PhotoStage version 1.1.2
Ananke Media Systems

PhotoStage User’s Manual

Revision 101, April 2008

Introduction

PhotoStage is a powerful photography toolkit especially conceived for modelling, portrait or still life shooting in the metaverse. PhotoStage gives you an extraordinarily fine control over background, lighting and effects, using a fully menu- and HUD-driven control system that lets you focus on your subject.

Please see the Usage Agreement section at the end of this manual for some usage limitations.

Setting Up Your PhotoStage

You probably received your PhotoStage packaged in a box. If this is so, please unpackage it into a folder in your inventory. Inside this folder you will find the following items:

• PhotoStage Backdrop 12 and PhotoStage Backdrop 16. These are the backdrop elements of PhotoStage, named with the 12 or 16 number depending on the size. Both are included for your convenience.
• PhotoStage Control Box. This is the command centre that you must touch in order to operate the PhotoStage.
• PhotoStage HUD. You can use this HUD to operate the PhotoStage instead of the menus.
• PhotoStage User’s Manual. This is the complete user’s manual.
• Read Me. This notecard can contain last-minute information and release notes. It is important that you read it before you set up your PhotoStage.

To set up your PhotoStage, rez one PhotoStage Backdrop in an appropriate place, and then rez the PhotoStage Control Box nearby. Don’t rez both Backdrops. Don’t place the Control Box further than 20 metres away from the PhotoStage Backdrop or it will not work. If you receive a message from the Control Box when you rez it saying that it could not detect the Backdrop, please move or rez the Backdrop closer to it, and wait a few seconds for the Control Box to detect it. You should see the message “Backdrop detected” if the Backdrop has been properly linked.

If, at a later time, you move or rotate the Backdrop, or if you take the Backdrop into your inventory and rez it again, please use the Re-Link button to re-establish the link between the Control Box and the Backdrop. See the Basic Operation section for details.

Important: Both the PhotoStage Backdrop and the Control Box are copiable, so you can rez multiple copies if you wish. Please see the Setting Up Multiple Instances of PhotoStage section for more information about using multiple PhotoStages side by side.

Once you have set up your PhotoStage, you can customise it through a number of settings. Settings are described at the end of this manual in the Settings section.

Setting Up the HUD

You can operate your PhotoStage using menus or the enclosed HUD. You can also combine both, using one or the other depending on the moment and your preferences. Follow these steps to start using the HUD:

1. Locate the PhotoStage HUD in your inventory. This should be in the same folder together with the backdrops and the Control Box.
2. Right-click the HUD and select Wear. The HUD will attach to the Center HUD slot by default. If you want to change this, right-click the HUD in your inventory and select Attach to HUD (rather than Wear) and then select the desired HUD slot.
3. Adjust the position of the HUD on screen. By default, the HUD appears towards the left-hand side of the screen, but you can change this. Right-click any solid area of the HUD (such as the title area with the “PhotoStage” logo) and select Edit. Use the green and blue arrows to move the HUD to your preferred spot on screen. If you can’t see the HUD, rotate the mouse wheel towards you while editing it to display out-of-screen objects.

If you want to detach the HUD from your screen at a later time, right-click on a solid area of the HUD and select Detach.

Please bear in mind that you need to be within 50 metres of the Control Box in order to use the HUD. If you walk away, your PhotoStage will not respond.

Important: Anybody with the appropriate access permissions (see “UsersAllowed” in the Settings section) can get a HUD delivered to them by clicking the Control Box and selecting Options, Get HUD.

Setting Up Multiple Instances of PhotoStage

It is possible to set up multiple instances of the PhotoStage next to each other. In order to do this, and to avoid interference between them, you must set them to use different channels. To set up multiple instances, rez the first Backdrop and Control Box and set them to use the same channel so that they can communicate. Please see the Settings section at the end of this manual for detailed information about how to set the channel. Then rez another Backdrop plus Control Box pair and set them to a new channel. You can go on rezzing up to nine different instances of PhotoStage (Backdrop plus Control Box) and setting them to different channels.

The PhotoStage HUD also carries a channel setting. If you change the channel in your Backdrop and Control Box, please change the channel in the HUD as well. The mechanism is the same.

Basic Operation

The PhotoStage is very easy to use. Touch the Control Box and a menu window will appear. We suggest you leave this window open while you work with the PhotoStage. You can touch the Control Box at any time if you happen to dismiss the menu window.

Alternatively, you can use a chat interface to operate the PhotoStage. Please see the Chat Interface section below for a detailed description.

Please bear in mind that, due to current limitations with Second Life menu windows, buttons showing just a hyphen (”-”) are sometimes used as spacers for a better layout. You can safely ignore these buttons.

The main menu contains buttons for navigation to other menus:

• Backdrop >> - Click this button to access the Backdrop menu. Here you will be able to change the appearance of the Backdrop of your PhotoStage.
• Lights >> - Click this button to access the lights menu. Here you will be able to create and customise lights for your PhotoStage.
• Effects >> - Click this button to access the effects menu. Here you will be able to play with effects such as fog or snow.
• Gaze >> - Click this button to access the gaze points menu. Here you will be able to manage gaze points for your models.
• Configs >> - Click this button to access the configurations menu. Here you will be able to dump the current configuration or load a new one.
• Options >> - Click this button to access the options menu.

Note: If you prefer to use the HUD rather than menus, please see the Setting Up the HUD section above to learn how to attach the HUD, and the Using the HUD section below for an explanation of the HUD user interface.

The following sections describe these areas in depth.

Options

The options menu contains the following buttons:

• Info - Click this button to display information about the PhotoStage product and current settings. The information will appear on your chat channel.
• Re-Link - Click this button to re-establish the link between the Control Box and the Backdrop. You will need to click this button if you move, rotate or re-rez the Backdrop.
• Reset - Click this button to reset the PhotoStage to its default stage. All the backdrop settings will be reset to default. All lights, effect generators and gaze points will be deleted. The PhotoStage will also check for updates.
• Update - Click this button to make PhotoStage check for updates. If an update is available, it will be delivered to you after a few minutes.
• Get HUD - Click this button to have a PhotoStage HUD delivered to you.
• << Main - Click this button to return to the main menu window.

