I am a Mechanical engineer, I like solving problems. But I want to explore my care...
Hy I'm Sabareesh, from India, basically I'm a graduate naval architect, who designs ships ...
Hi Mr Smith, I hope you find plenty of content that helps your high-school students....
Mr. Smith from Buffalo, NY I teach high school Architecture. I make every attempt to inc...
Hi i'm Jorge from Colombia and I need to improve my skills...
We can feel your high motivation Ian, awesome!! If you are a beginner, you may try this t...
Hope you find helpful content on the blog Salim :)...
Why the quality of image is decreasing when I'm posting on Instagram?...
Why the image quality decrease when I post it on Instagram?...
iwant improve my draeing...
i want improve my drawing...
I didn’t get a book yet please help me...
I WANT TO CREATE MY DESIGNS...
Hi Deanna, Do you mean the Designer starter kit? It is free. :) You can download ...
how much is the book?...
Hi Kathleen, I'm happy if it can be helpful to your art students. :) Thank you for s...
Great article. I'll share it with my high school art students! I always appreciate your ar...
Keep up Emmanuel! :D It is always worth pursuing what matters to you....
Thank you Chou-Tac. Your words inspire and give me hope....
Welcome on board Javier! :)...
Hello, I am Javier from Spain...
Hey Josh, Thank you for being an inspiration for the Design Sketchbook family and ...
Heck yea! I'm glad my question ended up making it as a full post! Hope it helps others as ...
Hi Asti, (Your name reminds me of a place I visited in Italy, where they produce amazi...
I am an Urban Sketcher and I want to improve my skills...
Hi Summer, Oops sorry for the late reply! Do you mind sending me an email at choutac@t...
I dont udernstant how you drawd your sphere and his shadow its says that you "will create ...
Hello! I’ve always loved to draw, and after observing how a lot of the artists I admire,...
Hi Graham, I do believe in "Quick wins". Basically about giving simple exercises th...
Hi I teach design in high school and I am looking for an easy way to teach my students to ...
Oh yeah, it's not free anymore. It's about 20$. I remember seeing a post from them on Fac...
Congratulation Ana for following your childhood dream. That's a great action you can def...
Avec plaisir Tania! N'hesites pas a partager dans les commentaires du blog, ou m'envoye...
Thank you for sharing Chris about the XP Pen tablet! :)...
Great article, thanks so much for sharing your knowledge! I was looking to get a screen...
Bonjour ! Je dessine en autodidacte mais cela fait des années que j'ai arrêté. Donc app...
Thanks for sharing! But Sketchbook is not free anymore for Windows and Mac OS. I use Krit...
Hi, I'm Brazilian, my name is Ana, and i am an frustrated adult how quit drawing as kid be...
Hi, My name is Leon, From Liberia living in Nairobi. I love sketches and would love to lea...
hola yo vivo en Guyana, siempre me ha gustado dibujar, pero necesito mejorar....
hey.. hey,i am form india i love sketching and your words motivate me thank you sir...
Hi Oliver, I am glad you enjoy the drawing tutorials :). Sure, keep going learnin...
Hi, I really like hoe you teach drawing. Some time I started by using some book on techni...
Hi Gordon, It's all my pleasure. I am happy if the blog can help you during your a...
Hi Chou, Just wanted to say thank-you for all the work and wisdom you share. I am 54 a...
Hi! I'm not sure I see the difference between B and C. Are you just resting more lightly...
Soy de la ciudad de méxico, me interesa y me gusta mucho tu forma de exponer cada uno de ...
Soy de la ciudad de méxico, México es mi pais, y me interesa la información de tus libr...
Australia, For self paced learning for my kids at home....
Hello from Brazil! I wanto to learn the sketch to ilistrate n eBook on elkectronics! Best,...
I'm from Portugal. Need to learn more about perspective. Hope your book help me on that. C...
From California. Engineer who wants to learn to quickly sketch product ideas....
Me gusta dibujar desde pequeño y quisiera aprender más....
Yeah! I am happy it helps you refuel your motivation tank! :)...
hey, thanks a lot for this article! i got my college results recently and was feeling do...
am a land surveyor and love designing.......
am a land surveyor and love designing.......
Hello from Hawaii!...
Don here, from Hawaii. Always wanted to be able to draw, looking forward to learn here....
Actually I try to know and learn the systematic technique for sketching. It will help and...
Hi Susan, Thank you for sharing your creative apps selection on iPad. Do you draw ...
Hi there, I've been a professional fine artist for over twenty years. Before that I was a...
My name is Pablo and I'm interested in improving my art skills....
Hi, I'm Julius from Ghana. I've just started drawing and I'm looking for resources online ...
Hello, I have just sent an email to you :)...
I a brazilian and I want to improve my technique...
Is the “37 Secrets of Sneaker Designers'” book still available??? I sent for it, got t...
Hi Chou-Tac! I've been trying to get the book but it's not been sent to my mail, please c...
