4D Pen - Always Draw Animations On Model!
4D Pen v1.0: Always Draw Animations On Model!Welcome to 4D Pen! This tool is designed to help you create on model drawings by analyzing your pen strokes. Think of it as a "calculator" that tells you if the line you drew matches the previous line you drew, allowing you to stay on model in any animation production or illustration workflow. It also teaches you what it feels like to draw a stroke that's proportionate to the last one as you create. This is what I would call, 4th dimensional drawing. Using this method, indie studios with less staff and professional 2D animation houses with overworked staff can save time and money while creating consistent smooth animations.---System Requirements -Any Linux distribution with the evdev kernel subsystem, which is essentially all modern Linux distros released in the last 10+ years. Specifically:Guaranteed to work:- Ubuntu 20.04 and newer- Debian 11 (Bullseye) and newer- Linux Mint 20 and newer- Fedora 35 and newer- Arch Linux (any rolling release)- Pop!_OS 20.04 and newer- Manjaro (any version)- openSUSE Leap 15.4 and newer- elementary OS 6 and newerRequirements:- Linux kernel 4.0+ (released 2015)- X11 or Wayland display server- Graphics tablet with evdev driver supportWhat doesn't work:- Windows (v2.0 Planned Later 2026)- macOS (not planned)---Installation Guide 2026GUI setup:This is optional depending on if you want 4D Pen to look like the terminal or look like a nice paper widget.If you want it to look the way it does in the screenshot you will need to install the following dependencies in terminal:Code:#dependenciessudo apt install alacritty wmctrl xdotool#fontsudo apt install fonts-ibm-plexIf you're unsure how to install these dependencies you can find more information using internet search.Getting Started (The Easy Way)Step 1: Open the 4dpen-v1.0-linux folderStep 2: Click install.sh and press run/execute.(Enter password to give 4D Pen Permission to see your tablet if needed)Step 3: Clicklaunch.sh and press run/execute.---Getting Started (Normal way)Don't worry if you are new to Linux—just follow these steps in order:Step 1: Prepare your system1. Open your terminal (the black window where you type commands).Make sure you are inside the 4dpen-v1.0-linux folder by typing:cd "(insert/path/to/folder)4dpen-v1.0-linux" and then pressing enter.2. Type or copy paste the following command and press Enter:```bash./4d-pen --check```If it says "All checks passed," you are ready! If it lists errors, move to Step 2.Step 2: One-click setupIf the diagnostic told you to install something, simply type:```bashsudo ./install.sh```(You will need to type your computer password. Don't worry if you don't see characters appearing while you type; it is a security feature.)Crucial: Once it finishes, log out of your computer and log back in. This ensures your tablet permissions are updated.---## How to Use 4D PenYou have two ways to run the app:* Terminal Mode: Just run ./4d-pen to see raw data in a floating terminal window.* Widget Mode (Recommended): Run ./launch.sh. This opens a nicer looking floating window that stays on top of your drawing software so you can watch your stats while you work!The Controls| Action | What to do || --- | --- || Set Baseline | Draw a line. The app will calculate the initial line proportions. Every line drawn after will be a "Match" or "No Match". || Compare | Keep drawing! The app will show you how close you are to your baseline. || Reset | Press R + 4 on your keyboard at the same time to start over. || Quit | Press Ctrl + C to close the app or close the window. |---Need Help? (Troubleshooting)"My tablet isn't working!"1. Make sure it is plugged into your USB port.2. Type lsusb in the terminal. You should see your tablet brand (like Wacom or Huion) in the list.3. If it’s plugged in but nothing happens, run ./4d-pen --check again—it will tell you exactly what is missing."The window keeps disappearing!"If you are using a modern Linux desktop (like GNOME or KDE), right-click the top bar of the 4D Pen window and select "Always on Top" or "Pin to Visible Workspace."---Why use 4D Pen?Consistency is the secret to good animation. By tracking the length and curve of your strokes, you can train your eye and hand to draw on model, making your finished animations look consistent and more professional.---License & Support* Students & Small Teams (30 or few): Free to use!* Commercial/Enterprise: Please contact us at 4D-pen@chronokin.comSee the LICENSE file for full legal details.---FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions:"Why don't you just make the software free?" Since this is a command-line tool, releasing it into the wild makes it a ripe new host for people to inject malware into, meaning that safety was a priority for me in making this. I'm an artist, not a software engineer, so had to actually do my research to make sure I released this in a safe way for artists. That's why I only charge a dollar. That dollar is a ledger so you know where you got it from, and you have a guarantee there's nothing malicious on it. However I have nothing against pirates and I welcome well meaning ones to share my creations and test them for bugs, if you can catch them! Yar har har."Does this work with my drawing software?" Yes, 4D Pen operates independently. You can keep it open while using Krita, OpenToonz, Blender, or any other drawing program on Linux."Can I change the appearance?" You can modify alacritty.toml to change the colors or size of the widget window if you want to match your workspace theme."What tablets are supported?" 4D Pen supports any graphics tablet that works with the Linux evdev system (most Huion, Wacom, XP-Pen, and Gaomon models)."Will you make a Windows or Mac version?"I will be making a windows version in the future which requires some more robust changes, but ultimately 4D Pen will be Linux first to encourage independent animators to view cheap and free locally run software as something they can use to make professional works.Due to the proprietary nature of Apple products and the barrier to entry for developers, as well as the philosophical practices implemented by the late Steve Jobs, we will not on intellectual principle make a Mac version."I notice that horizontal lines don't match vertical ones exactly when I try to match them. Will you fix that later?" Yes I will as fixing that bug requires more testing resources and time which I am trying to procure. In the meantime you can either rotate your canvas to avoid this issue, shift and trace in those circumstances, or use both your eyes and the match bar to check for discrepancies."
Get it → chronopen.gumroad.com