Course Outline & Curriculum

Graphic Arts Occupations

I. Computer terms (1-2 weeks)

a. Hardware terms

b. Memory terms

c. Software terms

d. Macintosh interface

e. Selecting printers

f. Accessing network servers

II. Introduction to computer graphics (3-4 weeks)

a. Vector software – Adobe Illustrator

i. File formats

ii. Tools and commands

iii. Guided practice

b. Pixel software – Photoshop

i. File formats

ii. Tools and commands

iii. Guided practice

iv. Digital cameras

c. Layout software – Quark Xpress and Adobe Illustrator

i. File formats

ii. Tools and commands

iii. Guided practice

III. Design (Ongoing throughout the year)

a. Type fundamentals

i. Type classification

ii. Fonts

iii. Leading, tracking, size, style

iv. Standards and conventions

v. Prioritizing type

vi. Margins

b. Elements of a design

i. Headlines

ii. Mastheads

iii. Logos

iv. Subheads

v. Body copy

vi. Borders

vii. Graphic elements

viii. Dinbats

c. Rules of design

i. Balance

ii. Dominant elements

iii. Unity

iv. Flow or rhythm

v. Black and white space

vi. Typography

d. Design process

i. Thumbnails

ii. Rough draft

iii. Story boards

iv. Comprehensive layout

v. Final product

e. Visual syntax

i. Z path

ii. Arithmetic sequence

iii. Eyes

iv. Color

v. Implied motion

vi. Rules and borders

IV. Web Page Design (Ongoing throughout the year)

a. Design Software – Dreamweaver. Flash

i. File formats

ii. Tools and commands

iii. Guided practice

iv. HTML

v. Java scripts

b. Sever software –Fetch, Dreamweaver

i. Uploading and downloading

ii. File management

c. Types of web documents

i. Simple html

ii. Frames

iii. Slices

iv. Photo albums

v. Animation and flash

vi. Media files (mp3, mov, etc.)

V. Digital Video (3 – 4 weeks)

a. Software – iMovie, Final Cut Pro

i. Importing video, photos and sound.

ii. Using transitions and effects

iii. Timing events and music

iv. Exporting

b. Digital Video Cameras

i. Fire wire

ii. Mini DVD

iii. Cables, importing, exporting and recording

VI. Animation (Usually done as an independent study project. Time varies depending on the goals decided by student and instructor)

a. software – flash, maya

b. drawing and rendering

c. timelines and event points

d. exporting

VII. Projects (Ongoing throughout the year)

a. Shapes and drawing

b. Logos

c. Business cards

d. Photoshop tutorials

i. Filters

ii. Layers

iii. Selecting

iv. Commands

e. Photo realism

f. CD case

g. Pantagraph promotional ads

h. Tabloid newspaper

i. Video box

j. Web sites

i. Basic site

ii. Frames site

iii. Sliced site with rollover images

iv. Flash website

k. Magazine cover

l. Menu

m. Booklet cover

n. Digital video (music video)

o. Corporate identity

p. Poster

q. Cartoon

r. other