Editing Artist Help:Getting Started

=== Installation ===

The supplied installation media provides a Microsoft installer package file, ARTIST.MSI. Check the Artist Notes document for release details and information on installing connected devices such as DMX and MIDI interfaces.

=== Workspace ===

After having installed Artist you will need to run it. In Windows, click on the Start button in the task bar and select ShowCAD Artist/Artist.  Artist will load the 'Example' workspace which shows a sample nightclub installation. Take some time to click around and familiarise yourself with the interface.

=== Fixtures ===

Access to all DMX channels is via Fixtures. Fixtures contain one or more channels and usually encapsulate all the channels of control of a physical lighting device (lamp, projector, strobe, motor etc.). 

The advantage of this arrangement is that Artist can treat each parameter according to type. For example a dimmer channel will fade with the master fader while other channels remain unchanged. Also a programmer need know very little detail about the fixtures attached to the system since Artist presents the programmer with familiar controls for every parameter type.

=== Your Interface ===

Artist is made up of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) which is customisable to a very large degree. We have tried to stay within Windows conventions for most of the aspects of the interface.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ More Setting Up Topics
|-
| [[Artist Help:Registration|Registration]] || how register the software for use
|-
| [[Artist Help:Starting Artist|Starting Artist]] || way to launch Artist
|-
| [[Artist Help:DMX Interfaces|DMX Interfaces]] || usable DMX interface devices
|-
| [[Artist Help:MIDI Interfaces|MIDI Interfaces]] || MIDI interface options
|-
| [[Artist Help:New Workspaces|New Workspaces]] || creating a new workspace
|-
| [[Artist Help:Programming|Programming]] || how to program
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Further Topics
|-
| [[Artist Help:Example Workspace|Example Workspace]] || a step by step account of how the example workspace supplied with the Artist install was created. 
|-
| [[Artist Help:Fixture Control|Fixture Control]] || how to access the features of you fixtures and to start setting up your programs.
|-
| Scenes  || the first building blocks of your program 
|-
| Cues|| your programs. During playback, these are the operators main access 
|}