MOVING ALONG... First & Second Quarters

To date you have already learned a lot about the image-editing application, Adobe Photoshop CC. Congratulations! You have done a great job! You have learned the importance of working with layers in Photoshop. With Photoshop you can create original digital artwork, or edit existing images, adding filters, changing colors, adding images or shapes, retouching and enhancing photographs, etc. You can create interesting compositions that can be used in Graphic Design and Web Design. You also learned to use "Blending Options" by going to the "Layer Style" window, double-clicking the right side of your layers. You can use Drop Shadow, Inner Glow, Outer Glow, Bevel/Emboss, Gradient Overlay, Pattern Overlay, Stroke, etc. PRACTICE THIS OVER AND OVER!

What is Photoshop? It is and extremely powerful application (with a wealth of tools and commands) used to enhance and manipulate photos and create original digital art work. It is also used to touch-up photos and create high quality graphics. You can use it for almost any kind of image editing. Many professional photographers and designers use Photoshop. Watch: Video (click link). Find more information online and add it in your notebooks.

Remember: It is essential to have your Tools and Layers showing in Photoshop. If you do not see these, please go to Window (on the Menu Bar) > Workspace and click "Reset Essentials."

Layers:

Layers in Photoshop are like individual sheets of clear plastic that are in a stack. When you select a layer in the Layers Palette (or Panel), that layer is "active." Only one layer can be active at a time. The name of the active layer appears in the title bar of the image window. Changes affect only the "active layer" even though you view the whole image in the image window. You may find it useful to hide layers while working in Photoshop. All you have to do is click on the "Visibility Icon" or eye on the left side of the layer. You can also rearrange your layers and change their names. You can also create folders to add groups of layers and organize the Layers Panel better, even add color (to the layers and/or the folders). I want you to start organizing your layers well, so that it becomes easier to find the images and layer contents better. 

PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR LAYERS AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE SELECTING THE RIGHT ONE.

Pixels: 
Pixel is short for “picture element.” A pixel is the smallest element in a bitmap image such as a scan. If you zoom in on an image in Photoshop, you will start to see the individual pixels that make up the image. When working in Photoshop, you are editing pixels, changing their color, shade and brightness.

Bitmaps:

Digital images. An object in a bitmap images consists of a rectangular grid or raster of pixels – like a mosaic. When editing a bitmap image, it is the color values of individual pixels or groups of pixels that are modified.

Filters (on the Menu Bar):

Filters provide a quick and easy way to change the overall appearance of your image.

First tools to learn in Photoshop:

Move Tool - The Move tool is used to move selections, layers and guides.
Magic Wand Tool - To select images that have one-color background more easily (click on the color - go to Select > Inverse or press the Command-Shift-I keys at once to Invert and drag the image to your canvas).
Magnetic Lasso Tool - Used to select images (which you will start learning soon).

Crop Tool - Used to crop/trim images (ask me how to use this tool). 
Brush Tool - To paint brushstrokes or create lines or circles (you can select many
different types of brushes and even create your own.

Paint Bucket Tool - Fills areas with the Foreground Color. 

Rectangular/Elliptical Marquee Tools -  To make rectangular or elliptical selections, to create shapes (squares, rectangles and shapes) and even frames. Also to select a section of an image.

Eraser Tool - Erases pixels. To erase sections (small or large) of an image to improve a selection.

Eye Dropper Tool - Samples colors in an image.  
Text or Type Tool - To insert text (create "type" on an image).
Custom Shape Tool - Makes customizes shapes selected from a custom shape list.

Find other tools here: Photoshop Tools and Photoshop Tools 2 (click links) 

Design Tools video: Video (you may not be able to see this video in school, so please 
check it at home).

You will learn about: Layers, Copyrights (Ethics & Photoshop), Pixels, Megapixels, Multimegapixels, Bitmaps, Resolution, Interpolation, Pixelated, Picture File, Picture/File Formats (JPEG, QuickTime, GIF, PNG, TIFF, BMP or DIB), Compression -lossy and lossless- (and review of terms and Commands learned in September). Abstract art, Calder, Kandinsky, Mondrian, and others. How to use the Magnetic Lasso Tool, the Type Tool and the Custom Shape Tool. How to convert images to Black and White.

