Monday, September 21, 2020
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
Monday, September 14, 2020
Tuesday, September 1, 2020
syllabus
Instructor: Marcin Ramocki
Please remember that masks must be worn for all in class learning during Fall 2020.
This course is HyFlex and a hybrid. Classes will meet in person or synchronously online.
All classes will be broadcast live via zoom, but in-person participation in workshops is highly recommended.
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
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. Same rules apply to HyFlex participation.
Grading:
1 project: 20% 2 project: 15% 3 project: 35% final project: 30% class critiques/blog participation: 10%
Course Syllabus:
Week 1: Introduction, overview of the class. Syllabus and class blog. Basics Photoshop Workshop Part1: working with image files, Photoshop menus layout, the toolbox, moving content between files, selections, layers, copy/paste. Creative Type Project introduced.
Pick a word (adjective) and try to illustrate the essential meaning of the word through inventive use of type. You can use all letters of the English alphabet (lower case), each can be used once, each has to be on a separate layer. Use your letters as visual building blocks: what is the best way to convey the meaning of your adjective word? Black letters on white background only, 8.5X11" 150 dpi. Be creative: this is a highly conceptual project and sometimes less is more.
Week 2: Basics Photoshop Workshop Part2:
making complex selections, path and quickmask. Techniques of photo compositing. Channels, intro to Bezier curve editing.
Week 3: Understanding basic digital media concepts and vocabulary. Introducing pixel, resolution, bitmap, vector image, history of computer imaging. Creative Type Project critique.
Week 4: Basics Photoshop Workshop Part 3: photo manipulation techniques, morphing, shadows, reflections, texture and color adjustments. Self-portrait Project introduced:
Prepare one or more of your personal photographs and manipulate them digitally into a self-portrait. Use images found online to create a collage. Morph your face with another person, animal or object. Try to make certain statement about your personality, place in the world and how would you define yourself to other people. State something about yourself through a visual metaphor. Start with a small sketch if you prefer. Experiment with the features you have learned in the class.
Week 5: Self-portrait Project workshop. Personalized help and techniques.
Week 6: Midterm: Self Portrait Project group critique.
Week 7: 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.
Dream Project Introduced: 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.
Reading: Sigmund Freud, The Interpretation of Dreams (fragment)
Week 8: Dream Project workshop time. Personalized production progress discussion.
Week 9: Dream Project final details and post production.
Week 10: Dream Project group critique.
Week 11: Basics Photoshop Workshop Part 3. Graphic design applications, GUI elements, shapes, layer styles, effects. Non photographic uses.
Week 12: 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. Using Photoshop as HTML editor. Slices and rollovers. Making a quick homepage. Embedding multimedia. Absolute and local connectivity
Week 13: Short history and fundamental concepts of electronic gaming. Screening: documentary 8 BIT. Discussion related to the movie. Final project introduced (this project is different every semester).
Week 14: Final Project 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”
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