ArcGIS and Macs

Have an Apple computer and are upset you can't run ArcGIS products like ArcMap?  Don't rush so quickly to trade up for a Windows machine because all is not lost!

There are a few options to consider.  One, you can use Boot Camp on your Leopard or later Mac OS.  Boot Camp is free and allows you to partition a Windows operating system on your Mac! Keep in mind though that Boot Camp will create a distinction between both systems and allow you to only access one at a time.  That said, you would not be able to work on your Windows side and simultaneously switch back and forth to the Mac side without completely rebooting either partition.

Prefer seamless travel back and forth from Windows to Mac? (might be useful to go from recording 3D mapping on your Windows side to a Mac exclusive software like FinalCut to edit the video on the Mac side) Well there are other options like Parallels and VMware that allow such simultaneous use.  The down side of these?  Well for one, they are not free like Boot Camp and will run you about $40 each.  Another downside, is that because both systems are running, they will naturally run slower using more memory than usual.  You should not experience any kind of slowing with Boot Camp.

After you decide HOW to use Windows on your Mac, you will of course need to install the Windows software.  Unlike ArcGIS products that are free to download for University of Delaware students at UDeploy, Windows software cannot be downloaded for free onto your personal computer from the school and you will have to purchase it.

Hopefully this is useful to any of those who would like to utilize ArcGIS software, or any other Windows exclusive software, on their Apple computers.

Here is a helpful PDF outlining the previously mentioned software and Boot Camp when using ArcGIS on Macs as well as other specs and requirements that might be useful.

What happens when WMS crashes

Recently at the SMDC desk, we experienced an expansive technical breakdown. WMS crashed, making it impossible for us to check in or check out kits (or so I thought). The cause of the crash was completely outside of our control, it likely occurred in the server department (which may or may not be its actual name) though many leading defense analysts have reported that the crash was actually the result of a Electro Magnetic Pulse weapon (or EMP) detonated in the upper stratosphere. As Nadine described it, when WMS goes down "You cry, you scream." She then collapsed unto the floor sobbing. The ensuing chaos was breathtaking in scope and apocalyptic in nature; unchecked kits strewn all over the desk, screams of frustration, panic stricken SMDC patrons stampeding for the exits...it was horrible. 

Times of disorder turn law abiding citizens into marauding rock artists, practitioners of what is popularly known as "apocalypse" metal as opposed to grunge or thrash. Here we see members of the  punk rock band "Jason Walsh and the Cannibals" enjoying a night on the town.

The work day began like any other, but several hours into my afternoon shift, we humble student workers started getting errors in WMS whenever we tried to check in or check out items. We would scan an item, WMS would say loading for awhile, and then it would pop up a little error message saying "Unknown error occurred" or an error saying that there was something wrong with the connection. After showing this to our supervisors, we were informed that WMS seemed to have crashed. We feared the worst; could this seemingly mundane incident be the first indication that America had suffered a crippling attack? 

Manual charge was the result of a secret DARPA research performed at the height of the Cold War, in an effort to protect American communication networks from Soviet electronic warfare. Diana, a former DARPA Analyst, was able to implement this system at the UD after the Department of Homeland Security identified the Morris Library as the 13413th most likely target for an electronic warfare attack. 

However, thanks to good planning on the part of Diana, we have infrastructure in place which is made specifically to deal with this event. This back up system was referred to by Diana as "Manual Charge." Manual charge is a system accessible on the desk computers that allows us to manually print out a receipt for items that users want to check out. These receipts are printed out twice; one copy is given to the user (AKA renter in layman's terms) , and another is kept at the desk. The receipt has all the information that one of our normal receipts would have, its just a whole lot bigger; these receipts are stored in the manual checklist drawer along with the other manual checklists. When WMS comes back online, we go back through all the receipts acquired through manual charge and enter them into WMS.

Experts predict that in the aftermath of an EMP attack, libraries would become shelter for refugee families and stray dogs, such as Little Jenny and her dog Richie (pictured above) at the Morris Libraries' annual EMP Awareness Day celebration.

This is because Manual charge does not make any actual changes to our internal databases, it simply allows us to keep checking out equipment so that the work desk does not completely shut down. Users looking to return items can still do so; items returned during the duration of the crash must be stored in a separate box and checked in when WMS comes back online. This allows the desk to still maintain a semblance of order amid the storm. 