Class Assignment: You will also learn how to create a Pattern (Exercise No. 6). Look
for ideas online. YOU MUST CREATE THE PATTERN YOURSELF!

A pattern is a repeated decorative design, as for wallpaper, china, textile fabrics, art
and digital art, etc. Example: a paisley pattern. Get creative! Look online to find
examples and ask me for details if you have any questions. I will take in consideration
the level of difficulty. Thank you!

TEST: Tuesday, November 7, 2017. Please check Google Classroom for more information and review the terms above. Thank you!

Welcome to the Digital Imaging & Graphic Design Class!

This course will introduce you to the general graphic design processes and techniques used by commercial and visual artists, including the principles of design, layout, color theory, composition and typography, using Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Adobe InDesign. You will learn to be creative and will produce digital works of art and interesting publications (like flyers, advertisements, magazine covers, book covers, brochures, etc.). A basic understanding of computer applications is expected.

We will start learning some important terms: digital, art, digital art, design, graphic design, graphic designer, aesthetics, composition, focal point, Web design, branding and logos, and typography. We will also learn the six principles of a visual composition: balance (symmetrical, asymmetrical and radial), proximity, alignment, contrast, white space and repetition, and the importance of keeping it simple! Check again the video and webpage on "Fundamentals of Design," and later the video and webpage on "Layout and Composition" (under Favorite Links) to learn and understand more about these principles.  Establishing hierarchy in composition is very important too, mentioned in the second video, so check it out!

There are mainly three different kinds of balance: symmetrical, asymmetrical and radial. I need you to understand the difference between the three. Make sure to check Google Classroom OFTEN for important information, "notes," and assignments. By now, you should have the Graphic Design PDF presentation in your "notes" folder, the Keyboard Shortcuts document (add: Command-R), and a document of your choice with the vocabulary words you MUST know. Feel free to print any of these documents or to save them in your Google Drive. Thank you!

Check some of the links under "My Favorite Links" on the right side.

Class assignment: Go to Google and check images with symmetrical, asymmetrical and radial balance. Then create a Photoshop exercise with these three kinds of balance (you can use Shapes or other - I will explain in class). You need to have three Photoshop canvases! Try to understand the differences and try to understand the importance of a "balanced" composition in art and design. Check: Composition & Design (click this link) for more information. Try to understand "the rule of thirds" in creating an effective composition.

TEST:  October 4 (on this Blog Entry - Vocabulary mentioned here (and in Google Classroom, Graphic Design PDF and the following: the video and website on "Fundamentals of Design," these commands: Command-Shift-4, Command-J, Command-U, Command-Plus, Command-Minus, Command-Z, Command-C, Command-V, Command-S, Command-N, Command-T and Command-D. You will learn the commands you haven't learned yet in the next two weeks. Also: what is Photoshop?  will also be included. You can find a definition online or ask me please!

I hope you enjoy this class!

FOURTH QUARTER - "FINAL PROJECT"

Your "Final Project" is very important! The project's grade is your Fourth Quarter Grade, so you MUST take it seriously! You can work individually or in groups of two - no more than two please!

This is your Final Project and it is divided in 10 parts. You have SEVEN WEEKS to complete this project (since we have 4 days off for Easter Break) - so organize yourselves well to complete all the required sections (CHECK THE PDF AND THE RUBRIC IN GOOGLE CLASSROOM):

1. LOGO: What kind of company are you creating? In my example I created a sportswear company (you can do this or come up with a different company - BUT CLOTHING PLEASE!). Think of a name for your company (get ideas online) and come up with a LOGO (the simpler the better), that you will create in Photoshop. Once your logo is ready, convert it to a JPEG which at the end you will put it in a Word or Pages Document (like the PDF in Google Classroom) and you will tell me about your company.

2. SLOGAN: Come up with a slogan for your company, a short phrase that you can use to advertise your products. You will add your slogan in your final document (like the PDF in Google Classroom).

