CSC 230 – Advanced Digital Imaging

Course Instructor: Paul Young
Office: C130A, Parkland College
Phone: 217-351-2403
E-mail: pyoung@parkland.edu

 

Introduction
This course is designed for 3D animation and graphic design students who want to learn advanced Photoshop production techniques. In this class, we will focus on building portfolio samples of commercial art for the purpose of obtaining employment in the marketing communications or entertainment industries. As a required course in Parkland's Digital Media program, this course will be taught in a studio environment similar to an art class. This means that aesthetic issues will need to be balanced with technical issues. Although Photoshop is a very powerful technical tool, the art of creating commercial images that demand attention is an artistic endeavor. As such, students can think of this class as an advanced digital studio photography class where post-production issues dominate. Therefore, artistic issues such as composition, lighting and the creative process will be emphasized.

Textbook     
Adobe Photoshop for VFX Artists (required) - Parkland College Bookstore
Launching the Imagination (optional) - Parkland College Bookstore (same as ART 121)

Supplies     
USB flash drive
Digital camera
Black felt-tip markers
Parkland ID

Web Page
Information regarding the class including instructor, syllabus, schedules, notes, and project information can be accessed from the class web page by either following the CSC 187 link from the instructor's home page at: http://virtual.parkland.edu/pyoung or directly at http://virtual.parkland.edu/pyoung/csc/230

Format
This class is based on a format of lecture, discussion, studio, and critique.  It is expected that additional time, on a weekly basis, will be spent on your assignments and projects.  It is important that the group functions as a class, learning from each other as well as the instructor.  Therefore, everyone should be working on the same assignments at the same time.  Understanding that there might be technical expertise differences, it is expected that more experienced users will be willing to help beginning users with the software.  Conversely, more experienced users should elicit creative evaluations from beginning users during their working process.

Online Gradebook
All students will have an account in Angel Learning (an online course management portal). Your grades and attendance record will be posted in the RECORDS area which you can access 24/7 from a web browser.

Your Angel username is the first part of your Parkland email address (the part that comes before the @ symbol). Your default Angel password is the last five digits of your social security number. If you need to look up your email account, click here.

Once you are inside Angel, you may change your password (look for the "tools" icon on the left labeled "preferences"). We also recommend that you forward your course email to your primary email address (from the Preferences Page, choose "System Settings"). Under "Forwarding Mode," choose "Forward my course mail and mark as read in course."

Grading
Course work will consist of large-scale project assignments and smaller exercises and tutorials.  The final grade will also reflect the student's class attendance and participation.

A = 100-91 (exceptional work beyond the class requirements)
B = 90-81 (excellent technical and creative abilities exhibited)
C = 80-71 (all work accomplished on time and minimum goals achieved)
D = 70-61 (minimum goals not achieved, late presentations)
F = 60 or less (failure to finish assignments or doing "D" work late)

The instructor reserves the right to lower these criterion, but will never raise them.

 

Exercises/Tutorials/Studies
Exercises, assignments, and small-scale studies will be given to develop the student's software proficiency and technical expertise. Exercises/assignments will be graded on a credit/no credit basis.  No credit will be given on exercises or tutorials for students absent from class.  Since unforeseen circumstances may arise preventing a student from attending class, one "no-credit" exercise/tutorial will be dropped from the final grade determination.   All exercises/tutorials/studies are due on the assigned due date.  No credit will be given for work not completed by the assigned due date.

Projects
Projects will be regularly assigned to apply the concepts discussed in lecture and introduced in exercises and tutorials.  Project assignments form the basis of the student's portfolio.  Given this importance, projects will be graded on the use of

• effective design principles,
• expressive creativity,
• thoughtful concept,
• well-executed craftsmanship, and
• adherence to project objectives and guidelines.  

