Dell Canvas 27" Totem, PowerTotem [ Proof of Concept] (Microsoft-dial Plugins**)

Develop Plugins Development
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I have been using the Dell Canvas 27" with Krita for the last 6 years getting to terms with finding my own unique workflow. Learning the tools , and finding a keyboard layout that is easy for me building muscle memory and designing your own procces of getting things done is the key to personal growth and succes.

" People are different from one another. That’s what makes the world good.
That’s what makes the world great.
Neal Adams "

And finally with the help AI-tools (Websim.ai, Claude 3.5 Sonnet & Merlin) to program en find the specific hardware inputs and how to read them out pipe the events to parameters within the Python Plugin structure. Using ai as a tool instead of compensating for proper knowledge about the things that makes you want to make art is where … atleast for me the focus should be .

Krita has some wonderfull assistents, stabilisors and such. There are only two kind of people those who do and those who talk

I was able find ways to make these devices work under Krita!

Still figuring things out and also how these can be used within the the workflow
But here are some pictures of what I have been working on the last couple of months

** these might work for the Microsoft-Dial too but since I don’t use windows …
I opted for a full Open source solution using only GNU/Libre software

These work under linux to be precise I am running Debian 12 Bookworm with Gnome and several gesture enhanced plugins. Took alot of time and errors a few re-installs and even starting over from scratch.

But in the end it is a fast and inntuite way of working Gnome is my goto D.E (Desktop Enviroment)
as it is more optimized for a touch and go experience.

Using
Nemo ( with Thunar-Bulk Rename)
Gthumb for excellent image managment and Feh for quick file browsing
Beeref , making Study and Reference Sheets
MuPdf opening Pdf’s and Artbooks
Document Viewer

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On the left the cheap proctractor that was the inspirationto pursue this project

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In this image trying to get the dimensions of the tool right in comparison with the screen

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the Canvas is built in to an piece of 60 mm. board of Mdf with a edge where it lies flat in the table similar like the traditional drawing on paper and it allow me to draw from the shoulder instead of from the wrist. using a finger grip instead of resting on the knuckles allows me to take advantage of the barrel rotation. If you have crapped up fingers or a sour body after some hours go check Neal Adams online about how to hold a pencil . Amazing insights and invaluable advise . The man knows what he is talking about

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some ideas I have to expand or modify the layout and the usage for perhas some usable tools to add to the Krita arenal of already killer specs.

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Sounds technically very interesting, and I can only congratulate you on your perseverance.

Here I see one issue. For me, it is absolutely unclear on which kind of data this AI-Model was trained. I have now read through their full (self) introduction, but found not one reliable statement on that. (Maybe it is written down elsewhere, but where?)
Code created in this way may infringe copyrights, at least if it was not code published under licenses like GPL, Public Domain, MIT, and the like, where the reuse is allowed, in principle it can be similar to the art theft that made Stable Diffusion and similar projects possible in the first place. As long as it is not clear on what these AI-Tools were trained on, it is a high-risk to use code generated by them, because it may be copyrighted.

But even for code where reuse is allowed, it may be mandatory to put new code based on it under the same license, like GPL for instance, but how will one know on what your AI spit out its results? These machines will only have access to their training data, the connection on what which part of their training data is based will most probably not exist. So you may get code that can be highly problematic without even knowing it. This can be the boomerang aiming at the back of your head.

Michelist

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@Abraxu Since you haven’t made a plugin that can be shared yet, I’ve changed the category of the topic to Develop: Plugins Development.

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I am am aware of these things I used the a.i
to get a nice python event sniffer and logger and detection specific for
libinput tester to find out what is reaching th system the event are neatly in a window in real time the “software” is basicaly just a python script that anyone can run (with python installed ofcourse"

the rest was code that was posted online redhat had made an attempt at getting these devices supported after looking at the hid and other internal stuff . I decided to impliment it for personal use…
The Totem the big one and the Power totem (Small one) have been gathering dust for the last 5 years and between work and my other projects tinkered on them gathering info and trying things out . But since most development for krita seems to be happening KDE. I lost hope for a Gnome solution

After this not sure if If want to share of develop a plugin or pursue this further…
the script that I used is below … If it is allowed to share it I will share the python script :slight_smile:

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Hi

It’s interesting, I’ve totally forgot the Microsfot Dial devices exists :sweat_smile:

You’re allowed to publish your code on github, gitlab or any other repository, nobody here can tell you it’s not allowed.

The only thing you have to take care about to share a link to the repo is to be sure source code of your plugin is compatible with Krita’s license.

After if the code or part of the code has been built with help of an AI tool, it’s up to you to decide what to do.

Copilot on github is problably trained with the huge amount of code in the hosted repositories and for which most of them are probably under MIT or GPL license.

Concerning the AI code you’ve used, if I understood it was more to get a tool to read and understand I/O of the MS device under Linux?