Backdrop

You can make the backdrop of the PhotoStage any colour you like, and apply any texture to it. The backdrop menu contains the following buttons:

• Textures >> - Click this button to access the backdrop textures menu. See next sections for an explanation.
• Colours >> - Click this button to access the backdrop colours menu. See next sections for an explanation.
• Appearance >> - Click this button to access the backdrop appearance menu. See next sections for an explanation.
• << Main - Click this button to return to the main menu window.

Backdrop Textures

You can apply any texture to the PhotoStage Backdrop. PhotoStage comes with a few textures ready to use, but you can also add your own textures; see the Adding Your Own Textures section below for more information. The backdrop texture menu contains the following buttons:

• No Texture - Remove the backdrop texture. The backdrop will show a flat colour with no texture applied.
• Previous/Next - Move to the previous or next texture. This applies the previous or next texture in the PhotoStage texture list to the backdrop.
• Back/Forward 5/10/20 - Jump 5, 10 or 20 positions back or forward. This applies the corresponding texture in the PhotoStage texture list to the backdrop.
• Tile - and Tile + - Decrease or increase the tile factor. This makes the backdrop texture cover the whole backdrop in larger or smaller tiles, respectively.
• << Backdrop - Click this button to return to the backdrop menu window.

As you click different buttons to cycle through the available textures, the PhotoStage will show the name of the texture being applied on your chat channel.

Please note that if there is a non-white colour applied to the backdrop, any texture that is applied will be tinted with that colour.

Adding Your Own Textures

Follow these steps to add your own textures to, or remove existing ones from, the PhotoStage:

1. Edit the PhotoStage Backdrop by right-clicking it and selecting Edit in the pie menu. An Edit window appears.
2. Click the Content tab. You will see a list of textures in the list. You will see also other items here that are not textures (i.e. they don’t have the multi-coloured icon that identifies textures). Don’t change, delete or rename these items.
3. To add a texture, drag it from your inventory and drop it on the list. To remove a texture, right-click it and select Delete in the menu.
4. Wait a few seconds for the PhotoStage to re-load the texture list.

Important: You can add any kind of texture to your PhotoStage Backdrop. However, you may see the “seams” between the different panels that compose the backdrop if the textures are not of the “seamless” variety. Please make sure to choose seamless textures for a better background effect.

Important: Textures with no-transfer permissions will not work with PhotoStage. This is caused by an error within Second Life, as documented by entry SVC-368 in JIRA. Please use transferrable textures only.

Backdrop Colours

You can apply any colour to the PhotoStage Backdrop. A few basic colours are pre-defined and can be applied by clicking a button; other colours can be obtained by using the custom colour feature. The backdrop colours menu contains the following buttons:

• colour buttons (Dark Red, Light Red, Dark Green, Light Green, Dark Blue, Light Blue, Black, White, Dark Grey and Light Grey) - Apply the colour to the backdrop.
• Custom >> - Click this button to access the backdrop custom colour menu. See below for an explanation.
• << Backdrop - Click this button to return to the backdrop menu window.

Please note that if there is a texture applied to the backdrop, the texture will be tinted with the selected colour. Apply the White colour to display the texture untinted.

Custom Colours

A custom colour can be obtained by mixing the necessary amounts of red, green and blue components. You can increment or decrement each component in 20%, 5% or 1% steps. The backdrop custom colour menu contains the following buttons:

• percentage buttons (20 %, 5 %, 1 %) - Switch to this amount to increase or decrease colour components (keep reading).
• Red - and Red + - Decrease or increase the red component of the current colour by the selected percentage.
• Green - and Green + - Decrease or increase the green component of the current colour by the selected percentage.
• Blue - and Blue + - Decrease or increase the blue component of the current colour by the selected percentage.
• << Colours - Click this button to return to the backdrop colours menu window.

As you click the increase or decrease component buttons, the PhotoStage Backdrop will show the current colour values being applied on your chat channel.

Backdrop Appearance

You can make the PhotoStage Backdrop full bright if you wish; this means that the backdrop will not be affected by any surrounding light sources, always appearing as if fully lit. Also, you can change the backdrop’s glow intensity. The backdrop appearance menu contains the following buttons:

• Full - Make the backdrop full bright. The effects of lights will not be appreciated on the backdrop.
• Normal - Make the backdrop normal bright. The backdrop will show the effects of lights.
• Glow - and Glow + - Decrease or increase the backdrop’s glow intensity.
• << Backdrop - Click this button to return to the backdrop menu window.

Lights

You can create up to six lights in your PhotoStage. Each light is fully customisable in colour, intensity and other parameters, and you can move them around as you wish. The lights menu contains the following buttons:

• light buttons (1 to 6) - Click these buttons to access a menu for editing that particular light. See next sections for an explanation.
• Show All - Show all the existing lights. Details are explained below.
• Hide All - Hide all the existing lights. Details are explained below.
• On All - Switch on all the existing lights. Details are explained below.
• Off All - Switch off all the existing lights. Details are explained below.
• Delete All - Deletes all the existing lights. Details are explained below.
• << Main - Click this button to return to the main menu window.

Initially, no lights exist in the PhotoStage. The first thing you need to do to work with a light is create it. Once it is created, you can change its position, colour and other parameters. The light menu window always shows which light it is referring to (light 1 to light 6) at the top. It contains the following buttons:

• Create/Delete - When the light being edited does not exist yet, this button appears as “Create”. Click it to create the light. A light globe with default properties will appear, and the button will be changed to “Delete”. You can click this button at any time to delete the light.
• Show/Hide - Shows or hides an existing light. This button changes to “Hide” or “Show” depending on the visibility status of the light being edited. When you hide a light, it keeps emitting but you cannot see the globe or name.
• On/Off - Switches on or off an existing light. This button changes to “Off” or “On” depending on the status of the light being edited. When you switch off a light, it stays visible but it does not emit light.
• Position >> - Click this button to access the light position menu. See next sections for an explanation.
• Colours >> - Click this button to access the light colours menu. See next sections for an explanation.
• Params >> - Click this button to access the light parameters menu. See next sections for an explanation.
• << Lights - Click this button to return to the lights menu window.