It must be added that using Manual Charge is an unusual emergency measure and thus must be handled carefully. For this reason, student workers require permission from one of their supervisors to use it. Also, very importantly, the checklist system is not the same as WMS, so it will not crash just because WMS is down. Anyone using Manual Charge is reminded to still check the items in and out through the checklist. 

The US Department of Defense has not yet announced the results of its investigation into the incident, but insiders at the Pentagon believe that the PRC (Peoples Republic of China) is likely responsible for the attack, judging from the fliers which were dropped pre-detonation that read "Xi Jingping was here". According to leading defense analyst Dillon McLaughlin, the Electro-Magnetic pulse capabilities of the Chinese Military represent an "existential and growing threat to American national security"

What You Meant To Say Was...

Hey ladies and gents,

This is just a reminder but when you are checking out anything and the due date time says "11:29" or "7:29," do not say that it is due back at "11:30" or "7:30". At that time it is late and then we'll have an angry customer on our hand if it is late and it is actually our fault. This also works for whatever time. Tell the person who is checking out the equipment the specific time; not a rounded time.

Have a great week!

Garageband in the Studios

Hi everyone!
Hannah brought this up to me after she helped someone in Studio 4 and I thought I would share her wisdom in case any one else encounters this problem with the mad rush of students completing projects before the semester ends. Anyways, if a student wants to use the old version of Garageband, the old version is available in Studio 6. You can make a reservation for them in that studio. Otherwise, the newer versions of Garageband are available in Studio 3 and 4. However, there is a catch... The computers will be uploaded to all new versions of Garageband in January, so this literally applies just for the next few weeks. Anyways, just let anyone know if they're really looking to use the old version to go into Studio 6.
Happy finals!
Shannon

iMovie Music (with a CD)

Hello Everyone!

    I hope you all enjoyed your Turkey Break! Now that its almost the end of the semester, we will have a influx of students trying to finish their video projects. Some of them will try to add music to their video and dont worry, I am here to save the day!


Following are the simple steps to how to import and edit audio on iMovie:
Step 1:
Open your iMovie project and click on the Audio button below the clips pane.

Step 2:
Insert your audio CD into the computer. (The eject button is the up arrow on the top right of the keyboard.) Or you can also get it from your itunes library.

Step 3:
The drop-down menu above the audio pane may default to "iTunes Library." Select from this drop-down menu the title of the CD you've inserted. You should then see the tracks listed in the audio pane below the drop-down menu.

Step 4:
To the far left of the play button are two box-shaped buttons, one with an icon of a film strip for adding and arranging video clips in the clip viewer, and the other with an icon of a clock for adjusting audio and video timing in the timeline viewer. Select the clock for the timeline viewer. Now you can see the three audio tracks, the top being the audio embedded in the video and the other two for adding audio tracks.

Step 5:
To extract the audio embedded in the imported video (represented on the top layer of the three audio layers in the timeline), select the clip you wish to extract from, and select "Extract audio" from the edit menu along the top. When it's finished extracting, you should see the extracted audio track below the clip in the second layer of the timeline.

Step 6:
To adjust the volume of a track, click the "Edit volume" checkbox at the bottom. You will now see a vertical line drawn through the audio clips on the timeline. This represents the volume level. You can adjust the entire volume level of a clip by selecting it and sliding the volume fader at the bottom. If you wish to make volume adjustments within a clip, click on the clip at the point you wish to adjust. This will create an in and out point for the volume, each of which you can bring up or down by dragging it with the mouse.

Step 7:
To import a track from the CD you've inserted, select the track you wish to add from the audio pane. Place the cursor, or playhead, at the spot in the movie where you want to add audio, and click on the "Place at Playhead" button beneath the audio pane. Wait while the track imports and is placed beneath the clips in the timeline viewer.

Step 8:
To crop the audio clip, adjust the start and end points by dragging the triangles at the beginning and end of the clip and selecting "Crop" from the edit menu, just as you would a video clip. 

Poster Printing from PowerPoint

Hi Everyone,

It's that time of year when poster printing is in high demand and we will be handling many orders.  It is common that users will come to the desk with PowerPoint files needed to print.  We must receive the file as a PDF and with at least one side 35.5 inches or smaller.  We will often be given files in either .ppt format, or with the smaller side 36 inches, or both.  If a user does not know how to perform the necessary changes, we can give them the handout at the desk but will not do it for them.  Basically, what's different from before (now that we have PowerPoint 2013) is that changing the slide size is under the Design Tab, rather than File>Page Setup.  Then they can ensure that at least one side is now 35.5 inches or smaller (I believe the default slide size is unfortunately 48x36 inches).  Then, save as PDF and they are ready to bring to the desk.

