Digital Creativity Workstations
About
Take creative ideas from “Aha!” to “Awesome!” with the Digital Creativity Workstations and laptops in Level Up. With free access to the tools professionals use, you’re on your way to amazing graphic, video, and audio productions.
Adobe Creative Cloud
Adobe leads the pack in digital creativity software. Your images, sounds, and words go in—and amazing movies, songs, and publications come out. We provide you free access to the Adobe Creative Cloud suite of programs on all workstations and laptops in Level Up.
Using Workstations
You can log in to any Digital Creativity Workstation at Level Up. When all Workstations are in use, you may reserve the next available one. Level Up workstations are for patrons working on projects that require the unique software installed on these Macs (listed below). We will ask any patrons that are consuming media in other ways (surfing the web, playing games, watching videos) to use other computers available in the Library.
Hardware and Accessories
Available to all users
- Four iMacs with 24" monitors, Apple M3 chip, 24GB unified memory
Available with your library card
Wacom Intuos Pro pen tablets (medium & large): two-hour checkout
Overview
An overview of the Intuos Pro line.
Instructions (PDF)
Intuos Pro instruction manual
Product Tutorial
Basic video instruction from Wacom on using the Intuos pen tablet.
Software Tutorial
More detailed tutorials from Wacom that cover the pen tablet’s many applications.
Intuos Pro Tutorial (YouTube)
Digital artist Aaron Rutten demonstrates how the Intuos Pro works and the different ways it can be used with drawing software.
Complete Tutorial for Photographers (YouTube)
B&H presents a video tutorial on using the Intuos tablet with Adobe Photoshop.
- Audio Technica pro headphones: two-hour checkout
- Korg Minilogue Synthesizer: two-hour checkout
Even More Software
In addition to the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, you'll find these great tools at the Digital Creativity Workstations in Level Up:
Video and Animation
- DaVinci Reslove
- Final Cut Pro X
- GoPro Player
iMovie
Apple's simple video editor is great for beginning and experienced filmmakers.
Overview
An overview of iMovie.
iMovie Help
Apple's online resource page.
iMovie Essential Training
This video series from Linkedin Learning offers detailed breakdowns of every step involved in the creation of an iMovie project. Perfect for diving deep into what iMovie can do. Login to the Library's subscription to LinkedIn Learning, then click on the link for the tutorial to get direct access.
Library ID: mcpl
How to Create a Movie From Start to Finish With iMovie
A handy “bare bones” overview from Tuts+, with screenshots accompanying each step. Great as a refresher or quick reference.
Library Resources
Borrow these great Library items on iMovie. Ask staff for assistance with locating them.
Audio Recording and Production
- MuseScore
Logic Pro X
Push your music as far as it can go, every step of the way. A complete professional recording studio for the Mac, Logic Pro gives you everything you need to go from first inspiration to final master.
Overview
An overview of Logic Pro X.
Logic Pro X Help
Online manual and help from Apple.
Logic Pro Video Tutorial Series (YouTube)
Get started with these easy-to-follow videos by MusicTechHelpGuy, a professional audio engineer and educator.
Logic Pro X Essential Training - Linkedin Learning
Linkedin is the go to source resource for learning from experts in software, creativity, and business skills. Login to the Library's subscription to LinkedIn Learning, then click on the link for the tutorial to get direct access.
Library ID: mcpl
Library Resources
Borrow these great Library items on Logic Pro X. Ask Staff for assistance with locating them.
GarageBand
Incredible music, in the key of easy. GarageBand is a music creation studio inside a Mac—with a complete sound library that includes instruments, guitar and voice, and virtual drummers. An intuitive interface for creating your hits and share them worldwide.
Overview
An overview of GarageBand.
GarageBand Help
Online manual and help from Apple.
Garageband Essential Training - Linkedin Learning
This video series from Linkedin.com offers detailed breakdowns of every step involved in a GarageBand project. Perfect for diving deep into what GarageBand can do. Login to the Library's subscription to LinkedIn Learning, then click on the link for the tutorial to get direct access.
Library ID: mcpl
Library Resources
Borrow these great Library items on GarageBand. Ask Staff for assistance with locating them.
Audacity
A free multi-track audio editor and recorder. Audacity's straightforward interface makes it well-suited for podcasts and other spoken-word projects. A favorite among open source enthusiasts.
Overview
An overview of Audacity.
Audacity Manual (PDF)
Online instruction manual.
Tutorials from the Audacity Team
Tutorials that provide step-by-step instructions for common tasks.
Digital Fiber Arts
MacStitch
Design your own cross-stitch or diamond painting pattern. Import any photo and turn it into a fiber arts design with MacStitch.
How To
Getting started and how-to guides with step-by-step instructions.
Documents and Production
-
WriterSolo
Developer Tools and Utilities
Brackets
This modern, open source text editor for web designers makes programming code easy and efficient. Brackets allows you to quickly preview your project live, punch into various elements without switching files, and integrate smoothly with Adobe apps like Photoshop.
Overview
An overview of Brackets.
How to Use Brackets
Basic text-based overview on using Brackets to write programming code. Includes a table of keyboard shortcuts.
XCode
This suite of tools by Apple allows you to create software apps for OS (Mac) and iOS (iPad and iPhone). Design, create, edit, test, and debug your app ideas—all in one place.
Overview
Apple's overview of XCode.
PDF XCode Tutorial (PDF)
Complete user manual in PDF form.
How to Make an App (YouTube)
A video series that clearly explains Xcode’s role in the development process, the other tools it interacts with, and how you can use it without any programming experience.
Library Resources
Borrow these great Library items on XCode. Ask Staff for assistance with locating them.
Even More Tutorials and Resources
More tutorials and resources for the digital creativity process.
Music
Learn How to Write a Song
Step by step instructions on songwriting—lyrics, music, and all. Also has a great Resources section for songwriters.
How to Copyright Your Music
A very informative article on the ins and outs of protecting your original work.
Video
Creative Cow
A comprehensive digital video community, featuring tutorials, forums and podcasts on many video production topics.
Coding and Design
Code Academy
Free, interactive online lessons that teach you, through simple tutorials, how to build a website or an app.
w3schools
A free web development learning site with tutorials.
How to Build a Web Application from Scratch with No Experience
A tutorial from LifeHacker.
How to Build an App Using Corona SDK
Python.org
Official site for downloading the language package and all kinds of resources for this dynamic programming language.
Game Development
Play Canvas
A free open source, web-based game engine.
A Beginner’s Guide to Making Your First Video Game
A great article to get you started.
The official Unity Twitch account.
Livestreams and archived videos showing how to use Unity