Instructor: Marcin Ramocki
Spring 2014
Digital Media 1
The
purpose of this class is to familiarize you with basic concepts of
computer media and, in particular, the visual language of digital 2-D
image via Adobe Photoshop. You will be exposed both to software and
concepts behind the 2-D digital artwork. You will learn in depth how to
work with photographic images, create bitmap graphics, develop your own
ideas and communicate them through Photoshop. No previous experience
with computer required. Second half of the class will introduce
fundamentals of online and game media.
Please
note that this is not a purely technical class teaching you the skills
behind digital graphics. You are expected to be creative and learn to
communicate concepts, develop your personal aesthetic and talk about
assigned theoretical readings.
Materials:
External drive of your choice to store/backup images, glossy paper
Absence policy:
One
absence allowed without further explanation. Second one equals to one
grade drop unless accompanied by doctor’s explanation. Third equals to
another grade drop unless accompanied by doctor’s explanation. Beyond
that you fail the course.
Grading:
1 project: 15% 2 project: 30% 3 project: 15% final project: 30% class critiques/blog participation: 10%
Course Syllabus:
Week
1: Introduction, overview of the class. Syllabus and class blog. Basics
of working with files, important vocabulary, scanning, and tools.
Differences between platforms. Concepts of pixel size and resolution.
Project 1: Self-portrait. Week 2: Photoshop Marathon part 1:
basic operations in Photoshop, making selections, Compositing, layers, toolbox
Self-portrait
Project: scan one or more of your personal photographs and manipulate
them digitally into a self-portrait. Use images found online to create a
collage. Try to make certain statement about your personality, place in
the world and how would you define yourself to other people. Start with
a small sketch if you prefer. Experiment with the features you have
learned in the class.
Week
3: Photoshop Marathon part 2: further introduction of Photoshop menus,
layers, filters. Complex selections, masks, channels, paths,
transforming paths into selections. Working with Bezier curves, pen
tool. Discussing differences between raster and vector based images.
Working on Self-portrait Reading asssignement:
Jean Baudrillard “Simulacra and Simulations”(fragment)
Week 4: Self-portrait project due - group critique.
Basics
of print preparation. Color modes: RGB and CMYK. Calibrating a printer,
selecting the right option for your piece. Color retouching, levels,
curves, selective color operations. Advanced selections: color range.
Introducing command shortcuts.
Project 2: Dream.
Week
5: Dream Project : write down a short description of one dream you had
and which made a big impression on you, good or bad. Extract one scene
from that dream and try to reconstruct it out of pieces of online images
as adequately as possible. Pay attention to details; try to convey
exactly the feeling you had in the dream. This is a classic compositing
assignment. Custom photo material is also encouraged.
Week
6: Role of unconsciousness in creative process. Surrealist artwork
introduced. Discussing student’s concepts and trying to find specific
technical solutions. Perfecting Photoshop techniques, using rubber stamp
tool, layer effects, adjusting layer opacity. Looking at light and
shadow issues: building a coherent, realistic space.
Working on Dream Project. Reading Assignment:
Sigmund Freud: The Interpretation of Dreams (fragment)
Week
7: Dream project due - group critique. Discussion based on reading
Simulacrum and Simulations. Issues of reality, copy, image ownership,
documentation and falsification will be addressed. Demonstration of
Actions Menu, recording and using actions.
Project 3: Creative Type
Week
8: Type tool, layer effects. Non-photographic applications of
Photoshop. Building graphic elements from scratch, simulating 3-D
effects, making interfaces, buttons, using gradient and bevel effects.
Looking at examples of interesting communications and advertising
artwork.
Creative Type
Project: pick a word and try to illustrate the essential meaning of the
word through inventive use of type. Play with the shape of letters,
filling of the type, composition. Be creative: this is a highly
conceptual project and sometimes less is more.
Week 9: Creative Type Project due – off campus group critique. Reading Assignment:
Marcin Ramocki: Assumed Mobility
Final Project: Research Blog (group assignment)
Research
Blog: this assignment will be done in teams. Each team will be given a
theme and will have to research the theme in a format of a blog.
Participants will search the web for content, present
their private opinions, discuss, comment and try to discover as much as possible about the subject.
Week 10: Short history and fundamental concepts of the Internet
Basics
of HTML script - workshop. Understanding the idea of hypertext and
mark-up. Learning basic tags and attributes. Putting together a simple
web page and viewing it in the browser. Saving and uploading HTML files.
Preparing images for the web. Image maps in HTML.
Week
11: Using Photoshop as HTML editor. Slices and rollovers. Making a
quick homepage. Embedding multimedia. Absolute and local connectivity
Week
12: Web 2.0, blogs, social media and their critique by contemporary web
artists. Quick workshop in modifying and making animated GIFs.
Week
13: Short history and fundamental concepts of electronic gaming.
Screening: documentary 8 BIT. Discussion related to the movie.
Week 14: Working period. Week 15: Final critique.
Bibliography: All texts will be provided online
Photoshop Help online is your best friend!
Sigmund
Freud: “The Interpretation of Dreams” Jean Baudrillard: “Simulacra and
Simulations” Marcin Ramocki: “Assumed Mobility: Thoughts on Experiencing
Time Online”
