Artist Help:Getting Started
Installation[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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 |