3D Lab Manual

Log Book

• Every time you enter the lab, please sign in and record the following information:
  • Your name
  • Materials used (puppets, clay, paper, etc....)
  • Equipment used (table, computer, lights, grip cart, camera, etc...)
  • Record any technical problems (so we can fix it)
  • Status of the lab: clean, messy, anything missing or broken?
• This is the main form of communication between you and the staff who maintains and audits the space weekly. Failure to sign in to the Log Book will result in a loss of access privileges.
• If there is an immediate issue, please contact call the Multimedia Lab at x5455 or email animation@evergreen.edu

Scheduling

• You must always have time reserved when using the labs. Only use your scheduled time.
• You and anyone working with you must be proficient.
• Regular scheduling should be done through Media Loan along with key checkout.
• It is your responsibility to confirm your reservation time, day and that you are in the correct room by asking for a receipt.
• The Com 3D Multi-Use Lab (Com 309) is limited by the Com Building hours. You need Com Building Late Night Access to stay after hours.
• If you need a substantial amount of time, contact animation staff for scheduling.
• You may lose your scheduled time if you are more than 15 minutes late, and whenever possible, please cancel any time that you will not use.
• Repeated lateness and no-shows will result in a loss of privileges.

Keys

• Checkout a key from Media Loan prior to your reservation and return it promptly afterwards.
• Do not use keys to gain access outside of your scheduled time.
• You are financially responsible for the room and its contents.
• Lost or stolen keys must be reported immediately to both Media Loan and Animation staff.

Support

• Need Help? Please do not attempt to unplug or re-wire anything, especially if you think you know what you are doing. Check the Troubleshooting Guide and see if you can find your answers there. Flip through the Log Book to see if anyone else has experienced the same problem and if a solution was found. If that fails, contact one of the following offices:
  • Multimedia Lab, L1404, 360-867-5455
  • Animation Lab Aide Office Com 311D, 360-867-7448
  • Media Loan, L2502, 360-867-6253
  • Aaron Kruse, L1520, 360-867-6842
  • email animation@evergreen.edu

Messy Materials

• If you are using clay or any kind of messy materials, you are required to discuss your project with animation staff and get approval BEFORE using the lab. Always cover the Keyboard and keypad with Saran Wrap, which are located on the cleaning supplies bin. Leftover clay should be recycled in the Design lab.

Cleaning Supplies

• There are paper towels, spray, a broom, and a dust pan located to the left of the door, of which you are expected to use at the end of each and every session. If the lab is left messy, you will lose your access privileges.

Set Construction

• The construction of sets is NOT allowed within the 3D Lab space; you must complete your sets before your scheduled time. Even if you are still using it, sets and other materials are NOT to be stored in the lab areas. Request a locker through Photo Services down the hall and store everything in the locker instead.

Tools

• Basic tools are provided in the 3D lab space and must always be returned to their designated storage area. Additional tools such as dremels, drills, and tool kits are available for checkout from animation staff. Each tool is to be treated with cation and care, but should never be removed from the 3D room- ever.

Lights

• Tiny and mini Molefay lights are provided in the room, and additional instruments can be checked out through Media Loan as long as they are returned at the end of your session. Plug lights into the Scene Master light board using the provided power strips for dimmer control. To prevent from hurting yourself, others, or the equipment when using the lights, please remember to:
• inspect the equipment before use; confirming that there are no broken pieces, frayed cables, loose parts, burn marks, or missing ground pins.
• Confirm that the power switch is turned off before plugging it into an outlet or power source.
• To prevent the bulb from exploding: do not touch bulbs with your bare hands, shake/move the lights while they are hot, or continuously flick the power switch’s on/off button.
• If a bulb explodes, replace it with the extras provided in the room, clean up any broken glass, and then alert the animation staff.
• lights get REALLY HOT: use gaffer gloves around them, keep them away from materials that are flammable or melt-able, and wait for the equipment to cool down before putting it away.

Grip Cart

• The grip cart is where most of the lights and stands are stored. Follow the pictures made for putting away c-stands and make sure to tighten (but not over-tighten) any locks so that they do not expand accidentally and crunch your fingers. Be gentle with the fabric flags, and do not rip, stain, or keep them too close to any hot lights. Make sure to let lights cool down before putting them in their cubbies, and take note of any missing pieces or broken items.

Animation Table

• The animation table is not to be painted or modified in any significant way. If you drill into the table, you must remove all of your tie-down screws. Be careful, as the table top is not secured to the legs.

Tripod

• The camera is mounted to a tripod with a bolt screw that should never be overtightened or removed from the tripod. Do not use excessive force when tightening screws, do not arrange the tripod so that it is easily tipped over, make sure that everything is locked down when the tripod is not in use, and weigh down the weigh down the base with sandbags for extra stability in order to maintain registration while shooting.

