TELEPHONE: TBA
OFFICE: TBA
FALL 2008 CLASS INSTRUCTION:
5:10 p.m. to 6:25 p.m., Tues. and Thurs. (section 50)
Üdvar-Hazy Bldg., Room 119
This course is designed to introduce and develop skills in working with the computer for commercial art applications. Focus will be on "real-world" graphic design projects using Adobe Photoshop on both the Macintosh and PC-compatible computer systems.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
"Companion course to VT 2500. May be taken before, concurrently, or in linear sequence with VT 2500. For students pursuing a certificate in either Visual Technologies, an Associate Degree, or a CIT four-year degree. Provides a hands-on introduction and overview to computer photo-manipulation and designing graphics on the computer. Emphasis is on tools and techniques used for editing and retouching photographs and creating original images with photo-like qualities for use in advertising. Prepares students to create original artwork usable in multimedia, Internet publishing, desktop publishing, or video effects. Homework assignments require access to computer with the designated software installed. May use Macintosh or PC-compatible computer. 3 lecture hours per week. No prerequisites required but VT 1300 is recommended." (Dixie State College Catalog, 2006-2007)
SUGGESTED PRE-REQUISITES:
There are no pre-requisites for this course. However, basic computer skills are expected and VT 1300 and VT 2500 are highly recommended; VT 1400 and CIS 1200 are optional. (See the current semester class schedule.) These classes may be taken during the same semester.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK and SUGGESTED SUPPLIES:
- Storage media to backup and/or manage your coursework during the semester
- Two or three CD-R/RW or DVD-R/RW disks
- A USB flash drive of sufficient size (512 MB or larger)
- (optional) An external hard drive of usable size (80 GB or larger)
- Two or three CD-R/RW or DVD-R/RW disks
- Textbook: Adobe Photoshop CS3 Classroom in a Book
For the latest version of Photoshop
Cost is approximately $30.00
SPECIAL NEEDS HELP:
If you are a student with a physical or mental impairment and would like to request accommodations, please contact the Disability Resource Center (652-7516) in Room 201 of the Student Services Center. The Disability Resource Center will determine your eligibility for services based upon complete professional documentation. If you are deemed eligible, the Disability Resource Center will further evaluate the effectiveness of your accommodation requests and will authorize reasonable accommodations that are appropriate for your disability.
ESCAPE CLAUSE:
The instructor reserves the right to change the specifics of this syllabus and the schedule (weekly topics of instruction, assignments, assignment details, due dates, etc.) as determined for the betterment of the class. Any changes will be announced in a timely manner during class instruction periods.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
The purpose of this course is to teach students how to use the computer as a design tool. Students will learn the technical aspects of the Adobe Photoshop software program and use the computer for design projects. Students will learn to distinguish between effective and ineffective design techniques through projects, evaluations of those projects, and increased awareness of various design approaches. Assignments will be tailored to represent typical projects developed by a commercial artist in a production environment. Further, to ensure sufficient exposure to important cross-platform compatibility issues, several assignments will contain a cross-platform development component as well.
At completion of the course, students should know and be able to demonstrate the following technical skills:
- scanning and "improving" photographs
- making, adjusting, and manipulating selections
- storing selections for future use as alpha channels
- modifying selection regions in their channel
- using the quick mask option to more accurately "paint" selections
- creating and using masks for other purposes (via various methods)
- using the painting and editing tools to "draw" original graphics
- adding and using layers to preserve separation of elements
- extracting a foreground object from its background
- drawing and using paths with the Pen tool(s)
- color-correcting all or part of an image as needed
- converting from one image type and/or format to another
- re-sizing and/or changing the resolution of an image
- understanding and using spot colors
- preparing images for color separation and/or color printing
- optimizing images and graphics for use in web pages
- creating images with resolution appropriate to their uses
- importing Adobe Illustrator artwork into Adobe Photoshop
- saving or exporting images in formats that are useable in other software
POLICIES, PROCEDURES and ASSIGNMENTS
Attendance is important to your success in this course; therefore, the grades earned will reflect your attendance habits (this is a department policy). No points are allotted for attendance toward the total points possible to determine your grade, but attendance will be measured indirectly through various participation events during class instruction.
RESEARCH PAPER: As you develop the ability to "doctor" or otherwise manipulate photographs for various purposes, you should understand the ethical, moral, and copyright issues surrounding the process. Write a 5-page paper (not counting the cover page and bibliography) on the "Ethics of Photograph Manipulation" with documented references and bibliography, using either the MLA or APA styles to format your paper. The paper should be typed and double-spaced. There are 50 points possible. The research paper is due as indicated on the course calendar.
Submit this research paper in electronic format, saved in RTF format. Include a COVER PAGE with the following information:
- Full name and last four (4) digits of student ID Number
- Class number and section number
- Assignment name
WORKBOOK LESSONS: There are thirteen (13) lessons in the course textbook. Twelve (12) of those lessons will be turned in, each worth 10 points. One is due every week except the first week, the week of semester break, and the last week of the semester. Thus, the maximum possible for all lessons is 120 points. Lessons are scheduled each week to encourage students to practice relevant technical skills being discussed during the concurrent instruction periods. (See the weekly course schedule for the specific lesson to be studied each week.)
