Good Luck Frog

Julia, one of our biggest lab users, brought us back a good-luck frog from her recent trip to Japan. We've put the frog on our bulletin board (and our blog, as you can see), so hopefully the luck will spread to everyone doing work here in the lab.

Lab closed for a class 7/30, 8/1, and 8/2

The lab will be closed this week on Monday, July 30 from 2:30 until 4:30pm, on Wednesday, August 1 from 10 until noon, and on Thursday, August 2 from 2:30 until 4:30 for a class.

Reimaging the Lab

We've started the process of reimaging the workstations in the Digital Media Lab. Basically, this means we wipe everything off the hard drive and replace it with a fresh, updated copy of the software. This means you need to be especially careful right now not to leave your files on the local computer. If you need us to store them for you on our server, be sure to tell the lab consultant on duty so we can make sure they don't get deleted.

One of the most exciting changes that the reimaging process will bring to the lab is that we'll have the Adobe CS3 software. This includes Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, Bridge, Dreamweaver, Flash, Fireworks, and Contribute. We will continue to have the CS2 versions of InDesign and GoLive.

As I write this, only one machine has been updated (4B), but we'll be updating the rest in the coming week or so.

Lab closed for a class

The lab will be closed this week on Wednesday, July 25, from noon to 2pm for a class.

Glossy Paper

I have some good news and some bad news. The BAD news is that we're still out of glossy paper due to a backorder situation with our supplier. The GOOD news is that we should have some more by this Wednesday. Cross your fingers!

We do it just a little bit better

Our lab consultant, Jesse H., just got a new tattoo:


No, you're not seeing things. Yes, that's the old Wawa logo. No, he wasn't drunk when he got it. Yes, if you ask him, he'll show it to you.

Workshops, Week of June 18-22

Just a reminder that the lab will be closed Tuesday, June 19 from 2-3:30 for a workshop on Audacity and Podcasting, and Thurssday, June 21 from 1-3pm for an iMovie workshop.

Workshops, Week of June 11-15

Just a reminder that the lab will be closed Tuesday, June 12 from 2-3:30 for an iMovie workshop and Wednesday, June 13 from 1-3pm for a Photoshop workshop.

Workshops, week of June 4-8

Just a reminder that the lab will be closed Wednesday, June 6 from 2-4pm for an iMovie workshop and Thursday, June 7 from noon-2pm for a Photoshop workshop.

Summer Workshops!

We're offering workshops this summer on how to use iMovie and how to use Photoshop. The workshops are very introductory and assume no prior knowledge of the software. Be sure to sign up for a spot online, or see our other workshops HERE!

Creating and editing movies with iMovie

• May 23, 1 to 3 pm Wednesday
• June 6, 2 to 4 pm Wednesday
• June 21, 3 to 5 pm Thursday
• July 10, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm Tuesday
• July 25, 12 to 2 pm Wednesday
• August 7, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm Tuesday
• August 15, 12 to 2 pm Wednesday

This class will provide an hands-on introduction to using Apple's iMovie software, which is available for Penn students, faculty, and staff in the Vitale Digital Media Lab. You will learn how to capture video from a DVD, VHS tape, or from your own video camera. You will learn to organize or delete video clips, add a new soundtrack, add subtitles, and create special effects. All sessions are identical.

PhotoShop I

• June 7, 12 noon to 2 pm Thursday
• June 13, 1 to 3 pm Wednesday
• July 18, 12 to 2 pm Wednesday
• August 1, 10 am to 12 noon Wednesday
• August 6, 11 am to 1 pm Monday

A basic introduction to this powerful image editing software. Learn how to open image files, use the toolbox and palettes, convert formats and manage multiple layers. All sessions are identical.

Summer Hours!

This Friday marks the end of our regular lab hours. We'll be open this summer, but with more limited hours. Starting May 21, our regular schedule will be:

Monday - Thursday: 10am - 7pm
Friday: 10am - 5pm
Saturday : 11am - 5pm
Sunday : CLOSED

We'll also be closed for Memorial Day, the 4th of July, and Labor Day.

Click on the "lab hours" link in the sidebar of this page to get more information, or call us at 215-746-2661.

