Folsom Lake College
Photography 400 • Digital Imaging
Fall 2011 • Lecture and Lab: Room FL2 240
Lecture: Tuesdays/Thursdays 1:00-1:50 p.m. • Course Code: 21652
Lab: Tuesdays/Thursdays 2:00 – 3:20 p.m. • Course Code: 21654
Instructor: Betty Sederquist
Voice Mail: 1 (800) 486-8156x15071
E-mail: betty@sederquist.com
Office Hours: Tuesdays, 12:30 – 1 p.m., PLE (Pod G), or preferably, Room FL2-240, depending on room availability. Website (contains assignments, handouts, extensive photo links, suggested reading materials, many tips): www.sederquist.com/class.html
Text: Adobe Photoshop CS5: Classroom in a Book. © 2010 Adobe Press. ISBN 13: 978-0-321-70176-3. Available from the college bookstore, private retailers and online. (Alternate text if you have older versions of the software at home: Adobe Photoshop CS2 Classroom in a Book, Adobe Photoshop CS3 Classroom in a Book, Adobe Photoshop CS4 Classroom in a Book--Please discuss special arrangements for assignments with instructor.)
Materials: If you print your assignments in the college lab, a small lab fee is charged per print to cover cost of printer ink. You will be printing at least 16 pages (but expect to print at least double that number to allow for mistakes). If you will be working on projects during classroom time and you need to save them, or if you will be transporting files between home and class, a memory/jump stick/flash drive at least 1 gig in size (available at many office supply and warehouse stores) is strongly suggested, as projects cannot be saved to school computers. Some students with high-speed connections email their projects to their home computers but keep in mind that Photoshop files can be very large. Be sure to back up your files in several places. You are responsible for supplying your own 8.5” x 11” (no assignments are larger than this) photo paper (avoid off-brand papers). We suggest using papers designed for the particular brand of printer you will be using (for example, the school printers are made by HP, so use HP photo paper; Kirkland papers from Costco also work well). You will also need a camera, preferably a 5-megapixel or larger digital camera. (However, even a simple disposable film camera is adequate, as decent scans can be made from these prints.)
Course Description: This is an introductory course in digital imaging and electronic desktop photography. Methods currently used in publishing and home printing will be emphasized. The class includes lectures, use of computers and scanners, computer slide presentations, occasional off-campus class meetings, and a final written exam. Topics listed in the lecture schedule are subject to change. Course is CSU transferable.
Student Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
demonstrate how to acquire digital photographs.
set up and scan slides and prints.
use digital imaging software such as Adobe Photoshop.
assess and retouch digital images.
compose digital images with copy.
print digital photography.
Grading: The instructor reserves the right to adjust grades based on class participation and assignments turned in a timely manner. The instructor will take roll and reserves the right to drop students from the roster if they are absent for three consecutive classes without contacting the instructor, although ultimately it is the student’s responsibility to drop the class. Several pop quizzes (10 points each) will be given during the semester and cannot be made up, so regular attendance is strongly suggested. Students must complete, print and turn in four major assignments in addition to the textbook exercises described below and on a separate sheet. Points are deducted on a sliding scale for late assignments. No credit is given for assignments that are two weeks late or longer. A final written exam is based on lectures and assigned textbook lessons. Plagiarism from the Internet and other sources is not tolerated and will result in an automatic “F” grade. Grades are assigned as follows: 90-100%=A; 80-89.9%=B; 70-79.9%=C; 60-69.9%=D; 59.9% and below=F.
Please turn OFF all cell phones during lecture. Also, during lecture, computers may be used for note taking and following along with Photoshop concepts presented in lecture, but not for other activities such as email, or web surfing unrelated to Photoshop. This is valuable time for you, and most information on the complex subject of digital photography is presented only once, so your full attention is required. If you use your cell phone or are on the Internet for non Photoshop-related purposes during lecture, you may be asked to leave the classroom. No food or drink permitted in the classroom.
Folsom Lake College is committed to providing access to education for students with disabilities. If you have a disability or medical condition that requires an accommodation, please see the instructor within the first two weeks of class so arrangements can be made.
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During the first part of the semester, lectures closely follow the information presented in the textbook. Technique is presented BEFORE you start on the assignment; you then have approximately two weeks to complete each textbook assignment. Because Photoshop is a complex topic, much of the lecture material goes beyond what is presented in the textbook.
For major assignments you will receive a separated, detailed handout.
8/23: Introduction: Computer resources, class workflow, expectations, grading, assignment overviews, questionnaire
Lab: Logging into campus system and getting passwords. Textbook Lesson 1, pages 1-45: Getting started with the Photoshop work area and review of students’ computer and digital camera equipment. You are NOT required to turn in this assignment, but it does give you an excellent, fast-paced overview of Photoshop CS5 and Adobe Bridge and Mini Bridge.