Just remember, whatever condition the PDF is in when given us to print, is how the poster will be printed, so ensure that users make the necessary correct size changes.

Microsoft OneDrive and Cloud Storage

With the popularity of cloud storage applications like Dropbox and Google Drive at an all time high, Microsoft's cloud storage app, Microsoft OneDrive, often gets overlooked. Last month Microsoft announced that all Office 365 subscribers would now be able to utilize unlimited cloud storage. This is especially interesting considering the free Microsoft Office subscription offered for UD students.

I recently ran out of storage room on Dropbox, so this news came at a perfect time. This, and cloud storage in general, may seem kind of confusing but if you find yourself looking for more cloud storage, this may be something to look into.

Something else I found interesting was the new partnership between Microsoft and one of their competitors, Dropbox, announced earlier this month.

Photoshop Tips and Tricks

Hi guys!

As the semester is coming to an end and everyone has turned in their student projects, I'm sure most people used photoshop if you were doing a poster! For me, it was my first time using photoshop so it was a lot to learn and A LOT of trial and error. Luckily, the internet is an incredible resource for any photoshop questions I had. I found this blog http://www.creativebloq.com/photo-editing/photoshop-tips-and-fixes-612316 and it offers a lot of useful tips/tricks/shortcuts for photoshop! The site has all the simple tricks for the noobs (like me) and some more advanced tips for the photoshop connoisseurs!

I hope everyone is having a great break!

Storing multimedia files when no hard drive is available

With external hard drives in short supply, where can students store files critical to their projects when their borrowed cameras are due?

The UD Dropbox can help but has limits.  As described in the website,

The Dropbox software itself has limits on the amount of data that can be uploaded in a single dropoff. Even for browsers that support uploads larger than 2 GB, dropoffs may not exceed 10.0 GB per file, or 20.0 GB total for the entire dropoff.

The 2 GB limitation will support uploading many short video files.  Because the Dropbox won't ingest file folders, one can't simply upload the contents of the AVCHD folder from a camera's hard drivefile, but one could upload individual files.

Reminder: 3 day headphone kits are available!

Finals week is approaching, and with that the library will be open 24 hours a day beginning Monday, December 1st. With many students expected to be at the library well past our desk closes at midnight, keep in mind that students have the option of loaning out a 3 day headphone kit. This will allow them to use our headphones during their late night study sessions rather than having to return them to us by 11:29 PM.

iMovie to Dropbox, is it Possible?

    Short answer, yes.

    Long answer, it's probably not advisable.

    Today someone came in looking for a Studio to reserve and an external hard drive to rent out so she could save her work and edit it later, but there was a problem. We were out of hard drives. This was a deal breaker for her because she had no other way to save it and her project was going to take much longer than two hours to edit. So she asked if she could save it to DropBox in the meantime. I had no idea, which prompted me to make a quick search and I came upon someone who had a similar question and had posed said question to the apple community (so we know the answer is legit). Which brings me back to the beginning of this post.

    As a disclaimer, I did not test this out. The student who had the question decided not to try it for fear of losing the hours she would have put into her work, but there it is, if someone ever asks you the same question now we'll all know what to say:
    Yes it is possible.
    Just a little difficult because you have to drag everything that was used, photos, music, etc. to dropbox so the new computer will be able to open the files.

Coloring Scanned Images Using Photoshop

When it comes to coloring line drawings or other forms of media, I prefer to scan the image at a high resolution and then opening the image in Photoshop to add color. Teagan White created a concise tutorial that does a much better job explaining the process than I could do in this blog post, so take a look at the tutorial in the link below.

http://teaganwhite.deviantart.com/art/Coloring-a-Drawing-in-Photoshop-CS5-281333851

Studio Abuse

Hey guys,

So as the semester is winding down students are using the studios now more than ever for their projects. Remember that they only have a two hour window to utilize the studios. They may come up to request an additional two hour block for the same day, only when at most 30 minutes of an existing reservation remains and time slots are available. If they have not made another reservation and are continuing to do their work, politely inform them that their time is up and KICK THEM OUT (just kidding, be nice about it).