If you attempt to operate on a light that has not been created (for example, change its position or colour), the light is automatically created for you.

Light Position

You can move a light to any point around the PhotoStage. The PhotoStage uses X, Y and Z coordinates to position lights, X going from left to right (as you look at the PhotoStage Backdrop straight ahead), Y from near to far, and Z from bottom to top.

You can increment or decrement the light position in X, Y and Z in 1, 0.25 or 0.05 metre steps. The light position menu contains the following buttons:

• amount buttons (1 m, 0.25 m, 0.05 m) - Switch to this amount to increase or decrease displacement along any axis (keep reading).
• X - and X + - Decrease or increase the X coordinate of the light by the selected amount.
• Y - and Y + - Decrease or increase the Y coordinate of the light by the selected amount.
• Z - and Z + - Decrease or increase the Z coordinate of the light by the selected amount.
• Centre - Move the light to the default centre position.
• Model >> - Click this button to access the seek model position menu. See below for an explanation.
• << Light - Click this button to return to the light menu window.

You can click a light at any time to show coordinate axes pointing in the X +, Y + and Z + directions. This can be helpful when moving them. Click the light again to hide the axes.

Seek Model Position

You can make a light seek the nearest avatar and position itself close to it. If multiple avatars are detected nearby, the light will take the nearest one as reference. The seek model position menu contains the following buttons:

• Left and Right - Move the light to the left or right of the model, and slightly in front of him/her.
• Front and Back - Move the light right in front or behind the model.
• Front Up and Back Up - Move the light in front or behind of the model, and above his/her head.
• Above - Move the light right above the model.
• Feet - Move the light in front of the model’s feet.
• Closer and Further - Move the light closer or further away from the model by the selected amount (see Light Position section).
• << Position - Click this button to return to the light position menu.

Light Colours

You can make a light any colour you want. A few basic colours are pre-defined and can be applied by clicking a button; other colours can be obtained by using the custom colour feature. The light colours menu contains the following buttons:

• colour buttons (Red, Green, Blue, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Warming, Cooling, White, Soft) - Apply the colour to the light.
• Custom >> - Click this button to access the light custom colour menu. This works exactly like the backdrop custom colour feature described above.
• << Light - Click this button to return to the light menu window.

Light Parameters

In addition to position and colour, you can change a light’s intensity (its strength), radius (how far it reaches) and falloff (how much it fades with distance). The light parameters menu contains the following buttons:

• Intensity - and Intensity + - Decrease or increase the intensity of the light.
• Radius - and Radius + - Decrease or increase the radius of the light.
• Falloff - and Falloff + - Decrease or increase the falloff of the light.
• << Light - Click this button to return to the light menu window.

Effects

You can use various visual effects on your PhotoStage, which can add a nice touch to some photos. Effects are generated by effect generators. You can have up to six effect generators at any time. The effects menu contains the following buttons:

• generator buttons (1 to 6) - Click these buttons to access a menu for editing that particular effect generator. See next sections for an explanation.
• Show All - Show all the existing effect generators. Details are explained below.
• Hide All - Hide all the existing effect generators. Details are explained below.
• On All - Switch on all the existing effect generators. Details are explained below.
• Off All - Switch off all the existing effect generators. Details are explained below.
• Delete All - Deletes all the existing effect generators. Details are explained below.
• << Main - Click this button to return to the main menu window.

Initially, no effect generators exist in the PhotoStage. The first thing you need to do to work with one is create it. Once it is created, you can change its position, effect type and other properties, which may depend on the selected effect type. The effect generator menu window always shows which effect generator it is referring to (generator 1 to generator 6) at the top. It contains the following buttons:

• Create/Delete - When the effect generator being edited does not exist yet, this button appears as “Create”. Click it to create the generator. An inactive generator will appear, and the button will be changed to “Delete”. You can click this button at any time to delete the generator.
• Show/Hide - Shows or hides an existing generator. This button changes to “Hide” or “Show” depending on the visibility status of the generator being edited. When you hide a generator, it keeps working but you cannot see it.
• On/Off - Switches on or off an existing effect generator. This button changes to “Off” or “On” depending on the status of the generator being edited. When you switch off a generator, it stays visible but it does not produce any effect.
• Position >> - Click this button to access the generator position menu. See next sections for an explanation.
• Glow - Click this button to make the generator produce glowing spheres.
• Fog - Click this button to make the generator produce fog.
• Smoke - Click this button to make the generator produce smoke.
• Snow - Click this button to make the generator produce snow.
• Props >> - Click this button to access the generator properties menu. See next sections for an explanation.
• << Effects - Click this button to return to the effect generators menu window.

If you attempt to operate on an effects generator that has not been created (for example, change its position or properties), the effects generator is automatically created for you.

Effect Generator Position

You can move an effect generator to any point around the PhotoStage. The PhotoStage uses X, Y and Z coordinates to position generators, X going from left to right (as you look at the PhotoStage Backdrop straight ahead), Y from near to far, and Z from bottom to top. This is the same system as used with lights.

You can increment or decrement the generator position in X, Y and Z in 1, 0.25 or 0.05 metre steps. The generator position menu contains the following buttons:

• amount buttons (1 m, 0.25 m, 0.05 m) - Switch to this amount to increase or decrease displacement along any axis (keep reading).
• X - and X + - Decrease or increase the X coordinate of the generator by the selected amount.
• Y - and Y + - Decrease or increase the Y coordinate of the generator by the selected amount.
• Z - and Z + - Decrease or increase the Z coordinate of the generator by the selected amount.
• Centre - Move the generator to the default centre position.
• Model >> - Click this button to access the seek model position menu. This menu works like that of lights.
• << Generator - Click this button to return to the generator menu window.