Camera

• All the menu and camera settings are formatted for use with Dragonframe; do not attempt to adjust any settings!!! You must turn the camera dial to ON when you need to use it, and set the dial to OFF when you are done – do not shut off power to the camera without properly turning the camera off first. Make sure to not pinch, stretch, or squish the camera cables with the tripod or any other equipment. It is recommended that you disconnect the cables while setting up the camera.

Lenses

• The camera is installed with a 50mm prime lens and clear filter, but you can also choose to check out your own camera from Media Loan with a zoom lens. Additional lenses are also available through Animation staff. The only function on the camera you will have to adjust is the focus. NEVER EVER touch the lens with anything or attempt to clean it – get a Lab Aide to clean it for you.

Computer

• Save all your files in a folder labeled with your name on the User Drive. Never save to the desktop or System Drive, as they will be deleted when you log out. Files can be deleted at any time to free up space, and everything will be cleared out by 5pm on Wednesday of Evaluation week. When you are done with your session, backup your files to a server, personal hard drive, or any writeable media such as a data DVD. Do not work directly off of the server - only copy to or from it and then disconnect from the server while working.

Volume Control Box

• On the desk is a silver box which is used to select audio sources. Flip the switch to DV to hear sound routed through the DV deck; such as Final Cut Pro. Flip switch to Mac Audio if you need to hear sound routed through the computer; such as iTunes or the Dragonframe Stop Motion program. Use the volume control knob and the speaker control knobs to adjust the volume level.

General Use Expectations

• There are absolutely no food or drinks of any kind allowed in the labs. Leave them stored outside the door, but take care of yourself and remember to take a break once in a while.
• Please recycle your paper scraps in the corresponding bins. The garbage cans are located down the hall.
• Clean up after yourself. The labs are a shared space, not your personal den. You are expected to completely remove your trash, and tidy up at the end of your session. Cleaning supplies are provided next to the door. If you run out of time for cleaning up, you are expected to come back later to clean.
• Do not delete other peoples' files or mess with any settings, postings, in the lab or on the computer.
• Do not unplug or remove anything from the Animation Labs
• Be courteous and respectful to the lab aides and your fellow animators and abide by the campus code of conduct.

About Dragonframe

• Dragonframe Stop Motion is an animation capture application used and developed by professional animators. This program imports the high-resolution still images directly from the installed DSLR camera and stores them as sequence of images instead of as a single file. These instructions cover the basic shooting procedures specific to the labs here on campus, but to learn more, please refer to the Dragonframe Manual in the Help section of the application, or the Dragonframe website.

Basic Steps for Shooting Animation

1. Log in to the Log Book and record what materials and equipment you are using. 2. Setup the lab for shooting:

• • With the camera off to the side, setup lights, sets, and whatever subjects you plan on using.
  • Power up the computer
  • Setup the camera on a tripod and turn it ON
  • Turn off all other room lights

3. Launch the Dragonframe Stop Motion program from the Dock. 4. Select New Scene from the dialog box, or open a previously created scene. 5. Name your production, 5 characters maximum, and save it into a folder labeled with your name in the User Drive. 6. If you do not see the live camera feed from the animation stand, press Command + R to refresh the live camera feed- a red outline will appear around the window signifying that live view is enabled. 7. Adjust the opacity of the aspect ratio mask by using the opacity slider. Adjust the orientation and turn on grids and guides with the Image Tool controls on the left hand side of the window. 8. Set the frames per second for playback speed: 1's = 30fps / 2's =15fps / 3's = 10fps 9. Arrange your materials on the table, adjust the framing by moving the tripod (do not lift from the camera) Check the framing so that the background overfills the screen, and make sure any content, including titles, fall within the boundaries of the Action/Title Safe reference guides. 10. Set the focus by first placing one of focus guides on the table at the same focal length as your subject. In Dragonframe, click on the eye ball on the top right of the screen to enter the Cinematography window, and click the focus button. While watching the computer screen, slowly turn the focus ring on the lens until everything is sharp. Click on the focus button again to zoom back out. 11.While still in the Cinematography window, confirm that the camera settings are: • Picture Style - FAITHFUL • Image Quality - MEDIUM FINE JPEG • White Balance - TUNGSTEN (if you are using the supplied lights in the lab) • ISO – 100. Set exposure to your liking using the camera setting dials for f-stop and shutter speed and then click the test shot button to preview your settings. When you are done, click on the animate button on the top right to return the animation window to begin shooting. 12. To begin capturing frames, press the Enter key on the numeric keypad, which will take a moment to transfer the still image file from the camera to the computer. Do not capture frames too quickly - this will cause Dragon to crash and may corrupt your last captured frame. 13. Activate the hi-res button on the remote to set the playback source to preview the hi-res stills instead of the lo-res video assist images. To playback your captured frames, press 0 on the numeric keypad, or use key 1 and 2 to step through frame by frame.

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• 3D Lab Manual