RSS
 

Posts Tagged ‘Customizable’

Monogram’s new Creative Console features magnetic, customizable control modules

18 Sep

Monogram — formerly Palette Gear — has launched a new Kickstarter campaign for Creative Console, a product it describes as a ‘modular productivity tool’ designed specifically for creative professionals, including photographers and artists. The Monogram Creative Console is 40-percent thinner than the console offered by Palette Gear, the previous incarnation of the company now known as Monogram.

The Creative Console is CNC-machined from aerospace-grade aluminum, offering USB-C connectivity and native support for a number of popular applications. The console’s modular components can be configured to suit each user’s needs. Compared to the previous model, Monogram’s new product offers 50% greater functionality despite the smaller size. The company says each console module supports up to 135 functions.

The console revolves around the ‘core’ module, which packs an ARM Cortex-M processor, 1.54″ 240 x 240 display, the USB-C connector, two mechanical keys, and a redesigned power management circuit.

The remaining four modules include a Pressure Sensitive disc, Dial Module with three dials, Slider Module with three sliders and the Essential Keys Module with three tactile mechanical switches. All of the modules feature neodymium magnetic connectors and micro spring-loaded electrical contacts.

For past Palette Gear customers, the existing Palette Arcade-style Button, Multi-function Dial and High-sensitivity Slider are backward compatible with Monogram Creative Console. Natively supported software includes Adobe’s software suite, as well as VLC, Chrome, Spotify and select other applications.

The company has exceeded its Kickstarter funding goal and is offering various pledge options for backers, including a Traveller Console for $ 339 CAD and a Studio Console for $ 457 CAD. Assuming everything goes according to plan, Monogram expects to start shipping rewards to backers in February 2020.


Disclaimer: Remember to do your research with any crowdfunding project. DPReview does its best to share only the projects that look legitimate and come from reliable creators, but as with any crowdfunded campaign, there’s always the risk of the product or service never coming to fruition.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Monogram’s new Creative Console features magnetic, customizable control modules

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Review: The Elgato Stream Deck is a customizable hardware control for post-processing

06 Apr

Elgato Stream Deck
$ 149 | elgato.com

The Elgato Stream Deck is a small, customizable keypad primarily targeted at gamers who stream live content. I’m not a prolific gamer, but it occurred to me that the Stream Deck might also be a useful tool in my daily post processing work, cutting down on mouse clicks and keyboard shortcuts, and speeding up my workflow.

In my case that means a non-linear editor, or NLE, for video editing. However, the Stream Deck isn’t limited to NLEs; it can be used with just about any editing software such as Photoshop, Lightroom, or Premiere Pro.

Key features:

  • 15 customizable keys, each with its own LCD screen
  • 210 actions* available by using folders
  • Macros** can be assigned to each key
  • Different profiles and key sets can be created for different applications

The power of the Stream Deck is that each of the keys contains an individual LCD screen behind a concave plastic window. You may remember the Optimus Maximus OLED keyboard which, when launched in 2007, had a full qwerty keyboard with an OLED display on each key. The Stream Deck takes this idea and makes it more accessible at a price of $ 149.

Design

The Stream Deck’s fascia is aluminum while the body is plastic, with dimensions of 118 x 84 x 21mm (4.6 x 3.3 x 0.80 in) and it connects via a captive USB cable approximately 1.5m long. Included in the box is a lightweight plastic stand which allows the Stream Deck to sit at multiple angles, and it includes rubber feet on the bottom to stop it from sliding across your desk when you push a button.

The Stream Deck’s stand. It does the job, but as I discuss below there’s room for improvement.

Setup

Out of the box, the Stream Deck does nothing, so the first step is to download the Stream Deck software from Elgato’s website, which allows you to completely tailor each key. It’s already loaded with several shortcuts for popular streaming software like Twitch, OBS, YouTube, etc. and these can just be mapped to the keys on the device.

However, my reason for buying the Stream Deck was to use it with Davinci Resolve, my NLE of choice, though it can be used just as easily with tools like Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X, or Lightroom. However, doing so requires a more involved setup process as there are no pre-configured shortcuts available for these applications.

To do this, I set up a new Davinci Resolve profile in the Elgato software that auto-loads when I run Resolve. This can be done for any software that’s being used, and therefore you can have multiple sets of shortcuts (210) for each program. It’s completely feasible to have different set ups for Resolve, Premiere Pro and Lightroom for example.

Configuring keys with the Elgato software.

I created keys for common tasks, some of which were duplicates of already available keyboard shortcuts, but with larger dedicated icons I didn’t have to remember the shortcuts for some of the lesser used key commands. It also meant that some actions that used a three-key combination for something like ‘freeze frame’ could now be achieved with a single button.