You can click a generator at any time to show coordinate axes pointing in the X +, Y + and Z + directions. This can be helpful when moving them. Click the generator again to hide the axes.

Effect Generator Properties

Depending on the type of effect assigned to a generator, you can change some properties that control how the effect is produced. The effect generator properties menu may contain combinations of the following buttons:

• Density - and Density + - Decrease or increase the density of the effect.
• Colours >> - Click this button to access the effect colours menu. This menu works like that of light colours, including the use of custom colours.
• << Generator - Click this button to return to the generator menu window.

Gaze Points

Sometimes, when you are taking photos of a model, you would like that she looks in a certain direction. A gaze point is just an object that you can create and ask your model to track with her gaze. This way, the model’s gaze and possibly head position will move, always pointing towards the gaze point, when you move the gaze point. Ask the model to Alt+Click the gaze point to “lock” her gaze onto it. You can have up to six gaze points at any time. The gaze points menu contains the following buttons:

• point buttons (1 to 6) - Click these buttons to access a menu for editing that particular gaze point. See next sections for an explanation.
• Show All - Show all the existing gaze points. Details are explained below.
• Hide All - Hide all the existing gaze points. Details are explained below.
• Delete All - Deletes all the existing gaze points. Details are explained below.
• << Main - Click this button to return to the main menu window.

Initially, no gaze points exist in the PhotoStage. The first thing you need to do to work with one is create it. Once it is created, you can change its position. The gaze point menu window always shows which gaze point it is referring to (gaze point 1 to gaze point 6) at the top. It contains the following buttons:

• Create/Delete - When the gaze point being edited does not exist yet, this button appears as “Create”. Click it to create the gaze point. A gaze point will appear, and the button will be changed to “Delete”. You can click this button at any time to delete the gaze point.
• Show/Hide - Shows or hides an existing gaze point. This button changes to “Hide” or “Show” depending on the visibility status of the gaze point being edited. When you hide a gaze point, it keeps working but you cannot see it.
• Position >> - Click this button to access the gaze point position menu. See next sections for an explanation.
• << Gaze - Click this button to return to the gaze points menu window.

If you attempt to operate on a gaze point that has not been created (for example, change its position), the gaze point is automatically created for you.

Gaze Point Position

You can move a gaze point to any location around the PhotoStage. The PhotoStage uses X, Y and Z coordinates to position gaze points, X going from left to right (as you look at the PhotoStage Backdrop straight ahead), Y from near to far, and Z from bottom to top. This is the same system as used with lights and effects generators.

You can increment or decrement the gaze point position in X, Y and Z in 1, 0.25 or 0.05 metre steps. The gaze point position menu contains the following buttons:

• amount buttons (1 m, 0.25 m, 0.05 m) - Switch to this amount to increase or decrease displacement along any axis (keep reading).
• X - and X + - Decrease or increase the X coordinate of the gaze point by the selected amount.
• Y - and Y + - Decrease or increase the Y coordinate of the gaze point by the selected amount.
• Z - and Z + - Decrease or increase the Z coordinate of the gaze point by the selected amount.
• Centre - Move the gaze point to the default centre position.
• Model >> - Click this button to access the seek model position menu. This menu works like those of lights or effects generators.
• << Point - Click this button to return to the gaze point menu window.

You can click a gaze point at any time to show coordinate axes pointing in the X +, Y + and Z + directions. This can be helpful when moving them. Click the gaze point again to hide the axes.

Configurations

Configurations allow you to save all the properties of the backdrop, lights and effects of the PhotoStage under a nameof your choice. You can retrieve a saved configuration at any time and the PhotoStage will adjust accordingly. The configurations menu contains the following buttons:

• configuration buttons - Up to nine buttons can appear showing the names of the configurations that have been saved. Click one of these buttons to apply that configuration.
• Dump - Dump the current configuration to the chat channel. You can use the resulting text to save a new configuration. How to do this is explained below.
• Reset - Reset the backdrop to its default appearance, and delete all lights and effect generators.
• << Main - Click this button to return to the main menu window.

Please note that the PhotoStage does not reset before applying a new configuration. The configuration is applied on top of any existing background, light and effect adjustments. Use the Reset button before applying a configuration if you want a fresh start.

Important: You may see the message “Configurations are still being read.” in the configurations menu, especially just after you modify the configurations notecard (see next sections). This means that the PhotoStage is still reading the new configurations and cannot display the appropriate buttons at this time. If this is the case, please go back to the main menu, wait a few seconds, and move to the configurations menu again.

Saving a New Configuration

The text that the PhotoStage dumps into the chat channel when you click the Dump button can be used to save the current configuration under a name of your choice. Follow these steps to accomplish this:

1. Click Dump to obtain a text description of the current configuration of the PhotoStage.
2. Find the generated text in the Near Me (Chat History) window. The first line shoud read “Begin Dump”, and the last line should read “End Dump”. If the dump is too large, one or more lines marked “(dump continues)” may appear interspersed.
3. Copy the text between the begin and end lines, not including them, by selecting it and using the menus Edit, Copy.
4. Edit the PhotoStage Control Box by right-clicking it and selecting Edit in the pie menu. An Edit window appears.
5. Click the Content tab. Find a notecard named “.Configurations”. You will see also other items here in addition to settings; don’t try to change, delete or rename these items.
6. Double click the configurations notecard to open it.
7. Move to the end of the notecard. In a new line, type the word “Configuration:” (notice the colon without any blanks before it) followed by the name that you want to give to the new configuration. Press Enter.
8. Paste the copied text by using the menus Edit, Paste.
9. Delete all the “(dump continues)” lines that may exist.
10. Close the notecard. When asked to save changes, click Save.
11. Wait a few seconds for the PhotoStage to reload the configurations. Your new configuration will show up in the configurations menu.

