Welcome to Photoshop online. This class is offered through the Digital Media/Internet Services {DM/IS} Department at West Valley College. This class is designed to be a fully interactive learning experience. In this class there are written assignments, instructional videos, chats, homework, and lots of Photoshopping! To complete the class work you will need the Adobe Photoshop software. Ideally you will have CS4, ( CS 3 may work fine too) and a broadband internet connection. Please read all the information on this page and in the different sections of the class website to become acquainted with how the class works.
Click here for the syllabus.
Important information on text and videos:
Please purchase the text ASAP!! Do not wait, do it NOW!!
REQUIRED:
Adobe Photoshop CS4 One-on-One by Deke McClelland (2008)
ISBN-10: 0596521898
ISBN-13: 978-0596521899 (If you buy a used book please make sure you get the cd)
Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/Adobe-Photoshop-CS4-One-One/dp/0596521898/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233087392&sr=8-3
or
Adobe Photoshop CS 3 - One on One (2007 edition)
by Deke McClelland
ISBN: 0-596-52975-9, or 978-0-596-52975-8
(If you buy a used book please make sure you get the cd)
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Which Version of Photoshop is covered in this class?
Photoshop CS4 will be covered in the class. The instructional videos produced for this class utilize Photoshop CS4 and some videos feature CS3. There are also some archive videos of older versions of Photoshop that may be helpful. I recommend that you use Photoshop CS4 or CS3. Bear in mind, however, that it will be harder for me to troubleshoot problems with CS3. You will have problems completing the homework with older versions than CS3.
SOFTWARE:
If you are interested in purchasing Photoshop - I would recommend the student version. It is a little cheaper but the student version is absolutely fine for this class and beyond. One vendor that sells the software online is at: http://www.journeyed.com
You may also check out:
http://www.uscollegebuy.com/s.htm
but this requires faxing your student id
If you find a better deal please let me know and I can pass on the info to the class.
This class is divided in five sections:
i) Course: the entry page of the class with vital information
ii) Lessons: the list of lessons and syllabus for the class
iii) Community: chat section of class
iv) Instructor: information about instructor
v) Help: list of support information and websites to help you complete the course
How this class works?
1. This class uses streaming video technology. The streaming video files contain a video interface of Photoshop and my voice explaining steps inside the application. You will need several plug-ins to be able to view this online class. Please see the list below for all software/plug-ins.
2. There are weekly lessons posted on the lessons page. Please do the homework as scheduled. Assignments are due on the prescribed date.
3. To be able to do the weekly lessons you must watch the videos in each lesson. Some students find it helpful to watch the entire video once and take a few notes to get an overview. Then minimize the browser window and open up Photoshop and work back and forth between the video lesson and Photoshop.
4. Please participate in chat. It is very important to communicate with others in the class as well as the instructor. However, you are not graded on chat participation.
5. Success in this class takes time. You should put at least 3-5 hours per lesson, maybe more depending on the particular assignment, and your proficiency.
6. Homework is due for each lesson. You can email me your homework as an attachment or send me the url where it is located. Since most of the lessons are posted for the entire course - you can work at your own speed, but please send me the homework when it is due as outlined in the lessons.
7. You are responsible for dropping this course. See the syllabus for the dates to drop. If you have not completed 60% of the course work by Nov. 20 you may be dropped.
Downloadable Software/Plugins:
Can I complete this class without the plugins? No. You will need to have these plugins to view the video lessons. If you have problems with the audio on the video tutorials, or experience any technical problems with links, try accessing with a different browser, and/or download a newer version of a browser. Please contact me if you continue to have problems accesing any of the material on the class web site.
Email Assignments
Typically students send their homework and assignments as an email attachment. However, graphic files can be large so you will have to optimize your graphic and save in jpeg format which I will explain in lesson 3.
What if you have your own web space? Yes, you can use your own server
for the class, just email me the url each week you do your weekly posting.
Blog
You are required to make a blog. I encourage you to use your blog to post weekly assignments but make sure you email me the blog link each week so I have a record of your homework. More on this later, but if you are interested in making a blog sooner there are some blog tutorials to get you started at:
www.jrmacks.com/blog
Blogs are an easy and fun way to publish your class work. Many of my students have used their blogs to obtain internships. If you are are uneasy about publishing your work on the web - you shouldn't be. Post low resolution (72 dpi) graphics if you have any concern. Please also discern assignments in Photoshop from your personal art or design. This is a digital media class and publishing your work on a blog is what enables you to share your work with other students in the class, your friends and family. Therefore, your blog counts as participation in the class and is accorded points. See the grade breakdown for more info.
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