Hi Gino, Oops! Thanks to you, I realized I forgot to unlock the book delivery. Let ...
Is the "37 Secrets of Sneaker Designers'" book still available??? I sent for it, got the l...
My aim and passion to be designer I'll achieve this surely...
Hello Janet, Yes, the basics are perfect to start sketching the "correct way" as you...
Superb! It's definitely great to explore different styles and methods. :)...
Hi Kamil, As a carpenter, you may like this interview with Guillaume Bouvet. He's a ...
It is my pleasure to share! I also love illustration. Art and design are so interlinked....
Welcome on board Sam! Let me know how it goes, and do not hesitate to leave a comment or...
I'm a self trained set designer Wood worker from Lagos Nigeria Thanks for sharing I real...
Learning to sketch as a hobby and past time....
Hi from Belarus! I'm after illustration. I hope learning to sketch would help me to get i...
Hi! I come from Poland, but I live in Germany, Berlin. I am carpenter and want to learn sk...
Hello my name is Jan, I live in Perth, Western Australia. I am 72 years old and now disabl...
This is a great reminder to half things.. thanks...
I’m design garments and just expanding on sketching....
I’m looking forward to sharpening up my sketching skills for sneaker design. Thank you f...
i Come from Les Baux de Provence. Thé lockdown five me Time to draw and now i love it bu...
Thank you for sharing this with us...
Hi! I live in Mexico. Im arquitech and i want to improve my sketching styale. Thak's for g...
Hi , I’m trying to take my drawing to the next level ....
My name is Chris Richards from Asheville NC and I need to improve my skills to better pres...
I work as illustrator, I'm very curious about design techniques....
I'm from Arizona. I just started teaching myself how to draw because I've always wanted to...
how is you learn design product ?...
M a french student in a design school, i wish that you're book can help me in my work...
I'm from Brazil and sketching is my favorite hobby....
Very enlightening article. Been reading your blog little by little for some time now but ...
I want to crack the nid exam (National institute of designing)I am preparing for the exa...
Thank you so much for making this content and for your fantastic YouTube videos! I hope to...
I want to draw to open my business and as a hobby...
I'm a landscape architect and want to polish up my landscape drawing skills....
I'm theater design student and want to learn more about sketching....
I want to learn how to design for the industry....
I want to learn it so I can design environments for the industry....
Hello, I've tried signing-up several times for the book download, but no success. Nothing...
My major is industrial design. I'm a design sketch teacher. I'd read the book to improve m...
Gostaria de aprender outras técnicas de desenho porque faço Design de Calçados....
Hello Chou-Tac, I am Marina from Serbia. I study graphic design. Thank you for sharing thi...
Oroville, CA I want to learn it so I can design environments for the gaming and film in...
I've always loved drawing but geneRALLY REfused joining a course. I've always wanted to be...
I’m teaching designdraxing myself and want to have indpiration for my lessons...
Sacramento, CA...
I am a student of Design... but my drawing skills never developed well... when I was 12yo...
I want to improve my skills to better support my students when working on sketching design...
I’m learning how to be better at illustrating for animations...
Hi me prem...
Hi, I’m from Singapore. I am a teacher ,teaching design and technology. I want to be a...
I am a Mechanical Engineer. I do a lot of computer drawing every day, but I would like to ...
i want to be a product designer, sketching is the first building blog to be...
I want to learn how you learn how to draw what you see....
I am an art teacher and want to learn from other artists. I work in USA in Washington sta...
I am an art teacher and want to learn from other artists....
Hi Manuela, Yes there are some tutorials about straight lines. You can get them here...
Hi Nadya, I have just send it to you by email :) Chou-Tac...
Tried downloading book nothing happening. Can you please send me a copy. Thanks...
Hi chou-tac I love your videos. I have a question i always drawed feather lines. I am now...
I've always known I have the talent for drawing/sketching plus I love art but I didn't tak...
Well, I want to learn how to sketch so I can be a animator so I can make this animation fo...
I could relate to this post quite a lot. When I was in my third year I found myself questi...
I'm a student in 3D computer graphics for games and film, but want to improve my artistic ...
My pleasure Jan!...
Totally agree Bryan! :)...
Hi Greig, Hope you find plenty of helpful content on the blog. :) Please let me know...
Awesome Albert, Please, let me know how it goes with the students. :)...
Hello Sam, I am glad that you could correct your elbow position when you draw ellipses...
I have been drawing since I was a kid but never took it seriously enough to learn/study ho...