Also be sure to ask them specifically what they are using the studio for when they go to reserve one. Appropriate use for studios can be reviewed at: http://multimedia.lib.udel.edu:89/misc/operational-protocols.asp

Have fun removing people!

Audio not working in certain parts of iMovie

Today we had a student who was working in iMovie and while inserting audio clips into the project, no sound from those clips would be projected but only at certain parts in the movie. Most likely the cause for this is that there is another audio clip that is corrupt or damaged in some way that is preventing that audio clip from working. To check/fix this problem:

• Click on the waveform button
• 
• All of your audio clips should load and you should be able to see the various sound levels from each of your clips
• Look for any clips that have a loading circle that just doesn't seem to go away (also check for clips that have a yellow triangle with an exclamation point in them)
• If you find any of these clips, simply delete that clip and the rest of your audio should work. 

Free Downloads for Designers

Hi guys,
As a design student I am constantly looking for high quality images on the internet to incorporate into my work. Recently I came across a great resource that we could all utilize for our SMDC projects. You The Designer is a blog for graphic designers and includes a tab for FREEBIES that are all high resolution downloads. Lots of cool backgrounds, textures, PSDs, and brushes for Photoshop are available. These downloads can really boost your work to the next level, and save you the time of scouring through low quality pixelated google images.

Here is the link to the freebies page:

http://www.youthedesigner.com/freebies/


Enjoy! Happy designing :)

Media Encoder

Hi everyone!

Today, there was a person who has trying to convert an m4a audio file to an mp3 file. Marcy helped me figure out what to do in this situation so I thought I would share just in case someone else came across the same problem. To convert the audio file, you simply need to open Adobe Media Encoder and export the file in (or just drag the audio file into the encoder from the desktop). After it is opened in Media Encoder, you need to select what file you want it to be converted to under the first column called F4V (I think that’s what it is called); in my case, I selected mp3. After you have selected mp3, under the file menu, select Start Queue. The audio file will then be converted to an mp3 file. The file will open onto the desktop and then the student can use it however they need to.

Hope this helps!

Have a great week everyone!

Shannon

iMovie vs. Final Cut- Which to Use?

    Professors frequently assign video projects to students in a variety of classes. When it comes down to editing the video, it can be tricky to figure out what software to use. iMovie is the usual go-to editing software and can create a great basic video fit with transitions and simple editing. However, in some cases this is not enough, and a more thorough editing software is needed. This can be found in Apple’s Final Cut Pro X.

    iMovie is an excellent beginner’s introduction to video editing. Some features of interest, particularly to students, are the ability to create video titles and credits, making easy transitions between clips, and the ability to export the video into a few different types of video formats. The drag-and-drop format is easy to use, and themes are available. However, there are some limitations to iMovie that those wishing to create a more professional film may not like. For example, only one video effect per clip can be added, which cannot be adjusted to fit the user’s needs. Editing can be slow if you must drag-and-drop an effect to every single clip, as opposed to working all the clips together.

    Final Cut Pro X is another type of Apple video editing software focused more on professional editing and projects. A particularly helpful aspect of Final Cut is the ability to edit multiple videos simultaneously to get the job done faster. Also helpful is the ability for Final Cut Pro software to be used with formats that are not typically supported by Apple. iMovie projects can be uploaded into Final Cut and the user can then take advantage of the more advanced editing shortcuts. One interesting feature of Final Cut of the Color Board, where the user has complete control over the video’s color, saturation, and exposure, much like Adobe Photoshop.

    Ultimately, both iMovie and Final Cut are two excellent video editing programs. They are similar in a variety of ways and are capable of creating great final products. Ultimately, it is up to the user to decide what kind of professionalism is necessary for their film. If the purpose of the project is simply on the information presented, iMovie might be the way to go. However, a film class that emphasizes the video quality and manipulation might prefer Final Cut Pro X being used.  

Convert video from MTS to MOV

This month I ran into a few instances where a student had recorded video under the file extension MTS, which is a HD file extension used by Sony and Panasonic cameras. When the student tried to import this into iMovie for editing, the program would not accept the video. I had never seen this extension before but after I did a quick search I learned that it could be easily converted to MOV or any other video format. A few converter websites ask the user to download software in order to convert the video. I found a website called zamzar.com which allows the user to convert video without having to download any software. You can easily upload the file to the website, and they email you the converted video file.This website worked great and converted the files pretty fast.  But of course there is a catch, you can only upload up to 10 files to be converted for free.