There’s also a certain satisfaction in quickly navigating pages of shortcuts with a single button press. Trust me – you have to try it to appreciate it.

Customizing Keys

For the functionality that I wanted I needed to register the required Resolve keyboard shortcuts in the Elgato software. I also created icons for the buttons. Some of this was achieved with the Elgato Key Creator, which is web based, but quite a few of my keys were also constructed with Photoshop. Any image editing software will work as you only need to create a 288 x 288 pixel PNG file for each button.

There’s a certain satisfaction in quickly navigating pages of shortcuts with a single button press.

Like anything worthwhile, setup and customization took some time. At first it seemed a little involved, but effort spent configuring at the start saved more time later. I spent a lot of time making the icons for the buttons and assigning functions, but also some thought into where to place them and how far down into the sub pages to go.

But, I hear you cry, fifteen buttons is not enough! Well, in that case you can actually use one of the buttons to access up to fourteen more sub pages of buttons, each with another fourteen buttons on them (one is reserved for going back a page). In this case you can see the appeal of the screens providing labels and icons representing their function. I certainly couldn’t remember what each one did without them.

One example of a bespoke key set on the Stream Deck.

However, the ability to customize the Stream Deck doesn’t stop there. With the help of software like Auto Hot Key for Windows or similar scripting software for Mac, scripts can be written and assigned to any button. This means if there isn’t an exact shortcut available in the software you want to use it with then you can record something like a simple mouse click on an on-screen button and assign it to a stream deck key. Although I haven’t used this yet, It might be something I look at doing in the future as my workflow evolves.

Workflow improvements

After working with the Stream Deck for a couple of weeks I’ve found it very useful, though not without making some adjustments. First, getting used to having the device placed to the left of my usual keyboard was a bit unusual (of course it can be placed anywhere). This, combined with the fact that I had to think and stop myself using the regular on screen buttons, also slowed me down initially.

After about half a day I found that my usual edit process had sped up, probably on the order of 20-30%.

After about half a day, however, I found that my usual edit process had sped up, probably on the order of 20-30%. Persistence pays off, and sometimes it’s all too easy to forget and go back to the old ways of working, but when I did I found that I slowed down again. After about a week or so of using it I needed to reorganize the button layout a bit, something I think will be an ongoing process.

Opportunities for improvement

Overall the Stream Deck works well and I’m impressed with the feel of the keys, however there are some improvements I’d like to see. First, I’d like the option for a detachable cable rather than a captive one. What happens if the cable get’s damaged? There have also been reports from some users of screen burn in on early units, but this seems to have been addressed in later ones and Elgato have been swapping out units with this issue.

The Stream Deck attaches to your computer using a captive cable. I’d prefer a detachable cable in case it gets damaged.

The Stream Deck’s stand is just OK, and I’d like to see a way of making the unit fit more securely into it. The way it adjusts for different inclinations could be improved as well, such as having a much more positive lock into position. I would also like to see a more ergonomic version of the Stream Deck; three rows of five keys works, but it’s a bit cramped and the spacing could be better. The way my hand lies it would be better if it was wider, and I’d like to see they keys placed more naturally.

Elgato also makes the Stream Deck Mini with six keys. Perhaps there could be an option for a Stream Deck Max with 30 keys? I know this would probably take it out of the realm of being a pure streaming tool, but it opens up possibilities for other markets. If Elgato really wanted to they could compete with other control devices by adding knobs and sliders, but I guess this might be a little outside their key user base.

It is for you?

Considering it’s a product aimed at online gamers, the Stream Deck is a tool that can be easily adapted for use by photo and video editors to streamline and speed up everyday workflows. It can take time to set it up properly and develop the muscle memory required to use it, and will probably require some ongoing tweaks to get the most out of it, but the time invested up front will be saved in use.

Its usefulness will very much come down to the individual and their workflow. The more time you invest in getting things working correctly for you the more benefits you’ll see. I’ve yet to really use it to it’s full potential and I’ve already seen the benefit.

What we like

  • Ease of use
  • Customization options
  • Cost
  • Tactile feel

What we don’t like

  • Stand design; positioning and adjustment could feel more positive
  • Captive cable

*An action may be any function assigned to a key on the Stream Deck, such as a keyboard shortcut or combination of keys pressed simultaneously.
**If you use macros to create automated scripts on your computer it’s possible to map an entire macro to a single button.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Review: The Elgato Stream Deck is a customizable hardware control for post-processing

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Adobe Portfolio brings customizable personal websites to Creative Cloud

27 Jan

Adobe has introduced Adobe Portfolio, a website creation platform similar to Squarespace. Part of Creative Cloud, Adobe Portfolio is offered under three subscription tiers and aims to provide creatives and professionals with a simple way to showcase their work online.

