Steve B
11-28-2012, 05:55 AM
Last updated October 3, 2013
NOTE for existing users-- to see what's new, scroll down to "What's New?" to see improved features.
Hi Everyone,
So, if you’ve followed a link here, from my YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/cloudofwords1), or my blog (http://seamlessexpression.blogspot.com/), or Tablet PC Review, or Facebook, etc, this thread is where I’ll be updating the download link to the Artrage Pen-Only Toolbar, describing just what it can do for you, and answering any questions you might have about running it. But first things first. Here's the download link to the newest version (http://www.mediafire.com/download/ozkyn48h7yybr3d/ArtRage+Pen-Only+Toolbar+1.0.zip)- the Artage Pen-Only Toolbar 1.0. It’s free, and it works with the new AR 4.
Here's the link to the new Youtube video tutorial and demo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqwOKt9YrGQ&feature=youtu.be) as well. It goes over much of what is new, as well as some basics for the newest of users.
I'll try and update this with some pics and other info, but for now, I just want to share the new download link and the new video tutorial. Thanks guys and gals!!
********************
Old March 2013 info--
This is what it looks like. It's got two customizable columns for tools, undo and redo buttons (with repeat undo's with a hold and press!!), a rotate button, select and transform buttons, zoom and resize buttons, etc. Many tools available to you. But why should you care when a lot of this is available in the normal UI? Because you can use all of this in the new AR 4 Workbench Mode, only needing your pen.
73752
Setup-
It requires a wee bit of engagement from the user (you!) to set up. It’s quite powerful and customizable. There are installation instructions in the folder you download, but in short— The Pen-Only Toolbar uses a coding language (Auto Hotkey) to talk to Artrage and simulate keystrokes by pressing onscreen buttons that the Toolbar creates. That means you have to install Auto Hotkey first on your computer (don’t worry, it’s free too, and included in the download folder). Once you’ve done that super quick process, Artrage and The Pen-Only Toolbar can talk to each other. Start up the included Toolbar, and away you go.
So, how do you do that? First, lets presume you've downloaded the linked-to file. That file should have the Toolbar folder, guide to installation pdf, and the Auto Hotkey .exe in it. Just manually move the Pen-Only Toolbar folder, Auto Hotkey exe file, and instructions to your desktop. Don't try and install from the download/zipped window. Then...
1) Read the Install pdf
2) run the AHK exe and install Auto Hotkey, and
3) open theToolbar folder and double click the Toolbar icon. It should then run.
BTW, the Toolbar Startup icon has to stay in the Toolbar folder with the little sub-folder though. It's not an exe file, and has to read all the code and acquire all the icons from that sub-folder. So don't try and take the Toolbar icon and remove it from the folder and it on your desktop. That won't work. It has to stay in it's folder to work.
So, when you're done, you should be left with Auto Hotkey (AHK) installed and the Toolbar folder on your desktop. You can place the Install instructional PDF in the folder with the Toolbar icon if you want it for future use. Inside the Toolbar folder will be the Toolbar Startup icon, which you will have to access from within the folder on your desktop each time you run the toolbar. If you want, you can also make a shortcut to the Toolbar Icon currently housed in the folder, and then place that shortcut as a normal icon on your desktop or taskbar for easier access.
How To Videos-
More polished How To videos will get posted on YouTube eventually, but in the meantime, if you're confused or would like to get the most you can from the toolbar, I would advise going and watching the already available YouTube tutorials to get a handle on what the Toolbar can do for you. Here’s the links to the Demo Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEmKok_70ag), and the How-To Videos- Video #1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06zJAcqxqK8&feature=plcp) and Video #2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ujhRGrLjAk&feature=plcp). Each one is about 10 minutes long, so it's about a 1/2 of your time. They go over the basics, as well as how to customize it. These videos are for an earlier version of the toolbar, but it’ll give you a good sense of how to make it all work.
So, What’s It Do?
The Artrage Pen-Only Toolbar is designed for those who work in Artrage but…
-don’t have access to a keyboard while painting
-can’t use a keyboard for various reasons
-or want to use a keyboard less while painting.
Instead, the toolbar provides a way to interact with Artrage entirely through the use of your pen. Thus the name. :)
It also provides a very robust interface for use in the new AR 4 Workbench Mode! That’s right, you can now…
-have super quick access to all your tools or only 7 of them (if you want to take up less space)
-use Hover Icons to have access to all your Pods, even in Workbench Mode , so you can move them anywhere you want on screen
-and many of the most commonly used keyboard functions...
all while in Clear Canvas mode.
