Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

TouchDesigner VS Polygonjs

Compare TouchDesigner VS Polygonjs and see what are their differences

TouchDesigner logo TouchDesigner

TouchDesigner is a visual development platform that equips you with the tools you need to create stunning realtime projects and rich user experiences.

Polygonjs logo Polygonjs

Create amazing & interactive 3D scenes for the web
  • TouchDesigner Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-03
  • Polygonjs Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-27

TouchDesigner features and specs

  • Versatility
    TouchDesigner can be used for a wide range of applications including real-time graphics, interactive installations, live performances, and data visualization.
  • Real-Time Capabilities
    It excels at creating and manipulating visuals in real-time, making it ideal for live events and performances.
  • Node-Based Workflow
    The software uses a node-based visual programming language, which is intuitive and flexible, allowing for easy manipulation and connection of different elements.
  • High Customizability
    Users can create highly custom visuals and interactions tailored specifically to their needs.
  • Community and Resources
    A strong community of users and a wealth of tutorials, forums, and documentation are available to help new users learn and troubleshoot.
  • Compatibility
    Supports a broad array of input and output devices, as well as different file formats, making it highly interoperable with other tools and technologies.
  • Free Non-Commercial Version
    A non-commercial version is available for free, allowing users to learn and experiment without incurring costs.

Possible disadvantages of TouchDesigner

  • Steep Learning Curve
    The software is complex and can be difficult for beginners to master due to its vast capabilities and depth.
  • Performance Demands
    Creating complex projects can be resource-intensive, requiring powerful hardware to run smoothly.
  • Cost for Commercial Use
    While the non-commercial version is free, the commercial licenses can be expensive, which may be a barrier for smaller studios or individuals.
  • Limited Traditional Documentation
    While there are many community resources, the official documentation can be somewhat lacking in detail for more advanced functions.
  • Specialized Skill Set
    Expertise in TouchDesigner does not always translate directly to other software tools, meaning skills learned can be somewhat isolated.
  • Version Compatibility
    Projects created in different versions may not always be compatible, which can be a problem for long-term projects or collaborations.

Polygonjs features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Polygonjs offers an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface that allows users to efficiently create and manipulate 3D scenes without needing extensive prior experience.
  • Node-Based Workflow
    Utilizing a node-based approach, Polygonjs allows for a modular and flexible design process, enabling users to easily adjust, reuse, and combine different elements of their 3D scenes.
  • Web Integration
    Polygonjs is designed to integrate seamlessly with web technologies, making it suitable for developing interactive 3D applications directly on the web.
  • Comprehensive Documentation
    The platform offers extensive documentation and tutorials that help users to quickly understand and maximize the utility of the software's features.
  • Customization and Extensibility
    Polygonjs supports customization and allows developers to extend its functionality with their own plugins and scripts, ensuring high adaptability to specific project needs.

Possible disadvantages of Polygonjs

  • Steep Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While basic operations are user-friendly, mastering advanced features of Polygonjs can be challenging for new users who are not familiar with 3D graphics concepts.
  • Performance Limitations
    As a web-based application, Polygonjs might experience performance limitations when dealing with extremely large or complex 3D scenes.
  • Dependence on WebGL
    Being reliant on WebGL can be a disadvantage, especially when considering compatibility issues or performance on older devices or less supported browsers.
  • Limited Offline Capabilities
    Due to its web-based nature, working offline can be restrictive unless specific solutions are implemented to handle such workflows.
  • Community and Support
    As a relatively new platform, Polygonjs might have a smaller community, which may limit user-driven support, readily available community plugins, and resources compared to more established tools.

TouchDesigner videos

Make mind bending, interactive 3D projects with TouchDesigner and Python

More videos:

  • Review - TouchDesigner Experiments
  • Tutorial - Particle Displacement – TouchDesigner Tutorial 7

Polygonjs videos

Polygonjs WebGL design tool demo

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to TouchDesigner and Polygonjs)
3D
65 65%
35% 35
Interactive Presentations
Design Tools
0 0%
100% 100
VJ
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using TouchDesigner and Polygonjs. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare TouchDesigner and Polygonjs