The Adobe Portfolio service offers pre-made layouts, as well as customization options for website elements like the header, logo, navigation, background and footer. The designs are responsive, able to scale for various screen sizes and there’s an option for a personalized website URL. Features include galleries for showcasing content, password-protected pages and website analytics. Subscribers can also integrate a Behance account with Portfolio for seamless content syncing.

Adobe Portfolio is available to individuals under three Creative Cloud pricing tiers: $ 9.99 USD/month with included access to Photoshop CC and Lightroom CC, $ 19.99 USD/month with access to 20GB of cloud storage and one desktop app and $ 49.99 USD/month with access to all Adobe creative apps.

Via: Adobe Blog

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Adobe Portfolio brings customizable personal websites to Creative Cloud

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Flip, Stack, Connect: 13 Highly Customizable Furniture Designs

05 Aug

[ By Steph in Design & Furniture & Decor. ]

customizable facile sofa

Somewhere between half-hearted DIY jobs and expensive custom-created solutions, there’s customizable furniture kits, which make it easy to create the ideal setup for your home and life without requiring special skills or tools.

Hacka IKEA kitchen

customizable ikea hacka

customizable ikea hacka 2

People hack IKEA products all the time, creating new items from cheap components available at the Swedish big-box store. The ‘Hacka’ concept is a kit that makes it even easier to do using a series of orange joints and wooden beams. You essentially create your own framework around IKEA products like countertops, sinks and storage cabinets for a completely customizable setup that’s easy to change around at your whim.

The Homework Desk

customizable homework desk 2

Start with two simple trestle legs and add whatever surfaces work best for you, whether that’s a flat desktop, a self-healing cutting mat, storage for writing implements or some combination of the three. With The Homework Desk, you can incline your surfaces like a drafting table, hang felt slings for additional storage or connect various compartments including pen holders, vertical filing systems and even a hidden phone charger. The whole front ledge of the desk functions as a ruler, too.

Push-Pull Foam Chair

customizable push pull foam

customizable push pull foam 2

Do you like chairs that are deep and low to the ground, or prefer a higher perch? Do you like armrests, or would you rather have that space free for a better range of movement? The Sink In chair consists of foam bars enclosed within a wooden frame so it’s incredibly easy to create a seat that’s tailored to your exact desires.

Dots Storage System

customizable dots 2

customizable dots
Protruding cylinders attached to wall panels in a grid pattern support a series of boxes for storing and displaying various objects in the ‘DOTS’ system by PolarisLife. Move them around, add more shelves, arrange them however you like them. When the cylinders aren’t supporting a shelf, they can be used to hang things like coats, bags and plants.

Next Page – Click Below to Read More:
Flip Stack Connect 13 Highly Customizable Furniture Designs

Share on Facebook





[ By Steph in Design & Furniture & Decor. ]

[ WebUrbanist | Archives | Galleries | Privacy | TOS ]


WebUrbanist

 
Comments Off on Flip, Stack, Connect: 13 Highly Customizable Furniture Designs

Posted in Creativity

 

Town 30 Emissary camera bag features lens cap mount and customizable pockets

14 May

Toronto-based Town 30 has launched the Emissary Series camera bag on Kickstarter, where it is seeking funding for production of the photography-centric bags. The Emissary is geared specifically to photographers’ needs with attachable pockets, a removable laptop compartment, a locking mechanism inspired by film-advance levers and a lens cap mount. Read more

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Town 30 Emissary camera bag features lens cap mount and customizable pockets

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Miscellaneous Software – Automate Windows via Customizable Hotkeys

01 Aug

AutoHotkey is an open-source tool where you can set up hotkeys for complex automations.

Several applications exist for Windows that let you automate tasks and make them accessible via global hotkeys, such as HotKeyz. If you need an application with more advanced options, and scripting does not scare you, consider the open-source AutoHotKey.

AutoHotKey lets you create hotkeys that can perform all types of operations such as expanding abbreviations, performing operations when the system is shut down, reading from and writing to the Windows Registry, muting the sound, performing mouse moves and clicks, changing window titles, and much, much more….

Read more at MalekTips.
New Computer and Technology Help and Tips – MalekTips.Com

 
Comments Off on Miscellaneous Software – Automate Windows via Customizable Hotkeys

Posted in Technology