Metronome in Garageband

Hey Everyone,

So today at the center a student was in studio 4 and was trying to record audio in Garageband and ran into some issues with the sound. We restarted the computer and the settings defaulted back to original preference settings for audio output. Once we connected the microphone and got the sound to come through we realized that the metronome was clicking and counting during the students audio file. Whenever the computer is restarted it will automatically select the metronome. It is necessary to click the metronome symbol in order to have it turned off during recording. A student who is utilizing this software in the studio will have to perform this task each time the computer is restarted.

Have a good weekend!

When video cameras are scarce

This time of year we are often out or nearly out of our commonly used memory-based video cameras. Here are some other options:

• Cameras reserved for classes that have had multimedia instruction sessions here with Hannah. These are stored in the black cabinets in the back. I've found that students in these classes do not always say they were in a class and eligible to take one out. You can ask "Are you in a class that has had sessions in multimedia here?" If so look up the professor's name on the spreadsheet Hannah has linked, it's under "Guides and Information" and then "Class-Use Camera Information."  Ask a supervisor for help if needed.

• Advanced cameras may be in, just remind people they would need to take time to familiarize themselves with the cameras as they are more complex, and cost a lot more to replace if broken. 

•  Tape based cameras. A few years ago this is all we had! You can  people the tapes are digital as some may think they are like old camcorders. The regular Mini DV tapes are $5.00 and HD $10.00. (The ZR930 camera only records in standard mode.) 

•  Digital still cameras/DSLRs can record video.  I don't recommend the oldest Canon Power Shots unless they don't need good quality footage. Also they only have a 1 GB memory card.

• Go Pro cameras.  

Of course if someone does not need it for today, you can show them how to check availability of equipment from our web site.

Bringing iTunes Library Songs into Audacity

Today, a user came to the desk with questions about mixing songs in audacity.  She said that when she imported from her iTunes library files, the audacity track was just loud white noise.

The fix is simple: convert the iTunes file (it could be m4a, AAC, mp3) to a file format that Audacity will be compatible with.  The file format that worked was AIFF.

In iTunes:
1. click Preferences
2. click General
3. click Import Settings, and choose AIFF
4. Select song you wish to convert, right click and choose create AIFF conversion

After conversion, go to Audacity and choose File>Import>Audio and choose from your iTunes library songs.  Make sure to choose the newly-made AIFF version instead of the original!

Thanks and have a great week!

Totally Awesome feature in Adobe Photoshop CS6

Did you know that you can edit video footage in Adobe Photoshop CS6? Take a look. 

Easy to Understand Manual for the Alesis Multimix 8 USB (that thing we plug everything into in studio 6)

    A little while ago I was working at the desk when a couple of people came in armed with a bass, amp, and reservation for Studio 6. They'd never used the equipment we have in there and were a little lost on where to plug their bass in. I'm not going to lie, I was too (Studio 6 confuses me, there, it's out, I feel the weight lifting off of my shoulders...), until I brought up everyone's favorite information companion, Google, and typed in the name of our mixer. That's when I found this, a really easy to understand beginners manual that details everything from what should plug into where, what button does which, and even some handy troubleshooting tips (chapter 5). There are even pictures! Gotta love those pictures.
    Anywho, if you're ever in any need of a reference for our fancy Studio 6, try out this manual. I've taken the liberty of detailing a few of the more pertinent sections below, but don't take my list as the all inclusive, that's all it has, deal. It's just a handy little cheat sheet, not the full blown table of contents (pg 1-2).

Sections of possible interest:

    Pg 5: A nice how to on using the manual, if you have a question that my list doesn't answer, go here. It gives a nice little blurb about what each of its sections entail.

    Pg 7: A picture that shows you what can hook into where. This is handy if someone brings in their own instrument, though most of what you can hook up has already been done for us (like the tape deck).

    Pg 9-10: If you need a super in depth explanation of what each input/output is, go here.

    Pg 11-13: Ever wonder what those knobs and buttons on our cheat sheets do? Explanation right here.

    Pg 21-23: Possibly the most potentially helpful section in this entire manual, the troubleshooting guide.

    Pg 29-30: Terminology got you down? These pages give a nice little rundown for all the potentially head scratching words dispersed throughout the manual.

