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Fundamentals of Digital Imaging Using Photoshop Elements
I. Course Prefix/Number: GRD 160
Course Name: Fundamentals of Digital Imaging Using Photoshop Elements
Credits: 3 (3 lecture; 2 lab)
II. Prerequisite
None
III. Course (Catalog) Description
Course covers the fundamental principles of digital imaging, including production, manipulation and output of digital images, and basic elements of design. High quality images will be produced from stock imaging and scanning from film and flat artwork. Course is designed for students who seek a foundation for ART 216 and those who are preparing to work in the photography/design field as medical photographers, wedding photographers, and production artists, who will not need the more extensive study of Photoshop and digital imaging provided in ART 216.
IV. Learning Objectives
A. To identify the basic principles of producing digital images.
B. To manipulate images while employing the basic aesthetic principles of imaging.
C. To create a slide show from available media.
D. To organize images by creating catalogs
E. To apply the basic principles of color theory to color correction
F. To brighten underexposed images and to darken overexposed images in a local or global fashion.
G. To restore and composite multiple images.
B. To manipulate images while employing the basic aesthetic principles of imaging.
C. To create a slide show from available media.
D. To organize images by creating catalogs
E. To apply the basic principles of color theory to color correction
F. To brighten underexposed images and to darken overexposed images in a local or global fashion.
G. To restore and composite multiple images.
V. Academic Integrity
Students and employees at Oakton Community College are required to demonstrate academic integrity
and follow Oakton's Code of Academic Conduct. This code prohibits:
• cheating,
• plagiarism (turning in work not written by you, or lacking proper citation),
• falsification and fabrication (lying or distorting the truth),
• helping others to cheat,
• unauthorized changes on official documents,
• pretending to be someone else or having someone else pretend to be you,
• making or accepting bribes, special favors, or threats, and
• any other behavior that violates academic integrity.
There are serious consequences to violations of the academic integrity policy. Oakton's policies and procedures provide students a fair hearing if a complaint is made against you. If you are found to have violated the policy, the minimum penalty is failure on the assignment and, a disciplinary record will be established and kept on file in the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs for a period of 3 years.
Details of the Code of Academic Conduct can be found in the Student Handbook.
• cheating,
• plagiarism (turning in work not written by you, or lacking proper citation),
• falsification and fabrication (lying or distorting the truth),
• helping others to cheat,
• unauthorized changes on official documents,
• pretending to be someone else or having someone else pretend to be you,
• making or accepting bribes, special favors, or threats, and
• any other behavior that violates academic integrity.
There are serious consequences to violations of the academic integrity policy. Oakton's policies and procedures provide students a fair hearing if a complaint is made against you. If you are found to have violated the policy, the minimum penalty is failure on the assignment and, a disciplinary record will be established and kept on file in the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs for a period of 3 years.
Details of the Code of Academic Conduct can be found in the Student Handbook.
VI. Sequence of Topics
A. Basic Principles of Digital Imaging
1. Pixel
2. Raster
3. Vector
4. Bytes, Kilobytes, Megabytes
5. Physical size
6. File types
7. Resolution
B. Elements of two-dimensional Designs
1. Tone
2. Line
3. Texture
4. Shape
5. Color theory
C. Introduction to Photoshop Elements
1. Tools
2. Windows
3. Pull down menu
D. Scanning and Input, output
1. Film scanning
2. Flat bed scanning
3. Stylus and tablet
4. Stock CD’s
5. Printing and files
E. Managing pictures
1. File Browser
2. Contact Sheet
3. Organizing pictures and tagging
4. Getting information on your photos
F. Photo presentations
1. Mounting and matting
2. Slide shows
3. Album pages
4. Calendars, greeting cards, postcards, and CD’s
G. Client presentation
1. Watermarking and copyright
2. Proof sheets for clients and sizing
3. Picture package layouts
4. PDF presentations, email and photo websites
H. Layers, selections and masking in Photoshop Elements
1. Brushes
2. Selection tools and saving selections
3. Layers
I. Density and Exposure
1. Levels and curves
2. Methods of creating the perfect image
3. Dodging and burning
4. Sharpening
5. Auto adjustments
J. Color Adjustment
1. Color casts
2. Color correction and methods of fixing color
3. Auto adjustments
4. Printing color and color management