3. YOUR COMPANY AND ITS PRODUCTS: Tell me more about your company and your products. Look at the PDF!

4. TAGS & BAGS: You will create tags in Photoshop that you can use for your clothing and shopping bags with your logo (slogan optional). Convert to JPEG's to add to your document later. Look at the PDF!

5. POSTER: You will create a poster (11" x 17" - 100 Resolution) - You MUST add your LOGO somewhere in the poster and it must be professional-looking. Convert to a JPEG. Look at my example in the PDF in Google Classroom!

6. MAGAZINE AD: You will create a whole page Magazine Ad (of course the size depends on the size of the magazine). Research sizes - you can use the same poster but you must adjust the size, since the poster is much longer (which means you can move all the layers used in your poster to another Photoshop document and just adjust it). I used 9” x 11.74” - you can use 9” W x 11 or 12” H. Convert to a JPEG when done. Check the PDF, PLEASE!

7. NEWSPAPER AD: You will create a full-page or a half-page newspaper ad. The Philadelphia Inquirer is 11” x 22” full page size, you can use the poster and add 5” at the bottom to add extra information about your company, sales, etc. or create a half-page 11” x 11”. Convert to a JPEG. Ask for assistance if you need it and check the PDF in Google Classroom.

8.  BILLBOARD AD: I used 14” x 30” - normally Billboards are very large, 14 feet x 48 feet. A good size for this project is the one I used, but feel free to make it a bit smaller. The important thing when you create a Billboard is that it has to be attractive, it must attract the attention of people, and be simple, with essential information and easy to read. Convert to a JPEG when done.

9. SAMPLES OF PRODUCTS: You will create samples of your products. You can find clothing online (sports blouses, pants, shorts, etc. and add your logo to them, and then place them in your Word Document or Pages Document). You can use the Warp or Perspective option under Edit > Transform > Warp or Perspective to change your logo and fit it properly on your clothing line.

10. COVER FOR PROJECT AND FINAL DOCUMENT: You will create a Cover for your Project (check PDF attached) - It must have the Title: FINAL PROJECT, Digital Imaging & Graphic Design, your LOGO, your name or names, May 2017. Add the titles: 1. Logo (add your logo as a JPEG); 2. Slogan (add your slogan); 3. Company & Products... etc. CHECK THE PDF ATTACHED AND THE RUBRIC TO GUIDE YOURSELVES. You will download the document as a PDF in Google Classroom. Ask me for assistance.

EVERYTHING (YOUR PHOTOSHOP DOCUMENTS) MUST BE CONVERTED TO JPEG's! Keep EVERYTHING organized in a Folder with the name Final Project. I will check that you did this - I don't want you to tell me you lost your work. Also, download EVERYTHING in your GOOGLE DRIVE! YOUR DOCUMENT MUST BE CONVERTED TO A PDF WHEN COMPLETED. YOU CAN GO TO FILE > EXPORT TO > PDF. Or ask me for assistance.

THANK YOU!

Mrs. Feld

THIRD QUARTER

It is hard to believe our Third Quarter already started. This quarter will end March 31st. In this quarter we will emphasize the importance of ADVERTISING and why it is important for companies and organizations to work on their BRANDING. You will also learn about RESOLUTION, and the different file formats you can use when creating work in Adobe Photoshop.

What is advertising and why is it important?

Advertising is the activity or profession of producing advertisements for commercial products or services. Advertising is the best way to communicate to customers. It helps inform customers (and potential customers) about available brands in the market and the variety of products and services useful to them.  We can advertise using different techniques and media types, through TV, Website, newspaper, magazine, radio and other ads (advertisements). Through advertising we communicate ideas and transmit messages ("our product is the best," "we have the best price," etc.)

You also learn about "new" products and services through advertising. Companies and other organizations depend on advertising to introduce or remind customers (and potential customers) of their products and services. To try to convince them (and you) to buy their products or pay for their services. It is an important marketing tool!

Many companies would fail (go bankrupt) if they didn't advertise their products. Advertising educates people about the many products and services available out there. The consumer becomes aware of the many choices he/she has.

"Advertising is important for both new and existing businesses, as it helps to communicate important information to customers and is one of the first steps in building strong relationships. It raises awareness for different brands that are available in the market. Therefore, creating an effective advertising plan is essential in attaining objectives and goals."