This means there’s no need to use the general Artrage UI unless you want to. In general, it’s intent is to be very useful for people with small screens (tablet pc users), physical handicaps, or for artists who just want to “get in the flow” while painting.
What's New with V. 0.4?
For those with previous experience with the toolbar, besides the removal of some bugs, there have been some improvements since the last update. As of March 2013-
1) Toolbar Compatability with Workbench Mode-
To me, this is a bigee. I love the new Workbench Mode, but even so, it is missing a number of features I would have liked to have had.
By using the Toolbar, you can now resize your selected Tool from 0-500 in the Workbench with only your pen (something you are currently unable to do in AR 4 natively)
The size of the tool you are resizing with the Toolbar is reflected in the Workbench UI (a feature we were unable to provide, but which the AR team nicely included in AR 4 for us!)
Hover Icons work in Workbench Mode- this means you can set up your Pods as you see fit in the Full AR UI, place them where you want to in the Workbench Mode, and not have to have them tied to the location that AR 4 currently locks them by default, when using the Workbench Button Shortcuts. Go about your business with full access to all your Pods, wherever you want to place them on the screen.
NOTE- There is a known bug, as described above, if you use the Hover Icons in Workbench mode and then also try to use the AR “Pod” Button Shortcuts.
You can now have super quick access to only those tools you want in Workbench Mode, without having to use the flyout menu
You can have full access to a host of UI functions in the Workbench Mode that become fully functional while only using your pen. No keyboard needed to rotate, select, transform, use a pod, undo and redo (with repeat press possible by holding down on the key).
2) Improved and Easier to Use Hover Icons-
There's a new Drag and Drop method for activating the Hove Icons, which greatly simplifys the process of starting them, as well as Undo/Redo buttons on the Title Bars of all the Hover Icons. There's also now a much easier method of closing them using the "x" button on the Title Bars.
3) Text to Voice Option-
There's the option of using a Text to Voice Windows operation from those who are visually impaired. This works for the Tool Tips and the Basic Menu only.
....as of Nov 2012 the major improvements are that-
1) you can now customize 2 columns of tools, not just 1, so you can now have super quick access to up to 14 tools
2) Tooltips have been included for all the buttons, so if you hover over the button it will tell you what it's function is, etc.
3) the Advanced Options pop-up window has been dramatically reworked for easier navigation and customization
Hopefully, these things will make the toolbar much more accessible to all users.
NOTE for existing users-- to see what's new, scroll down to "What's New?" to see improved features.
Hi Everyone,
So, if you’ve followed a link here, from my YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/cloudofwords1), or my blog (http://seamlessexpression.blogspot.com/), or Tablet PC Review, or Facebook, etc, this thread is where I’ll be updating the download link to the Artrage Pen-Only Toolbar, describing just what it can do for you, and answering any questions you might have about running it. But first things first. Here's the download link to the newest version (http://www.mediafire.com/download/ozkyn48h7yybr3d/ArtRage+Pen-Only+Toolbar+1.0.zip)- the Artage Pen-Only Toolbar 1.0. It’s free, and it works with the new AR 4.
Here's the link to the new Youtube video tutorial and demo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqwOKt9YrGQ&feature=youtu.be) as well. It goes over much of what is new, as well as some basics for the newest of users.
I'll try and update this with some pics and other info, but for now, I just want to share the new download link and the new video tutorial. Thanks guys and gals!!
********************
Old March 2013 info--
This is what it looks like. It's got two customizable columns for tools, undo and redo buttons (with repeat undo's with a hold and press!!), a rotate button, select and transform buttons, zoom and resize buttons, etc. Many tools available to you. But why should you care when a lot of this is available in the normal UI? Because you can use all of this in the new AR 4 Workbench Mode, only needing your pen.
73752
Setup-
It requires a wee bit of engagement from the user (you!) to set up. It’s quite powerful and customizable. There are installation instructions in the folder you download, but in short— The Pen-Only Toolbar uses a coding language (Auto Hotkey) to talk to Artrage and simulate keystrokes by pressing onscreen buttons that the Toolbar creates. That means you have to install Auto Hotkey first on your computer (don’t worry, it’s free too, and included in the download folder). Once you’ve done that super quick process, Artrage and The Pen-Only Toolbar can talk to each other. Start up the included Toolbar, and away you go.
So, how do you do that? First, lets presume you've downloaded the linked-to file. That file should have the Toolbar folder, guide to installation pdf, and the Auto Hotkey .exe in it. Just manually move the Pen-Only Toolbar folder, Auto Hotkey exe file, and instructions to your desktop. Don't try and install from the download/zipped window. Then...
