Mac Lab FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions by you out there in the real world...
I'm in the process of updating the site so I'll keep it short for now

• The tutorials are made using Snapz Pro X 2.1.2. I record full screen at 10 fps and save the movies at 70% actual size using the H.264 Codec. PC users might try Camtesia. I use this microphone (works with both platforms).

• Yes, if you're a teacher, you may use these tutorials in your classroom so long as you ask first. I like to know how this little site connects our respective dots. When I get an email such as: I'm a student trying to understand (fill in the blank) and I could really use some help. Our professor told us to learn Flash from the Mac Lab Site and... it becomes apparent that the student has an unscrupulous instructor. BTW, she's a student at a university in Spain. I love our global village! For a bit more info (and my email address) see this page. You might also want to check this blog entry.

• Yes, we accept donations. My budget is pitiful and if you'd like to help the kids in the Mac Lab succeed, check out our school's 501(c)3 Foundation. (No, I don't get to keep any of the money myself.) For a bit more info (and my email address) see this page. So far 1 (one) person has donated a total of $40 to the Mac Lab. (Thanks DeMars family!). You might also want to check this blog entry for more info.

• Yes, donations to our school's 501(c)3 Foundation are tax deductible and 100% of the funds donated to the Mac Lab will be used to purchase supplies for the students in the Mac Lab (books, software, hardware, etc.). No, I don't seem to be very good at raising money but a growing number of businesses have donated resources to the kids. (See the list below.) This is almost unbelievable.

• Yes, I love hearing about how useful you found the site (and how you found this little corner of the Web) but I don't always have time to answer questions. Feel free to ask but don't be put off if an answer doesn't follow immediately as I'm currently teaching 6 classes, an early morning tutorial, and Saturday school a couple of times a month.

• Only the most recent tutorials have sound. If the one you're watching doesn't, it's one of the older tutorials without sound.

• I began teaching in 2002 and never used most of these programs until I had to teach 'em. I'm self-taught. Lots of books and lots of learning from wonderful folks out there on the World Wide Web. If you found this site useful, I'm glad to keep the ball rolling. Pay it forward! For a bit more info (and my email address) see this page.

• It's pronounced scotch-ko.

• For more information, see the blog.

Special Thanks for Helping to Support the Mac Lab!
A new Mac Lab section with tutorials for these great resources is coming soon
Maxon for continued support of our 3D students — Long live Cinema 4D!
Cineversity for the ever-growing Cinema 4D video tutorial library — 500+ tutorials and counting
3D Attack for the great monthly Cinema 4D magazine
MiniFonts and FontsForFlash for the best pixel fonts in the world!
CartoonSmart for the terrific Flash tutorials — An absolute treasure for the cartoonists in class
Pro Photo Secrets for Shane Goldberg's fabulous Photoshop tutorials — More treasure!
Stupendous Software for a myriad of iMovie plugins — Titles and effects galore
PotionFactory for PodcastMaker and VoiceCandy — Are students supposed to have this much fun?
SmileOnMyMac for DiscLabel — No more Sharpies for our CDs and DVDs!
Lemkesoft for the Graphic Converter — Opens and coverts any odd image formats
Graphic Authority for the Photoshop resources — Brushes and backgrounds and frames, oh my!
Realmac Software for RapidWeaver — For when we don't have time to Dreamweave(r)
Ergonis Software for PopChar X, KeyCue, and Typinator — Brilliant, time-saving programs
Flash Valley for the killer components — Fantastic new tools for the advanced students!
Linecraft for 7 Web Behaviors — Open browser windows with ease from within Flash
Rainmaker Research for SpellCatcher X — Not that students ever misspell words ;-)
Flying Meat (yes, Flying Meat) for FlySketch — Onion skinning the monitor (very cool program!)
Pangea Software for all those games — For the Game Art and Design program we're going to pilot

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