FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

PLAYBACK STUTTERS / STALLS- what can I do?

Movies are too big on-screen for controls to be visible

Could you explain the movie controls?

I'm not sure if I'm advanced enough to benefit from this product. What do you think?

What about copyright restrictions?

Will I be able to play the DVDs on my set-top DVD player/HDTV/Blu-Ray player?

What are the system requirements?

Are movies in High Definition?

I have an Apple iPad... is this supported?

My DVDs open in Dreamweaver and I can't see the videos!

If I subscribe to a module, can I later upgrade to a DVD set order? Information here refers to subscriptions purchased before this service was discontinued (due to the vast majority of buyers favoring the DVD set).

PLAYBACK STUTTERS / STALLS- what can I do?
The online video requires high speed internet. If playback stalls, pause the movie and leave the window open as you work on other tasks, allowing time for the video to download. DVD users should not encounter this problem. To resume playback later, drag the playback position pointer back a little and click the play button.
High quality video is demanding, so ensure other activities/users on your network are not taking up bandwidth while you are watching, e.g. downloading files or watching other movies.
The quality of movies here is higher than the DVD movie standard and yet does not require HD TV or Blu-Ray players. However it does require a reasonably powerful computer. If you have an old/less powerful computer, there are "lighter weight" versions of all movies available which still offer a high quality. The "lighter" versions of movies are smaller size and these are linked from text towards the top of each movie menu page, and also are available on the free samples page. Fast broadband internet is still required for the smaller movies to play smoothly.

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Movies are too big on-screen for controls to be visible

The minimum screen resolution required for this content is 1024 x 768 pixels, although higher resolution is preferable. At 1024 x 768, some web browsers may take space required for movies controls by their tool bars. In general, viewing in full screen mode or without any tool-bars or explorer bars fixes the problem. Please see solutions below for current versions of various browsers. Alternatively, the "lighter" versions of movies are smaller size and these are linked from text towards the top of each movie menu page.

I.E. Internet Explorer, Netscape & Firefox (Windows): Press the F11 key after opening each movie page. This is the key shortcut for full screen mode. Press F11 again to leave full screen view, or use Ctrl+w to close the window.

Firefox (Mac): Go to the VIEW menu & select FULL SCREEN for each movie window, or use the key shortcut: shift+command+F (press all three keys together).

Opera: Go to the VIEW menu & select FULL SCREEN for each movie window (Mac); or press the F11 key shortcut (PC).

Safari: If movie controls are obscured, zoom out to a smaller view using the key shortcut: press the "Ctrl" and - (minus) keys together. This is the PC shortcut; on Mac there may be no problem, but the key shortcut on Mac is Cmd and - (Minus). To return to normal size, simultaneously press the "Ctrl" (PC) or "Cmd" (Mac) and 0 (Zero) keys.

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Could you explain the movie controls?

Click here to open a window illustrating the function of each control button on the movie interface.

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I'm not sure if I'm advanced enough to benefit from this product. What do you think?
It's true this program offers instruction in very advanced techniques. It is not aimed at beginners. However beyond beginner level, it really depends on how open minded you can be to take what you are ready for and let some things just float over your head for now. You can come back to such aspects later any time you feel ready. There is a lot of basic advice here also. Potentially, this product could keep you developing for many years. On the other hand if you are a person who gets depressed by challenges that are several steps beyond your ability, then this may not be for you. However I'd like to encourage anyone to get over such hang-ups and just be inspired by knowing more, without feeling pressure to be able to do it all right away.

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What about copyright restrictions?
Copyright is the biggest threat to a product of this kind and abuse could threaten further development. Thus there are strict restrictions which must be agreed prior to purchase. Licence is granted to purchasers for personal use only on any of their home and/or work devices. Presentation in teaching or lecturing is prohibited, as is copying or sharing in any form. Presentation or representation in any manner is not permitted. Password sharing will result in immediate termination of subscription without refund.

