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MavericksMake

Creativity Station Overview

 

Creativity Station

This station is designed to support graphic design, 3D scanning and other creative media projects. It allows you to express your creativity in a variety of different ways. 

 

 

What is the Sprout?

Graphic Design

"Graphic design, also known as communication design, is the art and practice of planning and projecting ideas and experiences with visual and textual content. The form of the communication can be physical or virtual, and may include images, words, or graphic forms." (AIGA)

This station can be used to create vector art, posters, sample packaging, and other types visual aids for class projects. New users should be aware that there is a learning curve when using some of the software programs; however, many tutorials and help guides are available online. Select the "Getting Started" tab to get a basic introduction to the graphic design resources available at this station.

Capturing an Object

Use the Capture feature to take a picture of an object on the touch mat. Use the following steps to get the best capture of your object.

  1. On Sprout Home screen, touch Capture.
    Figure 1: Capture on Sprout Home Screen
    Figure : Capture button on the Sprout workspace
  2. Place the item for capture on the touch mat using the following guidelines.
    • Face your objects towards the monitor so the camera gets the best capture.
    • Place the object close to the center of the mat. Taller objects (one-half inch or more) should be placed away from the touch mat edges for best image capture results. The captured image may be cut off in areas that are close to the edge of touch mat.
    • If capturing multiple objects, make sure you have ample space between objects and that the shadows do not touch, so they are seen as two separate objects rather than one conjoined object.
    • When capturing metal objects, touch Capture first and then place the item on the mat. If a metal item is placed on the mat before the Capture button is pressed, Sprout may register it as a touch on the mat, and the Capture button might not work.
    • When capturing many objects at the same time, it will take longer to completely process the capture.
  3. Tap Capture. There is a 3-second countdown, and then the picture is taken. After the picture is taken, a digital image of the object appears on the mat and Sprout performs some additional processing.

    Figure 2: Tapping the Capture button

    Figure 2: Tapping the Capture button
  4. Make sure that you like the captured image displayed on the screen, and then remove the object from the touch mat.
  5. Tap the blue check to accept the image, the red X to cancel, or the plus sign to scan another object.
     NOTE:
    If you tap the plus sign and scan additional objects, they will all be added to the image gallery. When performing multiple scans, if you cancel the last capture, then only that capture is canceled. The other captures are added to the image gallery.
    Figure 3: Accepting the image
     
  6. Your captured image is saved in the Images section of Gallery for use anytime.
    Figure 4: Captured image saved in Images
     
The Sprout Workspace does not remove empty space enclosed within objects. These areas are filled with white and cannot be removed in the Sprout Workspace.
Figure 5: Enclosed areas that were not removed
 
The white areas can be removed manually using the following steps:
  1. Tap the captured image on the touch mat.
  2. Select Edit from the command menu (displayed on the right side of the touch mat).
  3. Select the Punch tool.
    Figure 6: Selecting the Punch tool
     
  4. Various generic shapes are displayed on the left-side of the touch mat; select one of the generic shapes and place it on top of the captured image.
    Figure 7: Selecting a Punch shape
     
  5. Adjust the shape to match the area to be removed, then save it.
  6. Tap on the white area to be removed.
  7. Select Delete on the right side of the touch mat to delete the area.

Capturing a Document 

With Sprout, you can also capture documents. Use the following steps:

  1. On Sprout Home screen, touch Doc Scan.
    Figure 8: Doc Scan on Sprout Home Screen
     
  2. Place the document near the center of the mat. When it is lying flat and properly positioned, tap
    the Capture button.
    Figure 9: Tapping the Capture button
     
  3. Sprout takes a picture with a flash, performs some processing, and then displays the final version.
    You can now remove the document. The digital version appears on the mat.
    Figure 10: Capturing a document
     