1) Read the Install pdf
2) run the AHK exe and install Auto Hotkey, and
3) open theToolbar folder and double click the Toolbar icon. It should then run.
BTW, the Toolbar Startup icon has to stay in the Toolbar folder with the little sub-folder though. It's not an exe file, and has to read all the code and acquire all the icons from that sub-folder. So don't try and take the Toolbar icon and remove it from the folder and it on your desktop. That won't work. It has to stay in it's folder to work.
So, when you're done, you should be left with Auto Hotkey (AHK) installed and the Toolbar folder on your desktop. You can place the Install instructional PDF in the folder with the Toolbar icon if you want it for future use. Inside the Toolbar folder will be the Toolbar Startup icon, which you will have to access from within the folder on your desktop each time you run the toolbar. If you want, you can also make a shortcut to the Toolbar Icon currently housed in the folder, and then place that shortcut as a normal icon on your desktop or taskbar for easier access.
How To Videos-
More polished How To videos will get posted on YouTube eventually, but in the meantime, if you're confused or would like to get the most you can from the toolbar, I would advise going and watching the already available YouTube tutorials to get a handle on what the Toolbar can do for you. Here’s the links to the Demo Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEmKok_70ag), and the How-To Videos- Video #1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06zJAcqxqK8&feature=plcp) and Video #2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ujhRGrLjAk&feature=plcp). Each one is about 10 minutes long, so it's about a 1/2 of your time. They go over the basics, as well as how to customize it. These videos are for an earlier version of the toolbar, but it’ll give you a good sense of how to make it all work.
So, What’s It Do?
The Artrage Pen-Only Toolbar is designed for those who work in Artrage but…
-don’t have access to a keyboard while painting
-can’t use a keyboard for various reasons
-or want to use a keyboard less while painting.
Instead, the toolbar provides a way to interact with Artrage entirely through the use of your pen. Thus the name. :)
It also provides a very robust interface for use in the new AR 4 Workbench Mode! That’s right, you can now…
-have super quick access to all your tools or only 7 of them (if you want to take up less space)
-use Hover Icons to have access to all your Pods, even in Workbench Mode , so you can move them anywhere you want on screen
-and many of the most commonly used keyboard functions...
all while in Clear Canvas mode.
This means there’s no need to use the general Artrage UI unless you want to. In general, it’s intent is to be very useful for people with small screens (tablet pc users), physical handicaps, or for artists who just want to “get in the flow” while painting.
What's New with V. 0.4?
For those with previous experience with the toolbar, besides the removal of some bugs, there have been some improvements since the last update. As of March 2013-
1) Toolbar Compatability with Workbench Mode-
To me, this is a bigee. I love the new Workbench Mode, but even so, it is missing a number of features I would have liked to have had.
By using the Toolbar, you can now resize your selected Tool from 0-500 in the Workbench with only your pen (something you are currently unable to do in AR 4 natively)
The size of the tool you are resizing with the Toolbar is reflected in the Workbench UI (a feature we were unable to provide, but which the AR team nicely included in AR 4 for us!)
Hover Icons work in Workbench Mode- this means you can set up your Pods as you see fit in the Full AR UI, place them where you want to in the Workbench Mode, and not have to have them tied to the location that AR 4 currently locks them by default, when using the Workbench Button Shortcuts. Go about your business with full access to all your Pods, wherever you want to place them on the screen.
NOTE- There is a known bug, as described above, if you use the Hover Icons in Workbench mode and then also try to use the AR “Pod” Button Shortcuts.
You can now have super quick access to only those tools you want in Workbench Mode, without having to use the flyout menu
You can have full access to a host of UI functions in the Workbench Mode that become fully functional while only using your pen. No keyboard needed to rotate, select, transform, use a pod, undo and redo (with repeat press possible by holding down on the key).
2) Improved and Easier to Use Hover Icons-
There's a new Drag and Drop method for activating the Hove Icons, which greatly simplifys the process of starting them, as well as Undo/Redo buttons on the Title Bars of all the Hover Icons. There's also now a much easier method of closing them using the "x" button on the Title Bars.
3) Text to Voice Option-
There's the option of using a Text to Voice Windows operation from those who are visually impaired. This works for the Tool Tips and the Basic Menu only.
....as of Nov 2012 the major improvements are that-
1) you can now customize 2 columns of tools, not just 1, so you can now have super quick access to up to 14 tools
2) Tooltips have been included for all the buttons, so if you hover over the button it will tell you what it's function is, etc.
3) the Advanced Options pop-up window has been dramatically reworked for easier navigation and customization
Hopefully, these things will make the toolbar much more accessible to all users.