Workspace Configuration

Workspace setup is where Operators spend the most time during initial training. These exercises drill the canonical flow (Robot → Fast-Shot → Lasers → Cameras → Lights) on concrete studio scenarios. If you can complete Exercise 5 (full setup brief) from memory, you’ve internalized the model.

Exercise 1 — Workspace anatomy

Fill in what each part of a workspace contains:

Tip: re-read Section 1 of textbook.

Exercise 2 — Add Robot decision tree

For each scenario, decide what to do FIRST:

2.1. You click “Add robot” but the list is empty.

Action:

2.2. You see the robot in the list but its Control Unit dot is gray.

Action:

2.3. Your computer is on subnet 10.1.2.0/24, the robot’s Control Unit is at 10.1.3.42.

Action:

2.4. You added 3 robots successfully yesterday. Today only 2 of them appear.

Action:

Exercise 3 — Fast-Shot setup

Tip: Slot 2 = PhotoRobot cables (default). Slot 1 = other manufacturers. No cable = no Fast-Shot (capture stops between frames).

Exercise 4 — Laser configuration match

For each laser hardware, identify the configuration approach:

Tip: Section 6 of textbook describes all three categories.

Exercise 5 — Full workspace setup brief

Scenario: You’re setting up a brand new workspace for Bay 2 in the studio. The hardware is: one Carousel 5000, one Robotic Arm V8, one Canon EOS R5 (USB to computer), one Canon EOS R6 (USB to computer), three Broncolor Siros lights (Studio Group “Carousel-Bay2”), and a 20-port LaserBox. PhotoRobot shutter cables for both cameras. Active CAPP version supports Fast-Shot.

Walk through the workspace setup in correct order. Number these steps 1-10 (some may need to be skipped or combined):

Once ordered, check your answer against the solutions section.

Exercise 6 — Lights decision

For each lighting setup, decide the configuration path: Broncolor, FOMEI LAN Transceiver, FOMEI USB dongle (legacy), or DMX LED.

Tip: For 6.4 — the FOMEI USB dongle no longer supports newer macOS. What’s the right action?

Exercise 7 — Pre-flight checklist

Before your first hands-on session in B06 Capture basics:

• I can explain in one sentence what a workspace is in PhotoRobot Controls.
• I know the canonical workspace setup order (Robot → Fast-Shot → Lasers → Cameras → Lights).
• I know what Sample Workspace is and when to use it.
• I know which shutter cable slot to use for PhotoRobot-manufactured vs third-party cables.
• I know the three laser hardware categories (built-in, 20-port LaserBox, 4-port LaserBox) and how each is configured.
• I know why setting camera angle matters for robots without swing capability.
• I know the FOMEI USB dongle is legacy and FOMEI LAN Transceiver is the preferred path.
• I can name 3 reasons to create a new workspace vs. modifying an existing one.

If you can’t tick all eight, re-read the relevant section of textbook.md before moving on.

Solutions

Don’t look here until you’ve finished the exercises.

Exercise 1 — Workspace anatomy

• 1.1 — PhotoRobot modules: Cube, Carousel, Turning Platform, Robotic Arm, MultiCam, Centerless Table, Frame, etc.
• 1.2 — Canon DSLR / mirrorless via USB, iPhone via Touch app, third-party via CAPP 2.5.4+ integration
• 1.3 — Broncolor strobes, FOMEI strobes / LED, DMX-compatible LED panels
• 1.4 — LaserBoxes (20-port standalone or 4-port robot-attached), shutter cables, ghost mannequins
• 1.5 — Shutter cable connection (Slot 1 / Slot 2) per robot-camera pair, enabling capture during continuous rotation
• 1.6 — Laser positioning hardware: built-in (Case 850, C1300), or added via LaserBoxes (20-port as separate robot, 4-port via 3-dot menu)

Exercise 2 — Add Robot decisions

2.1. Verify all robots are powered on + on same LAN. Empty list means no Control Units discovered. Check Locator (B04). Re-scan in CAPP.