Important: Please remember to not include the begin and end dump lines in your copied text, and to delete the “(dump continues)” lines that may appear.

Deleting a Saved Configuration

In addition to adding configurations, you can also delete existing ones. Follow these steps to accomplish this:

1. Edit the PhotoStage Control Box by right-clicking it and selecting Edit in the pie menu. An Edit window appears.
2. Click the Content tab. Find a notecard named “.Configurations”. You will see also other items here in addition to settings; don’t try to change, delete or rename these items.
3. Double click the configurations notecard to open it.
4. Find the configuration that you want to delete. It will be marked by the word “Configuration:” (notice the colon without any blanks before it) followed by the configuration name.
5. Delete all the text between this line and the next configuration name line, or until the end of the notecard if this is the last configuration.
6. Close the notecard. When asked to save changes, click Save.
7. Wait a few seconds for the PhotoStage to reload the configurations. The deleted configuration will have disappeared from the configurations menu.

Using the HUD

The PhotoStage HUD provides an alternative way to control the backdrop, lights, effects and gaze points. You will still have to use the menus to work with configurations and options, but the HUD will hopefully be useful for the most common tasks with PhotoStage.

The HUD takes quite a significant amount of screen real estate. When you are not using it, you can hide it by clicking the top panel where the PhotoStage logo is. Click the top panel again to display the HUD.

The HUD is organised vertically in different areas. These areas correspond roughly to the PhotoStage menus: Backdrop, Lights, Effects Generators and Gaze Points. At the bottom of the HUD there are two additional panels: a Position Editor and a Colour Picker. These two panels at the bottom work together with the backdrop, lights, effects generators and gaze points panels as explained in the following sections.

Backdrop

Use the arrow buttons to cycle through the textures in the backdrop. You can move forward or backwards one by one or in steps of 5 or 20. Use the no texture button (a rectangle covered by a red “x”) to remove the texture from the backdrop.

Use the T buttons to adjust the texture tile factor. Click the minus and plus icons to decrease or increase this value.

To change the backdrop colour, click the Colour button and then use the Colour Picker panel at the bottom to select a predefined colour or compose a custom one. The Colour Picker is explained below.

Use the full (a yellow “sun”) and normal (a simple yellow circle) brightness buttons to change the backdrop brightness. Use the G buttons to adjust the backdrop’s glow intensity. Click the minus and plus icons to decrease or increase this value.

Lights

Use the number buttons (1 to 6) to select a light, or the All button to operate on all lights at the same time. Please bear in mind that some operations cannot be done on all lights at the same time, and you will have to target them one by one.

Once you have selected a light, clik the create (a white circle) and delete (a grey circle covered by a red “x”) buttons to create or delete it. Use the show (a white circle with a black dot inside) and hide (a grey circle with a grey dot inside) buttons to make the light visible or invisible. Use the on (a bright green circle) and off (a dark grey circle) buttons to switch the light on or off.

To change the light colour, click the Colour button and then use the Colour Picker panel at the bottom to select a predefined colour or compose a custom one. You can also use the Warm, Cool and Soft buttons to adjust the light colour.

To change the light position, click the Position button and then use the Position Editor at the bottom to move it. The Position Editor is explained below.

You can use the I, R and F buttons to adjust the light’s intensity, radius and falloff parameters, respectively. Click the minus and plus icons to decrease or increase these values.

Effects Generators

Use the number buttons (1 to 6) to select an effects generator, or the All button to operate on all effects generators at the same time. Please bear in mind that some operations cannot be done on all effects generators at the same time, and you will have to target them one by one.

Once you have selected an effects generator, clik the create (a white circle) and delete (a grey circle covered by a red “x”) buttons to create or delete it. Use the show (a white circle with a black dot inside) and hide (a grey circle with a grey dot inside) buttons to make the effects generator visible or invisible. Use the on (a bright green circle) and off (a dark grey circle) buttons to switch the effects generator on or off.

Use the Smoke, Fog, Glow and Snow buttons to set the effect type.

To change the effect colour, click the Colour button and then use the Colour Picker panel at the bottom to select a predefined colour or compose a custom one. Please bear in mind that not all effect types support colour changing; for example, snow is always white.

To change the effects generator position, click the Position button and then use the Position Editor at the bottom to move it.

You can use the D buttons to adjust the effect density. Click the minus and plus icons to decrease or increase this value.

Gaze Points

Use the number buttons (1 to 6) to select a gaze point, or the All button to operate on all gaze points at the same time. Please bear in mind that some operations cannot be done on all gaze points at the same time, and you will have to target them one by one.

Once you have selected a gaze point, clik the create (a white circle) and delete (a grey circle covered by a red “x”) buttons to create or delete it. Use the show (a white circle with a black dot inside) and hide (a grey circle with a grey dot inside) buttons to make the gaze point visible or invisible.

To change the gaze point position, click the Position button and then use the Position Editor at the bottom to move it.

Position Editor

The Position Editor works on the currently selected light, effects generator or gaze point, as shown on the panel’s title bar. For example, if you click the button 1 in the Lights panel, you will see that the text “Light 1″ appears on the Position Editor’s title bar. If no element (light, effects generator or gaze point) is selected, the Position Editor does not work.

Once you have selected an element to move, use the intelligent position buttons to move it around the model. These buttons show a grey human torso plus a yellow circle, indicating how the element is positioned if you click the button. The available options are, from left to right and top to bottom, Right, Left, Back, Front, Back Up, Front Up, Above, Feet, Centre, Closer and Further.

You can also use the X, Y and Z buttons to manually adjust the element position. Click the minus and plus icons to decrease or increase the element’s X, Y or Z coordinates. The distance amount that the element is moved each time you click one of these buttons is set by the 1.00, 0.25 and 0.05 buttons, which correspond to 1 metre, 25 cm and 5 cm, respectively.

Colour Picker

The Colour Picker works on the currently selected light or effects generator, as shown on the panel’s title bar. For example, if you click the button 1 in the Lights panel, you will see that the text “Light 1″ appears on the Colour Picker’s title bar. If no element (light or effects generator) is selected, the Colour Picker does not work.

