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Digital Imaging

MA C102

CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course provides beginning through intermediate concepts in digital imaging. Concepts covered include photo retouching and enhancing, original creation of composite images from photographs and artwork, drawing and painting original digital artwork, and the creation of web graphics. Students will incorporate basic design principles in their digital photographs and compositions.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

1. Describe the basic characteristics of raster images.
2. Apply advanced tonal and color correction to digital photographs.
3. Create accurate selections with the selection tools, quick masks, alpha channels, and paths.
4. Select from a variety of brush settings to paint with varied effects.
5. Critique fine art and digital paintings for use of design elements and principles.
6. Integrate design elements and principles to construct a composite image with layers, layer blending modes, layer styles, adjustment layers, type layers, and filters.
7. Explain the differences between layer masks, vector masks, and clipping masks.
8. Compare and contrast the RGB and CMYK color spaces and explain gamut limitations.
9. Design a web page and use slices to optimize and export images.
10. Create rollover effects and animations optimized for the web.
11. Describe methods for digital input and output.
12. Explain copyright issues.

DETAILED TOPICAL OUTLINE

1. Raster Images (A)
   1. Resolution
   2. Image size
   3. File size
       
2. Selections (C)
   1. Selection tools
   2. Quick masks
   3. Modifying selections
   4. Moving and manipulating selected areas
       
3. Layers (F, G)
   1. Layer groups
   2. Layer opacity
   3. Layer blending modes
   4. Layer styles
   5. Locking functions
   6. Layer masks
   7. Vector masks
   8. Clipping layers
   9. Adjustment layers
       
4. Painting (D)
   1. Painting tools
   2. Brush settings
   3. Brush blending modes
   4. Aliasing and antialiasing
       
5. Photo Retouching (B)
   1. Tonal Adjustments (Levels, Curves)
   2. Color Adjustments (Color Balance, Variations)
   3. Adjusting channels
   4. Targeting values with eyedropper
   5. Retouching tools
   6. Replacing color
       
6. Paths and Vector Shapes (C, G)
   1. Pen tool
   2. Shapes tools
   3. Drawing modes
   4. Paths palette
       
7. Design and Composition (E)
   1. Design elements: line, shape, value, color, texture
   2. Design principles: unity, emphasis, scale/proportion, balance, rhythm
   3. Gestalt principles
   4. Bertin’s retinal variables
   5. Composing a collage
   6. Creating a surrealistic scene
       
8. Web Graphics (I, J)
   1. Icon design
   2. Web page design
   3. Slices
   4. Optimizing images
   5. Rollover effects
   6. Animations
       
9. Digital Input and Output (H, K)
   1. Scanning
   2. Digital cameras
   3. Printing and prepress
       
10. Copyright Law (L)
    1. Parameters
    2. Registering with the Library of Congress

METHODS OF PRESENTATION

Course instructional methods may include but are not limited to

1. Lectures
   Example: A lecture explains how to read a histogram and apply tonal adjustments to a photograph without clipping.
2. Discussion
   Example: Instructor responds to student questions about using the Slice tool to define areas that will be optimized and exported as individual web graphics.
3. Critique and Feedback
   Example: Feedback is provided when individual assignments are graded and submitted back to the student.

ASSIGNMENTS AND METHODS OF EVALUATION

Assessment of student performance may include but are not limited to

1. Weekly Tutorials (A-D, F-K)
   Example: Students complete tutorials in textbook, dealing with specific software functions.
2. Weekly Exercises (A - K)
   Example: Students complete an assignment in which they combine several textures with layer blending modes to create a new texture.
3. Weekly Discussions (A - K)
   Example: Students select a fine art or digital painting and critique it for the use of line in the image.
4. Projects (A - K)
   Examples: Students create an original composition implementing design elements and principles and taking full advantage of the software’s capabilities.
5. Final Exam (A-L)
   Example: Multiple choice exam covering all topics throughout the semester.

REQUIRED TEXTS

Reading assignments are required and may include but are not limited to

1. Adobe Press. Adobe Photoshop CS Classroom in a Book. Berkley, California: Peachpit Press, 2004
2. David Lauer and Stephen Pentak, Design Basics, Wadsworth, Thompson Learning, 2002

MATERIALS FOR ONLINE CLASS

Software Required: Adobe Photoshop CS2 software

3.19.2004

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	COURSE AT A GLANCE
	COURSE NUMBER MA C102 COURSE TITLE Digital Imaging UNITS 3 TOTAL HOURS 36 lecture/54 lab TRANSFERABILITY A/CSU ADVISORY CSCI C101 or CSCI C171 or equivalent skills is strongly advised. REPEATABILITY 3 times

 
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Last updated May 25, 2006