Nick's Show

One of everybody's favorite lab consultants, Nick Salvatore, is having an art show opening tonite, displaying some of his recent photography. It's tonite from 6pm-9pm at Photo West Gallery, 3625 Lancaster Street. The show also contains work done by 2 or 3 other people who did work here in the lab. Nick writes:

I'm writing to let you know about an awesome art show opening tonight (Wednesday, May 2nd) that you might enjoy if you've got nothing better to do. It's a group show of photo-things revolving around the body and the nude. And I've got things in it. (A whole bunch of things, if I can get them on the wall in time.) Regardless, there's a wide range of great work on display and there's sure to be something for all interests. I'd love to see you there if you can make it.

http://www.photowestgallery.com/pwg_body.html

Matte Only

[Update: We're back in the glossy business, everyone. So print those shiny posters til your heart's content.]

We're out of glossy paper again! Apparently, news of our poster printer has spread around campus, and somehow you people managed to go through 5 huge rolls of poster paper in less than a month. Anyhoo... we're in the process of ordering more, but it will be at least tuesday before any arrives, so we're down to our last 2 rolls of matte paper until then.

Help is on the way!

As I'm sure you've noticed, the lab has been extra busy lately, with everyone working on their end-of-the-semester projects. So we're scheduling extra lab consultants so that we have two people on duty in the lab in the afternoons.

Make a great Poster with PowerPoint!

Trying to create a poster to explain your research project to others? Wondering how to make a powerful visual statement? We will explore designing your poster in Power Point. We will look at page size options, font and color choices, Word Art, Autoshapes and drawing tools. Bring your poster information with you as well as your personal laptop if appropriate. We will share tips and tricks for poster formatting, show examples and discuss preparing a PDF for printing here in the Vitale Digital Media Lab or similar facility. This is a hands-on workshop. It will be held in the Class of 1968 Seminar Room (room 124) in the Information Commons.

Sign up Online!

Poster Printer FAQ

For those of you working on posters, we've created an FAQ all about the poster printer here in the lab. It includes information on everything from pricing to which fonts you should use, to where you can get your poster laminated. We've linked it in the sidebar on the right, from the main Weigle Information Commons page, and right beneath the sentence you're reading now.

http://wic.library.upenn.edu/lab/posterprinter.html

Gonna Make you Sweat

The library is upgrading one of the air handlers that affects the Information Commons on Monday and Tuesday, April 2 and 3. Ultimately, this airflow upgrade is expected to improve circulation within the Commons rooms and help with temperature control. But on the days the work is being done, we expect the Commons to be considerably warmer than usual and it may get unfomfortable. We've been told that the lab probably won't be affected, but you never know with these things, so you might want to wear light clothing if you need to work in the lab or in the commons on those days. You can email wic1@pobox.upenn.edu if you have any questions or concerns.

Glossy Paper Deficit

[Update: We're back in business with all the glossy paper you could ever need.]

We're all out of glossy paper for the poster printer. We've ordered more (5 rolls, in fact, so we won't run out again for the rest of the school year.) We're hoping to have it Thursday or Friday of this week. We do still have plenty of matte paper. Otherwise, we recommend Kinkos or Campus Copy if you're in a hurry and you have your heart set on that glossy look.

College House Film Festival 2007

The 2007 College House Student Film Festival is still seeking submissions. There's a $500 prize, so I'd say it's worth entering. You can even submit a film that you made for a class in the last calendar year. Maybe you don't think your movie is good enough? Well let someone else decide. You've got nothing to lose and $500 to gain.

All films should be turned in to Ryan Crocetto, House Coordinator in Fisher Hassenfeld College House, by 5pm this Friday, March 23. Ryan's mailbox is located at the Information Center of Fisher Hassenfeld, Room 103, Class of '87 in the Quad. For submission forms and complete rules, see http://www.collegehouses.upenn.edu/filmfest/

34th Street Cover

Our very own Keith McKnight created the cover for this week's 34th Street insert in the Daily Pennsylvanian. Keith made it in Photoshop, right here in the Digital Media Lab. Congrats, Keith!

We have the issue of 34th street, along with an enlargement of the image, hanging on our bulletin board for those of you who'd like to take a closer look.