Spring 2013
PHOT 3190.01
© Bill Barrett 2013
Feedback (general opinions, problems, suggestions, etc.) on this hypersyllabus is encouraged! Bookmark this, but don't rely on printing it out. It is very likely that this page will be updated in the course of the semester.
Class description: Students learn the theoretical and practical aspects of photographic digital imaging. Students develop a theoretical understanding of this technology and learn to apply these principles using Adobe Photoshop. Students learn to control, modify, and manipulate digital photographic images for both corrective and creative purposes. Prerequisite: Photo II (PHOT 2000) for photo majors, or Desktop Publishing (COAP 2020) for non-majors.
Learning Outcomes:
We will be using the Macintosh computer platform in class, but students with Windows familiarity are welcome. Cross-platform questions are encouraged, and issues are addressed.
Class attendance is very important this course. Your participation and attendance are a large part of your grade -- make sure both are exceptional. If you miss more than one class, your grade will be affected. If you miss eight class sessions, you cannot pass the course. Written assignments and class presentations must be completed on schedule.
How you're graded: Your final grade is based on your performance throughout the semester. Your attendance and active participation count for 30%; your final projects count for 60% (see note at week nine for details); two exams count for 20%. Doing more than required can earn you extra credit; talk to me outside class if you're interested. This is what the grades mean....
Texts:
REQUIRED: Scott Kelby, Adobe Photoshop CS6 book for Digital Photographers RECOMMENDED: Robin Williams, The Little Mac Book Snow Leopard Edition Both are in paperback. |
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What we're doing and when:
Week 1 (1/14 & 16). Introductions; The digital world we are entering; the hardware and the software. Some of the vocabulary in digital imaging might be new to you, though much of it is the same or similar to that in "traditional" silver-based photography. Participating in the Photoshop listserv. (If you are new to on-line discussion groups, read the "rules of the road" before you jump in!). Here's an interesting way to think about all those storage terms.
Disk size and storage, continued. Moore's Law. The Webster Connections "portal," and how we will use it in this class. Color spaces for different purposes (and what you need to remember for this class). Image file formats. The DNG file format (the free DNG converters for Mac and Windows are a bit down on the page under Downloards).
Week 2 (1/23). No class Monday for Martin Luther king Day.
Intro to digital cameras; if you have a good digital camera of your own, bring it to class on Wednesday. If not, Nikon D50 cameras are available through the Media Center; please check one out before class (you might want to reserve it ahead of time). What's so different about a digital camera? |
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Week 3 (1/28 & 30). Camera RAW and EXIF data. What's a Bridge and why can it be my friend? RAW conversion to DNG via the Bridge. Creating and saving metadata templates in Bridge.
Week 4 (2/4 & 6). Troubleshooting problems with the Photoshop program.
Introduction to layers.
Week 5 (2/11 & 13). Adobe Photoshop Lightroom and Photoshop and Photoshop Extended and why both are good ideas. Introduction to the Lightroom Library module (and why we won't be primarily using Lightroom in this course).
The Lightroom Develop module. How to begin work on a digital image. Why non-destructive editing is so important. Photoshop CS5, aka Photoshop 12.0.2 (12.0.3 if Windows), is the version of the software we will use for this course. (CS6 was released late last spring; you can download a demo version, but first be sure your computer meets the system requirements to run it.) Some basic keyboard commands that you need to know. Navigating around the image. The toolbar and the palettes. Selection tools and quick masks. Introduction to channels and layers. Exploring how the program works.
Layers (continued) and adjustment layers. Why non-destructive editing is so important. Sending files via FTP. Basic methods of correcting digital files: adjustment layers and layer masks. When you finish a learning project, send your work via FTP. In room SV 204, the best way to use FTP is with Fetch. What your Class Presentations are about.
Week 6 (2/18 & 20). Scanning; using the Nikon Super CoolScan 9000 ED film scanner (manual available online); first class presentations. Here's information on the glass-mount carrier for the Nikon Coolscan. First, send me the original scan exactly as it came in. Then, convert to .dng on import, and once you open your file in Photoshop, be sure to change image size to 300 ppi without resampling. This DNG version is the one you should use if you're going to work on this image. Scanning continued; using the Epson Expression 10000 XL flatbed scanner. Pay careful attention to scan resolution, and when you have the file in Photoshop, verify that you have a big enough file size at 300 ppi. Send the original scan exactly as it came in before you begin work on it. |
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Week 7 (2/25 & 27). Meet in the Digital Printing area of the darkroom (SV 143) for the beginning of class today. The clone stamp tool and healing tools, and ways to work non-destructuvely with them. |
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Week 8 (3/4 & 6). Workspace, actions, and how to save your preferences (and where they are saved).
Using digital cameras continued. Midterm exam. Assignment of individual projects (when your proposal is ready, post it in the Projects topic in Connections). Some details of how to save your projects.
Some critically important considerations as you work on your projects: Save all original components of your projects, and label them clearly
Save projects in uncompressed Photoshop format only. (*.psd)
Do not flatten layers. Your grade for each of the three projects is worth 20% of your final grade for the class, for a total of 60% of the grade. |
Spring Break
Week 9 (3/18 & 20). Original file for first project due; send by FTP as instructed. (Note box at Week 12 below for important reminders.) Student presentations of personal project proposals; initial work on first project. Why non-destructive editing is so important. We will introduce additional features each week, such as the path tool as a means to define vector information and convert it to selections; the Channels palatte and how to use it; the healing brush (and why usually not the spot healing brush), and how to use it nondestructibly with a new blank layer; the liquify filter.
Week 10 (3/25 & 27). Class presentations; work on projects; use the text as reference as needed. Photoshop workspaces, saving and reloading your preferences.
Week 11 (4/1 & 3). By now you must start your second project; original files due. Class presentations; work on projects; use the text as reference as needed. Dynamic tools such as Bird's Eye View (old down h key while zoomed into a file, then click in the picture for a momentary full-screen view; change brush size and hardness (CTRL+OPTION and CTRL+OPTION+CMD respectively).
Week 12 (4/8 & 10). Completed first project due; send by FTP as instructed. Work on projects; use the text as reference as needed.
What you should send for your projects Send original files (10% project grade)
Send final projects (90% project grade)
Be sure to label each file appropriately, as noted above. |
Week 13 (4/15 & 17). By now you must be working on your third project; original files due. Class presentations; work on projects; use the text as reference as needed. Review of image size, canvas size, and transformations of file and layers.
Week 14. (4/22 & 24). Completed second project due; send by FTP as instructed. Class presentations; work on projects; use the text as reference as needed. The Output module of the Bridge.
Week 15. (4/29 & 5/1). Class presentations; work on projects; use the text as reference as needed.
Week 16. Final Exam. Wednesday, 5/8, 1-3 pm. In this period, you will describe your three final projects. Briefly explain why each fulfills the category expectations. Mention the input sources you used (e.g. Nikon CoolScan scan from color negative, flatbed scan from magazine page, digital camera, etc.), and the primary Photoshop tools you used to achieve your results. If you used any other program to a significant extent, be sure to mention it. (Plan ahead and do this at your leisure, and bring it to class.)
There is a brief written final exam, and you will show us all your projects.
Completed third project due; send by FTP as instructed.
