RoboPaint RT

IMPORTANT NOTE:. A new version of RoboPaint RT will be released the week of November 10. We recommend that all users wait, and install the new version once it is released.

Overview

RoboPaint RT is the "Real Time" Painting Software that allows you to paint with the WaterColorBot. It runs under Mac, Windows, and Linux.

RoboPaint RT is straightforward and manual: Click on a color in the paint palette to change to that color, click on the water to dip the brush in the water, and drag the brush to paint on your paper.

With RoboPaint RT, you can also replay your drawing to make multiple copies, and save the file to open up and print again later. This program can be a lot of fun to play with and is a great way to get acquainted with the WaterColorBot. For those with good artistic skill, it can also be a remarkably powerful program.

Getting RoboPaint RT

Running Within Processing

We currently recommend all users to download and install Processing to run RoboPaint RT; we will be streamlining this process over the next week or so, and we apologize for the rough process. (There are reliability issues with the stand-alone applications, and we are providing this rougher but more robust alternative method until those are sorted out.)

• First, install the latest version of Java on your computer.
• Download and install Processing 2.1 for your operating system.
• Download the Ani library from this site, and install it in your Processing libraries folder.
• Finally, download and unzip the RoboPaint RT ZIP file from our github account.

From within Processing, open up the RoboPaint RT Sketch. You can find it at: robopaint-rt-master>processing>RoboPaint_RT>RoboPaint_RT.pde

"Stand-Alone" executables

Ready-to-use executable versions are in progress, expected to be posted the week of November 10, 2013.

Using RoboPaint RT

Additional information coming week of November 10, 2013.

Overview

• Move the carriage by hand to the upper-left (START) corner
• Make sure that the WaterColorBot has power
• Hook up your computer and the WaterColorBot by USB
• Run RoboPaint RT -- make sure that it finds the WaterColorBot
• Raise and lower the brush holder, and insert your brush at an appropriate height
• Begin painting!

Hold 'h' for Help

Hold down the 'h' key on your keyboard for a help overlay, explaining the functions of the program.

Saving and loading files

RoboPaint RT works by recording user gestures in real time while making a painting. The literal record of gestures that it replays can be saved as a RoboPaint RT file (.rrt file format), to be opened later and continued or painted. Use the Open File and Save File buttons in the program to open or save a file, respectively.

RoboPaint RT gesture recordings are not drawings in the traditional sense; .rrt files cannot be opened or generated by any other drawing or painting program.

Troubleshooting

Motors do not move

Make sure that both the USB cable and the power supply are plugged in. If the USB cable is plugged in but power is not, the WaterColorBot will be responsive to your computer, but the motors will not move.

Cannot connect to WaterColorBot

If the USB cable is not connected, or if the WaterColorBot is already on use on your computer, you may get a message telling you that the program could not find the WaterColorBot: "WaterColorBot not found. Entering Simulation Mode."

Application will not start (Windows 8)

If the RoboPaint RT application will not start, it is likely because Java is not installed on your computer. We have seen the program refuse to start , giving an error that "java is not recognized as an internal or external command..."

If you are certain that Java *is* installed, you may need to manually add Java to the PATH in your system preferences.

Motion is jerky/stutters

If the motion of the carriage is basically correct except that it is "jerky" rather than smooth, the likely cause is that the program is running slowly on your computer. RoboPaint RT operates very smoothly with a reasonably fast modern computer, but we have found that a computer busy running other tasks (e.g., playing music or video, heavy downloads, printing, etc) does not have as much time to operate the program, resulting in "stuttery" motion.

For Developers

Running RoboPaint RT within Processing

• Install Processing, from processing.org

• Download and install ani library, from http://www.looksgood.de/libraries/Ani/

• Open robopaint-rt-master>processing>RoboPaint_RT>RoboPaint_RT.pde from within Processing

• Click "Run" button