Digital Imaging I

DAT 108, DIGITAL IMAGING I

Syllabus
DAT 108, Digital Imaging I
Naugatuck Valley Community College
Waterbury, CT

Jerry Nevins, Professor
Email me

Class Blog, DAT 101, Fall 2012
Class Blog, DAT 101, Spring 2013

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Course Overview:

Prerequisite: DAT*H101. Digital Imaging I provides an in-depth study of
digital image files and their uses in the realm of digital graphics, imaging and
video. Topics include; alpha channels, composition and lighting, color theory,
data compression, filters, raster graphics, vector graphics, gradients, layering,
screen resolution and bit depth, and video display formats.

This is a working studio class and through demonstrations and hands on work you will learn to solve visual problems using Adobe software. This "hands on" experience is the key to success in this class. The primary evidence for progress in this class will be a portfolio of 50+ pieces illustrating concepts learned.

Number of Credits: 3

Course Objectives: The main goals of this course are to provide the learner with the abilities to:

To become proficient at the technical aspect of photographing with a digital camera and working with those images including digital editing, saving, sizing and posting those images.
Become proficient in using Photoshop to edit, size, adjust and manipulate your own photographs
Learn in-depth use of Photoshop
To develop the habit of looking closely at the visible world around you in order to represent it in terms of aesthetics and truth.
Learn to create and manipulate Vector Images
Understand the workings of computer hardware/software
Develop a coherent portfolio of exhibition worthy photographs.

Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of all required assignments, the learner will be able to:

     1. To understand the use of all tools found in Photoshop CS 5.5/6 software.

     2. Understand managing image files... saving, opening, uploading, posting, etc.

     3. Gain proficiency with image editing for maximum image impact.

     4. Understand resolution in digital images.

5. Gain proficiency in creating vector graphics.

Date Assignment

Class 1 28-Aug Intro to class, create class blog, post bio and image to blog. Demonstrate editing tools in Photoshop. Students Edit their own work.

Class 2 4-Sept Introduction to Composition: Photographic Geometry of the the built environment Photoshop Edit for focal point and emphasis, Sculpt light...feathered selections the levels tool, the curve tool, Color correction. View How to Video Here

Newer Video, recorded June, 2013

Watch this video I made on basic editing for light, contrast and color balance using a student image. Feb 2015

Class 3 11-Sept Introduction to Composition: Photographic Geometry of the the built environment. Further work on using editing tools... levels, curves, feathered selections, etc. Video discussion of student work on this assignment. I discuss what I am looking for this week and go over the good, the dull and the ugly....about 13 min long....

ADOBE TV Dozens of short how to videos from Adobe.

Look at the work of Edward Weston. Consider this image:

Edward Weston used his 8"x10" camera to photograph this small green bell pepper set in a simple wooden bowel by window light. Notice how he moved in, and filled the frame with the form of the pepper. The simple elegance and direct presentation of the pepper has transformed it from a mere description of an ingredient in tonight's dinner to an image that is transcendent.

Photograph shapes, reflections, light and pattern in an urban or town environment paying particular attention to the shapes you select in the frame and the quality of light on the subject.

Avoid being far away or showing a whole building. Always shoot with natural light. Never use flash in this class... get in close, fill the frame.

Class 4 18-Sept Macro/ Close up Photography.

Browse through this gallery of amazing macro shots.

Class 5 25-Sept Light and Shadow: Design your compositions with the materiality of shadows. Photoshop focus, Feathered selections, levels adjustment, reading the histogram.

Class 6 2-Oct The Beauty of Urban Decay.... Excellent images to begin with here. Photoshop focus, Contrast, Hue and Saturation, Color Balance.

Class 7 9-Oct The Digital Portrait I call this assignment "How to Fry an Egg".... Everyone thinks they know how to do it but when you come right down to it, there is a lot of technique involved and there is plenty of opportunity to mess it up.

Watch Video Introduction to the assignment.

25 Inspirational Natural Light Portraits Take a look at these...Which is your favorite? Why? Where did the photographer position themself relative to the light?

Photoshop focus: Healing brush, clone tool, "painting" blur with history brush, other skin tips and techniques.

Class 8 16-Oct Motion Blur Photography Learn to control shutter speed for expressive movement.

Class 9 23 -Oct Photoshop Surrealism/ the composited reality.

Composited images... Surrealism Video How To....

Excellent tutorials here...