Projects are due on the assigned project due dates and will be class critiqued on the due dates.  Project imagery must be complete and published as discussed in class before class critique begins.   Students will not be allowed to complete projects during class critique.  Projects not completed by the due date before class critique begins will receive an F for the project grade.  If a student anticipates missing class during the due date and class critique, it is the student's responsibility to notify the instructor beforehand. The absent student must have their project imagery published on the assigned due date.   Failure to prepare project imagery by an absent student will also result in an F project grade.   Students have the option of continuing to work on and improve each project after the assigned due date and class critique for (possibly) a better grade.   Grades for re-worked projects will be no more than one full letter grade higher than the original project grade at the assigned due date (re-worked project grades will never drop in grade).   All re-worked projects are due at the end of the semester.

Attendance
Students are expected to be present for all class sessions - for the entire period.  Structured as an art studio class, peer learning and interaction is highly encouraged.  It is expected that all students participate in this studio learning environment.  For this reason, attendance is mandatory.  A student’s final grade will be lowered by one full letter grade after three unexcused absences.  Attendance will be taken promptly at the beginning of each period.  It is your responsibility to inform the instructor when you may not be in attendance.  The attendance policy in this course is in keeping with the policy stated in the Parkland College Catalog.  It says: "Regular and prompt attendance is expected at all classes," expect in cases involving illness or emergency which should be brought to the attention of the instructor.  "Regular attendance and consistent study habits are considered necessary for academic success in college. Faculty members have prerogative of lowering grades for excessive absence."

 

Computer Science and Information Technology web site
You can find information about the Computer Science and Information Technology Department courses and programs by visiting our web site: http://www.parkland.edu/csit

  

Student E-mail
Students should access their Parkland e-mail accounts at http://stu.parkland.edu/ at least weekly to obtain information about courses or college announcements.  Students can go to the information desk or call 217-351-2561 for help with their student e-mail accounts.  There is someone available at this number to answer questions from 2-4pm M, T, W, F.

 

Student Conduct
In order to foster a positive classroom environment, all students are expected to follow these guidelines:

• Honesty and integrity (don't cheat, don't steal)
• Promptness (arrive on time and don't leave early)
• Courtesy (treat others as you would like to be treated)
• Respect differences among peers (we all have different learning preferences and speeds)
• Be helpful (we're here to learn as a group)
• Willingness to collaborate (team work and constructive feedback is highly encouraged)
• All cell phones and beepers turned off
• No games, IM or email during class (unless it's related to
  course work)
• No excessive noise or talking, please

Parkland's Academic Honesty and Computer Use policies as outlined in the Student Policies and Procedures Manual apply in this class. In short, cheating, plagiarism, theft or abuse of computer time may result in suspension of computer privileges, disciplinary review, suspension or expulsion from the college, termination of employment, and/or legal action.

Anyone found to be cheating will receive a zero for that assignment and the incident will be reported to the Dean. Cheating includes copying assignments from the internet or other students' assignments (from this or previous semesters). 

Withdrawal Procedure
It is the student's responsibility to monitor his/her progress in this course. If after consulting with the instructor, the student feels it becomes necessary to withdraw from this course, it is the responsibility of the student to do so. Please check the Parkland Academic Calendar to find out the final day for withdrawal with "W" grade. If you have questions about the withdrawal procedure, see the Policies and Procedures Manual.

 

Support Services
If you find yourself needing assistance of any kind to complete assignments, stay on top of readings, study for tests, or just to stay in school, please contact one of the following staff at the Center for Academic Success: Anita Taylor (353-2005) or Gail Hoke (351-2441) in D120. You may also email the CAS at <CenterForAcademicSuccess@parkland.edu>.

Parkland College also has enormous resources for students with disabilities. If you believe you have a disability for which you may need an academic accommodation (e.g. an alternate testing environment, use of assistive technology, or other classroom assistance), please contact: Nancy Rowley <nrowley@parkland.edu> Associate Coordinator, Office of Disability Services (X148 or 351-2588).