Pivot 4.2.2 is here and ready for use!
Well its been a long time hasn't it. We haven't had a new download since 2013, and here I thought we got the best we could get. Of course not! Officially posted for download (Thu, 01/01/2015 - 03:29). There is more here for us to try out and there are certainly some interesting new features. Since it is indeed a beta, we should remember that bugs are always a possibility so if you happen to stumble across any, please be sure to send what you find here [email protected] Show some love to the creator by giving feedback, its the least we can do for a free software.
First let us begin with the look of things. Nothing seems to have really changed when it comes to the design of the over all layout like the last update did but that's okay. I said I enjoyed the look back in the 4.0 update and I still do. Besides adding a couple icons, the layout is the same. Speaking of looks though, there is one feature in this new update that I must say is probably my favorite and that is the stick figure builder can now change its own transparency which makes a surprising difference when it comes to character design. Normally you just have to guess how your new design is going to look next to current figure within the animation but now it's not a problem. You can make it barely transparent or have no white background at all. It may be a small detail but it can go a long way. Also it may just be me, but it seems like there was an improvement on how the computer handles it because with the previous version, it slowed down other programs even if it was just the internet. Thankfully things run a lot better now without issue.
So far personally I have seen no bugs at all but besides that there aren't many downsides. Like my review of the previous version, I only had one downside and that was the installation process. If you never got the 4.0 version and are coming straight from 3 then you do indeed have to install it as a program instead of opening it as a .exe which isn't too bad but throws me off a bit. I started it up to install, it got about half way then froze for like 7 minutes and continued without issue. Also, if you don't pay attention you may end up unintentionally installing other software. So actually read it all the way through before clicking the accept/skip button.
Lets get into the features now shall we?!
First let us begin with the look of things. Nothing seems to have really changed when it comes to the design of the over all layout like the last update did but that's okay. I said I enjoyed the look back in the 4.0 update and I still do. Besides adding a couple icons, the layout is the same. Speaking of looks though, there is one feature in this new update that I must say is probably my favorite and that is the stick figure builder can now change its own transparency which makes a surprising difference when it comes to character design. Normally you just have to guess how your new design is going to look next to current figure within the animation but now it's not a problem. You can make it barely transparent or have no white background at all. It may be a small detail but it can go a long way. Also it may just be me, but it seems like there was an improvement on how the computer handles it because with the previous version, it slowed down other programs even if it was just the internet. Thankfully things run a lot better now without issue.
So far personally I have seen no bugs at all but besides that there aren't many downsides. Like my review of the previous version, I only had one downside and that was the installation process. If you never got the 4.0 version and are coming straight from 3 then you do indeed have to install it as a program instead of opening it as a .exe which isn't too bad but throws me off a bit. I started it up to install, it got about half way then froze for like 7 minutes and continued without issue. Also, if you don't pay attention you may end up unintentionally installing other software. So actually read it all the way through before clicking the accept/skip button.
Lets get into the features now shall we?!
New Features!
- Copy and paste button on single or many figures at a time.
- figure building window transparency.
- Operation on branches in the stick figure builder (SFB)
- (SFB) If you were to delete a branch with other attachments, such as the upper leg but hold down the "shift" key at the same time then it will delete all other remaining branches that were attached to that particular branch. [so if you delete the upper leg while holding shift then the bottom leg and foot would also disappear].
- (SFB) If you duplicate a branch while holding down shift then it will also duplicate all branches extended from the one selected. [if you duplicate the torso, then it will also duplicate the head, arms, and neck].
- (SFB) Change transparency of the builder by activating it in the edit menu (Ctrl+T). To increase or decrease in transparency click either < or > (not the arrow keys, the comma and period button).
- (SFB) If you duplicate a branch while holding down Ctrl then it will mirror the duplication.
- (SFB) If you increase the size of a branch while holding down the shift key then it will increase the size of the all branches attached to the one selected.
- (SFB) increasing a branch in size while holding the shift key and Ctrl will increase the size in larger increments.
- (SFB) Holding the shift key while making a branch static or dynamic will do so to all branches attached to the one selected.
- You can now select a figure just by clicking on it anywhere.
- double click to select joined figures.
- To scale only, click and drag the figure while holding the Alt and Shift key.
- To Rotate only, click and drag the figure while holding the Alt and Ctrl key.
- If you click and drag while holding Ctrl, Z and Alt, you can rotate multiple objects around each of their own center joint. Even an entire scene like the one below.
- Click and drag while holding Alt, X and shift over objects will allow you to make them go towards or away from the center segment of all of those figures.
- Click and drag while holding Alt, Z and shift over objects will cause all of them to increase in size.
- you can rotate and move a segment one pixel at a time by clicking on it and using the arrow keys.
- Frames now have time stamps to show where they are in the animation.
- Clicking in the canvas while the animation is going will cause it to stop.
- View one frame at a time in playback quality by clicking the play button while holding down Ctrl.
- You can now export frames as Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG).
- Various other bug fixes.
Download it Now!
( 3/22/2015) If you would like to try out the improved software and its new features then head on over to the official website where you can get the program along with previous versions and more. If you would also like to see a video describing all the new features as well, then check out his youtube video he made on the update. It is always nice to see new features coming in to improve the program and hopefully it will inspire new animators as well. Enjoy! (PIVOT 4.2.2 DOWNLOAD)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNVIQc9AY4c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNVIQc9AY4c