Arts Technology Program • University of Utah

Policy Statement and Syllabus:
FA 3700-01 • Multimedia Graphics •• Spring 2008


T TH 10:45 pm - 12:45 pm
Art Department, Room 258

Instructor: Edward Bateman
Telephone: 554-0465
Office Hours: By Appointment
E-mail: capteddy@xmission.com


Web Information for using Fine Arts Server
http://www.finearts.utah.edu/help/

Pre-requisite:
FA 2000 or instructor permission.

Course Description
This class will focus on making images that communicate, are creative, and are meaningful through an exploration of the digital tools Adobe Photoshop, ImageReady, and Illustrator. These applications have become standard tools used by fine artists, photographers, graphic designers, web designers, and broadcast and video professionals. Students will developed a deeper understanding of these tools, both in terms of technical knowledge and creative potential. We will also cover some elements of basic design and art history. This class is as much about art and creativity as it is technology.

Projects include (subject to change): Surreal Composite Image, Capturing feeling of time or music with an image, Second State (pushing project image further), Colorization, Simple Animation, Animal Icon, Expressive type, Beverage Packaging Design, CD Packaging Desigh.


Materials
USB micro drive (strongly recommended but not required)
Art Department print card (available at the Art Department office) or Access to a color printer
Personal photographs and images
Use of a Camera or digital camera (recommended but not required)

Required Books
None.
These books will be referred to in class and may be useful to you (but are not required):
Professional Photoshop; The Classic Guide to Color Correction - Dan Margulis
Photoshop CS / CS2 Wow! Book - Linnea Dayton and Cristen Gillespie
Teach Yourself VISUALLY Photoshop CS3 - Michael Wooldridge
Understanding Comics; The Invisible Art - Scott McCloud
Photoshop CS3 Bible - Laurie Ulrich Fuller & Robert C. Fuller
Adobe Photoshop CS3 Classroom in a Book & Adobe Illustrator Classroom in a Book

Basic Course Requirements

Projects
Each project will have a handout stating project goals and evaluation criteria. This handout will also discuss due dates for the assignment. Late assignments that are not presented during the critique will have lowered grades. Unless prior arrangements have been made, projects will not be accepted after one week from due date. Evaluations will be based on meeting the assignment goals, demonstrating your skills, understanding of the technology, formal mastery, and conceptual metaphors. Projects must meet or exceed the minimum evaluation criteria. Assignments are subject to change. Any changes will be announced in class. You are responsible for being aware of them. If you have a problem with a deadline, please contact the instructor before the due date to make arrangements for turning in the assignment.


Exercises
Exercises are short-term projects, generally due the next class period. They are designed to focus on technical skills and software familiarity. They are basically graded as pass/fail. Unless prior arrangements have been made, exercises will not be accepted after the due date.



Tests
Each unit in this class will have a test. These are typically multiple choice and you are allowed to use handouts, your own notes, and your computer. Test times will be announced and a brief review scheduled. If you cannot attend class on that day, make arrangements with the instructor prior to that day.



Participation and Attendance
FA 3700 is considered a studio class. This means that in-class exploration and work time is an important part of this class, but please note that outside work time (up to four hours per week, or more) will be necessary to complete projects and exercises. Another practice in studio classes is critiques. A critique is a discussion where we analyze work in a critical way. (By critical, we don't mean in a harshly judgmental way, but characterized by careful, exact evaluation and judgment.)


All students are required to come to class prepared to work on projects and exercises, and to participate in discussions and critiques. Attendance is crucial since there is no textbook for this class. Attending lectures, studio work time, interacting with the instructor and other students, and participating in critiques are essential parts of this class. Participation in these activities will be one way of demonstrating an understanding of class information.
It is important that this class starts on time. Late arrivals can be disruptive which is not fair to those that arrived on time. Try to be considerate of your fellow students. An attendance sheet will be passed out at the start of every class. It is you responsibility to make sure that you sign this list, even if you arrive late. More than three unexcused absences will lower your grade one letter. Two unexcused late arrivals or early departures will be marked as the equivalent of one absence. Unless prior arrangements have been made, five consecutive absences will result in failure. Absence from a class is not an excuse for skipping a lecture, quiz, or project. You are fully responsible for following up on missed work and obtaining missed handouts. Additionally, class discussions and interactions often occur within the first fifteen minutes of class. Please contact me immediately if an attendance problem arises.

Extra Credit and Assignment ReDos
These will be dealt with on an individual basis. ReDos must be completed 1 week prior to the end of each unit.


Extra Credit and Assignment ReDos
These will be dealt with on an individual basis. ReDos must be completed one week prior to the end of each unit.


Final Grade Percentages:
• Projects (30%)
• Exercises (25%)
• Tests (30%)
• Participation (15%)

A = Excellent. Generally awarded to the strongest and most dedicated students who have produced work that addresses technical, conceptual, and formal issues.
B = Good. Work reflects technical competency with improved sense of formal and conceptual skills.
C = Fair. Problems with attendance, effort, and quality.
D = Poor. Inconsistent attendance and effort. Missing many of the class’s objectives.

Additional Information
The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that reasonable accommodations be provided for students with physical, sensory, cognitive, systemic, learning, and psychiatric disabilities. Please contact the instructor of the course at the beginning of the semester to discuss any such accommodations for this course.

