GRA2156C - Digital Design and Illustration

2 hours Lecture, 1 hour Lab, 3 credit(s)

Lower-Level College Credit

Prerequisite(s): DIG 2109C or GRA 2120C

Course Description:
 

This course provides students with the opportunity to advance their design skills by using digital image editing software and vector illustration to explore visual, conceptual, and technical expressions of digital media. The course content builds upon the student’s previous study of digital design within the larger context of visual literacy and communication, and highlights differences between raster-based and vector-based media. The curriculum includes the implementation of basic creative options such as image creation and manipulation, color correction, and retouching through the use of layers and various selection methods. Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator are used extensively.

Academic Dean’s Contact Information

LAKELAND DEAN’S OFFICE: LLC 2255              PHONE: (863) 297-1024
WINTER HAVEN DEAN’S OFFICE: WSC 101      PHONE: (863) 297-1020

1. Incorporate principles of good design, composition, lighting, interactivity, usability, typography, artistry, creativity, and aesthetics using appropriate tools and techniques to produce pleasing products
2. Develop targeted messages and use industry standard tools to create, manage, and communicate that message using appropriate formats, channels, and messaging techniques
4. Create, manipulate, manage, and distribute digital media using existing and emerging technologies that conform to industry standards of good design
5. Use multimedia tools for web, video, audio, imaging, animation, and programming to create products that meet clients’ requirements and conform to good standards of design, usability, and visual appeal
 

 
Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Distinguish between vector and raster based images
2. Use appropriate software to create, edit, manipulate, and output vector and raster-based images
3. Use a variety of tools to navigate editing software and manipulate design media
4. Scan images to exact size and in various file formats
5. Create basic montages of multiple images by using layers
6. Transform images
7. Create accurate and successful clipping paths for importing images
8. Create smooth and accurate selections
9. Create text and render type layers
10. Select and use color effectively
11. Use curves, channels, masks and various tools to manipulate parts of an image
12. Create cast and drop shadows
13. Enhance an image by using various editing tools to retouch and improve
 

Course Content:
1. Navigation basics: organize screens, organize windows, palettes, organize working environment, clipping picture, importing and exporting
2. Design elements: shape, scanning, resolution, line-screen, proportion wheel, mode
3. Manipulating images: change mode, image size, canvas size, import and export files
4. Transforming images: in proportion, free transform, layers, paths, selections, 3-d transform,
5. Line: clipping paths, Bezier curves, editing straight paths, editing curved paths, converting corner points and curve points, saving and activating clipping paths
6. Selection methods: lasso, polygon, marquee, selection from the middle and in proportion, adding and deleting from a selection, quick mask, replace color, pen tool, and make selection, channels
7. Working with text: creating text, editing text, rendering type layer, color and value
8. Selecting and using color with text, selecting and using color with images, variations, hue and saturation, selective color, creating texture
9. Using selections and channels: pen tool, polygon, lasso, magic wand, quick-mask, understanding anti-alias, saving selections and loading selections, altering channels
10. Creating shadows, drop cast
11. Creating images: pallet overview, tool, options, history, actions, customizing, layers
12. Creating new layer: duplicating, linking, adjustment, making a layer invisible, merging,
13. Preserve transparency, naming, selecting objects on a layer
14. File formats and compression: Photoshop, TIFF, EPS, JPEG, GIF, DCS, LZW, PNG
 

Textbook and Other Requirements

Textbook information is provided in the course syllabus, at the campus bookstore, and on the campus bookstore website at: www.efollett.com.

The Gordon Rule

This is not a Gordon Rule course.

Student Help

The professor is available for help during posted hours and by appointment during other non-class hours. Students are encouraged to seek assistance from the professor. To further the educational process, the campus Learning Resources Centers, comprised of the Teaching/Learning and Computing Center (TLCC) and library, are available for student use. Each resource provides qualified staff and up-to-date equipment and facilities to promote students’ academic success. The TLCC provides tutoring services, computing resources, and other instructional support. The library provides information resources, individual and group study space, research assistance, information literacy instruction, and computing resources. Each facility provides free wireless access to the Internet. Polk State College Library and TLCC hours of operation and tutoring schedules are posted at each facility and on the Polk State College website.

Repeating a Course

Under the Forgiveness Policy, a student is allowed only three attempts in any one college credit course: one initial enrollment and two repeats. Under certain circumstances, a student may petition to repeat a credit course beyond the three attempts. Limited admission programs may have specific guidelines regarding repeating courses that vary from this policy. Please see the student handbook for that program for more information. The student should be aware that repeating a course may result in a higher course cost. A course cannot be repeated unless the previously earned grade is a D, F, or W (the Polk State College Catalog provides further details regarding this process). Prior to repeating a course, the student should consult with the Financial Aid Office to determine what impact, if any, repeating the course will have on his or her financial aid status.

Information Technology Access/Use Policy

All individuals who employ the information technology resources provided by Polk State College (this includes, but is not limited to, telephones, computers, the Polk State College  Local Area and Wide Area Networks, and the Internet) must use these resources for academic purposes only. Use of these resources is a privilege, not a right. Inappropriate use can result in revocation or suspension of this privilege.

Equal Access/Opportunity

Polk State College is an equal access, equal opportunity institution committed to excellence through diversity in education. The College complies with all state and federal laws granting rights to applicants for admission to the College. Polk State College is committed to the equitable treatment of all students in a learning environment free of discrimination and harassment. Polk State College’s Equity Officer ensures compliance with federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination and sexual harassment. Students who believe they have been a victim of discrimination or sexual harassment should contact the Polk State College Equity Officer, Ms. Valparisa Baker, at 863-292-3602 or vbaker@polk.edu.

Equal Opportunity For Students With Disabilities

The College complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and provides equal educational opportunity for qualified individuals. A student with a disability who requires special accommodations or auxiliary aids under The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should contact the Student Services Office on either campus and speak with the Coordinator of Academic Advising.

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