8/25: The Photoshop workspace: basic Photoshop navigation; a quick overview of menus, tools, document window, option bars and palettes, and the “language” of digital imaging
Lab: Continue Lesson 1
8/30: Basic photo corrections
Lab: Begin textbook lesson 2 (10 points), page 48-61 (you don’t have to do pages 62-65)
9/1: Basic camera settings and operation: f-stops, shutter speeds, tripods and more
Lab: Bring your camera and camera manual to the lab and we’ll be examining cameras outside, weather permitting.
9/6: Digital camera workflow, resolution, output, canvas size, image size, storage devices
Lab: Continue textbook lesson 2
9/8: Bit depth, color spaces, monitor calibration
Lab: Continue Lesson 2. Practice converting bit depth and color space. Read parts of Lesson 14, pages 355-365 (you don't have to turn in this assignment).
9/13: Retouching and repairing
Bring at least two old, damaged photos to class for review for your first major assignment.
9/15: Scanning and sharpening
Lab: Begin scanning and restoring old photos.
Assignment 1: restore two old, damaged photos (50 points). Due October 13.
Continue Lesson 2
9/20: Scanners and sharpening (continued); more retouching techniques
Lab: Continue Lesson 2. Practice scanning with college or home scanner. Begin scanning and restoring photos.
9/22: Basics of light and composition
Lab: Continue Lesson 2. In your daily lives, look for photos with great light and composition. Practice "seeing" like a camera sensor.
9/27: Working with selections; as time permits, more on photo restoration
Lab: Textbook lesson 3: working with selections, pages 66-91 (10 points)
9/29: Camera exposure basics; levels and curves; shadow/highlight filter
Lab: Continue Lesson 3
10/4: Layer basics
Lab: Textbook lesson 4: layer basics, pages 94-117 (10 points) (Note: no extra credit is given for page 119-120, but try this anyway—great fun!)
Assignment 2: Magazine ad (50 points). Due November 1.
10/6: Correcting and enhancing digital photos.
Lab: Textbook lesson 5: correcting and enhancing digital photos, pages 124-178. (Note: to save ink and paper, you may print several of these photos at a smaller size on one sheet of paper.)
10/11: Masks and channels
Lab: Begin textbook lesson 6, pages 162-178 (10 points)
10/13: Copyright and plagiarism issues
Class Critique of photo restoration assignment
Lab: Continue Lessons 5 & 6
10/18: Overview of Adobe Lightroom 3 software
Lab: Continue Lesson 6
10/20: Filters and plug-ins.
Lab: Continue Lesson 6
10/25: Typographic Design
Lab: Textbook Lesson7, Typographic Design: pages 182-196 (10 points). No extra credit given for page 136.
Assignment 3: Music CD cover (50 points). Due 11/17
10/27: Digital cameras (continued); RAW format
Lab: Continue Lesson 7 and CD cover
11/1: Photoshop in the commercial print world.
Class critique of magazine ad assignment
Lab: Continue Lesson 7 and CD cover
11/3: Vector drawing techniques; digital infrared photography
Lab: Textbook lesson 8 Vector Drawing Techniques, pages 200-222 (10 points) (no extra credit give for page 223); continue working on music CD cover
11/8:Advanced layering; HDR and Photomatix software
Lab: Continue Lesson 8 and CD cover
Lab: Textbook lesson 9, Advanced Layering, page 228-246 (10 points
11/10: Guest speaker (TBA)
11/15: Advanced layer techniques; adjustment layers, blending modes
Lab: Continue Lessons 8 & 9 and music CD cover
Assignment 4: Magazine cover (80 points). Due December 8.
11/17: Advanced compositing; actions, batch processing and other shortcuts, smart filters, panoramas
Lab: Textbook Lesson 10, Advanced Compositing, pages 250-283 (10 points)
Critique CD Cover
11/22: Painting and the brush tool. Color to black white, black and white to color, hand coloring, sepia toning; paper choices and profiles. Fun with creating your own brushes and using with layers. Enhancing landscapes.
Lab: Textbook Lesson 11, pages 288-299 (10 points)
November 25: Thanksgiving Break
11/24: Portraiture: Getting it Right as a Photographer
Lab: Continue Lessons 10 and 11.
12/1: Portraiture: amazing digital tricks and tips
Lab: Practice spotting and retouching; work on magazine cover
12/6: Field Trip (TBA)
Lab: Magazine cover
12//8: Magazine layout options. Real world job opportunities using Photoshop
A few special tricks. Critique magazine cover. Review for final.
Lab: Finish up and turn in any uncompleted projects
12/13: Final exam
Lab: Finish up and turn in any uncompleted projects