 

FA 3700 ScheduleWeek 1
(Subject to change. All changes will be announced in class)

Jan 8
Introduction to class, discuss syllabus and class expectations
Jan 10
Lecture/Discussion: What is art?
Exercise 1: Critical Viewing - hand out
Introduction to Photoshop: Demo and Presentation: Starting an image. Resolution presentation.

Week 2
Jan 15
Resolution continued, Cropping, Cut and Paste with layers, File Formats (Lossless & lossy), Sharpening + Cloning
Due: Exercise 1: Critical Viewing
Jan 17
Making Selections, Cutting and Pasting, Layers

Week 3
Jan 22
File Formats, Lecture, Scanning and Sharpening
Announce Project 1: Surrealist Image
Lectures: Copyright; What is Surrealism?
Due: Exercise 2: Cropping + Pixels exercise (3)
Exercise 3: Scanning, Scaling, Sharpening, and Printing
Jan 24
Making Selections
Exercise 4: UFO composite

Week 4
Jan 19
Exploring Color: Color, Profiles, gamuts, and modes, color tools, color correction, adjustment layers,
Lecture: color.
Exercise 5: Grayscale Grenades with Curves
Due: Exercise 3: Scanning, Scaling, Sharpening, and Printing
Due: Exercise 4: UFO composite
Jan 31
Perception and Composition Lecture, Color Correction continued,
Exercise 6: Color correct faded photo
Due: Exercise 5: Grayscale Grenades with Curves

Week 5

Feb 5
Color continued and Retouching Demos + Liquify + Filters
DUE: CRITIQUE PROJECT 1 - Surrealism
Exercise 6: Color correct faded photo
Announce PROJECT 2 Music and Nostalgia - Handout
Feb 7
Lecture: Blending Modes
Due: Exercise 6: Color correct faded photo
Exercise 07: Liquify Exercise with Heads
Due: Exercise 07: Liquify Exercise with Heads

Week 6
Feb 12
Channels Palette and saving Selections, Layer Masks, making brushes
Exercise 08: Valentine Exercise
Feb 14
Critique Project 2
Due: Project 2 Music and Nostalgia
Lecture: Types of Printing presentation
Making and working with textures
Exercise 09: Working with Textures
Announce Project 3: Second State Project - Handout
Due: Exercise 08: Valentine Exercise

Week 7
Feb 19
Making and working with textures
Due: Exercise 09: Working with Textures
Lecture: Types of Printing presentation
Exercise 10: Mandala Exercise
Feb 21
Critique Project 3
DUE: Project 3 Second State
Announce: Project 4 - Hand Coloring - Traditional to Warhol - handout
Hand Coloring Demonstration
Due: Exercise 10: Mandala Exercise

Week 8
Feb 26
Paths and Vector information
Exercise 10: UFO Path Exercise
Feb 28
Critique Project 4
DUE: Project 4 - Hand Coloring - Traditional to Warhol
DUE: Exercise 10: UFO Path Exercise
Photoshop for the web + Animation
Announce Project 5: Art in Motion - the 291 Pixel Gallery

Week 9
Mar 4
Photoshop for the web Continued, Slices, Button Demo Image Ready Demo 2, Animation
Mar 6 DUE: Project 5: Art in Motion - the 291 Pixel Gallery
Photoshop Test review

Week 10
Mar 11
Critique Project 5
Photoshop Test

Introduce Illustrator

Announce Illustrator Project 1: The Chicken and the Egg: Animal Icons.
Exercise 1: animal sketches

Mar 13

DUE: Exercise 1: animal sketches
Explore Illustrator Tools
Exercise 2: Cat Trace

Week 11
Mar 18 - SPRING BREAK
Mar 20 - SPRING BREAK


Week 12
Mar 25
DUE: Exercise 2: Cat Trace
Eye dropper Demo, Patch Demo, Compound Path File Demo, Clipping mask Demo, Pathfinder Demo,
Exercise 3: Illustrator Brain Teaser - The Target
Mar 27
Critique Illustrator Project 1
DUE: Illustrator Project 1: The Chicken and the Egg: Animal Icons.
DUE: Exercise 3: Illustrator Brain Teaser - The Target
Typography + type exercise
Announce: Illustrator Project 2: Wordplay Project

Week 13
Apr 1

Color: Swatches and PMS colors, Gradients, Gradient Meshes, Transparency
DUE: Type Exercise
Apr 3
Swatches +PMS BOOK, Gradients, Transparency,
Exercise: Illustrator Brain Teaser: Three Colored Layers
DUE: Illustrator Project 2: Wordplay Project
Announce Illustrator Project 3: Beverage Labels

Week 14
Apr 8

Announce Final Project
Patterns, Brushes, Symbols and Symbol Sprayer
DUE: Exercise: Illustrator Brain Teaser: Three Colored Layers
Exercise: 3D Bottle
Apr 10
Critique: Project 3
DUE: Illustrator Project 3: Beverage Labels
Filters & Effects Appearance and Styles, Distortions+ Transform Palette, Perspective Presentation,
Exercise: Illustrator Brainteaser - Perspective

Week 15
Apr 15

Illustrator into Photoshop and Photoshop into Illustrator, Rasterize, Export, Auto Trace
DUE: Illustrator Brainteaser - Perspective, 3D Bottle Exercise,
Review for Illustrator Test
Apr 17
Last day to turn in any missing Projects
Designing for Web, Build Coltrane website, Illustrator into Flash Animation
Illustrator TEST

Week 16
Apr 22

Last day of Class - Final Projects DUE - Critique

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