Digital Media Lab

GUIDELINES FOR LAB USERS

1.       GENERAL

• Never bring food or drink near the computers. Keep drinks covered. Wash your hands before and after using the keyboards.
• A schedule of the lab hours will be posted on the door and inside on the board. The hours may change during the semester (not often, if at all).
• If you work for extended hours, take frequent breaks to rest your eyes and hands. Repetitive stress injury is one of the hazards of this medium. Get up, stretch, and look out the window. Remember to blink.
• Do not move any files on a computer, other than your own. Files must remain in specific areas in order to work properly. Do not save files inside any application folder. Do not copy programs to or from the computer. Do not change the default settings in the system
• Please be aware that this is a communal work area. A little sensitivity to the work habits of others will go a long way to maintaining a creativity conducive environment. Please turn off all cell phones or other noise making devices while others are in the lab. Since this is your work area, do what you can to keep it clean and functioning.

2.        FILE STORAGE

           A limited number of files may be left on the computers for limited periods. Please observe the following rules to avoid problems.

• ALWAYS follow my suggestions for file types and naming options.
• ALWAYS place your files in a folder with your name on it, on the desktop. Stray files run the risk of deletion.
• NEVER leave the same files in two different places on the same computer.
• NEVER leave raw scan files on the computers attached to scanners. Once you have copied them to your folder or drive, please delete them.
• ALWAYS remove files AS SOON AS they are no longer needed.
• NEVER attempt to print on any material that you do not know WITH CERTAINTY is compatible with the printers. Alternative materials can melt on the drum and DESTROY the printer.

           Storage will be allowed for each student in a folder with your name. These folders will be cleared if space becomes limited. You will be responsible for monitoring these folders and transferring files to your own disks. You must purchase removable drives and/or CD-R/DVD-R for storage or have some form of cloud storage (tulane allows students a certain amount of free space, and there are services like dropbox and amazon). Never assume that files you leave on these computers will remain even moments after you leave. They SHOULD, but anyone can trash your files. You must keep backups. They are your responsibility.

AND ALWAYS SAVE, SAVE, AND SAVE AGAIN… IF YOU WORK FOR 4 HOURS WITHOUT SAVING AND THE COMPUTER CRASHES OR THE POWER FAILS – THE FILES DISAPPEAR FOREVER FROM EXISTENCE IN THE KNOWN UNIVERSE!

3.         PRINTING

           ALWAYS check before printing to be sure you are printing to the right printer. Prints are free to legitimate users (WITHIN REASON). Please do not abuse this privilege. Color prints are expensive. We operate on an honor system asking for you to avoid unnecessary printing.

4.         EQUIPMENT CHECKOUT

           Some of the equipment is available to check out to digital media students. This equipment includes digital cameras, video cameras, and other items. You must check the equipment for any damage, and make sure it works, before you check it out. Any damage to the equipment found after you check it out will be considered your responsibility. Please be careful with the equipment. Any repairs to damaged equipment comes out of the department budget, and means less software updates and new toys for everyone to play with. Tripods and lights may be available through the photo lab upstairs.