I would like to use the book for students who are having difficulties with drawing. Tha...
Awesome Usamah, It's such a great feeling to solve problems helping people (even if we...
when I studied mechanical engineering, it was very difficult because of the many calculati...
studying product design...
Trying to get back into sketching, I teach high school design technology and am looking fo...
I am a student and a freelancer, looking forward to be very good in design sketching and t...
Hello, I'm from Oklahoma. I'm interested in sketching because there are times words simp...
Thanks for the help and book to help and practice...
Congrats on your choice of the creative path Teertha! I am glad the sketching videos hel...
Just a student interested in design and wanted to know where to start...
Thank you. I'd like to learn to become a better sketcher....
Hello! I am going to apply for master's degree and found your videos to helpful for me....
Hello Richard, I am glad you enjoyed the video tutorial on perspective and found it be...
Hi Chou-Tac, Greetings for the day. My name is Mahendra and I'm from India. I love to dr...
Hi Dev, PLease find my reply on your email. :) See you there! Cheers, Chou-Tac...
Salut Paxon, Bienvenue a bord! Je serais curieux de ce que tu fais pour les scenogra...
I want to sign up for the sneaker sketching course . Vould you help me with that?...
Bonjour! Je viens de lire votre introduction et je voulais vous dire bonjour d’Austin a...
Chou-Tac I went through your 2 point perspective tutorial. You've done an outstanding job...
from Switzerland, Suisse romande, et je parle français, I live near the lake of Neuchâte...
I am a beginner at 68 and want excellent help....
Am darhnyell from Nigeria . I love art and am passionate about it right from childhood...
Hi, i´m glad to meet you, whith us I had the necesary I need learn to draw better. thanks...
Hi, I did not receive the book till now. I am very interested to learn sketching. I am sea...
I want to refine my skills to be the beat artist I can be. Always learning...
Design Technology Teacher Qld Australia teaching Design...
Hi Sandi, You got a great initiative. Handsketching will help you a lot in your journey...
Hi, I'm a product design engineer student. So I would love to be skillful at sketching not...
Hi Uyen, If you use a screen tablet like a iPad or Wacom Cintiq, it gets very similar t...
Hi Matthew, I am glad you enjoy sneaker design so much! I have just finished writing...
Hi Chou-Tac, it's nice to meet you... I came across your website by vigorous researching. ...
I also need to know moreabout technique. I watch video and the Pro Designer is using Ipad ...
Me too. I watch video and the Pro Designer is using Ipad for sketch book, I wonder do we d...
Hi, I studying at Art and design University and I want to learn more about sketching. Than...
I did not get the book. I asked for it Again today....
I checked spam every day but, no, I did not get the book. I asked for it agin today....
Hi Ojo, Happy you are back with your passion for drawing! I have sent an email to you ...
Hello Chou Tac. I'm a former student of yours I started the sketch like the pros course ...
HELLO! I'M GABE. I'M FROM BRASIL. I'M AN ART TEACHER AND UNPROFESSIONAL DESIGNER. I WAN...
WANTED TO LEARN RENDERING TECHNIQUES...
Hi Miguel, I agree, being able to draw the products you have in mind will drastically ...
Hi Alexandra, Your teacher is wise. The world is generous of discoveries! For us t...
Hey Kym, You are totally right, for a concept artist, the key is a good understanding ...
Hello Aquilla, Glad to see you here and explore how to keep improving your art skills....
Hi Andreas, The book is sent to your email. Did you receive it?...
Thanks Praveen, I am glad it helps you!...
That i s great you go back to your passion. Your ideas and concepts will definitely take...
Thank you for the update Michelle. I am glad you received it. Sometimes email like t...
I was able to download it today using a non-gmail account. I put in a temporary email and ...
These tips and tricks are so amazing and easy to follow. Great explanation of drawing sket...
Hi, I am from India and wanted to learn to sketch because currently whatever I am thinking...
To the ones who didn't get the book, i tried with some diferent mail accounts and i only c...
I’m a Production Engineer, I need to be required basic drawing skills....
Hi, I'm Michelle from the US and I am unsure what direction to take when it comes to studi...
Thank you, Great method's; and very professional....
i love sketching but never was good at it....
Have tried to get the workbook several times but not received it via email. Can you please...
Hi, I'm Daniel. I'd like to design sneakers also but I don't know where to start. I've see...
i dont think there are a lot of design studios in turkey...
Hi there, This is Summer from the XP-Pen team, I am reaching out for a cooperation cha...
I am studying Design and Technology teaching at University and I need to learn how to draw...
Hello, from the US. I've always loved drawing and doodling as a kid. Drawing allowed me to...