Grum999

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Actually it is NOT an real ms device the hardware is made by

Advanced Silicon S.A. CoolTouch® System
https://www.advancedsilicon.com/applications/touch-screens/

in many reviews people keep saying its a re-branded Wacom this also is Not true
the technology is similar albeit working different. all parts are made by advanced silicon and after switching to Lib-input almost all functionality works well is retrieved by the system there are no hooks to bind keys or actions to it since the dial is a separate class from the stylus and the digitizer.

I have install many programs and tested them all since it is a monitor an input device it is very capable of doing what i want it to do no lag on drawing even with big brushes an no lag in touch

running a modified version of Peppermint Os with Liqourix Kernel and some other optimized things

Krita , Inkscape, Mypaint , Pencil2, Gimp, Scribus , Flowblade, Natronall work and are a breeze to use
I used Bitwig (Daw) wit ten fingers and with help til 18 fingers at the same time to controllING faders and sliders in the gui the built in note /keyboard many browsers and even under android it still works even from my phone Note 21 Ultra running programs like CloverPaint (with the tablet addon) Infinite Painter, Hi Paint , and many more

what is also nice is that the s.pen from samsung works on it tooo …

ModelKV2718D a.k.a DellCanvas 27"

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Device Type Interactive pen and touch display
Dimensions Height: 17.6 inches (446mm) / Width: 31.2 inches (792mm) / Depth Front 0.51 inches (13mm);
Depth Rear 0.9 inches (23mm)
Weight 118.5 pounds (8.4kg)
Screen Size 27”
Resolution 2560 x 1440 QHD
Display IPS

Surface Technology
Direct bonded Anti-Glare Corning® Gorilla® Glass
with 9H Mohs hardness rating

Color Support 1.07 billion colors
Aspect Ratio 16:09
Viewing Angle 178o (89o/89o) H, (89o/89o) V
Contrast Ratio 1000:1 typical
Brightness 280 cd/m2

Active AreaHeight:
13.2 inches (336 mm) / Width: 23.5 inches (597 mm)

Color Gamut 100% Adobe RGB (typical)
Multi-Touch Yes, 20 points of touch
Simultaneous Touch and Pen Supported (and totems)

Pen Type Electromagnetic resonance method,
2 button Dell Canvas Pen Pressure Levels 2048 (barrel Rotation if implemented)

Tilt Range Up to 50o from vertical
(40o from horizontal, up to 90o)
Tilt Recognition+/-0.2 mm with 0°tilt
+/-0.4 mm with 60°tilt

Pen buttons
Yes, 2 programmable

Nibs, 6
(2 standard, 2 rubber feel and 2 felt feel)
Pen eraser Yes, via programmable side button

(And …the nibs from my Intuos PTZ 930 very hard teflon, fit in the stylus very smooth on the glass the wear is almost nihil using it daily for the last 5 years)

Pen holder
Yes, magnetic
Nib holder Yes
Pen Battery Required No

Totems Included Yes, solid cap style with integrated button and dial.
Totem Technology Passive

Stand Options
Included: Built-in stand (1.5o without legs or 10o with legs)
Optional: Accessory articulating stand (10o to 85o)
VESA Mount

Cables Included
USB-C to USB-C,
USB-C to USB-A,
mini-DP to mini-DP,
mini-DP to DP,
mini-HDMI to HDMI

to see what is possible i found some info but this thing is a beast
finger input, stylus, and the “Totems” all -at-the-same-time

I have both the big one and the smaller one for adjusting canvas orientation or other…

(upload://jrJzfo9ZWNLWe7MsCrpIIZLemKL.png)

prompt used with Websim-AI :
Testing area whole screen event window with the event in a floating window

  • more accurate events for the pen.

  • continuous hover above surface, tip contact with surface barrel rotation , elevation, angle , speed and pressure. in separate window section

  • detection while buttons pressed with contact screen

  • detection while buttons pressed with contact screen, hover
    Button options : tip (to select)middle click, right click

  • more accurate events for the totems

  • continuous also in separate window, each additional totem must be registered as an unique entity and generate its own window
    *content of the window must contain:

  • orientation in degrees comparison with the Dell Canvas surface also 1/2" outside the visible screen
  • location(x, y axis)
  • detection while buttons pressed with contact screen

  • each additional "click pressed must be registered as an unique event .
    with a i.d that can be used for a short a lived event
    and which can be stored with the location and orientation for future retrieval.
    a log would be nice so these settings can be recalled and analyzed later!
    to help and aid in writing a proper config tool for the device under linux using libinput to the full extend of the possibilities

  • fingers should always be registered simultaneous WITH the stylus also in a separate event markers differentiated with colors one for right hand Blue and one color in shades for the left hand like in orange

  • events in separate windows all fingerstips

  • location(x, y axis)
  • detection while pressed with contact screen
    and possible hover if detectable

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1 Like
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hello！I’ve been looking for that mini power totem. Can you tell me where you bought it?