Introduction to the Creative Media Edit Suite

Contents

Getting Started .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1

The Desktop .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 2

The Applications - iMac ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 3

Customising the iMac .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4

Playback of Media Files ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 5

What’s it called on a Mac? ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 6

1

Getting Started

Login with your creative media computer account. You will not be able to log into these iMacs with your standard University of

Sheffield logon details. Your creative media computer account will expire the day after your project deadline date.

You need to request a creative media computer account for your project before you can log on to these machines. You can request an account from www.sheffield.ac.uk/cics/creativemedia. Once you have received confirmation of your account, you can work on any machine in this room.

2

The Desktop

The computer is an iMac. If you are used to a Windows PC, there is a guide to using an iMac on Page 6

Some programs are located in the Dock, such as iMovie, GarageBand and Safari. More programs are available inside the Applications

Folder.

Safari (Web Brower) Applications

Trash GarageBand

iMovie

Finder

Apple Menu Menu Bar

Dock

Spotlight (Search)

3

The Applications - iMac

The iMacs have a wide range of applications installed to enable you to create rich multi-media work. More software, such as Adobe

Photoshop and After Effects is available for use in the creative media room.

On the Dock Description

In the Applications Folder

Description

Finder For locating files and folders

on the computer

Any Video Converter For converting video formats

GarageBand For creating music Audacity For recording and editing audio

iMovie For creating movies Google Chrome Web Browser

iPhoto For organising and re-

touching photos iDVD

For creating DVD’s of your

movies and slideshows

iTunes For playing back audio and

video files

Microsoft Office 2011 Includes Excel, PowerPoint,

Word

Photobooth For taking photos / videos

using the built in webcam Mozilla Firefox Web browser

Safari Web browser

QuickTime Player For playing back video & audio

files & screen recording

System Preferences For changing settings

4

Customising the iMac

The first time you login to the iMac, the settings are reset to the factory default state. You can change settings within System

Preferences, which is located on the Dock. Settings like desktop background, screen resolution and accessibility options can be changed

from this menu. Any customisations you make are saved to your account, and will appear the next time you log onto a creative media iMac

in the edit suite.

Macs have the right click mouse button switched off as a default. A right click action can be performed by left clicking, and holding the ctrl

key on the keyboard. You can enable the right click action on the mouse by changing the settings in System Preferences.

How to enable the Right Click action on iMacs:

3. Change the Right Click drop down menu to

‘Secondary Button’. Close Mouse and System

Preferences

1. Open System Preferences

2. Select Mouse

5

Playback of Media Files

By default, the iMacs will open video files in iTunes. iTunes can playback many video files, however we recommend changing the default

movie player to QuickTime Player. The main reason for doing this is because iTunes will copy all imported files that are played back with

the software, unnecessarily taking up more of your storage allocation.

How to change the default video player on the iMacs:

You can also select QuickTime player on an individual file basis. Right Click (or cmd + click) on a video file, select Open With, and choose QuickTime

Player. This method will only change the playback software for that specific file.

1. Right click (or ctrl + click) on a video

file. Select Get Info. 2. Under the ‘Open With’

heading, select the drop

down menu and choose

QuickTime Player

3. Select the ‘Change All’

button to make QuickTime

Player the default player

for this file

4. Select Continue on the

warning dialogue which will

appear

6

What’s it called on a Mac?

Windows Image Mac Image

Use the Start menu to find and access programs and applications.

Use the Dock or Applications Folder to access programs and applications.

Use Windows Explorer to locate files and folders on your computer.

Use Finder to locate files and folders on your computer.

Pressing the control key (Ctrl) for keyboard shortcuts, such as Copy (Ctrl + C).

Pressing the Command Key for keyboard shortcuts, such as Copy (cmd + C for shortcut).

Use Search to find anything on your computer; such as folders, documents, images and programs.

Use Spotlight to find anything on your computer; such as folders, documents, images and programs. cmd + spacebar for shortcut.

Use My Computer to access drives that you have plugged into the computer; such as DVD’s and USB memory sticks.

External drives, like DVD’s and USB sticks that have been plugged into the computer will appear on the Desktop. Double click the appropriate icon to access.

7

Windows Image Mac Image

Press the Eject key on the DVD drive to open the disc tray.

Press the Eject Key on the upper right side of the keyboard to remove the disc. Alternatively, drag the disc icon to the Trash - (it will turn into an eject icon).

Right click on the USB flash drive and select Eject to safely remove the device.

Drag the USB flash drive from the desktop to Trash (it will turn into an eject icon) to safely remove the device.

Drag unwanted files folders to the Recycle Bin, or right click and select Delete. Right click the Recycle Bin and select empty to permanently delete.

Drag unwanted files and folders to the Trash, or right click and select Move to Trash. Right click the Trash and select empty to permanently delete.

Use Window Media Player to play music and rip music from CDs.

Use iTunes to play music and rip music from CD’s.

Use My Pictures to view photos.

Use iPhoto to view and edit photos.

8

Windows Image Mac Image

To make a copy of a file, right click it and press Copy, then Paste into the desired location.

To make a copy of a file, right click it and select Duplicate.

To take a Screenshot, press the print screen button on the keyboard. The resulting image is copied to the clipboard.

To take a Screenshot, press and hold Command + Shift + 3 keys on the keyboard. The image file will be placed on the desktop.

Click the Close icon to close and exit open applications.

Click the Close button to close open windows (this will not exit the application). Use the Menu Bar of the open program to exit. Select the name of the program (e.g. iMovie) and select Quit. cmd + Q for shortcut.

Click the Minimise icon to minimise applications to the taskbar.

Click the Minimise button to minimise applications to the Dock.

Click the Maximise icon to expand the open window.

Click the Zoom button to expand the open window.