Archive for February, 2008
Tutorial: Updating your PhotoStage or PhotoLite
In this tutorial I explain how to update your PhotoStage or PhotoLite. Owners of these products are entitled to lifetime updates, which basically means that once you buy from us, you will receive any future version of the same product for free, forever.
Having the latest version of your product is important, since we often introduce fixes for all those Second Life glitches and performance improvements, as well as new features. Also, we usually do not support products that are not up to date.
If you want to stay up to date, the first thing you need to think about is how to find out whether a new version has been released. There are basically two channels that we use to publicise updates: this web site and the Ananke Media Systems User Group. We suggest that you join this group to receive notifications about new releases and the occasional exclusive gift.
An alternative way to find out whether an update has been released is to make your product check for updates. I explain how to do this in the next section.
New updates of PhotoStage and PhotoLite
We have just made available a new version of PhotoStage and PhotoLite, numbered 1.1.1 in both cases.
The major new features in this release are:
- A chat interface has been added. This means that you can control your PhotoStage or PhotoLite by typing commands on the chat area.
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The much improved PhotoStand 1.1.0 is included. This new version of PhotoStand features rotation pinning.
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Technical fix: we have rewritten most of the communications infrastructure in both products, which works around the cause of the dreadful stuck menus effect.
Please see your User’s Manual for detailed instructions on how to use these new features.
If you already own a PhotoStage or PhotoLite, remember that you can obtain this update for free by click Options, then Update from the main menu. As usual, you can buy these products from the Ananke Media Systems demo site in Lady Vale as well as the online stores OnRez and SLExchange.
Rotation pinning on new PhotoStand
You would think that a pose stand is something very simple: you sit on it, move forward and backwards through the list of poses, and little else. Most nice stands also incorporate a rotation feature, so you can adjust the angle of the model on the stand as necessary. And that’s about it, most of the time.
However, some situations require more. Imagine that you are using your run-of-the-mill pose stand at your studio, where you also probably have a backdrop and some other elements and tools. Most likely, you want your models facing you, the photographer, most of the time. For some of the poses, you may want to rotate the stand to one side or the other in search of that perfect angle; you may even rotate it 180 degrees for a back shot. In any case, the “default” position of the stand, the most common one, should be facing you. Bear with me.
Codie’s blogging about PhotoStage
Did you hear? Just buy it! :p
Watch the video!
The awesome video that Serenity Mercier created for the PhotoStage Launch Event is now available from the PhotoStage page, and also at the AMS Demo Site in Lady Vale.
Don’t miss it!
Delighted at the PhotoStage Launch Event
Wow.
Serenity and I are delighted at how the PhotoStage Launch Event worked out. The Alexander Beach sim was full 15 minutes before the opening time, and we had to keep upping the avatar limit to let more people in until the alarms began to ring. We peaked at 67 concurrent people, and in total we counted over 85.
Serenity’s video left many people impressed, myself among them.
The photo contest judges received 31 submissions, of which they selected Anessa Stine‘s “Miss Payton” as the winner. Congratulations to Anessa, who gets a free PhotoStage, some wall space at Neat Tricks Gallery and a full spread in The Best of SL magazine. Anessa photographed Payton Heron wearing a LeeZu Baxter Designs outfit and using an Animah pose:
We would like to thank all the people who joined us today, and, of course, Princeton University for letting us their venue, probably the finest in the grid. Thanks also to Frolic Mills, who did an excellent job with the event logistics; to our photo contest judges, Alaska Metropolitan, Bella March and Scope Cleaver; to our fantastic models, Babyhoney Bailey, Elisne Allen, Mui Mukerji and Payton Heron; and to our sponsors Animah, Corbing Carling Photography, InStyle Fashion Agency, J&J Photo and Design Studio, Kali Meads Studio, LeeZu Baxter Designs, Maitreya, OPIUM Everyday and Photos by Lolita.
We are exhausted now. I guess we will take it easy for a few days, and then, back to work. We still have lots of new features to incorporate into PhotoStage!
All ready for PhotoStage Launch Event
All is ready for the PhotoStage Launch Event. We will see you on Sunday 17th February at 12 noon SLT in Alexander Beach!
PhotoLite is out
PhotoLite, the lightweight photography toolkit for on-location shooting, is available now.
If you are familiar with PhotoStage, this new product works in a similar fashion but does not use a studio backdrop.
You can buy PhotoLite from the AMS Demo Site in Lady Vale (112, 225, 301) or from the online stores SLExchange and OnRez. If you already own PhotoStage and would like to acquire PhotoLite as well, please contact us for a promotional offer.
Oh, and thanks to Serenity Mercier for the product concept 😉
Enjoy!
PhotoStage launch event
A launch event for PhotoStage will take place in spectacular Alexander Beach on 17 February 2008 at 12 noon SLT.
After a guided tour video we will have a photo contest, during which you will be able to shoot our models and submit your work. The winner will get a fully-functional PhotoStage, some wall space at the unique Neat Tricks Gallery, and a full spread in The Best of SL magazine. Kromus Korobase will put the music.
This event is kindly sponsored by Animah, Corbing Carling Photography, InStyle Fashion Agency, J&J Photo and Design Studio, Kali Meads Studio, LeeZu Baxter Designs, Maitreya, OPIUM Everyday and Photos by Lolita. Many thanks to our sponsors for their generous contributions.
Join us there!
Ananké Media Systems 
