MediaLab
Visualizing Your Science

Tutorials

How do I connect to the MediaLab file storage?

Every Biochemistry Lab has a folder in the MediaLab folder located in the Facilities share on biochemistry.drive.wisc.edu. Other departments may be granted a folder as needed, please submit a ticket requesting a folder if you work with the MediaLab on a regular basis. We also are able to work with files shared via Box, Google Drive and OneDrive.

If your lab has a folder within the MediaLab folder you’ll find a folder matching your PI’s NetID. Each PI folder has “Submit” and “View” directories. Put files in Submit for us to print, or edit. View is a Read only directory where we will place completed work.

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Android

There are several apps available that are capable of connecting to the file server. For this example we will be using Astro File Explorer. You can download it for free from the Google Play Store.

ASTRO Filemanager – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.metago.astro

  1. Make sure you using the UW VPN or Biochemistry Departmental VPN if you are not on a UW-Madison network
  2. After installing and opening the app, tap the plus (+) sign next to the ‘Storage Locations’
  3. Choose ‘SMB Server’
  4. Connect to the server and share:
    • Server: \\biochem.drive.wisc.edu\Facilities
      • Username: @ad.wisc.edu
      • Password:

iOS & iPadOS

iOS 13 and iPadOS include server capabilities within the Files app.

  1. Make sure you using the UW VPN or Biochemistry Departmental VPN if you are not on a UW-Madison network
  2. Select Browse at the bottom of the Files app screen
  3. Tap the … option
  4. Choose Connect to Server
    1. Server: biochem.drive.wisc.edu
    2. Click Connect
  5. Select Registered User (it should be selected by default)
  6. Use @ad.wisc.edu username and password
  7. Click Next
  8. You should be able to access the Facilities share

Linux

  1. Make sure you using the UW VPN or Biochemistry Departmental VPN if you are not on a UW-Madison network
  2. From the sidebar in a desktop window
    • Choose “Connect to Server” (last option)
    • Enter the server name:
      \\biochem.drive.wisc.edu
    • User Name:
    • Domain Name: “wisc.edu” or “ad.wisc.edu”
    • Enter your NetID password
  3. Click “Connect”
  4. Choose the Facilities share

macOS

  1. Make sure you using the UW VPN or Biochemistry Departmental VPN if you are not on a UW-Madison network
  2. In the Finder, choose ‘Connect to Server’ from the ‘Go’ menu.
  3. Enter the server name to map
    • For Other Shares: smb://biochem.drive.wisc.edu
      Note: If prompted, use @wisc.edu and for this server
  4. Select the Facilities share
  5. The share window(s) will open

Windows

  1. Make sure you using the UW VPN or Biochemistry Departmental VPN if you are not on a UW-Madison network
  2. Navigate to ‘This PC’ . One easy way to do this is Search for and open ‘This PC’.
  3. Click the Computer tab at the top of the window
  4. Choose ‘Map network drive’
    1. In the ‘Folder’ field, type the path below:
      \\biochem.drive.wisc.edu\Facilities
    2. If you log into this computer with your NetID this computer should connect automatically as the logged in user, click finish
    3. If you don’t log into this computer with your NetID:
      1. Check the ‘Connect using different credentials’ box
      2. Click Finish
      3. Username: @wisc.edu (example: bbadger@wisc.edu)
      4. Password:

Miscellaneous:

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Poster Printing - General Info

  • We print on paper (44 inches wide) or vinyl (42 inches wide). Same price.
    Please check your preference on the job ticket.
  • When setting up your poster please note: One dimension CAN NOT exceed 44 (paper) or 42 (vinyl) inches.**
    **If you have made your poster larger than 44/42 inches in both dimensions, we will shrink it proportionally when printing.
  • We can print posters from Macs or Windows. If you use Linux, please save the file as a pdf.
  • Files types: PowerPoint, Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign or PDF
  • We can print a mini poster for you to proof your poster (12×18 inches).
  • We charge $5.00 a square foot.

PowerPoint users:
PowerPoint will not allow you to make a “slide” larger than 56 inches.

If you must make a poster larger than that in PowerPoint, we suggest you make your poster half the size you would like your final poster.

When ready to print, tell us what size you would like the poster printed.

Example: You would like a 42 x 72 inch final poster
You would make a 21 x 36 inch poster

Be sure to insert high resolution images that can handle doubling in size.

Illustrator and InDesign users:
Remember to Embed your linked files when you are ready to bring us the file.
See “Embedding Images in Illustrator” below, if you are unsure what this means or how to embed images.

Ironing Your Vinyl Poster

Remove the wrinkles from a poster is easier than you might think. Don’t try to rush or you could end up damaging your poster instead.

Place the poster face down on top of a piece of cardboard set on a clean, stable surface or directly on an ironing board. Cover the back of the poster with a normal cotton sheet or towel and set the iron to its lowest possible heat without steam. Once the iron has heated up, move the iron over the wrinkles or creases without stopping. Check the poster regularly see whether or not the iron has done its job.

