Shapr3D is compatible with a number of peripherals and accessories that you can use to better enhance your modeling experience.
Explore the list of compatible peripherals and accessories below to learn how to set up and configure them.
SpaceMouse
SpaceMouse by 3Dconnexion allows you to navigate effectively in 3D space and run various commands in Shapr3D.
Image from https://3dconnexion.com
To use SpaceMouse with your device:
- Go to 3Dconnexion’s website and download the latest version of 3Dconnexion’s driver.
- Install the driver.
- Once the 3Dconnexion Home program automatically opens after installing the driver, plug your SpaceMouse into the computer via the USB cable.
Note: If you’re using the wireless SpaceMouse, connect the dedicated receiver and launch the pairing tool in the 3Dconnexion Home program. For more information on pairing the wireless 3D mouse, visit How do I pair a dedicated receiver with my wireless SpaceMouse?.- Verify that the device works correctly using the test application installed by the driver.
- Optional: While using Shapr3D, you can change the navigation mode of your SpaceMouse in the Views tab under Views and Appearance.
Note: For more information on SpaceMouse navigation modes, refer to the SpaceMouse manual.
- Go to 3Dconnexion’s website and download the latest version of 3Dconnexion’s driver.
- Install the driver.
- Once the 3Dconnexion Home program automatically opens after installing the driver, restart your Mac.
- Plug your SpaceMouse into the computer via the USB cable.
Note: If you’re using the wireless SpaceMouse, connect the dedicated receiver and launch the pairing tool in the 3Dconnexion Home program. For more information on pairing the wireless 3D mouse, visit How do I pair a dedicated receiver with my wireless SpaceMouse?.- Allow the program to control your Mac in any of the following ways:
- From the Accessibility Access dialog – If this dialog automatically appears after connecting SpaceMouse to your computer, click Open System Preferences, then select 3DconnexionHelper.
- From the Mac System Settings – Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility. Look for 3DconnexionHelper, then enable it to allow access.
Note: To learn more about Mac system settings, visit Allow accessibility apps to access your Mac.- You can reconfigure the mapping and view command names for Shapr3D by going to your Mac System Settings > 3Dconnexion, or opening 3Dconnexion Home then selecting Properties.
Wacom pen tablets and displays
The compatibility of Shapr3D with digital pen input makes it a great match for Wacom devices.
Choosing your Wacom device
Wacom devices can be split into the following two categories:
- Pen displays feature a built-in screen, and are sold under the brand names “Wacom One” and “Cintiq.”
- Pen tablets are screenless, and are sold under brand names such as “One by Wacom” and “Intuos.”
There are advantages and disadvantages to both. Pen displays are less portable and more expensive, while using a pen tablet takes some getting used to, as you need to look at a separate screen.
Shapr3D works with both types of devices, but we recommend devices with a built-in screen, as they are more intuitive to use.
Wacom sells both pen displays and screen-less pen tablets with multi-touch support in addition to pen input.
At the moment, we only support multi-touch input for view navigation on pen displays, but not on pen tablets. While you can rely on the built-in and customizable shortcuts that the Wacom driver provides for pen tablets, you can’t navigate the 3D space with touch input as you would on iPad.
For the best experience, we recommend touch-enabled pen displays, but Shapr3D works without touch input as well.
You can get started with the pen that was shipped with your Wacom device. For the best experience, a pen specifically designed for 3D applications is recommended, such as the Pro Pen 3D. Notably, its additional button allows you to navigate in 3D space using your pen only, which many users find more convenient than using keyboard shortcuts together with pen gestures.
Navigation
If you have a touch-enabled pen display, you can navigate in 3D space using touch gestures, the same way you’d navigate on an iPadOS or a Windows device with a built-in touchscreen. If you have a screenless pen tablet or a pen display that has no touch input, view navigation happens with the pen.
With the default settings, you can navigate the 3D space using a combination of keypresses and either hovering your pen over the tablet, or touching and dragging it over the surface. You can use the following modifiers:
- Shift: Tumble (also called Orbit)
- Ctrl: Pan
- Alt: Zoom in 3D space
- Space: Focus the view on the face under the pointer
Note: The Shapr3D onboarding tutorial teaches you these gestures when you get started. To revisit the tutorial, go to the Dashboard > Tutorials > Redo the Basics.
To learn more about pen navigation and how to configure your Wacom device, visit Setting Up Your Wacom Tablet for Shapr3D Modeling.