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Newb - Light Position Labels


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Sorry guys if this is in the wrong section, or the wrong forum entirely. I'm a newb, and totally lost, so I'm also sorry if this topic has also been covered.

I'm working on a lightplot for my high school production of Amadeus, and I've encountered an issue on my academic license of VW11. I can't figure out how to move the lighting position labels. I'd like them to be centered behind the lighting position, and about a half inch back. In their current position (to the right of the the lighting position) they bump into other lighting positions etc.

While I'm at newb questions:

What's the standard for containers and circuit / channel numbers. Unfortunately I left my copy of J. Michael Gillette's Designing With Light at school, so I can't reference check into this myself. I was told by someone that all containers should be touching the adjacent container, and that channel typically goes in the circle container. LW11 defaults channel to hexagon and circuit to circle container (unless I have that backwards), what is the standard?

Thanks,

Charc

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Hi Charc,

Have you created any Label Legends in the Label Legend Manager? If not, you should create one, and assign to it each instrument by entering its name in the Label field in the OIP (Object Information Palette). If you correctly attach a properly made label legend to an instrument, you should have a handle on each text field (channel, dimmer, purpose, color, etc) which you can use to fine-tune each label for specific instruments.

If you have done all of this, it *should* work. From what you've stated, it sounds to me like you have a label legend and are using it, but need to modify the layout within the Label Legend Manager from the tools menu.

As far as standards go, USITT has created a document for recommended lighting practices which is very helpful as a starting point. Many designers come up with their own standards, or variations of USITT's.

USITT Recommended Practice for Theatrical Lighting Design Graphics

Link to PDF: http://www.usitt.org/bookstore/downloads/RP-2%20%202006.pdf

Good luck, and definately let us know if you still can't get those labels to work out properly.

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Hi Charc,

Sorry I misread that.

No, you can't apply label legends to lighting positions, at least not that I know of.

It's been a few years since I've used VW 11, so I'm not sure if the feature existed then, but in the current version, a small blue handle appears, which allows you to drag the position summary wherever you please.

See screenshot here: http://www.alokw.com/misc/forums/vw/VWSummaryHandle.png

Perhaps someone else knows of a solution you can use in VW 11.

Also, you noted that you were a student. In case you're not aware, Nemetschek recently started offering an academic version of VectorWorks 2008 for free to students. I'm not sure if high school students are eligible, but it's worth checking out. http://www.nemetschek.net/student/index.php

Good luck,

Alok

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Hi Charc,

Sorry I misread that.

No, you can't apply label legends to lighting positions, at least not that I know of.

It's been a few years since I've used VW 11, so I'm not sure if the feature existed then, but in the current version, a small blue handle appears, which allows you to drag the position summary wherever you please.

See screenshot here: http://www.alokw.com/misc/forums/vw/VWSummaryHandle.png

Perhaps someone else knows of a solution you can use in VW 11.

Also, you noted that you were a student. In case you're not aware, Nemetschek recently started offering an academic version of VectorWorks 2008 for free to students. I'm not sure if high school students are eligible, but it's worth checking out. http://www.nemetschek.net/student/index.php

Good luck,

Alok

Thanks for your additional reply. A quick note here, I did not mean to type version 11, I in-fact have 12.5.

I had noticed that handle was listed as a change in the current version, which is a nice feature. Also, I am aware that Nemetschek is providing the trial academic license of VW 2008. I spoke with Nemetschek circa the time of the VW 2008 release. I was told that if I called back in a week, I'd receive VW 2008, instead of VW 12.5. In my memory serves me correctly, which I believe it does, I called more than a week later, and still received 12.5. Oh well.

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  • 2 weeks later...
I can't figure out how to move the lighting position labels. I'd like them to be centered behind the lighting position, and about a half inch back.

Ensure you are on the appropriate layer, then select the lighting position in question. A handle will appear on or very near the text label. Hover your cursor over the handle until it changes to a diagonal arrow. Left click and move to your desired location. You will need to do this for each label you would like to move.

You may also change the font face, size and color while the position is selected, using the Text menu and Attributes palette.

Alternatively, you can deselect the Position Summary option in the Object Info dialog and use a simple text object as a label. This will however, remove the relationship between the text and the lighting position object. Auto-numbering, auto-labeling, if in use, will not be affected by deselecting Position Summary.

Good luck!

--L.

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