Alakazapps! | Blog
Apr 2009
Welcome Instructions
One of the most difficult aspects of developing a magic trick is the final stage - writing a tutorial. No matter how clear you attempt to be things can very quickly become confusing. Every tutorial has two strands, first what the audience should see and secondly the secret moves that create the illusion. Even the simplest 'sleight of hand' can be incredibly difficult to describe - imagine trying to write a tutorial on clicking your fingers, it very quickly becomes nonsensical.
As my apps become more ambitious written instructions just aren't effective enough. Today I would like to introduce my solution - the 'Welcome Instructions'.
The Welcome Instructions slides down when you launch the app and include a short written description of the effect and two buttons. Tapping the first button 'Learn' will start a performance/tutorial video. The video will first demonstrate the effect as is should be seen, then a step-by-step tutorial will play explaining every aspect of the illusion.
The second button 'Perform' will hide the Welcome instructions allowing the trick to be free of non-essencial buttons.
As my apps become more ambitious written instructions just aren't effective enough. Today I would like to introduce my solution - the 'Welcome Instructions'.
The Welcome Instructions slides down when you launch the app and include a short written description of the effect and two buttons. Tapping the first button 'Learn' will start a performance/tutorial video. The video will first demonstrate the effect as is should be seen, then a step-by-step tutorial will play explaining every aspect of the illusion.
The second button 'Perform' will hide the Welcome instructions allowing the trick to be free of non-essencial buttons.
Once you've learned the secret you can turn the Welcome Instructions off in the iPhone settings menu.
Hopefully the Welcome Instructions will make learning Alakazapps apps a breeze. The first app to come with the Welcome Instructions is Magic Tattoo due out in the next few days. All my other apps will be updated to include the Welcome Screen and obviously all future releases will include it too.
The new studio
Until now I've recorded all my app demos and tutorials with a homemade studio consisting of a big piece of card positioned next to a window. Obviously this is less than ideal and was slowing me down enormously. To combat the unruly nature of the sun I invested in a proper mini-studio.
The square thing is a diffusing cube that traps the light coming from the fluorescent lamp.
If I was doing things right before, you probably shouldn't notice any difference in the finished product - it will just make getting the right shot easier. If you've ever tried filming/photographing the iPhone you'll know how it's impossibly shiny surfaces can wreak havoc.
It's just one of the things I'm doing to provide the best service to the fantastic people that support my apps.
Photo below (1000w lamp, blinding):
The square thing is a diffusing cube that traps the light coming from the fluorescent lamp.
If I was doing things right before, you probably shouldn't notice any difference in the finished product - it will just make getting the right shot easier. If you've ever tried filming/photographing the iPhone you'll know how it's impossibly shiny surfaces can wreak havoc.
It's just one of the things I'm doing to provide the best service to the fantastic people that support my apps.
Photo below (1000w lamp, blinding):