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Will I be able to play the DVDs on my set-top DVD player/HDTV/Blu-Ray player?
No, no and no. These DVDs are for computer playback only. The DVDs are NOT in standard DVD movie format but are computer data stored on DVD data disks. This decision enables me to present movies at higher resolution than standard DVD movies but without users needing to own HDTV or Blu-Ray equipment. The standard resolution of the most basic computers today (1024x768 pixels) is just enough to fit the movies plus controls etc.

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What are the system requirements?
Note: the DVDs are for computer playback ONLY and will not play on set-top DVD movie players which do not support the higher resolution. HDTV is neither required nor supported. You will need:
A reasonably recent computer, PC or MAC, an up-to-date web browser, and fast internet access for online viewing or a DVD-reading optical drive and an up-to-date web browser for playing DVDs in the boxed edition. You also need an up-to-date installation of the free Flash player which may be downloaded from http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer. If you are satisfied with how the free samples play on your system, you should have no problems with paid-for content, as the format is identical. For systems that do not support Flash, such as Apple iPad, and for systems that struggle to play these movies smoothly, all movies are also available in a slightly smaller quicktime format. This requires an up to date installation of the free quicktime player from www.apple.com/quicktime/download/. The "lighter" versions of movies are linked from text towards the top of each movie menu page, and are also available for the free samples.
You also need built-in or external speakers, or a set of headphones, for audio output.
Tip: if playback stutters, pause the movie and leave the window open as you work on other tasks, allowing time for the video to download.
You will need to allow pop-up windows for this content, by adding calligraphy.tv (online version) or the content of the DVDs (disc version) to a safe list if you use a pop up blocker. Enabling Javascript in your browser is also necessary.

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Are movies in High Definition?
The movies were filmed in full 1080p HD but are scaled down/cropped to a smaller size to facilitate playing on most computer screens at native resolution and with space for movie controls etc. They are still high definition compared to normal DVD movies and allow you to enjoy crisp calligraphic lines without noticeable jagged edges. Pixel dimensions are 1000 x 660, not much less than 720p HDV standard. The free samples show exactly the same size and quality as movies for subscribers.

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I have an Apple iPad... is this supported?
To watch DVD disks on an iPad, you can install a remote desktop app to control and watch DVD content playing from a computer on your network. Splashtop 2 is one such app, which works well.

Information below refers to subscriptions purchased before this service was discontinued (due to the vast majority of buyers choosing the DVD set). There are online versions of the movies suitable for iPad, smaller size and not in Flash format. Fast internet still required. All subscriptions and DVD data discs include this Quicktime format for all movies in addition to Flash.
These are the so-called "lighter" versions of movies and are linked from text towards the top of each movie menu page, and also are available on the free samples page. iPads and iPhones are automatically directed to appropriate movies online which will load full screen.

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My DVDs open in Dreamweaver & I can't see the videos!

On Mac systems with Adobe Dreamweaver installed, by default Dreamweaver will open web-pages stored on disk instead of a web browser. You can fix this permanently or temporarily. If you do not wish to change your Dreamweaver default preferences, then each time you load the DVD instead of clicking the "START" file, press "Ctrl" as you click to open a drop-down-menu. select "open with" and instead of Dreamweaver, select a web browser such as Safari.
For a permanent fix, select the "START" icon and type "Cmd+i" (i.e. press simultaneously the Command or Cmd key plus the letter "i" key). In the "Info" window that opens, there is an "Open with:" field where you can choose another program instead of Dreamweaver to always open the start file. You should choose Safari or your preferred web browser.

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If I subscribe to a module, can I later upgrade to a DVD set order?
For a period of two months after purchasing a subscription, you may upgrade to the whole package at a discount  equal to the subs fee paid. To upgrade, you'll need to contact me, and I shall bill you an additional $142.60 (to total $160+$9.60 shipping, less your $27 subscription already paid). After your payment, you will be sent a copy of the autographed multi-DVD set with 12 glossy prints. Information here refers to subscriptions purchased before this service was discontinued due to the vast majority of buyers choosing the DVD set.

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