You use advertisements to advertise. The goal is to grab the viewer's attention and try to convince him/her to buy the company's products, or to attend a certain school or college. Messages must be interesting and simple. The simpler the better! You want the ads to be memorable. Check these links for some examples of effective advertising: ADS1, ADS2, ADS3, ADS4 and ADS5. If these sites are blocked, you can check them out at home, or find other examples of good advertising. 

What is branding and why is it important?

To understand branding, it is important to know what brands are. A brand is the idea or image of a specific product or service that consumers connect with, by identifying the name, logo, slogan, or design of the company who owns the idea or image. Branding is when that idea or image is marketed so that it is recognizable by more and more people, and identified with a certain service or product when there are many other companies offering the same service or product. Advertising professionals work on branding not only to build brand recognition, but also to build good reputations and a set of standards to which the company should strive to maintain or surpass. 

Branding is the process involved in creating a unique name and image for a product in the consumers' mind, mainly through advertising campaigns with a consistent theme. Branding aims to establish a significant and differentiated presence in the market that attracts and retains loyal customers.

Read more: Branding1, Branding2 (click links please!).

HOMEWORK: What are logos? Why are logos important? Check the links and information above, you need to know this for a Quiz (Homework Due: February 24, 2017; Quiz: February 28, 2017).

SECOND QUARTER

During this quarter you will continue practicing how to use the Photoshop tools already learned, as well as Blending Options (when you double-click a layer and open the Layer Style window) and Blend Modes. You will also learn how to use the Color Replacement Tool, the History Brush Tool, the Red Eye Tool, the Eyedropper Tool, the Healing Brush Tool, and the Stamp Tool.

You will also learn how to “enhance” photographs and images, how to use blend modes and adjust color, how to use the Liquify Filter and the Oil Paint Filter (and other Photoshop filters) and how to create “frames”and brushes in Photoshop. And you will learn how to create a collage using the Rectangular and Elliptical Marquee tools (using "feathering"), how to use Type more effectively and the importance of creating effective advertisements.

The exercises in Google Classroom teach you how to be more creative by looking at the work of well-known surrealist artists, like René Magritte, Salvador Dalí, André Bretton, Joan Miró, Max Ernst, Frida Kahlo, Remedios Varo, Jindřich Štyrský and others, and trying to imitate some of their work.

What to learn? What is "surrealism"? Surrealism is a 20th-century avant-garde movement in art and literature that sought to release the creative potential of the unconscious mind, for example by the irrational juxtaposition of images. Read more about this movement online and read a little more about the artists mentioned and their work. Look at samples of their work and see which ones you like best. You can check the following site and others: Surrealism (click the link).

What do you like about surrealism? Homework due December 21, 2016: 1) Give me a good definition of "Surrealism" (in your own words after doing some research); 2) How do "dreams" play a part in this movement (in surrealist work)? 3) Mention at least four surrealist artists that you like (after checking their work online) and tell me in general - why do you like their work? and lastly 4) Why do you think this movement is important in the art world?

Salvador Dalí's work (what's the name of this painting?)

END OF FIRST QUARTER

Time goes fast when we are having fun! I hope that you have enjoyed my class so far. I try my best to make it interesting, but please feel free to come up with ideas!

There is a lot of cool stuff to learn in Graphic Design! Photoshop is an application with an infinite number of possibilities. Please review the Tools we have learned in class. I need you to understand the following: Move Tool, Rectangular and Elliptical Marquee Tools, Magnetic and Polygonal Lasso Tools, Magic Wand and Quick Selection Tools (if you need me to explain the Polygonal Lasso and Quick Selection Tools, let me know, I haven't explained these to ALL), the Crop Tool, the Eraser Tool, the Paint Bucket Tool, the Gradient Tool, the Type (Text) Tool and the Custom Shape Tool.

You may want to practice some of these tools. Ask me for assistance, if you need it! You also learned to use Blending Options to images and text (by double-clicking on the right side of your layers) - like Bevel/Emboss, Stroke, Inner Glow, Outer Glow, Drop Shadow, Pattern Overlay, etc. Remember to pay attention to your layers! In November you will learn how to select more than one layer at a time, how to Merge Layers, how to use the Blend Modes (not Blending Options - you already know this!) and how to use the Opacity in interesting ways. You will also learn how to create your own Patterns and your own Brushes. Please review this!

