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.

More Setting Up

Registration	how register the software for use
Starting Artist	way to launch Artist
DMX Interfaces	usable DMX interface devices
MIDI Interfaces	MIDI interface options
New Workspaces	creating a new workspace
Programming	how to program

Further Topics

Example Workspace	a step by step account of how the example workspace supplied with the Artist install was created.
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