Syllabus: Introduction to PhotoShop CS
About Adobe PhotoShop CS
Adobe PhotoShop is the premier, industry gold standard in digital imaging software. All design firms be they graphic design firms; newspaper or magazine outlets; or web development firms use this program to design and develop their images. This is because this powerful program is acknowleged industry–wide to be second to none. For this reason, PhotoShop CS is a required tool for studio photographers, photojournalists, graphics designers and web developers alike. More and more, it is also becoming the prefered tool for serious hobbyists. Because this versatile program delivers as both a digital darkroom and as an artist's palette, market demand for skilled professionals in this program never wanes.
Course Description
Designed for hobbyist, graphic designers, and photographers alike, this course introduces students to the PhotoShop CS program and to image editing techniques. Lessons are instructor–led with each lesson concentrating on a specific project designed to teach students how to do such things as fix underexposed and overexposed pictures, fix damaged pictures, adjust colors in images, combine disparate images into one image composite and much more. Students will walk away with a solid understanding of PhotoShop program fundamentals and an ability to freely composite any image they can imagine. No previous experience with Adobe Photoshop CS is assumed, however, students must be conversant in Windows or MAC operating system software in order to enroll is this class. This course is designed to:
- Build sound fundamentals necessary to succeed in PhotoShop CS
- Deliver an exercise-oriented approach that allows learning by doing
- Encourage critical thinking skills vital to creative expression
Registration Information
This thirty–six hour, introductory course is offered from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday afternoons. Please visit the Del Mar College, CED website for information about how to register for this class.
Class Materials
Textbook
Photoshop CS5 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide, ISBN 13978–0321701534, ISBN 10: 0321701534. This textbook is available at the University Bookstore located inside of the Havin Center on the Main Campus. Kindly note that this bookstore closes at noon on Fridays and remains closed through the weekend. Their phone number is 361–884–1823.
Flash Drive
All Del Mar College students are required to purchase a Flash Drive—also known as a Thumb Drive. Students in this class will need to have one in order to carry their group projects and homework assignments from the classroom to other venues. Retailers like Walmart sell 1GB Flash Drives for as little as ten dollars.
Lesson Handouts
The curriculum for this class is designed by the instructor. This includes accompanying lesson materials. These lessons teach and elaborate upon program skill fundamentals some of which are not fully covered in the textbook. Grayscale copies of instructor lessons are distributed at the beginning of each class but students may also wish to download color copies for future reference.
Computer Lab Availability
William F. White Library Computer Lab
The student computer lab on the first floor in the William F. White Library located at 101 Baldwin is available to all DMC students. Hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. –10:00 p.m. Monday – Thursday, 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Fridays, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays and 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Sundays.
Virtual Lab
Enrollment in this class grants students access to the course website's virtual lab. Here students can meet in cyberspace to work together on group projects and/or student assignments. The advantage to meeting anytime, anywhere is obvious. It saves on commute time and offers greater scheduling flexibility when working together on group projects. Another advantage is that the instructor checks in frequently and is available to answer questions during the time that she is there.
Purchasing Adobe PhotoShop CS At Discounted Student Prices
Students can purchase this software at a steep, student discount from the Academic Superstore at http://www.academicsuperstore.com/, phone number: 800–817–2347. Some students have also purchased this software from Gradware at http://www.gradware.com, phone 1-866-871-6595. Please note, however, that the instructor has not purchased from Gradware and cannot, therefore, personally recommend this store.
A picture Student ID is required in order to purchase this software at the student, discount price. Students can get one at the White Library front desk; all that is required is a copy of one's registration receipt. If one experiences problems obtaining a picture ID, please call the Business and Registration Office at 361.698.1328.
Adobe PhotoShop CS Free Trial Download
Some students may wish to download a 30–day, trial copy of the most recent version from Adobe's website instead of purchasing this software. Trial downloads are available at http://www.adobe.com/downloads/. One will need a fast internet connection in order to download this trial; it cannot be downloaded on a 56K modem.
Teaching Methods
- Lecture: Some of this material is not contained within the textbook, therefore, students are encouraged to take notes during these sessions.
- Instructor–led Projects: Each learning module will be taught in an instructor–led, hands–on lesson thus affording the student an opportunity to learn by doing.
- Group Projects: Students are assigned to teams so that they can help each other and learn by teaching. Group projects are assigned at the end of each lesson module.
- Student Projects: Home assignments that must be done individually.
- Challenges: These optional assignments let students pit their wits against the instructor's. They are fun, problem–solving assignments designed to further hone student skills while, at the same time, teaching students real–world applications for those skills acquired.
- Review Quizzes: These are end–of–lesson quizzes designed to help students assess what they have learned and to determine which lessons, if any, they may need to review.
- Video Tutorials: These helpful video tutorials are excellent for lesson reviews.
Grading: Total points will be computed as follows:
| Participation: | 20 Points |
| Assignments: | 40 Points |
| Group/Student Projects: | 40 Points |
| Total Points: | 100 Points |
Course Policies
Class Absences
No more than one absence is permitted for this course. Exceptions will be considered on a per student basis. The student is responsible for obtaining material distributed on class days when he/she was absent. This can be done through contacting a classmate who was present or by contacting the instructor via email. It is a good idea, therefore, to exchange contact information with your teammates. Critical: Students may not miss any of the first four classes. If missing one of these classes is unavoidable, then the student is required to contact the instructor immediately to make arrangements to make up the class lessons and the assignments for this class. Additionally, all class lessons and assignments missed must be submitted to the instructor prior to attending the next class. The reason for this rule is that students may fall so far behind that they may not be able to catch up if they miss one of the first four classes. There are no exceptions to this rule.
Homework Assignments
Assignments are due before the beginning of each class. This means that the student will have emailed them to the instructor prior to the beginning of class. Assignments that are not emailed on time will not be graded.
How to Email Your Assignments
Follow these steps to prepare your assignments for emailing:
- Size your documents to a pixel width dimension of 600 pixels. See the instructions on page five of the Syllabus in the Acrobat Print Format.
- Save your files in a zipped *.tif format. ((See the instructions on the last page)
- Email your assignments to the instructor
- Critical: Please note that the instructor does not accept emailed Microsoft Word or Publisher documents. There are no exceptions to this rule! Students can either copy and paste this text directly into the email message or attach the document as an Adobe Acrobat file.
Need for Assistance
If a student has any condition, such as a physical or learning disability, which will make it difficult for them to carry out the work as it is outlined, or which will require academic accommodations, please notify the instructor as soon as is possible.
Class Modules and Assignments
- This is a web–assisted course, therefore, class and assignments files are available for download after the student logs in.
- Critical: ALL homework assignments MUST be completed and submitted on time!
- Group Projects (GP): Classroom assignments that student teams will complete during class.
- Student Projects (SP): Classroom and/or homework assignments. All assignments must be submitted via email by 5:00 a.m. on the day that the assignment is due. Should the student anticipate that this can not be done on time, that student will contact the instructor via email to make arrangements for extra time and/or makeup lessons should the instructor determine that extra practice is warranted.
- Review Quizzes
- Challenges: Optional assignments