You already learned a little bit about Abstract Art, about some Abstract painters, and about Copyrights and their importance, besides other important information on Copyrights (per the PowerPoint in Google Classroom). These information will be included in your Midterm. You also learned two ways of creating frames in Photoshop, please - also review this!

You also need to know: 1) What is typography? 2) What is leading? 3) What is tracking? 4) What is kerning? 5) Know the difference between tracking and kerning (it is not the same!). Find some examples of bad tracking and kerning online. One place is: Bad Kerning. Find other sites explaining this and take some time researching it, please! And, I will also ask you about your homework below (important considerations when creating a poster).

You are learning how to create an effective and attractive poster, please check Google Classroom and read the short PDF carefully to learn this well. You MUST also read and check the following site (also under "My Favorite Links") - EFFECTIVE POSTERS. (You need this for the Homework below).

HOMEWORK No. 2 (due Tuesday, November 8th, 2016): 1) After reviewing the PDF in Google Classroom and the website above, please type on a Word or Pages or Google Docs Document the following (IN YOUR OWN WORDS!) - which are the six (there are more) most important elements you MUST consider when creating an effective poster? Also, 2) Who was René Magritte? What was he known for? Make sure to include your name or names (you can choose to work with a partner), Class, Period No. and Date. Also add a Title. Make it look very presentable for a better grade. Thank you!

Also, check some of the links under "My Favorite Links" - especially IDEAS, ISSUU.COM and any others of your choice to find "ideas" for your Photoshop Exercises and learn something new.

In November, you will also learn about René Magritte (starting with the Homework above) and will imitate some of his work; you will also create a Magazine Cover and a Magazine Ad. You can start thinking of ideas and look in Google images for examples of Magazine Covers and Magazine Ads. 

¡GRACIAS CHICAS!

WELCOME TO THE DIGITAL IMAGING & GRAPHIC DESIGN CLASS!

This course will introduce you to the general graphic design processes and techniques used by commercial and visual artists, including the principles of design, layout, color theory, composition and typography, using Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Adobe InDesign (if time permits). You will learn to be creative and will produce digital works of art and interesting publications (like flyers, advertisements, magazine covers, book covers, brochures, etc.). A basic understanding of computer applications is expected.

We will start learning the Mac basics: the finder, the dock, how to find your applications, how to create folders, how to save, the trash, Spotlight (to search for applications, documents, and other) and some important Graphic Design terms: digital, art, design, graphic design, graphic designer, aesthetics, composition, Web design, branding. We will also learn the six principles of a visual composition: balance, proximity, alignment, contrast, white space and keeping it simple. Please check the PDF in Google Classroom. You can save this document in your computer (under Documents, in the Handouts folder). Also save the Keyboard Shortcuts in the Handouts folder.

Balance is the consideration of visual weight and importance. It is a way to compare the right and left side of a composition. There are mainly three different kinds of balance: symmetrical, asymmetrical and radial. I need you to understand the difference between the three. (You can find this information in the presentation mentioned above).

Check some of the links under "My Favorite Links" on the right side.

Class assignment - Go to Google and check images with symmetrical, asymmetrical and radial balance. Then create a Photoshop, Word or PowerPoint exercise (your choice) with these three kinds of balance (you can use Shapes or other). Try to understand the differences and discuss with a partner (your neighbor). What is design? What is composition? (In graphic design and desktop publishing, "composition" is commonly referred to as "page layout"). Why is it important to have good (attractive) graphic design? Check: Composition & Design (click this link) for more information.

I hope you enjoy this class!

TEST:  October 6 (on this Blog Entry - Vocabulary mentioned here, Graphic Design PDF and the following Photoshop Commands: Command-J, Command-U, Command-A, Command-S, Command-O, Command-T, Command-N, Command-D, Command-Z and Command-R (check the Keyboard Shortcuts handout to review these commands). What is Photoshop?  will also be included. You can find a definition online or ask me please!