The perfect TouchDesigner system As I’ve mentioned before in previous posts, there used to be a perfect TouchDesigner system. Then Microsoft had to go and change things and release Windows 8 and then Windows 10. This leaves interactive professionals like myself in a somewhat dicey situation where we need the newest version of Windows for…
Developing TouchDesigner projects like a professional, not a pro This post is going to talk about a few things that seem unimportant or like side worries, but the more and more you work on TouchDesigner projects and the larger the team/project you’re working with/on, you start to weigh things differently. “Do you remember that one…
That on-site life We’ve all had our share of installation experiences, probably mostly comedic and crazy in nature. There’s constant chaos, shifting deliverables, mix-ups and confusion…and in all that, we’re still expected to get everything done without delays or additional costs. So how can you still be an on-site professional? Learn names (and be nice)…
Interactive installation OS?? Who knew that I’d have to think about what OS we’re using on our interactive installation in 2018? Who knew that there’d be OS drama? Windows 10 is the latest and greatest Windows version, but even as such, many professionals are still using Windows 7. We’ll get into the nitty gritty of…
The difficulty of optimizing I did an online workshop focused on optimizing projects in TouchDesigner last week because I think it’s a hugely under-discussed topic. Optimization is a tool and thought process that should be introduced more and more to new and intermediate users. The biggest difference between optimization and “regular programming” is the method…
New year, new initiatives For the new year, we’re going to be unveiling a few new initiatives. The first are regular online workshops. They will be on a number of topics around immersive installations and interactive technology, including many TouchDesigner-focused workshops. They will be short (2-3 hour) deep dives on single topics including a short…
What’s so special about working on-site? Working in your office and working on-site for an interactive project are two different beasts. I find it interesting that they’re never really talked about separately. The environments are different, the schedules are rapidly evolving, and they each have unique challenges. After having just come back from finishing a…
What’s the best rig? A common question I see asked if “what laptop should I get for starting out with interactive work?” This can be a tough question to answer when it comes to TouchDesigner systems since you’re able to program content in so many different ways. I always recommend desktop computers. Desktops come in…
Why even bother debugging? Debugging systems of any kind sucks. It’s a time consuming process with very little reward. There are no heroes in the eyes of the clients or designers. Fixing a bug usually just puts you back at par. So why do it? You generally don’t have a choice! All the applications we…
Prepping for an immersive installation You’ve got your team assembled. Everyone is ready to head to the installation site and get the complex system up and running in full glory. The plan has been set with deadlines and time estimates. Client expectations are set and reviews are scheduled. What happens next can be a million…