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DIGITAL ART AND DESIGN: INTRODUCTORY (ART-222454)

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Course Description:


This student-based and project-driven course is designed to engage the student in the creative process and foster a technical and aesthetic understanding of digital art and design at the introductory level. The course will provide an introduction to and an overview of Adobe Photoshop CS6 software. Students participate in student-based exercises and projects, individual and group critique, discussion of topics relevant to digital art and design, portfolio development and evaluation, and research. Students are expected to develop effective visual communications skills, cultivate an individual artistic style, and gain basic understandings of the creative and technical processes inherent in digital art and design. Students develop a working knowledge of how two-dimensional bit-map images are acquired, created and manipulated in Adobe Photoshop. Students are expected to apply techniques learned to create projects that meets their own professional or individual interests/needs. In addition, students develop academic skills such as decision-making, problem-solving, peer critique, and writing skills throughout the projects.

This course provides the technical and aesthetic foundation for students to master concepts of effective digital design, layout, and image manipulation. Using a major digital art software, Adobe Photoshop, students produce designs to advance their art career, arts education, or personal business. Students develop a working knowledge of how two-dimensional bit-map images are acquired, created and manipulated. Additional topics explored include: image acquisition, preparation and retouching; special effects, filter, tool pallet; color-correction and compositing/masking techniques. Finally students gain an understanding of how digital art and design impacts society and how to protect their own and other's copyright and intellectual property. All students are expected to participate in the core learning activities, such as peer critique and discussion of topics relevant to digital art and design.

Students with a visual impairment should contact the Office of Collegewide Disability Services before registering for this course.

NOTE: There are no texts required for this course. Students will receive instructions to subscribe to Lynda.com tutorials from their instructor, when they start the online course. Students must have Adobe Photoshop CS6 Extended by the time the course begins. Contact the bookstore to inquire about where to purchase the software. The instructor is not responsible for assisting students with the purchase of the software. Students should also have a scanner and the digital capacity to submit their creative work online as JPEG images. Broad-band Internet access is preferred. If you plan to take the advanced course as well (Digital Art and Design: Advanced), you should purchase Adobe Suite CS6 Web & Design Premium (Student & Teacher Edition) instead of Adobe Photoshop CS6 Extended.

Prerequisites: hardware: PC or Mac, software: Adobe Photoshop CS6 Extended. Since this course requires students to use computer and software intensively, they should have strong interests in using the computer as a design tool and intermediate computer skills.

This course fully meets the General Education requirement in The Arts.



This online course is offered through Online Learning. You can take this as an individual course or as part of an online degree program, with term starts in March, May, September, November and January. View current term offerings and all online courses. Click here to register for online courses.

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Liberal Study
Lower Level
Credits: 4
Meets General Education Requirement In: The Arts-Full

Term(s) Offered (Subject to Change) : Spring 1. Spring 2. Summer. Fall 1.

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