Infinite Canvas
Documentation

Introduction

Adding Panels To The Canvas

Working With Trails

Adding A Convenient Navigation

Publish Your Comic

 

General

One major drawback of html-based comics is that their navigation can be very annoying. With "Free Navigation" Infinite Canvas provides an improved way to let users freely explore your comic. But the real innovation is the use of Navigation Frames.

The Info-"Navigation" Tab
  • Color: the color of the canvas.
  • Grid - Show Grid: toggle Grid on/off.
  • Grid - Snap to Grid: toggle "Snap to Grid" on/off.
  • Grid - Grid Size: You can use the text-field or the slider to select a grid size.
  • Navigation Tools: Use "Free Navigation" or "Navigation Frames".
  • Navigation Tools - Use Navigation Frames - Hot Spot Hint: Change the mouse cursor to a link mouse cursor (the one used in browsers to indicate a link) when moving over an Hot Spot.
  • Applet Width: The width of the Java Applet when using Preview.



Free Navigation

Free Navigation is the original way of navigating online comics. Using the mouse or the cursor-keys you can freely move around the infinite canvas. No barriers will disturb your exploratory urge and you can even rotate and zoom the canvas. Implementing "Free Navigation" is quite easy. Just select it from the navigation preferences. To specify a start-point with the proper scaling you can use a Navigation Frame, but this is optional. For more Information about Navigation Frames just read on.



Navigation Frames

If you want to restrict the way users navigate your comic, the use of Navigation Frames should be your choice. Navigation Frames are quadratic areas of the canvas. They can have any size or rotation and specify the part of the canvas, which is seen on screen.

Creating Navigation Frames
To create a Navigation Frame select the Frame-Tool (the third tool) from the tool-button. This tool will automatically snap back to the Select-Tool. If you want to create more then one frame, double-click when selecting the tool. Now place the curser on the canvas and drag it to create the frame.

Manipulate Navigation Frames
Moving and resizing the Navigation Frame is similar to Panels. Just drag a frame or a knob around. You can also rotate a frame by dragging a knob and pressing Ctrl or dragging a knob and pressing Ctrl + Shift to rotate in 15 degree steps.

The Info-"Navigation Frame" Tab
  • X: The x-position of the Frame (upper-left corner).
  • Y: The y-position of the Frame (upper-left corner).
  • Side: The side of the Frame.
  • Rotation: The rotation of the Frame.
  • Lock Position: Lock the Frame so you don't move or resize it unintentionally.
  • Is Start Frame: Make this Frame the start-frame.
  • Wait For User Input: Continue with the next transition or wait for user input.
  • Create Hot Spot: Create an Hot Spot in the upper-left corner of the Frame.
  • Top: Position the panel at the top.
  • Up: Move the panel up.
  • Down: Move the panel down.
  • Bottom: Position the panel at the bottom.



Navigation Trails

Navigation Trails are the missing link between your numerous Navigation Frames. They are like directed edges in a graph and connect one frame with an other.

Creating and manipulating a Navigation Trail works like creating a "normal" Trail. To work properly, a Navigation Trail has to start on a Navigation Frame or on an Hot Spot and has to end on a Navigation Frame. You are able to create "invalid" Navigation Trails, but they are ignored when publishing the comic. It is not possible to create curved Navigation Trails.

The Info-"Navigation Trail" Tab
  • Lock Position: Lock the Navigation Trail so you don't move or resize it unintentionally.
  • Transition Type: Set the type of the transition. You can select: None, Movement, Fade, Fade White, Fade Black and Dive In.
  • Transition Speed: With the slider you can select from five different speeds.
  • Top: Position the Trail at the top.
  • Up: Move the Trail up.
  • Down: Move the Trail down.
  • Bottom: Position the Trail at the bottom.


Hot Spots

Hot Spots (they were called Active Components in previous versions) are rectangular areas of a frame, which let you bring in some interactivity. Let me give you an example. Imagine you have a Panel with a telephone and an Hot Spot positioned above this object. If you click anywhere on the screen the comic follows the Navigation Trail associated with the current Frame. But if you click on the telephone your comic will follow the Navigation Trail associated with the Hot Spot.

To create an Hot Spot just select a Navigation Frame and click the "Create Hot Spot"-Button. Now you can resize the Hot Spot inside the bounds of its frame. Adding a Navigation Trail works like Navigation Frames.