TouchDesigner Reviews

7 Best Projection Mapping Software 2024 (#1 Video Mapper)
Other options include Resolume Arena, which excels in live performances and offers an ultra-fast video player for real-time video mixing. Resolume Avenue, a sister program to Arena, also provides a reliable visual programming environment with an audio processing engine. HeavyM, on the other hand, is suitable for beginners and small-scale events, offering an online library of...
Exploring the top 10 World of LCD Projector Mapping Softwares
TouchDesigner stands out for its immense versatility and its ability to handle interactive multimedia projects. This node-based visual programming environment enables users to create complex projection mapping setups, combining real-time graphics, audio, and video processing. With its robust community support, TouchDesigner is an excellent choice for those seeking to push...
Top 7 Alternatives to MadMapper – Amplify Your Projection Mapping Projects!
TouchDesigner is a powerful visual development platform that enables artists and designers to create interactive installations, immersive experiences, and projection mapping projects. It offers a node-based interface, real-time rendering capabilities, and support for various media types. TouchDesigner is widely used in the media and entertainment industry for its versatility...
Source: www.uubyte.com
5+ best video mapping software for PC
TouchDesigner’s suite of features and open customization makes each project possible, with multiple solutions to tackle every job, whether small or large in ways that fit each scenario and budget.
Top 5 VJ Softwares In 2021
TouchDesigner is a node based visual programming language for real time interactive multimedia content, developed by the Toronto-based company Derivative. It’s been used by artists, programmers, creative coders, software designers, and performers to create performances, installations, and fixed media works.

Polygonjs Reviews

We have no reviews of Polygonjs yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Polygonjs should be more popular than TouchDesigner. It has been mentiond 138 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

TouchDesigner mentions (31)

  • Ask HN: What Are You Working On? (October 2024)
    Will it be something like TouchDesigner[1] ? I never used it myself, but I follow a lot of creative types who make music visualizations, and art installations with it. I can't find it on Github though, maybe repo is private ? [1] https://derivative.ca/. - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • NestDrop Midnight Edition v23.15 - PRO VERSION FREE DOWNLOAD
    ⇒ Resolume ⇒ NestMap ⇒ TouchDesigner ⇒ MadMapper ⇒ Any other software listed on the Spout website. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • After Effects for live broadcasting?
    Touchdesigner: https://derivative.ca/. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Lighting Software with programmable effects?
    Touch Designer is an object oriented environment with a range of ways to manipulate data and plugins for external control (ie - artNET, sACN, dmx dongles) - it is somewhat OS agnostic / MAC/PC. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Method For Generating Graphical Representations from data?
    Python ranges from "decent" to "awesome" and "cutting edge" across a range of use cases. I would put graphics on the bottom tier of Python's strengths. You should look for something built for graphics. My go to is TouchDesigner by Derivative (derivative.ca). They offer a free license, it's all node based for real-time graphics processing, you can generate images with it, and you can script anything in... Source: about 2 years ago
View more

Polygonjs mentions (138)

  • Show HN: Checkers Twist – The game Checkers/Draughts/Dames on an irregular grid
    - some corners will connect less than 4 tiles. This does the opposite of the previous point, as this removes diagonals. This limits your moves in a specific direction, but can also protect you from your opponents. It's the kind of features that can be used both as a defense and as attack. And the boards are procedurally generated, so you can play unique games each time (or you can re-use the same boards if you... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • On the importance to make games during the game engine's development
    That's the path I took with Polygonjs ( https://polygonjs.com ), and a game I've just released ( https://polyreplay.com/minesweepertwist ), with more coming shortly. But it didn't start like that. It only started as a tool I could use to deliver client projects, as I was trying to become a freelance for interactive 3D scenes for the web. Project after project ( some examples here: https://polygon-lab.com/ ), I... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Threestudio – A unified framework for 3D content generation
    I'm building one, called Polygonjs ( https://polygonjs.com/ ), you have a few examples to play with ( https://polygonjs.com/docs/examples ). - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • how can I convert a 3D model into an SDF, a signed distance field
    You can have a look how I do it in Polygonjs (which is a node-based design tool based on threejs), in this example scene. Source: over 1 year ago
  • ThreeJS capabilities
    If you're familiar with Houdini, I invite you to try Polygonjs, which is based on threejs and inspired by Houdini. You can basically build threejs in a procedural way, with just nodes. Source: over 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing TouchDesigner and Polygonjs, you can also consider the following products

Resolume - Resolume is an application for live video performances.

Spline - Design tool for 3d web experiences

MadMapper - The Mapping Software

Three.js - A JavaScript 3D library which makes WebGL simpler.

Pure Data - Pd (aka Pure Data) is a real-time graphical programming environment for audio, video, and graphical...

Three.js Journey - The best course to learn how to create stunning 3D websites