Welcome to #rdcHQ Post Production! A running tally of updates is below for folks tracking our post-production work on the SVG Track and MathML Track of our summer program. Our goal at the end of 2011 is to deliver one set of documents that successfully render and validate in compliance with current web standards, both onscreen and as pretty-print PDF documents generated with PrinceXML. We will release documentation explaining our workflow and future goals for the project at that time. Thank you for your interest and support!

Another update from #rdcHQ: MathML Track and SVG Track – We’re making good progress on integrating our summer work into the t24 document set. We’re staggering the release of the material of the MathML work to be on the same schedule as the SVG graphics which are still in production. We’re starting with an “alpha” release of the full document set by the end of the week, and moving into “beta” by the end of 2011. You can view our work in progress here. The majority of the work at this time is ensuring that the MathML equations parse correctly within PrinceXML 8.0 while generating the final document PDFs. So far, we have had success using the MathJax CDN, with our SVGMath equations as a fallback. It is very rewarding to see our work this summer begin to make a difference on this document set.

One such example of how much we are improving the art is below – Jasper’s equation is shown above the original JPG representation of the equation. Not only is it more pleasing to the eye (read: actually legible), but the code is now readable by machines (and even capable of audible renderings as we demonstrated at our Rural Design Collective Launch Party).

The next big step in functionality for this piece would be to write some of the more sophisticated equations in Content MathML so they could be used in mathematical software programs. All of our equations are written in Presentation MathML which is fine for this first stage – but it is fun to think of the possibilities!

WordPress Track – We are happy to announce that we are in technical support mode for New Artists Productions! At this time, all of our Kickstarter Rewards have been delivered, and the crew at NAP are successfully managing the site themselves (we especially like the new and improved slideshow on the home page!). We’ll be writing tutorials over the next few months for posterity – but for now, we are simply looking forward to the next New Artists Production: The Incan Princess!

AN UPDATE ON THE UPDATE: We’ll have a few more announcements regarding the status of our 2011 projects as we complete the document conversion phase. We’ll keep you posted through the usual channels … stay tuned

Greetings from #rdcHQ! A few updates on our various tracks – WordPress Track: Today we shipped out the majority of our Kickstarter rewards to our generous backers of our WordPress Track. We have a second shipment going out next week when we obtain some bumper-sticker sized envelopes … so keep your eye on your mailbox if you are expecting a care package from us! We also completed coding the stage and are beginning to write the tutorials to support transition of the site to New Artists Productions. We have received several emails from individuals interested in the content of the tutorials (as well as any code patches) and are working on the first draft which will become part of our Resource Library. We will post a notice here when those tutorials are available.

MathML Track: We are converting Jasper’s equations from MathML to SVG and testing our workflow. We have 486 equations in the repository, and have successfully rendered a test page using PrinceXML 8.0, which is our target software for the next step in the workflow: HTML → PDF transformations of the t24 documents containing the equations. We are on schedule for alpha release of this track and supporting documentation by the end of September (with some expected iteration as we refine the document set).

The SVG Track is moving into a new phase of development – we’re breaking down the remaining graphics into what can be more easily rendered using HTML/CSS (which was outside of the scope of the summer program). Development on this track will continue until the end of the year … Stay tuned!

Big news from #rdcHQ! Nate Malamud has released the Final Cut of his epic Zoo Adventures! Now featuring the not to be missed is the Dance of the Lorikeets! The movie premiered at the Rural Design Launch Party on September 4th, and we now have a DVD Director’s cut that is available exclusively to his friends, family and teachers! Here is the final design for the DVD covers that will be shipping next week:

Nate put a lot of work into his first serious movie production – and it shows! Congratulations, Nate!

Please note: We had some technical difficulties uploading the final cut – but we are trying again today, and the final version will be available here on Vimeo at approximately 7PM PDT.