Allow us to change the pan hotkey

[TVPUSER]

I've become used to using ALT as the hotkey for panning the canvas but honestly, it would be really helpful to allow us to change it to something else like spacebar or other keys..

[Hironori Takagi]

When I started using TVPaint, I consulted the developer about this problem, but the answer was "difficult".
It's a problem I've long wanted to solve, because my brain bugs me when I go back and forth between other applications.

[D.T. Nethery]

I've become used to using ALT as the hotkey for panning the canvas but honestly, it would be really helpful to allow us to change it to something else like spacebar or other keys..

When I started using TVPaint, I consulted the developer about this problem, but the answer was "difficult".
It's a problem I've long wanted to solve, because my brain bugs me when I go back and forth between other applications.

I'm of two minds about it. On the one hand , I agree with "my brain bugs me when I go back and forth between other applications." , because almost all (or all ?) other drawing/animation apps such as Photoshop, After Effects, Sketchbook, GIMP, Krita, Clip Studio Paint, Rough Animator, Toonboom Harmony/Storyboard Pro, OpenToonz use the SPACEBAR for Move/Pan Canvas , but TVPaint alone uses ALT for Move Canvas, so it does require the user to reorient their thinking about such a frequently used keyboard shortcut when using TVPaint and it contributes to a perception among many people that TVPaint is just a bit "odd" (eccentric). Unless I'm on a project where I can use ONLY TVPaint , I do find that I always have to stop to think about it when I switch back to using TVPaint and often I'll press Spacebar to Move Canvas in TVPaint (even though I should know better!) from force of habit because all other apps I use have Move Canvas keyed to Spacebar. This is mentally wearisome in a way that is difficult to explain or understand for someone who does not do animation or illustration for a living. The whole point of keyboard shortcuts is to be able to execute common actions without having to think about it too much. Your brain and hand build up "muscle memory" of the actions required. For most keyboard shortcuts TVPaint allows the user to customize the shortcuts so the user can make the keyboard shortcuts in TVPaint as similar as possible to their preferred keyboard shortcuts in other apps, but ALT key to activate the Move Canvas (Panning tool) seems to be the exception.


On the other hand , if changing Move Canvas in TVPaint to Spacebar would mean that we lose the keyboard shortcut to easily Rotate Canvas (animation disc) using CTRL + ALT (so convenient with them being next to one another) and also Zoom Canvas in and out by CTRL+ALT while pressing the RIGHT-CLICK button on the stylus ,then I would be sad to lose those combinations, because I use them frequently when I'm using TVPaint. If it was simply a matter of changing Move Canvas to Spacebar and Rotate Canvas to CTRL+Spacebar , and Zoom to Ctrl+Spacebar+Right-Click button on stylus then I'd be all for it. (and actually on Mac it should be CMD+Spacebar for Rotate Canvas , and CMD+Spacebar+Right-Click button stylus).

Or leave it as it is now so CTRL+ALT rotate the canvas, and CTRL+ALT and pressing the Right-Click button on the stylus zoom in and out , but Move Canvas can be executed by either ALT (for those who prefer it ) or SPACEBAR then that would be even better.

[Dean]

Hello, the possibility of binding the "ALT + clicks" shortcut's function to other keys has been added to the next TVPaint update.
Depending on if you use this new shortcut with left or right click, you will be able to zoom or pan.

As an example, you will be able to use the Space key + left click to pan and Space + right click to zoom.

Now separating these 2 special functions onto 2 distinct shortcuts would be a lot trickier to do according to the devs.

[D.T. Nethery]

Hello, the possibility of binding the "ALT + clicks" shortcut's function to other keys has been added to the next TVPaint update.
Depending on if you use this new shortcut with left or right click, you will be able to zoom or pan.

As an example, you will be able to use the Space key + left click to pan and Space + right click to zoom.

Now separating these 2 special functions onto 2 distinct shortcuts would be a lot trickier to do according to the devs.

Well, if Space + Left click (for Move/Panning) can be added to an Express Key that could be good. That way I could activate Pan Tool without putting down my stylus to activate left-click from the mouse.

Screen Shot 2023-03-10 at 12.18.34 PM.png (92.93 KiB) Viewed 373 times

It's not as efficient as a single key Space = Move/Pan. With left-click required then it means you have to put down your stylus , grab the mouse, and then hold down space key , plus left-click to move. (unless one of the buttons on the stylus is assigned to left-click, but I think most of us are not going to want to give up one of the stylus buttons being assigned to right-click. (since that is used for so many things in TVPaint , such as to activate erase mode or to activate menus )

CTRL+SPACE or CMD+SPACE for Move/Pan Canvas would be better because I can do that action one-handed , without putting down my stylus. But I suppose it really amounts to the same thing as the current ALT to Move/Pan Canvas or CTRL+ALT+Right-Click (with stylus button) to Zoom .

[TVPUSER]

Hello, the possibility of binding the "ALT + clicks" shortcut's function to other keys has been added to the next TVPaint update.
Depending on if you use this new shortcut with left or right click, you will be able to zoom or pan.

As an example, you will be able to use the Space key + left click to pan and Space + right click to zoom.

Now separating these 2 special functions onto 2 distinct shortcuts would be a lot trickier to do according to the devs.

I'm looking forward to trying out the new change! Thank you for considering this request.

[Hironori Takagi]

Hello, the possibility of binding the "ALT + clicks" shortcut's function to other keys has been added to the next TVPaint update.
Depending on if you use this new shortcut with left or right click, you will be able to zoom or pan.

As an example, you will be able to use the Space key + left click to pan and Space + right click to zoom.

Now separating these 2 special functions onto 2 distinct shortcuts would be a lot trickier to do according to the devs.

I look forward to this statement.