SYLLABUS

Course: INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (Arts 282-01)

Art Department secretary’s telephone number and email address:
for Ben Shahn Center: Tina Giraldi, 973-720-2404, giraldit@wpunj.edu
for Power Art Center: Maryann Fazio, 973-720-2401, faziom@wpunj.edu

Semester Offered: Spring 2006, Monday and Wednesday 11AM-1:30 PM

Instructor: Kristen Palana
Phone: 973- 720-3282
E-mail: kpalana@hotmail.com or palanak@wpunj.edu
URL: http://www.kpalana.com

Office Hours:
Ben Shahn Rm. 134
Thursdays 2-4 PM and by Appointment

Required Text:

Visual Quickstart Guide- QuarkXPress 6.1 -by Elaine Weinmann and Peter Lourekas

Visual Quickstart Guide- Photoshop CS2 -by Elaine Weinmann and Peter Lourekas

Visual Quickstart Guide- Illustrator CS2- by Elaine Weinmann and Peter Lourekas

-All other reading materials are in the form of handouts in class.

Suggested Reading:

The Color Index and The Idea Index -both by Jim Krause.

Magazines such as: Art News, MacWorld, MacUser, MacWeek, HOW, Digital Imaging, PRINT, Art in America, etc…

Real World Quark Xpress 5 By David Blatner (*also makes an effective doorstop!)

Photoshop, Painter & Illustrator Side-By-Side, By Wendy Crumpler.
For more information on this book, and to view online comparisons of the programs visit: http://www.sybex.comCourse Description and Objectives:

In this course, we are going to work with several software programs to create digital images and layout projects for print. Students will become familiar with creating work on the computer and will develop basic computer skills. The emphasis will be on designing for print and creating print projects.

I strongly encourage you to take risks, experiment, and incorporate your personal interests into your assignments. If you have an idea, and can present a good argument for it- you can do it. (As long as it’s legal and appropriate for class!)

Student Learning Outcomes:

A. Students will gain proficiency using Publishing Software- Quark and Illustrator.
B. Students will develop their imaging skills with Photoshop.
C. Students will improve skills drawing and designing print projects on paper.
D. Students will produce several final print assignments.

Topical Outline of the Course Content:

A. Continuation of aesthetics and principles of Design.
B. Students will become adept at using the programs Photoshop and Illustrator for creating images and Quark for Layout and Publishing.
C. Topics also covered include: basic computer functions, MAC OS, scanning, sketching and planning stages, concept, and basic principles of creating and editing digital images.

Teaching Methods:

Classes generally go like this:

A. Review and group discussion of previous homework assignment or project.
B. Introduction of day’s topics, demonstration of new techniques. Students generally do in-class mini-assignments to learn new skills.
C. Demonstrations; looking at professional/commercial materials.
D. Presentation of homework or project for upcoming classes. Students then have time to work in class and receive individual help.
E. Guest speaker(s) and/or field trips.

Course Expectations:

- All homework and readings must be completed and ready to be discussed by the due date.
- You must show your work to the class on the date due whether complete or not. If you fail to show you will receive an "F" for that project. If it is incomplete but shown in class the student can schedule an appointment with me at a later date to review the completed project for a grade adjustment. Please note, late projects will get a slightly lower grade.
- You may miss no more than 4 classes unless you have medical reasons or have spoken with me first. Missing class will greatly diminish your ability to understand the material and complete projects. Attendance and punctuality will be reflected in your final grade. Missing more than 4 classes can result in failing the course or significant lowering of your grade. (determined based on severity of absences and lateness.)
- Incomplete grades will not be given unless there are documented medical or family reasons. Failure to complete assignments for any other reason will be reflected in your final grade.

Grading Policy:

Your final grade will be determined according to the following:

- Projects and Homework assignments: 40%
- Final Project: 30%
- Final Exam: 20%
- Attendance and Class Participation: 10%

Grading will be based on the following criterion: concept (creativity and ingenuity of your ideas), exploration (how well you apply and pursue your ideas), technical proficiency (no bugs, everything works), aesthetic quality of your work, professionalism, class participation (oral and written), and attendance/punctuality.

Suggestions:

Back-up all work in progress. I recommend saving your projects under different names literally every time you make a change. It just takes one quick click…and could save you hours (if not days) of frustration. Always back-up everything
on at least two ZIP disks or CDs.

Expect the unexpected. If you have an assignment due on Monday, try to get it done a few days before. That way, if and when you are having technical problems, you will have some extra time to fix mistakes and troubleshoot.

Remember: It is always better to show what you are working on than to show nothing at all. We can try to solve the problem in class if necessary.

