COT 1010
Advanced Graphics
124 hours

Course Information

Course Description:

This course will cover basic to advanced Photoshop skills helping you to create dynamic Photoshop art.   In the 16 units, you will learn how to work with layers, make selections, incorporate color techniques and adjust colors, use paint tools, place type in an image, liquefy an image and create Photoshop images for the web.

Course Objectives:

  • Start Adobe Photoshop CS or CS-2 
  • Learn how to Open and Save a Document 
  • Examine the Photoshop Window 
  • Learn how to use the Layers palette 
  • Learn about Photoshop by using Help 
  • View and Print a Document 
  • Close a Document and Exit Photoshop 
  • Examine and Convert Layers 
  • Add and Delete Layers 
  • Add a Selection from One Document to Another 
  • Organize Layers with Layer Sets and Color 
  • Make a Selection Using Shapes 
  • Modify a Marquee 
  • Select Using Color and Modify a Selection 
  • Add a Vignette Effect to a Selection 
  • Work with Color to Transform a Document 
  • Use the Color Picker and the Swatches Palette 
  • Place a Border Around an Image 
  • Blend Colors Using the Gradient Tool 
  • Add Color to a Grayscale Image 
  • Use Filters, Opacity, and Blending Modes 
  • Learn about Type and How it is Created 
  • Change Spacing and Adjust Baseline Shift 
  • Use the Drop Shadow Style 
  • Apply Anti-Aliasing to Type 
  • Modify Type with the Bevel and Emboss Style 
  • Apply Special Effects to Type Using Filters 
  • Paint and Patch an Image 
  • Create and Modify a Brush Tip 
  • Smudge Colors to Create an Artistic Effect 
  • Use a Library and an Airbrush Effect 
  • Use a Layer Mask  with a Selection 
  • Work with Layer Masks and Layer Content 
  • Control Pixels to Blend Colors 
  • Eliminate a Layer Mask 
  • Use an Adjustment Layer 
  • Create a Clipping Group to Act as a Mask 
  • Learn about Filters and How to Apply Them 
  • Create an Effect with an Artistic Filter 
  • Add Unique Effects with Stylize Filters 
  • Use the Distort and Noise Filters 
  • Use a Render Filter to Alter Lighting 
  • Create an Alpha Channel 
  • Use Extract to Isolate an Object 
  • Erase Areas in an Image to Enhance Appearance 
  • Fix Imperfections in an Image 
  • Use the Magic Wand Tool to Select Objects 
  • Learn How to Create Snapshots 
  • Create Multiple-Image Layouts 
  • Correct and Adjust Color 
  • Enhance Colors by Altering Saturation 
  • Modify Color Channels Using Levels 
  • Create Color Samplers with the Info Palette 
  • Use a Clipping Group as a Mask 
  • Use Pen Tools to Create and Modify a Path 
  • Work with Shapes 
  • Convert a Faded Type Effect 
  • Use the Liquify Tools to Distort an Image 
  • Learn How to Freeze and Thaw Areas 
  • Use the Mesh Feature as You Distort an Image 
  • Delete Unnecessary Imagery 
  • Correct Colors in an Image 
  • Fix a Background 
  • Add Annotations to a Document 
  • Learn About Actions and How They Are Created 
  • Modify an Action 
  • Use a Default Action and Create a Droplet 
  • Learn About ImageReady 
  • Optimize Images for Web Use 
  • Create a Button for a Web Page 
  • Create Slices in a Document 
  • Create a Rollover Effect 
  • Create and Play Basic Animation
  • Add Tweening and Frame Delay

Prerequisites and Corequisites:

None.

Course Topics:

The course will consist of 16 modules covering basic and advanced graphics design, and software.  The course is designed to provide a total of 124 contact hours.  Each module will be a self contained lesson:

  1. Getting Started with Adobe Photoshop CS, CS-2 (4 hours)
  2. Working with Layers                                             (8 hours)
  3. Making Selections                                                 (8 hours)
  4. Incorporating Color Techniques                            (8 hours)
  5. Placing Type in an Image                                      (8 hours)
  6. Using Painting Tools                                              (8 hours)
  7. Working with Special Layer Functions                   (8 hours)
  8. Creating Special Effects with Filters                      (8 hours)
  9. Enhancing Specific Selections                               (8 hours)
  10. Adjusting Colors                                                   (8 hours)
  11. Using Clipping Groups, Path, & Shapes                (8 hours)
  12. Transforming Type                                                (8 hours)
  13. Liquifying an Image                                              (8 hours)
  14. Performing Document Surgery                              (8 hours)
  15. Annotating and Automating a Document              (8 hours)
  16. Creating Web Documents                                     (8 hours)

Specific Course Requirements:

For this course the student should be familiar with the use of the internet, using e-mail, setting attachments, and be comfortable with navigating to other specific sites as directed in class.