Super Secret VLC features

You may or may not know of a program we have at the Center called VLC.  VLC is a media player that is renown for playing a wide variety of media formats.  What you may not know (and I didn't) is that VLC can do much more than just play media.  Here is an article from Lifehacker.com which lists some awesome hidden features of VLC.

Features include Screen Capture, YouTube Downloads, Video File Conversion, Webcam Capture, and Podcast Subscription.

A usefull trick for the inspired student

Greetings, dear friends.

Have you ever had problems with signing into your google accounts because they are sending you to the UD email login? Effected accounts include Youtube, gmail and ironically enough, blogger.com. This problem commonly results in anger and frustration (see power point slide shown above).

This problem has been shown to produce a 13% drop in productivity among Male students, and a 11% drop in productivity among Female students. A detailed study by the congressional non partisan research center indicates that there is a 27.65% chance that I am completely making this up.

In order to solve this problem, simply sign out of your UD email accounts. Being signed in to UD email (which is provided by Google) will block all your other Google accounts.

Happy election day!

Infogram

Hey everyone!

I found this website that is awesome if you are interested in creating charts or other kinds of data visuals online. The website is called infogr.am. Infogram specializes in helping you create infographics and charts are easy and quick to use. You can embed them into any project. The basic package (that is free, I might add) includes more than 30 chart types, easy data editing, the ability to import XLS, XLSX, and CSV files, and the ability to publish you infographic online.

Shannon

Multimedia Staff Assemble! It's time to talk about Chrome on the desk computers.

Hey everybody,

As you may have noticed, we now have Chrome installed on every computer at the service desk!

Iron Man threw a party to celebrate the installation of Chrome.

So if you prefer to use Chrome over Firefox then this is good news for you. That being said, as of right now there are some unresolved issues between Chrome, WMS, and our StaffWeb:

• Chrome by default will block any plugins from running on any webpages. The WMS staff website needs plug-ins to function in order to properly connect to the receipt printer. To make sure that plug-ins work, go to WMS, click on the puzzle piece with a red X on it in the top right corner, and select "Always allow plug-ins on multimedia.lib.udel.edu". If you don't see a puzzle piece icon, then Chrome isn't blocking plug-ins at that time and the receipt printer should be working.
• If you are using Chrome on either of the two computers that are on the left of the register, you will notice that the Staffweb Intranet webpage (the webpage where the shift switcher, operational protocols, telephone lists, etc. are) will not load due to Chrome automatically blocking any pop-up windows. So far, no one has found a way to stop Chrome from blocking the pop-up window. If you need to access the intranet, just use Firefox.

An example of what happens if you don't follow these tips.

If you follow these tips then your experience using Chrome on the service desk computers should be a lot more enjoyable.

Loki has pre-approved of these tips.

powerpoint to dvd

Hey guys,
Today while Emily and I were working someone asked us how to make a powerpoint readable on a dvd. Lucky and Eve taught us how to do it because we weren't sure. Once their powerpoint is completed they save the file and then they need to open it in Adobe Media Encoder and convert the file extension to H.264. Once it is in H.264 format they can burn their dvd from idvd.

How to convert the file to H.264
1. Add your file in Adobe Media Encoder (File>Add Source)
2. Once your file is in the queue, click on it
3. A new window should pop up, click on the format
4. Scroll down and choose H.264
5. Make sure that you have chosen to export video and export audio, then click okay
6. Press the play button in the top right corner and the conversion will begin
7. Your file will save in the same folder that you got your original file from

Typography in Web Design

Last winter session I took an Interactive Multimedia Design course here at school with a focus on website designing. We learned to write code for our own websites from scratch, but the main thing we worked on and were graded on was typography. Typography always seemed to me like one of those fancy words that people use without really knowing what it means. However, I quickly learned how important things like readability and legibility actually are in the design of a website. We don't always think about aspects like letter spacing and contrast, but we notice, whether we realize it or not. There's a reason why companies are willing to pay good money for a website designer who knows what they're doing.

More on what exactly typography is...

Some examples of exceptional typography in website design:

http://www.awwwards.com/websites/typography/

http://ilovetypography.com/

The Way Video Editing Programs Read Files

Downstairs here at the SMDC, there's been a recent influx of editors let loose on the suite of video editing programs we have.  Not all of them have experience with the programs and we've been having a few incidents.  I'll cover a big one, and potentially the most damaging.

Yes, exactly like this.

