0005144 Space Navigator support

A:M supports now the space navigator device from 3Dconnexion.com,
this should work also with the other usb devices from the same vendor
(like Space pilot etc), but it is tested only with the space navigator .
To enable the support activate the "Enable 3dconnexion device" checkbox
at Tools->Options->Global .
Settings for the device are used from the 3Dconnexion control panel
(sensitivity , Axis revert and so one).

If You assign the buttons

Windows Left Button to "Button 1"
Right Button to "Button 2"

Mac Left and Right Button to "Unassigned"

you can use the buttons for toogling rotation/trannslation
Left Button Toogle rotation on/off
Right Button Toogle translation on/off
Both Buttons does a "Zoom Fit" (except You are in a camera view)

If You are in a camera or light view , keyframes are not created , You
must create keyframes manually .

I am very happy the Space Navigator is supported now. First I thought it didn't work even after turning on the right setting in A:M options, but apparently it does not work in the model windows Am I doing something wrong or is iot not supposed to work in the modeling windows? I can see it can be useful in choreography were it does work, but I just wanted it to work in the modeling window. It's a perfect tool when sculpting faces or other complex objects.
I am really hoping I am just doing something wrong and it does work in modeling windows... am I? If not, can you make this work?

It works in my modelling window

O that is great news. Not understanding why it did not work I created a new project in A:M and in that new project it did work in the modeling window. To check what could be wrong with the other project, I opened that one again and now it does work in that project as well! That makes me very happy. Just to be sure I restarted A:M to see if it keeps working and it does indeed. Great! (I still wonder why it didn't work at first, maybe A:M had to update something first)

We have 'light views'??? SWEET! How?

Right click in choreography window, select view and pick one of the lights.

Got to get me a Space Navigator. There are 2 on the website, one for $59 and one for $99. The only difference is explained that the more expensive SN is licensed for the 'Professional Arena'...what are we to suppose THAT means?

The Till and Roll movement work in the opposite direction when comparing bird view and camera view. Was it meant to be this way? I was adjusting the SN settings while checking in the model window. When I switched to the choreography to try it on cameras and lights the direction was reversed. I could reverse it in the settings again but that would mean I have to change the settings every time I switch from bird view to camera view.
Maybe I can get used to this but it would be great if we had the option to choose such things in A:M itself. Maybe for the next update?

Well, they want you to pay more for the product if you are using it professionally. Like it is a software product. I have never seen this on hardware products before and think it's a bit strange.

Is the space navigator worth getting? is it a must have that makes you feel free to truly be creative? Is there a hard learning curve?

It is a fine piece... it can be very helpful, but only if you are used to modeling in free-space.
My opinion is, that it is very fine for animation, because you can fast and easily look at your character from different angels and manipulate what you want.
If you ask if you really need it: No. However after getting used to it, it can be a timesaver and will feel very fluid.

Learning... that depends and cant be said that easily... you will need a few hours to truely feel comfortable with it, but after that you wont like to miss it.
*Fuchur*

thanks again

Woohoooo..... AM just gets better and better

Just tried it on my Mac (OSX10.6) and the Spin seems to Tilt and the Tilt seems to Spin and no matter what speed settings I change, the navigator wizzes around at the lightest touch. Seems to work just fine on my Windows Machine - same version of AM.

Cheers

look at the control panel for the device , there You can change this behavior´s .

The Control Panel only lets me swap up/down with forward/back controls and the speed settings seem to have no effect. (iMac OSX 10.6)

Strange, with 10.5 it is working .
I have seen in the 3dconnection forum similar problems with 10.6 , but not seen a new driver .