Categories

The designer starter kit chou tac chung
Sneaker sketch book chou tac chung

I’ve just flown back to my hometown in France traveling with my iMac and Wacom digital tablet.

I will set up a new office space to have more time to create new tutorials and great content for designers. Keep posted!


How to carry iMac on a plane

Today I share with you How to carry iMac on a plane.
You may face this situation as well, and may also give you a lot of “butterflies in the stomach” wondering if you can safely bring your iMac 21” and Wacom Cintiq 22 HD Touch onboard.

Airport imac cintiq wacom baggage luggage throw's luggage
A baggage handler who doesnt care much about travelers luggage

I took a long-distance flight (13 hours flight from Singapore to France) with my heavy and fragile IT equipment and I preyed they won’t be damaged in the cargo compartment of the plane.

I preyed that my IT equipment would not be damaged in the cargo compartment of the plane.


Why so worried?

Have you ever seen how baggage handlers throw our luggage to the lorry? The treatment is really rough. You may have a quick look at this video. No care policy.

Baggage blues airport luggage imac macbook laptop cabin

How baggage handlers throw your baggage out of the plane. 

Why airplanes are so modern,
and the baggage transportation so primitive?

Even Potato bags may be handled with more care. Since I became paranoid and reluctant to let my IT equipment to the Cargo compartment. However, it seems hopeless and that we don’t have any alternative.

Before the flight, I browsed a lot of forums and websites to look for solutions, but nothing concrete.

I managed to figure out a solution.
So I decided to share my experience with you guys.


How I moved all my IT equipment by plane?

Imac dimensions for cabin airport plane transportation in the luggage
Can i bring imac on a plane

TIP | How to rise your baggage allowance ?
Hand carry your laptop and camera.
They are not counted in
the weight and number of item allowance.

In theory,
the hand-carry baggage allowance is pretty flexible, but baggage for the cargo compartment is strict.

If you need to carry more weight than allowed, you have to hand-carry extra kg. I know that you are going to tell me that the weight is also limited.

True. But there is a trick.

Note that as soon as you have been through the check-in counter, you are free to move. There is no more control after about the weight, size, and a number of your hand-carry baggage.

By default, you have 7 kg allowed to hand carry.

If the check-in counter agent wants to weight your hand-carry bags, remember to mention you carry your laptop and camera with you.

It should be enough to let you go without paying extra fees for the extra weight. 🙂

GOOD TO KNOW
Never exceed 32 kg for 1 baggage.
They will ask you to repack it on the spot.

Imac dimensions for cabin airport plane transportation in the luggage box
Wondering if i should keep the oversize box to protect my imac
  • I decided to hand carry my iMac 21” on the plane without the box.
  • I wish I could bring the original box, but it made the package too big.
  • So I protect my computer with simple Bubble wrap and an A3 plastic folder for the screen.

I hand-carried my Imac and the Cintiq Pod as well.

Wacom cintiq handcarry in the plane in a bag airport
Inside are my imac and my wacom cintiq pod

Wacom cintiq back view
The Wacom Cintiq Pod is pretty heavy and cumbersome.
I could have let it in the original box but I preferred to carry it with me.

I kept the original box, and add in 2 cushions to protect the Digital tablet.


At airport counter:

When I reached the check-in counter, the agent asked me about the content.