K. Repairing and Retouching
1. De-saturation and saturation of color
2. The rubberstamp tool
3. Using a gradient fill
4. Removing wrinkles and spots
5. Restoring damaged photographs
L. Montage
1. Copy and paste/drag and drop
2. Erasing part of an image
3. Using a gradient clipping path
1. Pixel
2. Raster
3. Vector
4. Bytes, Kilobytes, Megabytes
5. Physical size
6. File types
7. Resolution
B. Elements of two-dimensional Designs
1. Tone
2. Line
3. Texture
4. Shape
5. Color theory
C. Introduction to Photoshop Elements
1. Tools
2. Windows
3. Pull down menu
D. Scanning and Input, output
1. Film scanning
2. Flat bed scanning
3. Stylus and tablet
4. Stock CD’s
5. Printing and files
E. Managing pictures
1. File Browser
2. Contact Sheet
3. Organizing pictures and tagging
4. Getting information on your photos
F. Photo presentations
1. Mounting and matting
2. Slide shows
3. Album pages
4. Calendars, greeting cards, postcards, and CD’s
G. Client presentation
1. Watermarking and copyright
2. Proof sheets for clients and sizing
3. Picture package layouts
4. PDF presentations, email and photo websites
H. Layers, selections and masking in Photoshop Elements
1. Brushes
2. Selection tools and saving selections
3. Layers
I. Density and Exposure
1. Levels and curves
2. Methods of creating the perfect image
3. Dodging and burning
4. Sharpening
5. Auto adjustments
J. Color Adjustment
1. Color casts
2. Color correction and methods of fixing color
3. Auto adjustments
4. Printing color and color management
K. Repairing and Retouching
1. De-saturation and saturation of color
2. The rubberstamp tool
3. Using a gradient fill
4. Removing wrinkles and spots
5. Restoring damaged photographs
L. Montage
1. Copy and paste/drag and drop
2. Erasing part of an image
3. Using a gradient clipping path
VII. Methods of Instruction
This course will be taught through presentations, including lecture and demonstrations. Critiques of original works will be held throughout the semester.
Course may be taught as face-to-face, media-based, hybrid or online course.
Course may be taught as face-to-face, media-based, hybrid or online course.
VIII. Course Practices Required
A. Produce 12 finished and mounted original works
B. Participate in critiques with completed work
C. Take quizzes and a final exam
B. Participate in critiques with completed work
C. Take quizzes and a final exam
IX. Instructional Materials
A. Ink jet paper – Glossy surface
B. Flash drive or CDR disk
C. Museum grade mount board
D. “Adobe Photoshop Elements” classroom in a book
B. Flash drive or CDR disk
C. Museum grade mount board
D. “Adobe Photoshop Elements” classroom in a book
X. Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
A. Grading:
The final grade will be based upon a point system that will equal 100. The total points that you will receive at the end of the semester will determine your grade. The letter grade will be based upon the percentage of earned points out of 100 points, according to the following grading scale:
100 – 90 = A
89 – 80 = B
79 – 70 = C
69 – 60 = D
below 60 = F
B. Points will be derived from the following:
1. 3 Informal Critiques = 10 points for each critique Total = 30
2. Comments on 3 Critiques = 5 points for each critique comment Total = 15
3. 2 Notebooks = 5 points for each notebook Total = 10
4. Final Critique = 10
5. Final Exam = 35
C. Assignments
All assignments are due at the critiques, as scheduled.
The final grade will be based upon a point system that will equal 100. The total points that you will receive at the end of the semester will determine your grade. The letter grade will be based upon the percentage of earned points out of 100 points, according to the following grading scale:
100 – 90 = A
89 – 80 = B
79 – 70 = C
69 – 60 = D
below 60 = F
B. Points will be derived from the following:
1. 3 Informal Critiques = 10 points for each critique Total = 30
2. Comments on 3 Critiques = 5 points for each critique comment Total = 15
3. 2 Notebooks = 5 points for each notebook Total = 10
4. Final Critique = 10
5. Final Exam = 35
C. Assignments
All assignments are due at the critiques, as scheduled.
XI. Other Course Information
Open lab schedule at Oakton will be presented to the student at the beginning of the course.
If you have a documented learning, psychological, or physical disability you may be entitled to reasonable academic accommodations or services. To request accommodations or services, contact the ASSIST office in the Learning Center. All students are expected to fulfill essential course requirements. The College will not waive any essential skill or requirement of a course or degree program.
If you have a documented learning, psychological, or physical disability you may be entitled to reasonable academic accommodations or services. To request accommodations or services, contact the ASSIST office in the Learning Center. All students are expected to fulfill essential course requirements. The College will not waive any essential skill or requirement of a course or degree program.