Once you have selected an element, use the predefined colour buttons to set its colour. The available options are, from left to right and top to bottom, Red, Green, Blue, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Grey, White, Dark Red, Dark Green, Dark Blue, Dark Cyan, Dark Magenta, Dark Yellow, Dark Grey and Black.

You can also use the R, G and B buttons to manually adjust the colour’s red, green and blue components. Click the minus and plus icons to decrease or increase the colour’s amounts of red, green and blue. The amount that a colour component is changed each time you click one of these buttons is set by the 20%, 5% and 1% buttons, which correspond to 0.2, 0.05 and 0.01 colour units, respectively.

Chat Interface

The chat interface works by letting you type commands on the chat area that the PhotoStage can understand. By default, the PhotoStage uses chat channel number 81; you can change this if you wish using a setting. Please see the Settings section at the end of this manual to learn how to do that.

To give a command to the PhotoStage using the chat interface, type /81 (or the number of the chat channel if you have changed it) followed by the command. For example:

/81 info

That will make the PhotoStage to display some information, and is equivalent to clicking the Info button on the menus. Some commands are composed of two words separated by a dot, and may take arguments. Arguments follow the command separated by spaces. For example:

/81 bd.bright full

That will make the PhotoStage backdrop full bright.

The chat commands supported by PhotoStage are described in the following sections.

General Commands

These commands are related to the buttons in the options menu.

• reset - Like clicking the Reset button.
• info - Like clicking the Info button.

Backdrop Commands

These commands are related to the buttons in the various backdrop menus.

• bd.colour - Like using the buttons in the backdrop colours menu. Please specify a colour vector as an argument. For example: “bd.colour <1.0, 0.5, 0.2>” sets the backdrop colour to <1.0, 0.5, 0.2>.
• bd.coloured - Like using the buttons in the backdrop custom colour menu. Please specify one or more colour edits as arguments. Each colour edit is composed of a letter (”r”, “g” or “b”), a plus or minus sign (indicating whether to increment or decrement that colour component) and a colour amount. For example: “bd.coloured r-0.1 b+0.5″ decreases the amount of red by 0.1 and increases the amount of blue by 0.5. Do not leave blanks between a letter and a sign or between a sign and the colour amount.
• bd.txnext - Like clicking the Next button in the backdrop textures menu.
• bd.txprev - Like clicking the Previous button in the backdrop textures menu.
• bd.txmove - Like clicking the various Back and Forward buttons in the backdrop textures menu. Please specify the number of poses that you would like to move as an argument, using a negative number to move backwards. For example: “bd.txmove -3″ moves back 3 poses.
• bd.txname - Applies a texture by name. Please specify the texture name as an argument. For example: “bd.txname My Texture” applies the texture “My Texture” to the backdrop.
• bd.txnone - Like clicking the no texture button in the backdrop textures menu.
• bd.txtile -  Sets the backdrop tile factor. Please specify the desired tile factor (between 1 and 4) as an argument. For example, “bd.txtile 2″ sets the tile factor to 2.
• bd.txtileed - Like using the tile buttons in the backdrop textures menu. Please specify the desired tile factor edit as an argument. For example, “bd.txtileed -1″ decreases the tile factor by 1 unit.
• bd.bright - Like using the full and normal buttons in the backdrop appearance menu. Please specify a brightness mode (either “normal” or “full”) as ab argument. For example: “bd.bright full” makes the backdrop full bright.
• bd.glow - Sets the backdrop’s glow intensity. Please specify a glow intensity decimal number between 0.0 and 1.0 as an argument. For example: “bd.glow 0.2″ sets the backdrop glow intensoty to 0.2.
• bd.glowed - Like using the Glow buttons in the backdrop appearance menu. Please specify a glow edit as argument. The glow edit is composed of a plus or minus sign (indicating whether to increment or decrement the glow intensity) and a glow amount. For example: “bd.glowed -0.1″ decreases the amount of glow by 0.1. Do not leave blanks between the sign and the glow amount.

Lights Commands

These commands are related to the buttons in the various lights menus. Commands referring to a particular light carry a light id number (between 1 and 6) after the word “light” and prefixed by a “#” character; this is indicated by “#n” in the commands list below. Please do not leave any blanks between the word “light” and the “#” sign or between the “#” sign and the light id number.