Photoshop focus: Layer blend modes, advanced selection techniques, layer masks, lighting techniques.

Class 10 30-Oct Photoshop Mirrored and Rotational Symmetries Intro to composite project. View How to Video Here.

Class 11 6-Nov Illustrator Tools - examples of various tools, fills strokes, objects, clones, the pen tool, bezier curves.
How To Video Here

ADOBE TV: dozens of short how to videos from Adobe on getting started and more in Illustrator.

Class 12 13-Nov Illustrator: brushes, rotations, clones, transformations.

Class 13 20-Nov Illustrator: 50 Illustrator Tutorials.

Wed. 27-Nov Veteran's Day, No Classes.

Tuesday, Nov 26 Last day Student Initiated Withdrawal

Class 14 4 -Dec More Illustrator tricks: Vector tracing, splash graphics, using the blend tool, create vector characters, swirls and flourishes, perfecting the use of the pen tool, Icon/Logo design.

Class 15- Dec 18 Final Exam/Last Class Finish up any incomplete work, polish final portfolio.

Right Brain/ Left Brain Quiz

The higher of these two numbers below indicates which side of your brain has dominance in your life. Realising your right brain/left brain tendancy will help you interact with and to understand others. Here's the result when I took the quiz...

Left Brain Dominance: (6)
Right Brain Dominance: (14)

Right Brain/ Left Brain Quiz

Portfolio Due
Finish up your portfolio, add images to it, revisit a past project to improve it, etc.

Grading System
For the purpose of computing numerical credit point averages, grades are evaluated as follows for each semester hour of credit. Grades on exams, papers, and quizzes, will be based on this grading system.

Numeric Grade	Acceptable Letter Grade Range to be used by the Instructor	Description
90-100	A- to A	Excellent
80-89	B-, B, B+	Above Average
70-79	C-, C, C+	Average
60-69	D-, D, D+	Below Average
Below 60	F	Failing

Evaluative Criteria:
50% Participation/attendance
50% Portfolio

Absences and Attendance

The Faculty expects that each student will exercise personal responsibility regarding class attendance.
All students are expected to attend every class session of each course for which they are registered.
Students are responsible for all that transpires in class whether or not they are in attendance, even if absences are the result of late registration or add/drop activity at the beginning of a term as permitted by college policy.
The Faculty defines excessive absence or lateness as more than the equivalent of one week of class meetings during the semester. Distance Learning courses will use criteria established by the Instructor.
Excessive absence or lateness may, at the discretion of the instructor, lower a student’s course grade.
At the beginning of each semester, instructors will submit, to the Academic Dean’s office, the names of students who have not attended any classes during the first two weeks of classes.
In the Digital Arts Program a majority of learning is done in the classroom. Since all classes in this program meet once a week, one absence is equivalent to missing two classes worth of information. One absence, while not encouraged, may not affect your learning experience or grade significantly, but two or more will make it difficult to impossible to successfully complete the class. After a second absence, please set up a time with the DAT advisor to discuss options for the class. After three absences or more, it is best to withdraw from the class (by April 24, 2013) in order to avoid receiving a failing grade.

Class Cancellation: If class is cancelled or delayed because of weather, local radio and television stations will broadcast an announcement. If the instructor is unable to attend class, the Arts & Humanities Division office will advise students of alternate learning activities.

Make-up Policy: It is the responsibility of the learner to submit all missed work during scheduled office hours or by arranging a mutual suitable meeting with the instructor. Information from the missed class will be accessible through the class site on Blackboard.

Academic Honesty Statement: At NVCC we expect the highest standards of academic honesty. Academic dishonesty is prohibited in accordance with the Board of Trustee’s Proscribed Conduct Policy in Section 5.2.1 of the BOT Policy Manual. This policy prohibits cheating on examinations, unauthorized collaboration on assignments, unauthorized access to examinations or course materials, plagiarism, and other proscribed activities. Plagiarism is defined as the use of another’s idea(s) or phrase(s) and representing that/those idea(s) as your own, either intentionally or unintentionally. Anyone who violates the Board policy may fail the course at the discretion of the instructor.

Tradition of Respect: In our class: 1) Everyone is allowed to feel they can work and learn in a safe and caring environment; 2) Everyone learns about, understands, appreciates, and respects varied races, classes, genders, physical and mental abilities, and sexualities; 3) Everyone matters; 4) All individuals are to be respected and treated with dignity and civility; and 5) Everyone shares the responsibility for making our class, and the College, a positive and better place to live, work, and learn.

