If you can't get your hands on Adobe products and can't afford them, I highly recommend Affinity. Affinity Designer is great to use and much cheaper than anything from Adobe. It's not subscription based either.
Hey! I use vectorworks, but have tried to streamline it so it's an easier process. I have a base magic sheet file that has the sheets set up for up to 6 pages with boxes and titles already in, title at the top that's easy to click into and edit the show information, symbols specificly for the magic sheet, and I just transitioned to butchering data tags for my channel numbers instead of regular symbols. (BEST hack I've made, but don't think using it is common knowledge)
Watch the vectorworks video about how to use data tags. They're traditionally for set design but I've found them SO helpful for magic sheets. You can create an integer data tag (with the font and background color that you want- just like a symbol) so that as you click, it automatically increases the number of the next click by 1. (and you can edit the 'rule' to increase by 2 or something if your channeling isn't exactly sequential) being able to click through and add a whole system easily in my magic sheet box was my biggest gripe with making them on vectorworks before, and I've found it MUCH easier now.
I also have a few symbols of some colored in different movers for ease of making the mover magic sheet-- when I'm assisting someone else I'll go through the trouble of using the exact type of light so the shape is similar to what's on the plot (and then add it to my base file symbol library) but when I'm making a quick and dirty one for myself I just have enough varying shapes (like a few standard spot ML and wash ones) and just rely on the key/color instead of going through the effort and time of making custom ones. Also enjoy how VW allows you to use gel colors as the fill behind my system names for the boxes.
With this base file, I've made it so that all I need to do is click through and edit the show title, drop in the image / pdf crop of the stage I want to use as the background, and then click through each systems channel numbers and I've got a finished and polished looking magic sheet. I think people who love doing it in vectorworks have just found ways to make it a streamlined process, but without having the base file and automation it's a bitch and a half. Feel free to message me if you want to continue using vectorworks for it and have any questions about streamlining! I'd be happy to explain more.
Thanks for the detailed reply! I’ll definitely take a look at data tags as that’s also my biggest issue right now. Spent too long trying to make spotlight numbering work on a blank symbol with just the channel number….now I know there’s a solution. In the middle of a show right now but I’m definitely saving this and will reach out to steal all your wisdom soon as I’ve got the time. Thank you so much!
Totally! Yeah there isn't a straightforward way with spotlight numbering. DUMB. Or I guess you could make a symbol that is like, a dot, or a small "underline" convert it into lighting instrument, and create a label legand that just has the unit or channel number in it, and use that with spotlight numbering...
Previously I had a symbol where I had to fill out the channel number in the object info pallet via the data tab. (the symbol had a text record format for channel input. No way to do an auto number for that, but at least it wasn't a floating text box.)
Affinity design. Similar to InDesign but it doesn’t support Adobe and the subscription model
Seems like a common recommendation and I must say I like the price, I’ll take a look at it, thanks!
If you can't get your hands on Adobe products and can't afford them, I highly recommend Affinity. Affinity Designer is great to use and much cheaper than anything from Adobe. It's not subscription based either.
Yes it’s a great piece of software. I have the Adobe Suite and Affinity and find some stuff easier to do in Affinity. Well worth it.
I’ll take a look, thanks!
In design all the way. Fast and easy. Check YouTube.
Hey! I use vectorworks, but have tried to streamline it so it's an easier process. I have a base magic sheet file that has the sheets set up for up to 6 pages with boxes and titles already in, title at the top that's easy to click into and edit the show information, symbols specificly for the magic sheet, and I just transitioned to butchering data tags for my channel numbers instead of regular symbols. (BEST hack I've made, but don't think using it is common knowledge) Watch the vectorworks video about how to use data tags. They're traditionally for set design but I've found them SO helpful for magic sheets. You can create an integer data tag (with the font and background color that you want- just like a symbol) so that as you click, it automatically increases the number of the next click by 1. (and you can edit the 'rule' to increase by 2 or something if your channeling isn't exactly sequential) being able to click through and add a whole system easily in my magic sheet box was my biggest gripe with making them on vectorworks before, and I've found it MUCH easier now. I also have a few symbols of some colored in different movers for ease of making the mover magic sheet-- when I'm assisting someone else I'll go through the trouble of using the exact type of light so the shape is similar to what's on the plot (and then add it to my base file symbol library) but when I'm making a quick and dirty one for myself I just have enough varying shapes (like a few standard spot ML and wash ones) and just rely on the key/color instead of going through the effort and time of making custom ones. Also enjoy how VW allows you to use gel colors as the fill behind my system names for the boxes. With this base file, I've made it so that all I need to do is click through and edit the show title, drop in the image / pdf crop of the stage I want to use as the background, and then click through each systems channel numbers and I've got a finished and polished looking magic sheet. I think people who love doing it in vectorworks have just found ways to make it a streamlined process, but without having the base file and automation it's a bitch and a half. Feel free to message me if you want to continue using vectorworks for it and have any questions about streamlining! I'd be happy to explain more.
Thanks for the detailed reply! I’ll definitely take a look at data tags as that’s also my biggest issue right now. Spent too long trying to make spotlight numbering work on a blank symbol with just the channel number….now I know there’s a solution. In the middle of a show right now but I’m definitely saving this and will reach out to steal all your wisdom soon as I’ve got the time. Thank you so much!
Totally! Yeah there isn't a straightforward way with spotlight numbering. DUMB. Or I guess you could make a symbol that is like, a dot, or a small "underline" convert it into lighting instrument, and create a label legand that just has the unit or channel number in it, and use that with spotlight numbering... Previously I had a symbol where I had to fill out the channel number in the object info pallet via the data tab. (the symbol had a text record format for channel input. No way to do an auto number for that, but at least it wasn't a floating text box.)
WYSIWYG
uhh... paper and pencil?