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Area 49

This guide provides information on how to use technology within Area 49, as well as guides for digital technologies and physical projects. Area 49 is available for use by all current students, faculty, and staff.

Google Tilt Brush

Google Tilt Brush

Note: We are currently transitioning from an HTC Vive to the Valve Index headset, and we are also transitioning from using TiltBrush to using OpenBrush. This page will be updated soon. Once it is, this message will disappear.

Logging in to your Google account

  • Open TiltBrush, and in the headset, click to log in to your Google account.
  • On the computer, log in to your Google account on the Microsoft Edge browser (the default for the Vive)
  • Go back to the headset. You are now logged in.
  • Always remember to log out when you are finished.

Saving & Exporting Your Work

Before following these steps, you will need to create a Sketchfab Basic account. Go to https://sketchfab.com/ and click “Join for Free”. The Basic (free) account allows you to upload unlimited public downloadable models and one view-only model per month (up to 50 MB each). 

  1. In Tilt Brush, click ‘Upload’ and then click Sketchfab Sign in.

  2. For HTC Vive, take off your VR headset and complete the sign-in process on your desktop – a browser window will be waiting for you. If your browser is already signed in to Sketchfab, you only need to allow Tilt Brush to use it. For Oculus Quest 1 & 2, a browser window will open in the headset. Use that window to log in.

  3. Enter VR again and return to the Upload menu. Your Sketchfab username and avatar will now show. Click them to upload your model.

  4. Take off your VR headset and on the desktop, you will now see your Sketchfab model. Wait for it to complete processing, add a title and description, apply some tweaks in the 3D editor as needed and publish it!

  5. Troubleshooting: Sometimes the upload can get stuck. If the model does not load within 30 second to a minute, close out the upload window and try steps 1-4 again.

  6. Tip: You can edit model information once saved, so to save time, you do not need to add description, etc. during the upload process.

Uploading to Sketchfab saves your file as a 3D model. That file can be brought back into Tilt Brush as a model (see Importing Objects below) but can not be edited.

To save as a Tilt Brush file that can be opened and edited later in Tilt Brush

  1. Select "More Options" (three dots - ...) 
  2. Select "Labs" (beaker) 
  3. Select "Export"
  4. For the HTC Vive in the VisLab, the file will be saved on the Alienware computer under Documents>Tilt Brush>Sketches

Accessing Videos and Photos Recorded in Oculus Quest 1 & 2

  1. Connect the headset to your computer or laptop using the charging cable (USB-C cable). 

  2. Power headset on. Quest will show up as a new device and may take a few minutes to connect.

    • Access videos under Quest>Internal shared storage>Oculus>VideoShots

    • Access photos under Quest>Internal shared storage>Oculus>Screenshots

  3. Drag and drop or copy files onto your computer or laptop.

Importing Objects

For the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift

Any 3D models or images you want to bring into Tilt Brush must be saved on the Visualization Lab Alienware computer (HTC Vive) or backpack computer (Oculus Rift). There is currently no way to bring in models from Sketchfab or the cloud. 

  • For 3D models, copy .obj files to Documents>Tilt Brush>Media Library>Models
  • For reference Images copy a PNG or JPG file to Documents>Tilt Brush>Media Library>Images

Accessing the Labs panel

  1. Make sure you are in Advanced Mode, found to the left of the Tilt Brush logo in the Menu panel below your palette. 

  2. In the Menu panel (below your palette), select "More Options...".

  3. On your paint palette, swipe to the Tools panel and select More.

  4. Select "Labs" (beaker). 

  5. Select a Lab from the panel to try out new features. 

Add a 3D model

  1. In Tilt Brush, make sure you are in Advanced Mode.

  2. Go to the Menu panel (below your palette) and select "More Options..." > Labs > Local Media Library > Local Models.

  3. Switch between selecting images and models using the icons in the top left.

Add a reference image

  1. In Tilt Brush, make sure you are in Advanced Mode.

  2. Go to the Menu panel (below your palette) and select "More Options..." > Labs > Local Media Library > Local Images.

  3. Switch between selecting images and models using the icons in the top left.