MakerMinds, ARL and MRL

Makerminds

MakerMinds is an open library space of technology resources, material resources and an accompanying event series. MakerMinds Events is a series of DIY tech workshops held in the adjacent open area. For more information on upcoming events in the series, please visit our research guide. The space also contains the Art Resources Lab (ARL) and the Materials Resource Lab (MRL).

Art Resources Lab showing green backdrop and softbox lights
event in makerminds space with people around table
MRL full view of cabinets and seating

Art Resources Lab (ARL)

The Art Resources Lab (ARL) is a self-service lab available to all students at FIT and provides space for artwork enlargement, projection, and documentation of artwork by photography. 
The lab itself, the equipment setup there, as well as equipment available for check out is for students to use as a self-service space. There is no dedicated staff available for assistance - written instructions are available in the Art Resources Lab, and tutorials for equipment can be found on the  Tutorials, How-To's and Procedures pages.

The space cannot be reserved, it is operating on a first come, first serve basis.
The MakerMinds is a shared space where students can come and go to work and use the equipment.

Please return the equipment to the match the original layout when you finish with the space.

Photography studio with green Screen

  • Background Screens
    (Green/White and Black/Gray)
  • Camera Tripod         
  • 3-way Mirror         
  • Folding Privacy Screen (gray)
  • 6X6 Platform
  • Small Model Stand
  • Overhead Digital Projector          
  • Computer table (with Dragonframe Stop Motion Animation keypad)          
  • Seamless Tabletop Lightbox (for small model / product photography)         
  • Photo Copy stand          
  • ArtGraph Prism Opaque Projector          
  • Softbox Lighting on tripods (3)
  • Seamless Backdrop Support and Pipe

Materials Resources Lab (MRL)

The Materials Resource Lab (MRL) provides a creative, open access environment for you to explore Interior Design material samples that you can use on your projects.  The materials range from commercial and residential upholstery fabric swatches to paint chips, wood finishes and solid surfaces and much more. The lighting source color matching cabinets with 2700K, 3500K and 5000K lamps allow you to compare colors in various interior design light settings.

Color Comparison Light Boxes

Materials Cabinets

Material Bin

Contact Us

Goodman Resource Center
Gladys Marcus Library, 6th floor, Room E620, Library Commons
[email protected]

Equipment for Check-Out at Library Services Desk

Check out from the Library Services Desk on the 5th floor of the Library. All equipment is library use only and must be returned prior to closing. See here for more details and library hours.

FIT ID card required.

Diffusion Umbrellas

Diffuser Umbrellas for Photography

 

Bogen Tripod

Bogen Tripod

 
Savage Lighting System

Savage Studio Lighting System

 
Circular Reflector

Circular Reflectors

 

Canon Rebel T6 tutorial

Canon Rebel T6 Camera Tutorial

 

Nikon 3300 photocamera tutorial

Nikon 3300 Camera Tutorial

 

Artograph Impression 1400 tutorial

Artograph Impression 1400 Tutorial


The Artograph Impression 1400 is a portable digital projector that can be used for displaying digital images for enlargement or tracing.

Xuma Phone Mount

Xuma Phone Mount

 

embroidery with sewn on lights powered by arduino lilypad

Arduino LilyPad LibGuide Tutorial


Learn about the LilyPad wearable microcontrollers and how to program them in Arduino

circuit board

Makey Makey


Makey Makey works through opening and closing circuits, just like any other button. Instead of the circuit being closed underneath your keyboard, the circuit is closed through the conductive objects you connect with alligator clips like your hand or your lunch or some tinfoil. When the circuit is closed, the Makey Makey sends a command to your computer, just like a button pressed on a keyboard.
Online documentation.

circuit board

Lilypad Protosnap Development Board


The ProtoSnap LilyPad Development Board is designed to get you started in the world of e-textiles. Combining a LilyPad Simple Board with other LilyPad components like a buzzer, a vibration motor, an RGB LED, a button, a switch, five LEDs, a light sensor, and a temperature sensor, the ProtoSnap LilyPad Development Board lets you dive right into wearable electronics. For prototyping only. 
Online documentation.

circuit board

Adafruit Circuit Playground Express


The Circuit Playground Express is an etextile-friendly prototyping board designed for MakeCode and CircuitPython,which includes an assortment of functionality built-in. For prototyping only.

MakerMinds Rules and Policies

The following rules must be followed while you are using the space:

  1. No food or drink is allowed in the Lab. 
  2. The Art Resources Lab is a priority use space for photography, enlargement, tracing and other uses unique to this space. All other uses are subject to displacement so that these activities can be conducted by students in the lab.
  3. All equipment must be turned off, and any checked out equipment returned to the Library Services desk after use. Please do not leave the light tables and projectors ON after you are done - turn them off!
  4. You are expected to clean up after yourself. This is a shared space and needs to be maintained by its patrons.

General Policies for Checkout

By using our equipment you are financially responsible for all equipment checked out from the library that is damaged, lost, etc. 

Loan Period – Maximum of 4 hours. All items are due ONE HOUR before the library closes.

Fines – $10.00 per hour for each hour overdue, plus $50.00 each overnight if not returned by closing time.

Replacement Cost – The cost of each item plus a $20.00 processing fee per item.