Importing a video from a camera doesn't automatically make a copies of the source video on a more permanent space.  Which is the second use for camera archives are important, the first I've covered before.  If the users themselves don't make the copy, the software, regardless of what kind, Premiere (my favorite), Final Cut 7, iMovie (either version), will keep looking at the camera for the video.  There are rumors that Final Cut X makes copies of the video on different discs, but those are unconfirmed.  Mostly by me, because I don't feel like Googling it.

Yeah, I know it wouldn't take that long to Google.  Just stop looking at me like that.

Having the software look directly at the camera is all well and good, provided it's a project where you won't ever need to access the footage again and won't be working on it after this one time you edited.  But that's not usually the case, and even if it were, we still recommend a hard drive and an archive.  One shot video projects are extremely rare.  Like unicorns or blue Skittles.

The rarest sight in the known universe.

All this means that when the user takes the project file with them back to whatever place they take it to, dorm, apartment, hovel, what have you, they might only be taking the project files.  Taking only project file is like inviting your friends out to the bar, but only bringing the clothes they would have worn.  All the dressings are there, but the content's nowhere to be found.

The time that all my project files tried to learn to surf.

We'll look to one of my famous hypotheticals, except that this one isn't a hypothetical because it's what really happened.  A patron was trying to put the finishing touches on her project.  She and her group had done almost the right thing, which was to do the project on a portable hard drive.  I say almost the right thing, because they hadn't consolidated any of the actual clips on the hard drive.  All the previews in iMovie were still referencing different locations on her group mates assorted computers.

Every file that heard iMovie's call is contained in this room.

Her project ended up corrupted from all the switching and the bad preview file references.  I'll sum it all up with an analog.  Someone's trying to draw your attention to a fine mahogany cabinet.  They've even been kind enough to put a label on where the cabinet should be.  But they left the cabinet at home.

Your iMovie analogies will never get to see the fine craftsmanship of this video file stand-in.

You'd have no idea what they were talking about.  You could try and guess, but you'll probably strain yourself and end up seeing color bars.

What happens when you try too hard to please your friends.

Digital Media for Sale

Hi Everyone,

Just a reminder for some of the newbies like me, don't forget that the  center does have some digital media for sale. The other day someone asked if they were able to purchase a flash drive and I almost said no, but then remembered that we do have them available (even though they didn't purchase it after all lol). So don't forget, these are the items that are available for purchase along with the prices:

1.  16GB USB Flash drive $15.00
2. Generic Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter $10.00
3. CD-R $1.00
4. DVD-R $2.00
5. DVD-R (Dual Layer) $5.00
6. Blu-Ray R Disc $5.00
7. Sony MiniDV tape $5.00 
8. Sony HD MiniDV tape $10.00

Students can pay for these items with cash, credit card, check or flex. You can always refer to the center homepage if you forget what items we have. (I did for this list :))

Happy Halloween Everyone!!

Printing services we provide!!!

Hello Everyone,


   Lately, we have been getting a lot of people requesting to print transparencies. Why are we still using overhead projectors??? Anyways, these are all the printing services we provide here at the Student Multimedia Design Center.


B&W Transparency---- $.50
Color Transparency-----$1.50
B&W Photocopy--------$.20
Color Photocopy--------$1.20
Specialty Paper---------$.50
Lamination---------------$1.00

If you ever need to know the prices, just tap on the register and it pops up!

Alternative Ways to Code Without Dreamweaver

Here at the SMDC, all the computers have Adobe's Dreamweaver installed. This is one of the most popular applications for creating HTML and CSS files since Dreamweaver offers features such as auto completion and allowing the user the view the website as it's coded, but many users may find these features unnecessary.

For a lightweight coding application, I prefer Notepad++. Notepad++ offers a simple interface similar to the Notepad application installed with Windows, but offers more features and the possibility to install plugins. I also like Notepad++ because it's both free and portable, meaning I can download Notepad++ as a .zip file, extract it to my flash drive, and take it with me anywhere I go. This is especially useful when I'm not able to use a PC with Dreamweaver. Notepad++ is constantly improving and comes packaged with instructions on how to make coding faster and easier through Notepad++.

Sublime Text is a similar application that is available to Windows, OS X, and Linux users. For useful shortcuts and ways to configure Sublime Text, you can take a look at the documentation available here. Happy coding!

Spooky Scary Horror Movie Poster Evolutions

  Vhy hello zere everyone, and velcome to my perfectly horrible post!

