By Tiffani Nichols
A student clicks away at a photo of a man, changing his shirt color to orange and then blue as he learns how to navigate Adobe AfterEffects, a specialized motion graphics program. The student, Lane Olson, from Spanish Fork, is in the Multimedia Lab in room 3330 of the HBLL taking a free instructional class.
The Multimedia Lab offers free, one-hour classes like this almost every day. Most of the classes are one-time instructional beginning or intermediate level classes, but some of them are taken in sequential order. There are 18 students who teach InDesign, Illustrator, AfterEffects, Photoshop, Excel, Flash and other computer programs at different skill levels.
Olson has taken multiple classes through the Multimedia Lab for the past four years.
He said he brings in his own work and gets pointers from people who work in the lab.
'I''ve already been able to apply some of the principles I''ve learned here to some of my freelance work,' Olson said.
Cyndee Frazier, the multimedia specialist, said students come to the lab to work on group projects for classes or personal projects such as wedding videos. There aren''t as many theater or technology students who come in because they have access to other labs, she said.
'We want people to be aware of our lab and classes,' Frazier said. 'Our students have worked hard and are excited to teach others about the skills they''ve learned.'
Frazier said the lab also offers one-on-one tutoring in computer programs if a student needs help with a project. For this service, email Frazier at cynthia_frazier@byu.edu.
Devin Greener, a senior majoring in advertising, said the classes are beneficial to students because they teach them the basics.
'A lot of classes require students to do team projects that involve multimedia,' said Greener, who has taught classes on three programs in the lab. 'These classes give them a jump-off point so they aren''t lost.'
In addition to the free classes the lab offers, there are other benefits. Students and faculty can check out video cameras and books that explain how to use computer programs.
The lab is open for all students to use during library hours. Students must make a reservation online for computer use.
All the programs that are taught in classes are available on the Macs in the multimedia lab.
Outside the lab is an analog rack that allows people to convert audiocassette to CD and VHS to DVD.
'These are all part of the wonderful services the library offers that are little known,' Frazier said.