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[ronaldefarmer]

I haven't heard anything about using Anim8or with a touchscreen computer. I don't own one, but I recently got a chance to try Anim8or on a new Dell laptop with a touchscreen and it was very cool!! I'm sure that some of the mouse functionality was missing when using the touchscreen, but it was still amazing. Does anyone use Anim8or with a touchscreen?

[Steve]

While Anim8or does work with a touch screen, there are a few things that need improvement. The biggest issues is that it's more difficult to "click" on smaller icons and controls. Close behind is the lack of the left-click/right-click distinction that a mouse has. I'll be addressing these issues in the coming builds.

Please post any comments about your experience with touch screens here

[davdud101]

I always thought this would be REALLY cool! I'd love to see how that works out if you get some added touch screen functionality going, Steve.

[Raxx]

Hmm, I have a touchscreen laptop. It's not really all that useful with Anim8or or any program for that matter. I don't think I've used it for anything other than reading a few books or swiping some lengthy web pages. I did try it with Anim8or once but stopped after about 10 seconds.

At most I *might* use it to pinch-to-zoom or pan or rotate the view in Anim8or, if it was supported and I was feeling silly. Anything other than that and you have a big ol' hand and fat finger(s) covering the screen with nothing for precision editing, and it gets tiring holding up your arms for lengthy continuous touchscreen sessions.

I'm thinking Windows has some sort of built-in touchscreen input handlers that Anim8or could access, but I wouldn't be disappointed if Anim8or never got touchscreen support.

[captaindrewi]

nor i, i'd much rather progress was made with long awaited animation improvements which seem to get pushed further back time nd time again. whatever happened to the +1 priority idea thing?

[kreator]

nor i, i'd much rather progress was made with long awaited animation improvements which seem to get pushed further back time nd time again. whatever happened to the +1 priority idea thing?

+1 that!!!

[ronaldefarmer]

I certainly wouldn't want the touchscreen to be my only input device. I mostly use the keyboard rather than the screen icons to swap between tools, so that wouldn't be a problem for me. (In fact, I wish there was a way to toggle the toolbars on and off in order to have more workspace.) Of course you still need the mouse for a lot of things, but being able to manipulate things right there on the screen made it feel very much like a "hands-on" experience. If there was a way to get the LMB-MMB-RMB functionality, I think it would very useful. I wasn't trying to say that this should become a priority though. I agree that there a number of things that are more important.

[Trevor]

Well, on my phone and back when my Ello Touchscreen worked (Backlight died) LMB-Click was touch. LMB-Drag is Touch-Hold-Drag, RMB-Click was Touch-Hold.

So, the only things not doable are MMB and RMB-Drag.

With Multi-Touch interfaces (Win7+ and Phones) you could maybe do something with multiple touches or guestures and touch.

However, as RMB-Drag is usually zoom Z axis, this can be pinch-zoom.
Actually, you could still use the pinch for the Add-Selection Box, that could work, although people might want it to always zoom.

This leaves MMB as something totally un-usable in a touch interface.

Touch would need a bit of thought as it tends to be the opposit to mouse in regard to touch default spinning and zooming a model, vs mouse default selecting things.

Trev

[thecolclough]

currently trialing Vegas Studio 13, which has made all its buttons several times bigger compared to previous versions for the benefit of touch users - and as a non-touch user i find it infuriating; it wastes so much screen space.  i don't mind if Steve wants to implement a touch-friendly interface in Anim8or, but PLEASE make it optional so non-touch users can turn it off... because i would definitely want to turn it off!

[ronaldefarmer]

When I said it was very cool, I was referring strictly to using the touchscreen in the modeling window. This seemed to work perfectly already (at least on that particular computer) as far as I was able to tell, except for the MMB RMB functions. I wasn't really suggesting any particular changes to Anim8or, just relating an interesting Anim8or experience.

I didn't even try using the buttons or other elements of the Anim8or interface with the touchscreen, and I wouldn't want to do that. Bigger buttons would be a bad thing unless you could toggle them off, or better yet, undock them and drag them to a second monitor in order to have a fullscreen modeling window.

[Steve]

Don't worry. If I do add an option for larger buttons I'll keep the existing ones as an option, too. I understand the tradeoffs between screen space and utility.

[Trevor]

Agreed, This was one reason I was put off by Win8.

During Win10 Development and the new Insider Program, I imediatly signed up and mady my concerns noted.
Thats why 10 has in 'some' ways made it optional. Although For a Company as large and long standing as MS its surprising they cant get it right. That said, You physically cannot please everyone, but this is where Windows Customisable and more-than-one-way comes into play. However over recent times MS has culled both these aspects. As insiders reported more and more, they are slowly brining this back.

The most esilly noticable transformation is switching to tablet mode from the Notification Bar.
The Start Menu Turns into the Start Screen and buttons in Apps/Applications are 'supposed' to get bigger.

So yes, if this were to be an option, then an option would be much better than forced.
I like the idea of a second screen hehe.

Just to add a little with regard to my experience with An8 and touch, I was able to press the buttons fine on a 17" 4:3 1280x1024 Elo Com Port Touchscreen.

With my phone its a different matter (via VNC Remote Desktop), the main drawback here is the draw time lag and noit the interface, however soley focusing on interface, with the Pinch-Zoom being used for screen-zoom, I could enlarge the buttons to press them, however, this would take away from being able to do that in-model... Wait... it wouldnt, you can seperate the command into Pinch-zoom.GUI and Pinch-zoom.Workspace
Although, to be hones, at that point its probably better to just have bigger buttons that can maybe hide.

Trev

[Zileris]

Somewhat related
Will there be a android version at some point?
Anim8or seems light enough to run decently on most modern tablets and smartphones. Ive been dying for a decent mobile 3d program to use while not at home (and the android market severely lacks).

[johnar]

 

or better yet, undock them and drag them to a second monitor in order to have a fullscreen modeling window.

I understand the tradeoffs between screen space and utility.

 Dockability of all bars/tools and 'especially' timetrack(s), would be Awesome!

[cooldude234]

or better yet, undock them and drag them to a second monitor in order to have a fullscreen modeling window.

I understand the tradeoffs between screen space and utility.

 Dockability of all bars/tools and 'especially' timetrack(s), would be Awesome!

Agreed! However I've seen this implemented poorly before and even negatively affecting UI when it was just static (non-moving). So just don't break the GUI when doing this (if you are, which would be awesome still) please