Welcome to Photoshop online. This class is offered through the Digital Media/Internet Services {DM/IS} Department at West Valley College, and is designed to be a fully interactive learning experience. In this course there are written assignments, instructional videos, chats, homework, and lots of Photoshopping! To complete the class work you will need to have the CS5 software, and purchase the required text book. 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.
There are some written homework assignments that require you to demonstrate college level proficiency in spelling, sentence structure and clarity of message. Two important skills for any professional - design or otherwise - are effective written and verbal communication. Like visual and design skills these develop over time with a focused effort.
SYLLABUS:
Click here for the syllabus.
CLASS EMAIL:
The email for homeworks and all class communication is: dmis10c@gmail.com
Important information on text and videos:
Please purchase the text ASAP!! Do not wait, do it NOW!!
Which Version of Photoshop is covered in this class?
Students will need access to Adobe Photoshop CS5. Photoshop CS5 will be taught in the class. You may be able to complete the course with CS4.
The instructional videos produced for this class utilize Photoshop CS5 and some videos feature CS4. I recommend that you use Photoshop CS5, but you may be able to complete the class with CS4. But I do not post lessons specific to the CS4 text, however, most of the text tutorials assigned are compatible with CS4 version of the text. Also, if you are using CS4 it may be harder for me to troubleshoot problems that you encounter. You will have problems completing the homework with older versions than CS4. If you have CS4 you should consider upgrading to CS5 as there are some newly improved tools that are very fun to work with!
During Fall & Spring Semesters
The lab is located in the AAS Building, and has both Macs and PCs with
Photoshop CS5, scanners and printers available to all West Valley students. You need to obtain a student card from Admissions and Records in order to use the lab. Contact the Technology
Center for more information.
SOFTWARE:
If you are interested in purchasing Photoshop, purchase 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 information to the class.
TRIAL VERSION OF CS5:
A free trial version of Photoshop CS 5 is available for 30 days, but you need access to the software for the entire duration of this course. Please make sure that
any trial versions of software do not impede in your completion of the
course.
CS5 Trial Version Information
CS5 Trial Download
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 plan to work approximately 7-10 hours per lesson, maybe more depending on the particular assignment, your proficiency, and the desire to deomonstrate your new found knowledge and skills.
6. Homework is due for each lesson. Please email me your graphic homework files as an attachment. Since most of the lessons are posted for the entire course - you can work at your own pace, but please send me the homework when it is due as outlined in the lessons.
One of the reasons I post all of the lessons from the beginning of the semester, is it facilitates exploration and play. Also, if you read ahead about the major assignments; such as lessson 3's duotone, the mid-term, lesson 10's surrealist homework, and the final magazine cover you can begin thinking about them before hand. For example, you may like to start taking photographs in week 1 in anticpation of your week 3 duotone homework. Many of the homeworks enable you to use your own photography, which typically produces much more interesting and innovative works.
7. You are responsible for dropping this course. If you have not completed 70% of the course work by by July 1, 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. 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. Therefore, your blog counts as participation in the class and is accorded points. See the grade breakdown for more
information.
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