• lights.deleteall - Like clicking the Delete All button in the lights menu.
• lights.showall - Like clicking the Show All button in the lights menu.
• lights.hideall - Like clicking the Hide All button in the lights menu.
• lights.onall - Like clicking the On All button in the lights menu.
• lights.offall - Like clicking the Off All button in the lights menu.
• light#n.create - Like clicking the Create button in the light menu. For example, “light#2.create” creates light number 2.
• light#n.delete - Like clicking the Delete button in the light menu.
• light#n.show - Like clicking the Show button in the light menu.
• light#n.hide - Like clicking the Hide button in the light menu.
• light#n.on - Like clicking the On button in the light menu.
• light#n.off - Like clicking the Off button in the light menu.
• light#n.colour - Like using the buttons in the light colours menu. Please specify a colour vector as an argument. For example: “light#2.colour <1.0, 0.5, 0.2>” sets the colour of light number 2 to <1.0, 0.5, 0.2>.
• light#n.coloured - Like using the buttons in the light custom colour menu. Please specify one or more colour edits as arguments. Each colour edit is composed of a letter (”r”, “g” or “b”), a plus or minus sign (indicating whether to increment or decrement that colour component) and a colour amount. For example: “light#2.coloured r-0.1 b+0.5″ decreases the amount of red by 0.1 and increases the amount of blue by 0.5. Do not leave blanks between a letter and a sign or between a sign and the colour amount.
• light#n.warm - Like clicking the Warming button in the light colours menu.
• light#n.cool - Like clicking the Cooling button in the light colours menu.
• light#n.soft - Like clicking the Soft button in the light colours menu.
• light#n.intensity - Sets the light’s intensity. Please specify the desired intensity (between 0.0 and 1.0) as an argument. For example, “light#2.intensity 0.9″ sets the intensity of light number 2 to 0.9.
• light#n.radius - Sets the light’s radius. Please specify the desired radius (between 0.0 and 20.0) as an argument. For example, “light#2.radius 12.5″ sets the radius of light number 2 to 12.5.
• light#n.falloff - Sets the light’s falloff. Please specify the desired falloff (between 0.0 and 2.0) as an argument. For example, “light#2.falloff 1.5″ sets the falloff of light number 2 to 1.5.
• light#n.paramsed - Like using the intensity, radius and falloff buttons in the light parameters menu. Please specify one or more parameter edits as arguments. Each parameter edit is composed of a letter (”i”, “r” or “f”, for intensity, radius and falloff, respectively), a plus or minus sign (indicating whether to increment or decrement that parameter) and an amount. For example: “light#2.paramsed i+0.5 r-2″ increases the intensity of light number 2 by 0.5 and decreases its radius by 2. Do not leave blanks between a letter and a sign or between a sign and the amount.
• light#n.pos - Sets the light’s position in relation to the stage centre. Please specify a position vector as an argument. For example: “light#2.pos <1.0, -2.5, 0.0>” moves light number 2 one metre to the right and 2.5 metres down from the stage centre.
• light#n.poscentre - Like clicking the Centre button in the light position menu.
• light#n.posed - Like using the buttons in the light position menu. Please specify one or more position edits as arguments. Each position edit is composed of a letter (”x”, “y” or “z”), a plus or minus sign (indicating whether to increment or decrement that position component) and a distance. For example: “light#2.posed x-1 z+0.5″ moves light number 2 one metre to the right and 0.5 metres up from its current position. Do not leave blanks between a letter and a sign or between a sign and the distance number.
• light#n.seek - Like using the buttons in the light seek model menu. Please specify a seek position name as an argument, using lower case. For example: “light#2.seek feet” moves light number 2 close to the model’s feet.
• light#n.closer - Like clicking the Closer button in the light seek model menu.
• light#n.further - Like clicking the Further button in the light seek model menu.

Effects Generators Commands

These commands are related to the buttons in the various effects generators menus. Commands referring to a particular effects generator carry an effects generator id number (between 1 and 6) after the word “effgen” and prefixed by a “#” character; this is indicated by “#n” in the commands list below. Please do not leave any blanks between the word “effgen” and the “#” sign or between the “#” sign and the effects generator id number.

• effgens.deleteall - Like clicking the Delete All button in the effects menu.
• effgens.showall - Like clicking the Show All button in the effects menu.
• effgens.hideall - Like clicking the Hide All button in the effects menu.
• effgens.onall - Like clicking the On All button in the effects menu.
• effgens.offall - Like clicking the Off All button in the effects menu.
• effgen#n.create - Like clicking the Create button in the effects generator menu. For example, “effgen#2.create” creates effects generator number 2.
• effgen#n.delete - Like clicking the Delete button in the effects generator menu.
• effgen#n.show - Like clicking the Show button in the effects generator menu.
• effgen#n.hide - Like clicking the Hide button in the effects generator menu.
• effgen#n.on - Like clicking the On button in the effects generator menu.
• effgen#n.off - Like clicking the Off button in the effects generator menu.
• effgen#n.gen - Like clicking the effect types buttons in the effects generator menu. Please specify the name of the effect type to generate as an argument, using lower case. For example, “effgen#2.gen smoke” makes effects generator number 2 to start generating smoke.
• effgen#n.colour - Like using the buttons in the effects generator colours menu. Please specify a colour vector as an argument. For example: “effgen#2.colour <1.0, 0.5, 0.2>” sets the colour of the effect of effects generator number 2 to <1.0, 0.5, 0.2>.
• effgen#n.coloured - Like using the buttons in the effects generator custom colour menu. Please specify one or more colour edits as arguments. Each colour edit is composed of a letter (”r”, “g” or “b”), a plus or minus sign (indicating whether to increment or decrement that colour component) and a colour amount. For example: “effgen#2.coloured r-0.1 b+0.5″ decreases the amount of red by 0.1 and increases the amount of blue by 0.5. Do not leave blanks between a letter and a sign or between a sign and the colour amount.
• effgen#n.density - Like using the density buttons in the effects generator properties menu. Please specify the desired density as an argument. For example, “effgen#2.density 3″ sets the density of effects generator number 2 to 3.
• effgen#n.pos - Sets the effects generattor’s position in relation to the stage centre. Please specify a position vector as an argument. For example: “effgen#2.pos <1.0, -2.5, 0.0>” moves effects generator number 2 one metre to the right and 2.5 metres down from the stage centre.
• effgen#n.poscentre - Like clicking the Centre button in the effects generator position menu.
• effgen#n.posed - Like using the buttons in the effects generator position menu. Please specify one or more position edits as arguments. Each position edit is composed of a letter (”x”, “y” or “z”), a plus or minus sign (indicating whether to increment or decrement that position component) and a distance. For example: “effgen#2.posed x-1 z+0.5″ moves effects generator number 2 one metre to the right and 0.5 metres up from its current position. Do not leave blanks between a letter and a sign or between a sign and the distance number.
• effgen#n.seek - Like using the buttons in the effects generator seek model menu. Please specify a seek position name as an argument, using lower case. For example: “effgen#2.seek feet” moves effects generator number 2 close to the model’s feet.
• effgen#n.closer - Like clicking the Closer button in the effects generator seek model menu.
• effgen#n.further - Like clicking the Further button in the effects generator seek model menu.

Gaze Points Commands

These commands are related to the buttons in the various gaze points menus. Commands referring to a particular gaze point carry a gaze point id number (between 1 and 6) after the word “gazepoint” and prefixed by a “#” character; this is indicated by “#n” in the commands list below. Please do not leave any blanks between the word “gazepoint” and the “#” sign or between the “#” sign and the gaze point id number.