2.2. Wait or refresh. Gray dot = unit hasn’t responded recently. Could be transitional (just powered on). If persists, run B03 triage (cable, subnet, firewall).

2.3. Move the robot’s Control Unit to the same subnet as the computer. UDP broadcast doesn’t cross subnets (B03 + B04). Even if routing exists, discovery fails. Re-DHCP the unit on the correct subnet.

2.4. Run Locator (B04) to find the missing unit. If Locator shows it, restart CAPP (cache stale). If Locator doesn’t show it either, run B03 triage starting with link LEDs.

Exercise 3 — Fast-Shot setup

• 3.1 — Slot 2 (PhotoRobot cable + Cube V6 = canonical setup)
• 3.2 — Slot 1 (third-party cable)
• 3.3 — No Fast-Shot (no shutter cable = no Fast-Shot mode; capture stops between frames)
• 3.4 — Slot 2 (all 4 cameras with PhotoRobot cables, slot 2 each)

Exercise 4 — Laser configuration match

• 4.1 — Built-in, zero configuration needed. Case 850 has internal laser; CAPP auto-detects.
• 4.2 — Built-in, zero configuration needed. Same as 4.1 for C1300.
• 4.3 — Add the 20-port LaserBox as a separate robot in the workspace (Add robot → select LaserBox from discovered units).
• 4.4 — Assign the 4-port LaserBox via the 3-dot menu on the Cube V6 row → Add laser cable.
• 4.5 — Depends on which LaserBox — if 20-port → add as separate robot; if 4-port → assign to Centerless Table via 3-dot menu. If built-in to the table → no config.

Exercise 5 — Full workspace setup brief

Canonical order:

1. Create new workspace, name it “Bay-2-Carousel-RoboticArm-2Cam”
2. Verify all hardware powered on + on same LAN (precondition)
3. Click “Add robot”, select Carousel 5000
4. Click “Add robot”, select Robotic Arm V8
5. Click “Add robot”, select 20-port LaserBox (as separate robot, per Section 6.2)
6. Configure Fast-Shot for camera on Carousel (slot 2) (PhotoRobot cable → slot 2)
7. Configure Fast-Shot for camera on Robotic Arm V8 (slot 2) (same)
8. Add 2 cameras (Canon R5 + R6, both USB-connected)
9. Set camera angle (Carousel camera; Robotic Arm auto-handles via swing)
10. Configure Lights → BRONCOLOR → Studio Group “Carousel-Bay2”

Note: steps 3-5 (Add robots) and 6-7 (Fast-Shot) interleave per robot in practice — but listed sequentially here for clarity. Order matters for: robot before camera (so you can configure shutter cable), camera before lights (so test shots include lighting).

Exercise 6 — Lights decision

• 6.1 — Broncolor. Standard manufacturer flow: select BRONCOLOR → choose Studio Group.
• 6.2 — FOMEI LAN Transceiver. Preferred for new FOMEI installs.
• 6.3 — FOMEI USB dongle (legacy). Windows 7 is old enough that the dongle drivers may still work; but recommend migration to LAN Transceiver before Windows EOL.
• 6.4 — STOP / Migrate to LAN Transceiver. FOMEI USB dongle no longer supports newer macOS (Sonoma is newer). The dongle won’t function. Customer needs to either acquire a LAN Transceiver or downgrade macOS (downgrade is impractical → buy transceiver).
• 6.5 — DMX LED. DMX manufacturer flow for third-party LEDs.
• 6.6 — Mixed: configure Broncolor as separate manufacturer + DMX LED as second category. Workspace supports multiple manufacturers concurrently; just complete each setup flow once.

Done?

When you’ve worked through all exercises and reviewed the solutions, ask your instructor (or self-administer) the module knowledge check: 5 questions drawn from a pool of 12.

Knowledge check is not graded for certification — it’s diagnostic. If you score low, re-read the relevant textbook section and try again. Then proceed to module B06 — Capture basics.