Technology: The Clap(board)
The Clap(board)
Daily I have to launch an application from my Dock in which in the icon is a clapboard (or claperboard). And daily, I launch the wrong program – sometimes more than once.
I finally took a good look at my apps dock to see exactly how many icons I have that are clapboards in one form or another.
The total number was 5, though it feels like 20 the way I constantly launch the wrong program, but alas it’s only 5.
Here’s the run down:
Cinema Tools. This is the one I use the least, almost never actually. It’s the database and conversion program that came with Final Cut Studio. It is one I will use for more extensive projects (particularly the one NeoZAZ is work towards over the next year) but for what I’ve filmed over the past years or so, I haven’t needed. But since it’s something I know I’ll need in the future, it stays.
Final Cut Pro. This is one of 3 programs I’ll launch everyday. It’s distinctively different from the others red digital time code graphic, but even with that I’ve missed the target and opened one of these other programs when meaning to launch Final Cut.
Live Type. The Title and text animator and generator for Final Cut Studio. It’s one I’ve just recently been using, migrating off of After Effects for Titles and credits. I accidentally launched Final Cut when meaning to launch Live Type, but most of the times it’s because it’s sitting right next to the Final Cut icon.
Soundtrack Pro. This is number 2 of 3 programs I launch everyday. It’s what I use to edit all of Trailer Pod Boys audio – host recordings, show clips, intro segments, music, everything. And it’s my primary application for all sound work. Most times, I’m able to launch this app when I’m intending to use it… but not always.
Celtx. My one and only Script formatting and writing application. The only one of the 5 that is not part of Final Cut Studio. And the last of the 3 that I open daily. It’s got a distinctively different motif than the other 4, but with it closest resembling Cinema Tools, I tended to mix the 2 up often, especially when I’m running with a thought that I need to get in Celtx quickly and I’m in a rush – that pretty much when I launch the wrong program thus making the time to get my thoughts on paper take even longer.
Of course I’m sure part of the problem is the close proximity these icons are to each other on the dock:
An obvious solution maybe to move them farther away from each other. But I can’t seem to do that. For all of the things I’m not anal about, and all of the things I leave completely unorganized with zero structure in production projects (much to the dismay of my creative partners I’m sure), my app dock is one thing I’m strictly OCD about. All of this program are grouped together as my “production area”. The Final Cut Studio icons are alphabetical, left to right, then ending with the non-final cut studio app, Celtx. It’s a pattern I’ve tried to break up, but couldn’t live with for more than 10 minutes. Ironically, I auto hide the dock so for most of the time I’m in front of my computer I don’t even see it. But if it’s out of order, I know it, I can feel it. So I guess I have to live with the ten to twenty minutes a year I lose opening then closing the wrong programs to have that piece of mind.
This article really doesn’t serve much of a purpose. I guess it’s more of a way to for me to address this issue, an issue big enough for me to get down on paper I suppose. Admission is the first step to recovery, maybe this post will help me move the icons with comfort, or even better, launch the correct application when I need it.
I use a utility called aLunch, which provides an app launcher in the menu bar that allows you to categorize your stuff. So only the most-used things are in my dock. Everything else is categorized in aLunch.