Setting up your laptop for the workshop

Mac users should be able to use the provided software. We recommend that everyone else either boot from one of the provided Ubuntu flash drives or use one of our laptops (which we've booted from those drives).

Primary installs: We will primarily using GIMP 2.6 in this workshop. In addition to GIMP 2.6, there are some library files to install, which you can find in the MediaScript/Library folder on the flash drive. Mac users will also need an X11 server.

Optional install (1): We have developed an improved scripting interface for GIMP, called MediaScript. However, we only have MediaScript available for OS X 10.5.6 and on our Ubuntu flash drives. You can do all of the workshop exercises without MediaScript, but we will use it for some demonstrations.

Optional install (2): We will be discussing Inkscape and demonstrating some examples. However, given time restrictions, we will not be conducting Inkscape exercises. Inkscape is available on the workshop CDs and Flash drives.

Optional install (3): We are using Gimp 2.6 because it is the most stable release available for all major platforms. However, Gimp 2.4 can be better for many platforms. For example, it appears that the Python scripting interface has not yet migrated to Gimp 2.6 on Windows. Similarly, Gimp 2.6 does not seem to run reliably on OS X 10.4 (Tiger).

Macintosh OS X 10.5.6 (Leopard)

On the flash drive, in the MediaScript/Leopard folder, you'll see disk image files for the latest version of the X11 server, Inkscape, and GIMP 2.6.5 with MediaScript. Install each.

Copy MediaScript/Libraries from the flash drive to your desktop.

Macintosh OS X 10.4.x (Tiger)

On the flash drive, in the MediaScript/Tiger folder, you'll see disk image files for Inkscape and Gimp 2.4.7. Install each. (There does not seem to be a reliable version of Gimp 2.6 for Tiger.)

Hopefully, you have X11 installed already, since Apple recommends that you install X11 from the Tiger install DVD. If you don't have that DVD, you can install the following files in order: X11SDK.pkg, X11User.pkg, and X11Update2006.dmg.

You will not have access to the MediaScript GIMP extension, but it is not necessary for the workshop.

Copy MediaScript/Libraries from the flash drive to your desktop.

Open a text editor of your choice.

In the Gimp, either start the Script-Fu console and load mediafu.scm or start the Python-Fu console and load mediafu.py (we recommend using execfile).

Microsoft Windows

Because Gimp 2.6 on Windows does not currently support Python and we have not ported MediaScript to Windows, we recommend that you not use Microsoft Windows for this workshop. However, if you are willing to program in Scheme and do without the MediaScript GIMP extension, it is possible to do so.

On the flash drive, in the MediaScript/Windows folder you'll see installers for GIMP and Inkscape. Use them to install the two programs.

You will not have access to the MediaScript GIMP extension, but it is not necessary for the workshop.

Copy MediaScript/Libraries from the flash drive to your desktop.

Open a text editor of your choice.

In the Gimp, start the Script-Fu console and load mediafu.scm or start the Python-Fu console.

Linux

Using your favorite package manager, download and install Inkscape and GIMP.

You will not have access to the MediaScript GIMP extension, but it is not necessary for the workshop.

Open a text editor of your choice.

Copy MediaScript/Libraries from the flash drive to your desktop.

In the Gimp, either start the Script-Fu console and load mediafu.scm or start the Python-Fu console and load mediafu.py (we recommend using execfile).

Boot Linux from USB Stick

We have a few copies of USB sticks with Ubuntu Linux that contain our GIMP with our optional extensions installed. Unfortunately, booting from a USB stick is not always as easy as one hopes.

To boot from a Macbook: Insert a rEFIt CD (supplied) and boot with the option key down. If all goes well, you'll see the USB stick as an option, and you can simply select that option.

To boot from a Windows laptop: Select the boot menu at startup (different laptops have different keys; usually F8 or F9) and then choose the USB drive.

If you use the sticks, the MediaScript extension is installed, and can serve as your primary text editor (at least for Scheme). If you want to use Python, start the Python-Fu console and load mediafu.py. (We recommend using execfile.)

Supplied Laptops

We will be providing a few laptops that we have booted from our USB sticks. You can use one of these laptops. Follow the instructions for booting from USB.