Mobile Experience
3dSynth is designed as a desktop tool, but phones and tablets get a first-class preview and browsing experience. You can explore the community library, view models in 3D, and do light edits to a profile on the go — the full authoring workflow (G-code export, node graphs, SynthBlocks) is best on desktop.
What you can do on mobile
Supported mobile workflows
Preview- Orbit, pan, zoom, and change shade modes in the 3D viewer. WebGL2 required.
Profile / Spline edits- Adjust profile points, total height, and a compact Effects stack from the mobile left dock. Live updates in the viewer.
Community Library- Browse shared designs, open them in the viewer, and save ones you like locally. Uploading remains a desktop feature.
Documentation & Tutorials- The full docs and tutorial libraries render in mobile. Great for learning G-code basics on the couch.
License activation- The License dialog works on mobile browsers — useful for activating a Chromebook or a tablet. See Activating your license.
Mobile shell layout
What's on screen
Top toolbar- Compact bar with the Library button on the left and the 3dSynth brand centered. Designed to match the iOS / Android status bar height.
3D viewer- Takes the remaining vertical space. Uses one-finger orbit, two-finger pan, and pinch zoom. Safe-area insets handled so nothing hides behind the notch.
Mobile left dock- Full-screen slide-in drawer with two tabs: Create (profile shape + global transforms) and Effects (effects stack). Tap the close icon or the backdrop to dismiss.
Preview banner- On first launch a short notice reminds you that 3dSynth is a desktop-class design tool and that export/authoring work best on a bigger screen. Dismissed with a tap and remembered for the session.
Desktop-only on mobile
A few workflows are either impractical on a phone or not yet mobile-optimized. These features are visible but gated with a "desktop recommended" hint:
- SynthBlocks visual programming — the Blockly workspace needs a pointer and real screen space.
- Node Sculptor — graphs edit much more reliably with a mouse.
- Custom G-code editor — text editing is available but tiny on mobile.
- Full export flow — G-code export and the Export Animation dialog work on tablet-sized screens but are cramped on phones.
Performance & WebGL
Mobile rendering caveats
WebGL2 required- The viewer uses WebGL2 features. iOS 15+ and recent Android Chrome/Firefox are fully supported. Older devices fall back to a compatibility message.
Lower defaults- On phones, 3dSynth auto-picks a smaller default tube resolution and turns on lower-detail shading to stay smooth. You can bump these in the viewer settings — see Viewer settings.
Battery & heat- Live preview is GPU-heavy. Long sessions warm the device up; keep it plugged in when following a tutorial.
Gestures
| Gesture | Action |
|---|---|
| One-finger drag | Orbit the camera |
| Two-finger drag | Pan |
| Pinch | Zoom |
| Tap & hold viewer | Snap to a view (front / top / iso) via the Viewer Controls overlay |
| Tap Library icon | Open the Community Library |
| Tap ☰ / panel icon | Open the mobile left dock |
Related
- Interface overview — the full desktop layout for comparison.
- Viewer settings — shade modes, quality, and camera controls.
- Getting Started — module overview and which workflows exist.
- Community Library — the most mobile-friendly feature.