  As zis is zee month of terror, I thought it only fitting to post about zis interesting blog entry I found entailing how horror movie posters have changed over zee years. It is a couple of years old mind you (five to be exact), but vat is age other zan a mechanism for beauty? You can still see zee vay zee introduction of new technology and vat really made something scary (not zee sparkles, never zee sparkles) changed zee format of zese posters. I did a little more digging trying to find one zat had a couple more recent posters, just to see if anyzing else significantly changed and came up with zis vebsite zat vent all zee vay up to 2011. Since a lot of us vere/are vorking frantically on our own posters I thought zese might help spark some creative juices as vell as get us all in zee mood for one of zee best holidays of zee year.

  Anyvays, I hope you guys have a perfectly terrible month and a happy early Halloveen to all of you as vell~
  (Please excuse the horrible accent, I never was good at them...)

New Dell Laptop Images!

Be aware that the Dell Latitude Laptops are getting re-imaged! What this means is that the laptops will now have Microsoft Office 2013 on them, including Publisher. Not all laptops have been re-imaged yet so please just check the paper that is located on the laptop rack to see which ones are available for check out.

So if patrons come in asking about our laptops, just remember that they now have Office 2013 on them!

Converting MP4 to MP3

Hi everyone!

Last week a student had an English project where she had to remix a song, and she had the song on YouTube and wanted to convert it to MP3 so she could import it into GarageBand. I now know that there are many ways to do this, but at the time I suggested that she go on www.youtube-mp3.org/ This website is very easy to use, basically you just copy and paste the URL and click convert. I wasn't sure how legal this was (seeing as you're ripping music off of YouTube for free), but I learned of an easy, more legal way!  If you have any MP4, you can import it into Audacity and it will automatically rip the MP3 from it, so then you would be able to use the sound in GarageBand. Also, on the Macs there's a way to change the form of the file simply by renaming it. For example, you might have ____.mp4, when you rename the file you can also highlight over .mp4 and change it to .mp3 and save it like that!

Adobe Brush

Hey everyone,

So Adobe recently came out with a new free app called Adobe Brush. The app allows you to use your smart phone to create new brushes for Illustrator and Photoshop from hand done drawings or patterns. So for example, you could take a picture of a painted brush stroke and then size it to work as a new brush in Adobe programs. This allows you see the shadows and fine details of the stroke and recreate it digitally. This feature can be really helpful if you want to do a digital painting but with a more 3-D or physical feel. It's also useful if you need a specific pattern that the program doesn't have, because it allows you to create your own patterns.

Here's a video of how the program works.

http://helpx.adobe.com/mobile-apps/how-to/adobe-brush-create-brushes.html

Red Emergency Button

Be careful not to accidentally hit the red emergency button, I forgot it was there until just now when two police officers showed up at the desk asking if we had hit the panic button! They are located to the right of all the desk computer keyboards.

New Scan Gun at the Mac Station and our New Web Browser

Hey everybody, as you may, or may not, have noticed, there is a new scan gun at the Mac computer on the desk (yayyyy *the crowd goes wild*). This means that now all 4 computers can be used to check items in (NOTE: The mac does not have a card reader yet so it can not scan items out through WMS). However, it can:

• Check items out through the checklist
• Check items in through the checklist
• Check items in through WMS

 This will hopefully speed up the time in which we will be able to help the users that come in to use our services (*The crowd grows even wilder*).

As an added bonus, the rightmost PC and the Mac now have the amazing, spectacular, stupendous....... Google Chrome!!! (*The entire crowd faints at this point*) I know right? Just like firefox, all of the bookmarks you found in there can still be found at the top of the google chrome browser. (*The crowd wakes back up and quietly goes home because they are civilized people. What were they even watching. Were they listening to me talk to you? That's weird.*)

When Picking a Font for Your Poster...

Hey y'all!

Have you ever been scrolling through fonts on a program, squinting your eyes, trying to pick one, but you just don’t seem to like any? Most fonts that come with computers are ones that everyone’s seen before and aren’t eye-catching and unique. There are websites you can go to where you can preview your fonts nice and big and then download them onto your computer for free.

MyFontbook has over 500 fonts to choose from and Dafont has over 25,000 fonts to preview and download onto Mac and Windows computers. They are simple to install and will make your posters and projects look that much better.

Have fun wasting hours scrolling through and downloading cool fonts…not that I’ve ever done that before.