All workbook lessons will be due by 10:00 P.M. on the day(s) specified. To earn up to the full points for lessons, students must submit them on time. LATE LESSONS WILL RECEIVE ONE-HALF CREDIT. LESSONS MORE THAN SIX (6) DAYS LATE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED! NO EXCEPTIONS.
PROJECTS: There are six (6) specific projects through the semester, each worth 50 points. Thus, the maximum possible for the comprehensive projects is 300 points. See the weekly calendar for assignment descriptions and due dates. These are intended to be original work and should reflect techniques learned in the course up to the time of each project. Specific attention will be given to how you incorporate new knowledge, creativity, and suggested techniques into your projects. Projects will also be evaluated on the design and artistic layout of the piece. The points for each assignment will be allocated based on the 10-standard rubric developed for each assignment in this course.
Assignments will be submitted electronically to a networked server. Instruction will be given in class before the first assignment is due concerning how to access the submission web page and find the appropriate sub-directory to submit the assignments. Additionally, students will present their work to the class on pre-announced days. The class will participate by critiquing each others' assignments in order to provide artistic feedback and help improve students' design skills. It is important that you attend and participate on the peer-critique days to receive points for that part of your assignment score.
All assignments will be due by 10:00 P.M. on the day(s) specified. To earn up to the full points for projects, students must submit assignments on time and also present their work in class. POINTS WILL BE DEDUCTED FOR LATE ASSIGNMENTS. ASSIGNMENTS MORE THAN FOURTEEN (14) DAYS LATE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED! NO EXCEPTIONS.
WRITTEN MID-TERM TEST: A mid-term test will be given during week 8 of the semester. There are 50 points possible. The written test may be taken at the Campus Testing Center at a time of your convenience -- from start of business on Monday morning until close of business on Saturday. That should be enough time to fit into your schedule. No makeup exam will be available if you miss taking it during this week. (Click here for more info. about the Testing Center -- part of Campus QTVR tour.) A standard 100-question ScanTron card (green ink, 50 questions per side) is required to participate in the mid-term. Also be sure to take some identification with your photo. Students arriving for the test without a photo ID and a ScanTron card will be turned away.
To review for the mid-term test, check HERE for example questions and suggested areas you should know.
SKILLS TEST: A hands-on skills test will be given during and in connection with the written final of the semester. There are 60 points possible. Consider this the essay portion of the final, designed to give you an opportunity to demonstrate specific Photoshop processes. Each student's resulting product will be evaluated for design as well as objectives listed at the beginning of this syllabus. Being able to perform these skills will free the student to concentrate on developing creativity by using the computer as an artistic tool, rather than being a barrier to your creativity.
WRITTEN FINAL TEST: A final will be given during the scheduled time for this class period, in the week following the last day of classes for the semester. There are 50 points possible. A standard 50-question ScanTron card is required to participate in the final. Students arriving for the final without a ScanTron card will be turned away. While the time allocated for the final test is two hours, you should be able to complete this test in 30 minutes. Any student not present one-half hour after the final exam begins will be considered a "no show" for the final and will not be allowed to take the test. DO NOT BE LATE!
To review for the mid-term test, check HERE for example questions and suggested areas you should study.
MISSED LESSONS, ASSIGNMENTS, AND TESTS: First and foremost, technical problems with computers or software will NOT be accepted as a reason for late coursework. Technology is not an excuse; it is a resource. No late assignments will be accepted. Period. Be sure to budget you time wisely. If, in the unfortunate situation you find yourself with an incomplete assignment at the time it is due, turn in what you have. Partial points are better than no points.
GRADING PHILOSOPHY: The design quality of your assignments is a significant factor in the points evaluation. Adherence to the technical specifications of the assignment will also be checked -- document size and color modes are the most-often ignored issues that will lose assignment points. If you hand in all assignments on time and score reasonably well on the tests, you will receive at least a "C" grade. A higher grade can be earned on the creative and design components you add to your assignments. I am looking for more than the minimum work required to meet the assignments. If you have questions about what is considered "A"-, "B"-, or "C"-level work for this course, read this page on establishing grading criteria. If you have further questions, contact the instructor for clarification.
GRADING
Points for course work are earned by turning in assignments and taking tests on time. (See the weekly course and assignments schedule for the due dates.) Allocation of points for the six major components of course work are as follows:
| Ethics Research Paper | 60 points |
| 12 Workbook Lessons (10 points each) | 120 points |
| Six Creative Projects (50 points each) | 300 points |
| Written Mid-Term Exam | 50 points |
| Individual Skills Test | 70 points |
| Written Final Exam | 50 points |
| Total points possible | 650 points |
Letter grades will be earned based on the following percentages of the total points possible:
| IMPORTANT: Letter grades below a "C-" in any course designated as part of the Visual Technologies program cannot be used toward obtaining a Certificate of Competency or a baccalaureate degree. For further information, contact Marci Olsen (molsen@dixie.edu), advisor for Applied Technology Programs, or Shari Gowers (gowers@dixie.edu), advisor for 4-year baccalaureate degrees. |
Send questions and comments to
jmaxfield@gmail.com