  4. When you are satisfied with the scan, tap the blue check to accept it and add it to your Document Gallery.
    You can also tap the red X to cancel the scan or the plus sign to scan additional documents.
     NOTE:
    If you scan additional documents, they will all be added to the documents gallery. When performing multiple
    scans, if you cancel the last capture, then only that capture is canceled. The other captures are added to the
    documents gallery.
    Figure 11: Tapping the blue check to accept the scan
     
Cropping a document scan
Use the following steps:
  1. Touch the Crop tool to open it, and then move the blue dots in the corners to adjust the size.
    Figure 12: Cropping the document scan
     
  2. When you are done cropping, tap the blue check to accept it. The document scan is added to the
    Documents section of Gallery.
Straightening a document scan
Use the following steps:
  1. If the document is crooked when you capture it, tap the Skew tool on the left, and then tap the
    icon in the center of the scan. Sprout straightens the image.
    Figure 13: Straightening a scan with the Skew tool
     
  2. When you are satisfied with the scan, tap the blue check to accept it, the red X to cancel, or the
    plus sign to scan another page. When done, the scan is added to the Documents section of Gallery.
    Figure 14: Accepting the straightened scan
 

Coming soon!

Animation

"Animation offers a medium of storytelling and visual entertainment which can bring pleasure and information to people of all ages everywhere in the world."      - Walt Disney

 

Animated videos can be a great alternative to traditional powerpoint. An animation can serve as an introduction to a larger presentation or serve as the primary delivery mechanism. Add an animated short at the beginning of your presentation to draw the audience's attention and present key concepts. As you gain experience, take advantage of editing capabilities to develop an engaging feature film.


The MavericksMake makerspace offers a variety of camera options, as well as film and sound editing software to help you with your project.

Key Software

Mixamo Fuse - Fuse allows the user to create  3D characters and upload them to other programs to be animated.

Adobe Flash Professional - Used to create and edit animation videos and multimedia content.

 
 

 

Accessing Software:

Select the LaunchPad LaunchPad  application in the dock. Mouse through to find your desired program.


Online Tools:

Animaker - Animaker is an online do-it-yourself (#DIY) animation video maker ​that brings studio quality presentations within everyone's reach. This resources includes features specifically designed to support the creation of video infographics.
PowToon - PowToon is an online business presentation software tool that allows you to create free, cool, and awesome animated video explainers.
Image result for biteable

Biteable - Biteable is an animation video maker that allows you to customize your videos for free.

   
   
 

Accessing Online Tools:

Click the images above to link directly to the resources. Most of these resources offer free and paid features.


Select the "Tutorials & Resources" tab above for information about how to use these programs. The "Sample Projects" tab provides examples of projects that were created and edited using these resources.

Animated Video created using Animaker - http://www.animaker.com 

An introduction to the Student Tutoring and Research Center at LSC-Montgomery

Examples of Animation

PowToon

How to create animated presentations

PowToon the Movie

Probiotic Video

Animaker

Augmented Reality Explained

Water Pollution

Biteable

WWII Intro in Biteable

Adobe Flash

Flash Animation - Time Pressure - School

3D Scanning

"Digital imaging has untied our hands with regards to technical limitations.  We no longer have to be arbiters of technology; we get to participate in the interpretation of technology into creative content"      - John Dykstra

 

3D scanning allows you to add new dimensions to your projects, digital artwork, and presentations. Objects presented in three dimensions grab the attention of viewers and manipulation and interaction that is not capable with still images or animations.

Starting Your Project

Before you start your 3D project, decide what 3D object you want to scan and how you want to use the 3D object. 

Check out the Tutorials and Resources tab for information on how to start scanning.

 

Key Software

Snapfish - Works with Sprout Workspace to print your projects on mugs, magnets, phone cases and prints.

 
 

 


 

Select the "Tutorials & Resources" tab above for information about how to use these programs. The "Sample Projects" tab provides examples of projects that were created and edited using these resources.

The Sprout offers 2 different ways to capture your 3D object. 

Manually Scanning


Scanning Using the 3D Capture Stage


3D Editing Tools and Features