And the winner is...

Nick Salvatore! For submitting the only Halloween picture this year! As promised, Nick wins the smug sense of satisfaction that comes from knowing he's better than everyone else. If anyone else still wants to submit a photo of themselves all Halloweened up, just send it to us, and I'll be glad to post it!

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween! Be sure to stop by the lab today for a piece of Halloween Candy!

8GB USB Flash Drive cheap!

People often come into the lab with tiny little USB keys/flash drives/etc. By "tiny" I mean 256MB or 512MB. That's not even as much data as a CD holds! I don't think they even make them that small anymore. Time to upgrade, people!

Way back in February, I posted an item about a 4GB USB flash drive for only $17. Well guess what. Now the 8GB flash drive is the same price--with free shipping! 8GB is almost 2 DVD's worth of data, more than enough to hold thousands of photos or MP3s. It'll even hold a decent amount of video. I just ordered one for myself. Check it out at Buy.com. The 4GB is now only $12, but you don't get as much bang for your buck as you do with the 8GB.

Headphones

To the person who posted this very sweet "missed connection" on Craigslist:

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/mis/883047250.html

Although you don't mention the name of the lab consultant in question, all of the age-appropriate lab consultants are already married. However, we are all very flattered, and you may buy any of us coffee anytime you like.

Halloween Costume Photoshop Contest

It's the most wonderful time of the year... Halloween! What's that you say? You don't have a costume to wear?? Well guess what. You can do it all on Photoshop instead--ask a lab consultant and we'll even show you how. Grab a photo of yourself, open it up in Photoshop, and give yourself a costume, like the ones I did below. Email them to us at vitaledigitalmedialab@gmail.com and we'll judge them and post them in time for Halloween. What's the prize if you win, you ask? The smug sense of satisfaction that comes from knowing you're better than everyone else (but then, you already feel that way, don't you?)

I Want My InDesign!

Apologies to InDesign users. We've been working since the beginning of the school year to have ID up and running for you, but there's an issue with licensing that's slowed things down. I don't understand the intricacies of the situation, but part of the problem is that we're in the middle of Adobe's transition to their new CS4 software suite, which has apparently made the version we've been using (CS3) harder to come by. Who knows--maybe that means we'll end up with InDesign CS4 instead. In the meantime, we'll keep you updated if we hear anything new.

How to Do Everything with Second Life

Today's featured book is How to do Everything with Second Life, by Richard Mansfield. It's available for you to read in the Digital Media Lab; just ask the lab consultant on duty. You can even sit and use Second Life right here in the lab while you peruse the book.

Synopsis

Filled with hundreds of hands-on tutorials, tips, and techniques, this is the thorough, in-depth reference that every Second Life resident needs. Learn how to create a unique avatar and then explore, build, socialize--and even earn real money. Inside, you'll find exclusive coverage of all the menus, features, and utilities. Whether you're a newbie or an old hand, this book will help you get the most out of Second Life.

• Understand all the user interface features
• Build hidden rooms, custom teleporters, secret sliding panels, and more
• Shop for cool stuff and find the best values
• Master the Maps, Inventory, Appearance, and Search dialogs
• Start scripting with help from step-by-step tutorials
• Control lag and find lost items using Preferences and the hidden Client menu
• Visit exotic lands, travel in time, and enjoy roleplay
• Create beautiful objects using expert texturing techniques
• Earn money in ways that best suit your talents
• Find land bargains, a bit of privacy, a great house, and lasting friendships

Second Life workshop today at noon

Hey guys. There's still lots of room in today's Second Life workshop. It's a hands-on tour for beginners. Sign up (or not, whatever) at http://wic.library.upenn.edu/workshops/#SL

Dreamweaver CS3 for Dummies

Today's featured book is Dreamweaver CS3 for Dummies by Janine Warner. We're big fans of the Dummies books here at the Vitale Digital Media Lab. They're great for beginners, as well as for more experienced users who need a refresher, or who need a complicated topic explained in a simple manner. Our books don't circulate outside the lab, but you can use them while you're here.

Do you want to create a sophisticated Web site that's easy to develop and maintain? Whether you're a beginner or an experienced Web developer, this friendly guide shows you how to utilize Dreamweaver's newest enhancements to build and manage state-of-the-art, professional Web sites quickly and easily.

• Set up your site and create new pages

• Work with text, graphics, and links

• Define and apply styles using CSS

• Add audio, video, and Flash® files to your site

• Use Dreamweaver'sdatabase features

Photoshop CS3 Extended for 3D and Video

Today's featured book is Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended for 3D and Video, by Chad Perkins. Ask the lab consultant on duty if you'd like to use it. Our books don't circulate outside the lab, but you're welcome to use it while you're here.

Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended can do things that Photoshop has never done before, such as importing and editing video, and animating any object in a file. Here is the first book to provide a comprehensive look at the new features for 3D animation and video in Photoshop Extended. Author Chad Perkins, an established video presenter and classroom instructor on Photoshop, video, and 3D, brings the creative potential of these new features into focus. This book is a valuable resource for Photoshop users who want to learn about video and 3D using their favorite application, as well as video producers and 3D artists who want to incorporate Photoshop into their work or use it more effectively.

• Learn to move, rotate, and scale 3D objects within Photoshop Extended
• Understand and work with lighting and camera angles
• Create special effects like glowing silhouettes and drop shadows on 3D objects
• Use layer masks with 3D objects for special effects
• Modify textures applied to 3D objects seamlessly within Photoshop
• Edit bump maps and patterns for more realistic 3D objects
• Import, edit, compress, and export video (with audio!)
• Use Photoshop to animate images.

Radiohead Remix

Our own Ned Eisenberg (aka Bloody Noses) has a high-ranked entry in the RadioHead remix contest. Please check his remix out and vote for him (he's already been voted for on all the machines in the lab, but you can vote from your own machine, or another workstation on campus). Listen and vote at http://radioheadremix.com/remix/?id=134

Opening Late Friday

Hi all. Just a quick FYI to let you all know that this Friday, September 26, the lab will be opening at 12:00 noon instead of at 9am. This is due to the Teaching with New Media Symposium being held here in the Weigle Information Commons. If you need to print a poster, we'll start taking names at noon when we open.

Adobe Photoshop CS4

By now you've probably heard the news that Adobe has announced the next iteration of its Creative Suite software, CS4. We're very excited about it, but since we seldom switch to a new major version of software in the middle of a school year, we don't expect to have it installed on the machines in the Information Commons or in the lab until Summer or Fall of 2009 at the earliest.

We'll keep you posted on new developments as we hear about them. In the meantime, Layers magazine has a page up with video demos of some of the new features in the CS4 suite, from Photoshop to Flash. Check it out at http://www.layersmagazine.com/cs4

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
a solo exhibition featuring the work of Artie Vierkant

Opening reception on Tuesday, September 9, 2008
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM

The Philomathean Society Gallery
College Hall, Fourth Floor

Come celebrate the opening of this aptly-titled exhibition with a reception on the artist's birthday. Refreshments will be provided.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY will be on display in the Philomathean Society Art Gallery until October 7th. To schedule an appointment, email artgallery@philomathean.org

Poster Printer Prices

We're changing our poster printing prices from $.35/inch to $.50/inch on the longest side of the poster. This means that a 36"x48" poster will cost $24.00. (The same poster will cost you $100 at Campus Copy or Kinkos.) We continue to accept only PennCash as a means of payment. For more exciting information on printing posters in the lab, be sure to check out our Poster Printer FAQ.

New possibilities for importing Video?

Via Slow Wave.

BIG changes aFOOT

Stay tuned for big changes coming to the lab next week. You can expect brand new hardware and updated versions of your favorite software, from Toast to Microsoft Office to InDesign!

We'll be closed Monday to install the new equipment and troubleshoot some video connection problems we've been having. See you all Tuesday, August 19!

Rebirth

Some students working with the Homeless Arts Project here in Philly have been working tirelessly in the Digital Media Lab the last few weeks, getting ready for a new art show called "Rebirth - The Reality of Homelessness." It's a night of dance, poetry, and art by homeless men in Philadelphia. It'll be this Friday, August 15, from 7-9pm at F.U.E.L. Gallery (249 Arch Street), and everyone is invited. The event is free, but donations are accepted. Hope to see you there!

Below is an image of the postcard/announcement (with more info), which was also designed here in the lab.

What the Font?

A lot of people working on projects in the lab share a common problem: they're trying to identify a font. Usually they want to recreate a logo, or duplicate a style they've seen elsewhere (like using the Harry Potter font or the Simpsons font.) But identifying a font can be tricky if you're not a typographer. Enter "What the Font?!"

WhatTheFont?! identifies a font for you and lets you know where you can download or purchase it. All you do is upload a screen capture of the lettering in question, and then it automagically returns a list of fonts that match (or come close to matching) the lettering you submitted. If it can't find a suitable match, you can also submit it to an expert, or ask on the forums, where there are lots of people who apparently have nothing better to do with their time than wait for typographic n00bs to upload jpegs of hard-to-identify lettering.

Some of the fonts it comes back with are commercial and must be purchased :( But if you can find a free font that does the trick, chances are we can install it on a workstation for you to use here in the lab. Let us know if you need help getting a screen capture of the font you're trying to identify.

Thanks to Sarah for letting me know about this!

Equipment Lending

Just a quick apology to those of you who tried to borrow video cameras and audio recorders over the last week. Our system was temporarily broken after a recent mail server upgrade, so we never received a lot of your requests. Sorry about that!! We're back up and running now, so hopefully those problems are behind us. Feel free to start submitting your requests again.