Children on Campus: For the purpose of this policy, children are defined as minors under the age of 18 who are not enrolled in a Naugatuck Valley Community College course or program. Children must be attended at all times by a responsible adult. Children may accompany an adult to class on an occasional basis and only with the prior permission of the class instructor. In an emergency situation that is not repetitive, a request may be made to the instructor of the course or supervisor of the activity for permission to bring a child to class or on campus. The student must notify the instructor or supervisor prior to the beginning of the class or activity that a child is present. Pre-k, elementary and high schools that are not in session are not emergency situations. Arrangements must be made for child care outside of NVCC.

It is expected that this accommodation will be made only when there is no disruption to the teaching and learning process. Instructors and/or supervisors are authorized to ask the student or program participant to leave should the presence of the child be disruptive.

Children are never permitted in any test, exam or final exam session.

(Full policy can be found in the NVCC Student Handbook)

Cell Phone/Pager Use Policy: “Students are hereby notified that cellular phones and beepers are allowed in class only if they are turned off or turned to a silent mode. Under no circumstances are telephones to be answered in class. Students who ignore this policy may be asked to leave class. When there are extenuating circumstances that require that a student be available by phone or beeper, the student should speak to the instructor prior to class, so that together they can arrive at an agreement concerning the device.”

Students with Special Needs-ADA: Students who may require accommodations on the basis of a learning disability are encouraged to contact the Counselor of Learning Disabilities (Terri Latella, K519, 203-575-8608). Students who may require accommodations on the basis of all other disabilities should contact the Coordinator of Disability Services (Laurie Novi, K519, 203-575-8035). After providing documentation and completing the disability disclosure process, students are then encouraged to meet with their instructor(s) to discuss the accommodations approved by the appropriate disabilities contact and to complete the Accommodations Agreement form. Accommodations are not retroactive; students are therefore encouraged to meet with their instructor(s) at the beginning of each semester. Instructors, in conjunction with appropriate college personnel, will provide assistance and/or accommodations only to those students who have completed the disability disclosure and accommodations process.

Continuing Notice of Non Discrimination:
Naugatuck Valley Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, marital status, ancestry, present or past history of mental disorder, learning disability or physical disability, political belief, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or criminal record. The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non discrimination policies. Jacquie Swanson, Associate Director of Human Resources/Title IX Coordinator, Room K704, Naugatuck Valley Community College, 750 Chase Parkway, Waterbury, CT 06708, 203-575-8043. Robert Divjak, Director of Facilities/Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Room C216, Naugatuck Valley Community College, 750 Chase Parkway, Waterbury, CT 06708, 203-575-8235.

Tutoring Resources: The ACE center located in Ekstrom Hall has tutoring available in a variety of subjects which include, writing, math, and study skills.

Important Web Resources

The Museum of Computer Art

http://www.pixar.com/shorts/

http://www.tate.org.uk/netart/default.htm

SFMOMA e-space
http://www.sfmoma.org

Gallery 9 : Walker Art Center
http://gallery9.walkerart.org/

MIT Media Lab
http://www.media.mit.edu/

International Museum of Collage
http://collagemuseum.com/

Digital Art Museum
http://www.dam.org/index.htm

The American Sign Museum
http://www.signmuseum.com/

Institute for New Media Studies
inms.umn.edu
http://www.mediahistory.umn.edu/

Institute of International Visual Arts x-space
http://www.iniva.org/xspace/

The Alternative Museum
http://www.alternativemuseum.org/

Austin Museum of Digital Art
http://www.amoda.org/

Whitney Museum Art Port
http://www.whitney.org/artport/exhibitions/index.shtml

Net Art Web Sites:

UBUWEB
http://www.ubu.com/

BBC / Digital Artists
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/art/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/multimedia/guestartists/

Soundtoys
http://www.soundtoys.net/

Turbulence
http://www.turbulence.org/

New York Digital Salon
http://www.nydigitalsalon.org/

The low-fi Net Art Locator
http://www.low-fi.org.uk

DIAN (Digital Interactive Artists Network)
http://dian-network.com/

Teleportacia
http://art.teleportacia.org/

The Ars Electronica Festival
http://www.aec.at/de/festival/index.asp

Banff New Media Institute (BNMI)
http://www.banffcentre.ca/bnmi/