• gazepoints.deleteall - Like clicking the Delete All button in the gaze points menu.
• gazepoints.showall - Like clicking the Show All button in the gaze points menu.
• gazepoints.hideall - Like clicking the Hide All button in the gaze points menu.
• gazepoint#n.create - Like clicking the Create button in the gaze point menu. For example, “gazepoint#2.create” creates gaze point number 2.
• gazepoint#n.delete - Like clicking the Delete button in the gaze point menu.
• gazepoint#n.show - Like clicking the Show button in the gaze point menu.
• gazepoint#n.hide - Like clicking the Hide button in the gaze point menu.
• gazepoint#n.pos - Sets the gaze point’s position in relation to the stage centre. Please specify a position vector as an argument. For example: “gazepoint#2.pos <1.0, -2.5, 0.0>” moves gaze point number 2 one metre to the right and 2.5 metres down from the stage centre.
• gazepoint#n.poscentre - Like clicking the Centre button in the gaze point position menu.
• gazepoint#n.posed - Like using the buttons in the gaze point position menu. Please specify one or more position edits as arguments. Each position edit is composed of a letter (”x”, “y” or “z”), a plus or minus sign (indicating whether to increment or decrement that position component) and a distance. For example: “gazepoint#2.posed x-1 z+0.5″ moves gaze point number 2 one metre to the right and 0.5 metres up from its current position. Do not leave blanks between a letter and a sign or between a sign and the distance number.
• gazepoint#n.seek - Like using the buttons in the gaze point seek model menu. Please specify a seek position name as an argument, using lower case. For example: “gazepoint#2.seek feet” moves gaze point number 2 close to the model’s feet.
• gazepoint#n.closer - Like clicking the Closer button in the gaze point seek model menu.
• gazepoint#n.further - Like clicking the Further button in the gaze point seek model menu.

Configurations Commands

These commands are related to the buttons in the configurations menu.

• config.dump - Like clicking the Dump button.
• config.reset - Like clicking the Reset button.
• config.list - Lists all the available configurations stored in the PhotoStage.
• config.load - Like using the configuration buttons in the configurations menu. Please specify the name of the configuration to be loaded as an argument. For example: “config.load Misty Rose” loads the “Misty Rose” configuration.

Settings

The PhotoStage can be customised using some settings that you can modify according to your preferences. For example, you can specify who can use your PhotoStage. Each setting is stored inside the Control Box as a notecard. Follow these steps in order to see or alter the settings:

1. Edit the PhotoStage Control Box by right-clicking it and selecting Edit in the pie menu. An Edit window appears.
2. Click the Content tab. You will see a list of notecards with names beginning with the # sign. These are settings. You will see also other items here in addition to settings; don’t try to change, delete or rename these items.
3. To change a setting, right-click it and select Rename from the menu. Change the text after the equals sign to whatever value you would like, respecting the limits applicable to that particular setting (see below). Press Enter when you are done to save the setting’s new value.
4. Wait a few seconds for the PhotoStage to apply the changed setting.

Important: Do not rename or change in any way the text between the # sign and the equals sign in a setting. Also, don’t leave any blanks to either side of the equals sign. If you do this, the setting will not be interpreted correctly by the PhotoStage.

The next sections describe each setting that is supported by the PhotoStage.

UsersAllowed

This setting controls who can use your PhotoStage. Possible values are the following:

• All - Anybody can use the PhotoStage.
• Group - Only active members of the same group the PhotoStage belongs to, plus the PhotoStage owner, can use it.
• Owner - Only the PhotoStage owner can use it.

If this setting is not specified, or a value other than the above listed ones is used, the PhotoStage will allow anybody to use it.

Channel

This setting controls which communications channel is used by the Control Box to talk to the Backdrop, lights and effect generators. Possible values are numbers between (and including) 1 and 9.

If this setting is not specified, or a value other than the above mentioned is used, channel 1 is assumed by default.

ChatChannel

This setting controls which communications channel is used by the PhotoStage to listen to your chat commands. Possible values are numbers between (and including) 80 and 89.

If this setting is not specified, or a value other than the above mentioned is used, channel 81 is assumed by default.

Support

As an owner of PhotoStage, you are entitled to lifetime updates. Every time that a new version of PhotoStage is released you will receive it for free. The PhotoStage checks for new versions every time it is reset, and you can make it check for updates manually using the Update button (see the Options section). Please notice that beta or demonstration versions of PhotoStage do not qualify for lifetime updates.

We suggest that you join the Ananke Media Systems User Group to keep up to date about new developments and other information related to PhotoStage. Find this group using Search (Edit, Search), move to the Groups tab, enter “Ananke Media Systems User Group” (without the quotes), hit Enter, select the group in the list and click Join. Please make sure that you understand and agree with the group charter before you join.

The Ananke Media Systems website and blog is also a good source of information and support. Please visit us at http://anankemediasystems.wordpress.com and feel free to leave your comments.

You are also welcome to send us feedback about PhotoStage by sending email to ananke.media.systems@gmail.com.

Thanks for using PhotoStage!

Usage Agreement

Please read carefully.

1. As an owner of PhotoStage, you are free to utilise the product for its intended use as described in this User’s Manual and the AMS web site. Other uses are not allowed under this agreement.
2. You are not allowed to disassemble or reverse-engineer PhotoStage.
3. You are not allowed to alter PhotoStage’s prim configuration or prim properties other than by using the customisation mechanisms provided for that purpose and documented in this User’s Manual.
4. You are not allowed to use the textures included as part of PhotoStage outside PhotoStage. In particular, you are not allowed to extract those textures into your inventory or other objects.

• Using PhotoStage implies your acceptance of this agreement.

Acknowledgments

Overall concept by Anna Tretiak and Serenity Mercier.
Design, building and scripting by Anna Tretiak.
Extensive testing by Serenity Mercier.
Smoke, fog and snow visual effects by Desdemona Enfield.