  • I said it’s a screen.
  • The agent asked: Is it fragile?
  • YES very much! Super fragile!
  • So he stuck several stickers mentioning “Handle with care”. To be honest, I doubted that these stickers would protect better the Cintiq.
  • But, he didn’t let my Cintiq box go to the treadmill. He asked me to put it at a specific trolley for FRAGILE items! It means that my box will not follow the regular rude baggage journey. A “special team” would deliver it with care.
  • So, when I reached the airport in France, my luggage never came from a regular treadmill. A hostess told me I could find my box in a specific trolley for Fragile items. Awesome!
  • My Cintiq box arrived in perfect condition! Same condition as when I packed it.

Singapore Airlines website never mentions this service. I recommend you call your airline company before booking your ticket and see if you can benefit from this “baggage extra care service”.

Wqcom cintiq transportation with imac inch airport plane charles de gaulles paris changi airport singapore
I arrived at paris airport with all my luggage imac and wacom cintiq safe

After being so worried, I received back all my stuff in good condition.

Note the extra white foam I added to disperse the shock along the box edges was in case they would throw the pack like a potato bag.

Thanks, Singapore Airlines for taking care of the baggage.
I hope that all airline companies will follow your path.


Are you a traveling designer?
What are your tricks to bring along your equipment on the plane?

Let me know n the comments.

Chou-Tac

Hello! I am a Product Designer from France.

If the sketching methods I’ve acquired aid me in my life and in my industrial design career, I believe that they can also help you reach your design goal as a student or professional.

My aim is to help you all along with your design projects and journey!

Leave a comment in the blog or send me an email at choutac@thedesignsketchbook.com : )

Chou-Tac

View all posts

17 comments

Leave a comment or question

  • As another artist travelling US to france with a fat cintiq, a simple question: how did you deal with power supply cables ? just used US to FR power outlet adaptors or did you have to hunt down new cables for the mac and the cintiq’s power supplies ?

    • Hi Nicolas,

      You don’t need to change any of your cables. You just need to buy a travel adapter.
      If you can, avoid the low-quality adapter.

      You can get a good one like Skross. You may find them at the airport.
      https://www.skross.com/en/products/country-travel-adapters

      I would not recommend the “Transformers” type one.
      They are convenient but bulky, and sometimes does not really fit all kind of walls properly.
      Plus they are also easier to break since you will manipulate them more often.

      Bon voyage Nicolas!

  • Hi chou, i quick question. I have an wacom cintiq 16, i tried once bringing it on board and it had an issue multiple time. I almost had the it confiscated. But in the end i was lucky enough to bring it back.

    This time I will put it in in my luggage for check-in. Will it pass? As previously when i brought it on board they identify it as ESPLOSIVE. I DUN rlly understand as wacom cintiq 16 is just an interactive screen.

    • Hello Xenia,

      What I learned with airlines is that some products are kind of in the grey area. So the staff needs to self-interpret the situation. Plus it is pretty uncommon for them to get such requests.

      What I’ve learned is when we discuss with them and explain with a smile, situation can get resolved. And they will be happy to figure out a solution with us (most of the time).

      For the explosive, I believe your interlocutor has no IT knowledge. So she emitted a wrong hypothesis. If you put yourself in her shes, she may think it is a computer with batteries. So you got to explain this is only a screen device that needs to be plugged to work.

      (My Mac book pro 15inch has been banned from most airlines… no way to put in check-in or onboard…. When I checked online it was pretty much a mess about it at the airport…)

      As you said, it is just a screen. And in case they really refuse you take it with you onboard, ask them to put them with the fragile luggage / package. It will be taken care of separately for free.

      All the best!

      Chou-Tac

      PS: A situation I managed to bring my Cintiq 22hd within a low-cost company.
      I succeed to bring with me my Cintiq until the waiting area before boarding. When I was time to board, and I show my ticket, they refused to bring in the plane saying it was too big. The plane was full, so it would be problematic and would only accept concession if there were fewer passengers.

      They took my tablet away, and in the corridor, a staff was waiting to take away my tablet…

      I sat on the plane. Waited till the plane get more full.
      There was still plenty of space for luggage. I asked the steward if I could bring my screen, as it’s expensive and fragile. He gets info for me and told me the guy was still in the corridor. So I went there to get it back.

      Then, a stewardess saw my tablet, and refused it. Saying it was too big getting the equivalent of 2 luggage.

      I said: look, let me try.

      I took the Cintiq and put it myself in the upper case. And it fitted perfectly. Ok, it was wide in dimensions, but it was super flat. So extra luggage could be put on top of it easily.