Embedding Images in Illustrator

  • Open the Links Palette if it is not currently open
    (Go to the Windows menu item and scroll down to Links, to open the Links Palette)
  • Select the image(s) in the Links Palette with the linked icon
  • Go to the fly out menu in the upper right corner of the palette
  • Choose Embed Image(s)
    The linked image icon is now gone
  • Save your file. You may want to save with a different name as embedding will
    1) make a larger file size
    2) the images will no longer automatically replace, as a linked file does, if you edit an image file.

Cartoon for embedding images in illustrator

 

Printing on the MediaLab HP Color printer - For Windows users

See if this link works for you and you can pickup at step 3, if not start at step 1.

Point your web browser to http://support.hp.com then type “D3L09A” into the search field and click next.

  • Click Software and Driver Downloads.
  • Select your Operating System from the drop down list and click Next.
  • Click the Drivers link and choose the option for “HP Color LaserJet M750″
  • Wait for your download to complete and run the installer.
  • Run through the installer and when prompted choose the option of the wired or networked printer, not directly connected with USB.
  • The installer will then scan the network for the printer. There should be only one result, and its IP should be 128.104.116.101
  • Select it and let the installer finish.

Printing on the MediaLab HP Color printer - For Mac users

  • Open System Preferences
  • Go to Print & Fax
  • Unlock the window by clicking the lock in the lower left corner and authenticate with an admin account
  • Click the + button on the bottom of the list of the left.
  • Type “media” in the search field and choose the “Media Lab HP Color LaserJet M750″
  • Wait for the computer to connect to the printer and click Add.

Powerpoint Tips

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Powerpoint Talk - Slide Master

To keep the same font style, colors, background image etc. for each slide, make a Side Master.

View > Master > Slide Master

The top slide is the slide master, the slides underneath are the layout masters

Here you can set the size, color and which fonts to use in your slides and how your text and background images are displayed.

You can use the default layouts or create your own. If you create new ones be sure to rename so you can find it easily.

Once you have the master set, Close Master.

You can now
Insert > New slide and choose the layout slide you would like to use, with your design elements preset.

More info:
https://support.office.com/en-us/article/what-is-a-slide-master-b9abb2a0-7aef-4257-a14e-4329c904da54

Powerpoint Talk - Reduce file size

Two ways to reduce PowerPoint file size through image size reduction.
Can do either or both together.

1) Select the image you want to compress, then

  • Picture format > Compress Pictures or File > Compress Pictures
  • In the pull down menu you select what “Picture Quality” to maintain
  • You can either do select images or all images

2) If you have cropped images

  • Picture format > Compress Pictures
  • Check box for deleting  cropped areas
  • You can either do select images or all images

Save your file with a new name in case you need to go back to a previous size or uncropped version.

Powerpoint Talk - Crop an image to a shape

Crop an image to a shape

  • Select image
  • Picture Format > Crop > Crop to Shape > Pick shape

Powerpoint Talk - Add video

Embedding a video is convenient, but can bloat the file size

Linked video can break when showing, but creates a smaller file. Always save the linked video and PowerPoint file in the same folder.

  • In Normal view, select the slide you’d like to add a video to.
  • On the Insert tab, click Video, then click Movie from File.
  • In the Choose a Movie dialog box, select the file you want to insert.
  • If you want to embed the video on the slide, simply click Insert.
  • If you want to put a link to the video on the slide, click Options at the lower left corner of the dialog box, and then select the Link to file box, and then click Insert.

Powerpoint Poster - Sizing larger than 56 inches

PowerPoint will not allow you to make a “slide” larger than 56 inches.

If you must make a poster larger than that in PowerPoint, we suggest you make your poster half the size you would like your final poster.

When ready to print, tell us what size you would like the poster printed.

Remember – one dimension cannot exceed 42 inches in the final size

Example: You would like a 42 x 72 inch final poster
You would make a 21 x 36 inch poster

Be sure to insert high resolution images that can handle doubling in size.

Powerpoint Poster - Resizing a poster

PowerPoint does not take kindly to the change of “slide” dimensions once you have started laying out your your poster.
If you need to change the size of your poster after you have started:

  1. Select your entire poster content
  2. Copy
  3. Delete – If deleting makes you nervous, save a new version first, so you have something to go back to
  4. Make your new poster size
  5. Paste your poster into your new size, and rearrange as needed

Powerpoint Poster or Talk - Bullet Points & Line Spacing

When using Bullet Points, check under
Format > Paragraph
Here you can adjust
– The space before the bullet (Before text:)
– The space between the bullet and the text that follows (Hanging, By:)
– The Line Spacing, by condensing your bulleted text or putting a little space between a series of bulleted sentences to make it easier to read.

The default style is not necessarily the best option.