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.
| 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 |
| 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 |