      She saw it, and finally accepted! :))

      Our tablets are so precious to us, that sometimes we got to figure out ways to negotiate always with the smile despite of the peak of stress. hehe.

  • hi Chou,
    so you put your 22inch cintiq on a box, wrap it p well and hand it to them to put it in a baggage extra care service , and you wrapped your imac with bubble wrap and hand carried it, correct?

    did your packed up iMac fit under your sit or on the cabin compartments?
    i have a 20inch Huiion screen that i plan to wrapt it up like you did, and a book bag with laptop
    i plan to bring them both as hand carry.
    i am guessing one of them will be consider as a carry on baggage

    will this be possible?
    thank you

    • Hello Yuri,

      The iMac was on top in the cabin.
      No problem on the format.

      About bringing your 20-inch Huion graphic tablet in the cabin, if you are daring, yes.

      You can try to bring your screen tablet Huion on board. I succeeded once for my Wacom Cintiq 22HD. Yeah !!
      (The feet of the tablet was disassembled and put in my check-in luggage)

      But it was not without stress.

      They refused it multiple times because of the unconventional size of the “TV format”.
      And the flight was full.
      (The crew is more flexible if the flight has a lot of empty seats, giving more rooms for the luggage.

      I succeed to negotiate with the flying crew then.
      And they were nice to listen to me.

      If you choose that option, try to reduce the packing to the most slim as possible.

      When I reached inside the plane, the crew refused it. They told me I should give to a staff at the entrance, who will help me bring it to the check-in luggage.

      Something that scared me a lot.
      As I already imagine them throwing the screen during the loading…

      So I gently asked them if I could test and show them how the tablet would fit in the cabin.
      They say ok. And It fit without any problem. I can still remember the facial expression of the cabin crew.

      Why?

      Because despite the “extended size of the screen”.
      The package was thin and flat.
      So it was like taking almost no space in the cabin. A bag or a luggage could still fit on top of it.
      (Note that the cabin is large and wide at the bottom surface)

      After the little demo, the crew accepted, and here we go!

      For the laptop, I recommend you to bring it within a laptop bag.
      As they often do not count them as a carry on luggage. It counts for 0.
      If they ask about your laptop bag, precise them it is a laptop.

      I recommend you to fit in your books inside too.
      (*Low cost flight companies might count it in though)

      Good luck, and let me know how it goes!

      See you.

  • HI thanks for the tip, I’m in a similar situation traveling from Mexico to Canada about a 6-hour flight. I have a laptop and a Cintiq 22″. I’m wondering if I could travel with the Cintiq as you travel with your iMac with protection and as my carry-on.

    • Hello Violet, when you pack your Cintiq, make sure your package is “slim” so it has higher chance to fit in the cabin. For your laptop, most airlines do not count it as an extra hand carry luggage. However low cost companies does more.

  • Oh, man. That’s great news! I’m on a similar situation with my Wacom 21ux. Where did you travel to France from, mate? Cheers!

    • Hello Mag, Yes I did 🙂

      Take note that even if an airline company says that they allow only one handcarry luggage, they are ok to let you bring one more for your laptop or camera. In that case, I bring a laptop and my iMac. 🙂

  • Hey bro, That big box was the Imac? I have a 21.5 too and I’m worried about travel with him from Colombia to Canada, Any other recommendation?

    • Hello Jonatan,

      This big box is from my Cintiq 22HD. I covered the Imac with my cushion, and try to avoid adding heavy stuff inside.

      At the end, it went all fine. The crew asked me if it was fragile. I told them it was an expensive screen. So they did separate my box from the rest. I had to bring it to a huge trolley for fragile items.

      When I received back the box in France, I didn’t see any damage on the box. 🙂 The only thing is that they will take longer to deliver it to you. It won’t come from the usual conveyor belt, but on a separate trolley.

      Make sure your airline do that as well :).

      Cheers,
      Chou-Tac

  • Hey! What an incredible experience! I know because I did the same with my iMac from my Hometown in Uruguay to Munich and as well as as you, after arrival my iMac was delivered in an extra area for very fragile items 🙂

    Before the flight: original package + air bubble wrap + calls to airline, airport and Apple Store to know if they had any other recommendation.

    By the way, nice trick for the Cintiq 13! Now I’m only missing the Cintiq 13 🙂

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