Description of Class Projects:


Project #1: Create a Triptych.
Using Photoshop, create three images that are related either in theme, content, atmosphere, etc… or show some kind of progression or change over time. *Refrain from using any filters at this time. Final display should be mounted on either one long board, or three separate boards. (Examples: 3 self portraits, an apple that starts whole and ends up an apple core by the 3rd image, 3 places etc…)

Mini Project #2: Imagery and Text
In Photoshop, create a piece that explores the relationships between text and imagery. Usage of alpha channels, masks, and minimal effects is encouraged. Be conscious of what your image is going to say or convey. What message or mood are you trying to get across?

Project #3: Road Signs.
Using Illustrator, create 9 simple road signs that convey simple but clear messages. Communication through minimal imagery is key.

Project #4: Text Bookcovers.
Using Illustrator, create a simple image for a book cover made up entirely of text, color, and minimal shapes (optional). Be conscious of character sizes, shapes, font, color, depth, placement, and position as you create your image. What moodor message are you trying to bring across? (Example book titles: Crime and Punishment, Little Women, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, etc..)

Mini Project #5: Brochures.
Using Quark Xpress and the handouts provided, create a simple brochure for a fictional company. (Imagery and text will be provided.) Print out finished brochure and prepare for display.  When you are done, take the finished brochure file and personalize it or create new brochure from scratch. Use your own imagery and text, experiment with layout and design, and consider alternate folding options. It can be self-promotional or for a purpose of your own choosing. Make your brochure stand out.

Final Project: Magazine Spread and Cover.
Using Quark, and either Photoshop, Illustrator or both, Pick a magazine you are interested in (music, news, fashion, food, travel, etc…) Find a cover story and redesign it using images and text. Full color, full bleed, any size. Focus on the flow and relationship of elements as they carry across all pages of the entire spread.


Course Outline:
*This outline is subject to change. Guest Speaker or Field Trip will be likely for one class during the semester.

Week 1: Introduction and course overview. Examination of sample works created for Print and the Web. Discussion of Photoshop, Illustrator, and Quark and how they affect the Design/Fine Art process. Introduction to Photoshop.
Becoming familiar with the windows and tools. Learning to draw with tools in Photoshop. Layer basics. Palettes.

Week 2: Discussion: What makes a good image? Continuing with Photoshop. Scanning images, images from the web, cloning, copying and pasting. Selection tools. Filters.

Week 3: Discussion: The psychology of color. Continuing with Photoshop. Color modes and resolutions. Working with photographs. Adjusting color levels, contrast, and hues. Saving Photoshop files for the web and for print. Cropping,
resizing, rotating and flipping images. Printing strategies.

Week 4: *Project 1 Due. Review of Project 1. Question and answer session on all topics covered so far. Continuing with Photoshop. Working more with layers. Adjustment layers and guide layers. Masks. Alpha Channels.

Week 5: Discussion: Typography, Fonts, and Text. Continuing with Photoshop.
Working with type, pen tool, vector shapes. ATM.
Discussion about similarities to Illustrator.

Week 6: *Project 2 Due. Introduction to Illustrator. Becoming familiar with the windows and tools. Learning to draw with tools in Illustrator. Layer basics. Palettes. Painting, stroking, and filling. Introduce Project #3.

Week 7: Review in-progress Illustrator assignments. Continuing with Illustrator. Grouping. Selection tools. Object basics. Text and text as image.

Week 8: Continuing with Illustrator. More tools, tricks, and tips. Using the pen tool. Precision tools. Paths. Reshaping, transforming, and blending.

Week 9: *Project 3 Due. Continuing with Illustrator. Tracing. Filtering. Importing images from other applications. Photoshop and Illustrator. Preparing for print. Methods of saving. Crossing over. Working with both applications.

Week 10: Photoshop and Illustrator. Discussion: Creating a good layout. Flow, Form, and Function. Preparing for print. Methods of saving. Crossing over. Working with both applications.

Week 11: *Project 4 Due . Introduction to Quark Xpress 5 -Becoming familiar with the windows and tools. Quark Xpress Drawing in Quark. Importng images from other programs. Working with text. Printing issues.

Week 12: Discussion: Imaging programs VS. Layout Programs. More text and typography issues. Printing issues continued. Brainstorming for Final Project.

Week 13: Quark Xpress Work in class on final assignments. Individual help. Advanced topics.

Week 14: Quark Xpress , Work in class on final assignments. Individual help. Advanced topics. Review for Final Exam.

Week 15: Final Exam. Quark Xpress, Work in class on final assignments. Individual help. Advanced topics.

Week 16: * Final Project Due. Final critique. Final deadline to re-hand in all other projects.