Textbooks, Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements

Required Textbooks:

Please visit the Virtual Bookstore to obtain textbook information for this course: http://rodp.bkstr.com

Supplementary Materials:

The material covered in the course will be presented on the WEBCT site.  The text book listed is your resource guide to help you through the course.  Not all material presented in the course will be presented in the text.  The instructor will also use web sites, and downloads through out the course for you to use to gain useful information to help you.

Hardware Requirements:

The minimum requirements can be found at http://www.rodp.org/students/hardware_software.htm. But I need to say the the the more memory that you can stuff in your machine the better time you will have with working with photos.     Adobe recommends 192 MB of RAM.  I would say at least that much and the more memory on the video card the better.

Software Requirements:

The minimum requirements can be found at http://www.rodp.org/students/hardware_software.htm. Specific hardware requirements for this course include...(A list of software the student is required to purchase or download for the course, Real Player, Media Player, Acrobat Reader, Microsoft Office, etc).

Adobe Photoshop CS, or CS-2. Academic versions of software are available from a number of Internet sites (http://www.diskovery.com/, http://www.journeyed.com/, and others) as well as from any local campus bookstore.

Windows 98, Windows 98 SE, Windows ME, Windows NT with service pack 6a, Windows 2000 with service pack 2, or Windows XP.

Instructor Information

Please see the separate page inside the course to find instructor contact information as well as a statement of virtual office hours and other communication information.

Assessment and Grading

Testing Procedures:

Students in this course will be expected to complete assignments in each individual modules and complete module quizzes.  There will be a mid-term exam after the first 8 module worth 150 points and a comprehensive final exam worth 250 points after all the modules have been completed.  In addition students will be required to participate in group discussions worth 200 points, and group projects worth 300 points, during the course.

Grading Procedure:

Module Assignments  8400
Module Quizzes 141400
Midterm Exam150
Discussion Group200
Group Projects300
Final Exam250
Total Points:2700

Grading Scale:

A:  2700-2430

B:  2429-2165

C:  2164-1899

D:  1898-1632

F:  1631-0

All students are expected to maintain a satisfactory progress throughout the course.  Satisfactory progress is defined as a minimum of 1899 points.  Students who make below 1899 points will be contacted by the instructor.

Assignments and Participation

Assignments and Projects:

The course is laid out to go through a module approximately every week.  For each module you will be given an assignment for the week and a quiz at the end of the module.  You will be given the final week to complete your final exam and a course survey.  There will also be two group projects to be assigned during the quarter.  I will post a summary of events here in the future, but make sure that you check the calendar regularly for discussions, assignments, group projects and quizzes.  Remember you are responsible to check the colander.

Class Participation:

Students are expected to fully participate in the course.  In addition to course work and assignments students are expected to communicate with the instructor as a learning recourse, students must check the course bulletin board frequently for announcements, and students must actively participate in threaded discussion events.

Punctuality:

Students are expected to consult the Course Calendar for assignment due dates.  There will be 2 a point deduction for each day past due on any given assignment or quiz.  Assignments and quizzes will not be accepted past one week of the scheduled due date.

Course Ground Rules

Participation in this course is the key to doing well. It is expected that the student follow along the assignments as listed for each module. Students should make sure assignments are turned in by their due date as posted on the Course Calendar.

Students should check the discussion boards often to see if there are new discussions or announcements from the instructor. If you have questions about a topic the discussion board is a great place to ask it.

Students are expected to respect the rights of other at all times when communicating with the instructor and other students. You are expected to follow proper netiquette at all times.

If you have a technical issue address it at once to avoid falling behind in the class.

Remember that the only bad question is the one not asked. So, if you are unsure of something, ask about it.

Guidelines for Communications

Email:

  • Always include a subject line.
  • Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emoticons might be helpful in some cases.
  • Use standard fonts.
  • Do not send large attachments without permission.
  • Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
  • Respect the privacy of other class members

Discussion Groups:

  • Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker then a discussant.
  • Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a new topic.
  • Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of other’s ideas.
  • Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.
  • Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.
  • Be positive and constructive in group discussions.
  • Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner.

Chat:

  • Introduce yourself to the other learners in the chat session.
  • Be polite. Choose your words carefully. Do not use derogatory statements.
  • Be concise in responding to others in the chat session.
  • Be prepared to open the chat session at the scheduled time.
  • Be constructive in your comments and suggestion

Web Resources: 

Library

The Tennessee Virtual Library is available to all students enrolled in the Regents Degree Program. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to complete online assignments and as background reading must be included in all courses. 

Students With Disabilities

Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.

Syllabus Changes

The instructor reserves the left to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board.

Technical Support

Telephone Support:

If you are having problems logging into your course,
timing out of your course, using your course web site tools, or other technical problems, please contact the AskRODP Help Desk by calling 

1-866-550-7637 (toll free)

or go to the AskRODP website at:

http://help.rodp.org