Course Outline Instructor: Cobey Shaver

4114 Avenue Q
Computer Methods Art 3385 - 301 & 302
daytime phone: 792.5141
Adobe Illustrator • Adobe Photoshop
email: cobey@kgcomm.com

In this class we will be learning the basics of two pieces of software. We will start with Illustrator then proceed to Photoshop.

Illustrator is a Vector based drawing program used to create logos, manipulate text and mask objects along with many more uses.
We will spend a great deal of time during this part of the class learning the pen tool as well as tools frequently associated with it.

Learning the Pen Tool will also help you create Masks in Illustrator and Clipping Paths in Photoshop. Both programs use the
same Pen Tool

Photoshop is a Pixel based program (raster) used to scan, create and manipulate photographs and/or art.

Many of the assignments you complete in this class are designed to specifically teach you the software that you will utilize and be
expected to know as you progress throughout the communication design program.

- You will need to master the pen tool in Illustrator.

- You need to know the basic function of all tools in both Illustrator and Photoshop.
- For Symbols Class, you will need to be able to add and delete points to an object, draw smooth curves, be able to destruct and
reconstruct letterforms and understand Compound Paths.

YOU MUST 3-hole punch all of your class notes and Assignment sheets and keep them in your notebook. KEEP THIS
NOTEBOOK IN ORDER. First class day notes at the front and rest following in order. Keep this notebook neat. It will be a great
reference tool in future classes. I will also be giving you definitions, processes, fraction to decimal conversions as well as other
instructional information throughout the semester. All of these handouts must be included in your notebook.

There will be 2 notebook checks during the semester which will be graded. Only material from this class should be in this
notebook.

THERE ARE DATES PRINTED ON THE CLASS SCHEDULE THAT INDICATE WHEN NOTEBOOKS WILL BE CHECKED.
THERE WILL BE A CHECK FOLLOWING BOTH THE ILLUSTRATOR AND PHOTOSHOP SECTIONS. YOU WILL RECEIVE A
GRADE FOR EACH NOTEBOOK CHECK (TOTAL 2 Grades).

YOU CANNOT PASS THIS CLASS IF YOU DO NOT TURN IN YOUR NOTEBOOKS AT THE END OF EACH SECTION. This
Notebook must include all handouts and all class notes to be accepted.

Most assignments will not be printed. Instead digital assignments will be turned in at the beginning of the class the day the
assignment is due. DO NOT LOCK THESE FILES. Many will be graded based on templates, therefore I must to be able to copy
them. If they are locked and I cannot transfer your work to a template, you will automatically fail the assignment. If you have
questions about this, please ask me.

Most of the assignments will be turned in digitally by placing them on my flash drive. Assignments will be named according to
the assignment [Ill 1, image5 - etc.], and placed inside files that will include your name and the project name [your name, Ill 2]. IF
THEY ARE NOT NAMED PROPERLY I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TELL WHOM THEY BELONG TO AND YOU WILL NOT GET A
GRADE FOR THEM.

Final projects as well as some assignments will be printed. Any printing you need to do, please do so between the hours of 8am
and 5pm. Though you can print after this time, the lab will be attended by student assistants and they may not be able to help you
with specific issues.
Begin Illustrator

8-30 First class day

Cover Syllabus and Course Outline
Mac orientation
How to print to the print lab

9-1 Assignment #1: OBJECT COLOR, SIZE, DUPLICATION AND ORIENTATION

You will learn: How to open and save a file
Basic layout of Illustrator document and tools
Location and purpose of menus, tools and palettes
Basics of printing
How to work with Color and Swatch palettes
How to use the Gradient palette
Orienting objects around a specific point
How to use the scale tool
Due: Beginning of class 9-13
TURN IN: 1 Digital file named according to the specifications in the Syllabus, { [your name] Ill 1. (See pg 1 or Course Outline)}
Image needs to be on a 8.5”x11” artboard

9-6 Labor Day - No class

9-8 Work in Class: PEN AND OBJECT TOOLS

You will learn: the pen tool, Open & Solid arrows,
Drawing proportional circles/squares
How to select one or multiple points
How to lock images, how to hide images, change order of objects
Menus- Stroke, Fill, Colors

9-13 Assignment #2: PEN TOOL AND TRACING - Tracing 5 figures

You will learn: how to draw smooth curves, changes of direction
Adding points to an object and deleting parts of an object/line.
Closing paths, altering paths with the Open arrow
This project mirrors Photoshop clipping paths, we will discuss uses and how to save documents
Due: Beginning of class 9-15
TURN IN: 5 Digital files, each named according to the original file, in a folder named [your name] Ill 1. (See pg 1 or Course Outline)
Images need to fill the entire page

9-15 Assignment #3: PEN TOOL AND TRACING 2 - Tracing 12 logos, figures
You will have 12 objects to draw (trace)
You will learn: How to scan in images and use them as templates
Free Rotate, Rotate and duplicate at specified angles,
Duplicate consecutive items, Duplicating/copying items from a center point at different percentages,
Adding points to an object and deleting parts of an object/line.
How to use the divide tool, deleting handles
Reflect tool and connect
Due: Beginning of class 9-22
TURN IN: 12 Digital files

9-20 Work in Class

9-22 Assignment #4: LETTER COMBINATIONS - 7 Total

You will combine 5 - letter combinations
You will combine 2 - letter/image combinations
You will learn: compound paths, how to release and make them and what they do.
How to use Pathfinder tools
Also how to deconstruct and combine letterform and images
This exercise is to prepare you for Symbols class.
Due: Beginning of class 9-29
TURN IN: 7 Digital files

9-27 Work in Class

You need two (2) related photos [see below] to bring to next class
9-29 Assignment #5: TYPE - Type on a line/in a shape/Masks
You need 2 digital photos approximately 8” x 10” of related images(ex. Sky & Airplane, Fish and Water)
One photo is for a mask and the other is the image inside the mask
We will add text over/around the photo for type on a line/curve.
You will learn: how to make and release Masks and the order the layers must be in.
Due: Beginning of class 10-4
Bring Reference Materials for Illustration Project to the next class
TURN IN: 1 Digital file

10-4 Assignment #6: AD BUILDING IN ILLUSTRATOR - We will build an ad

Due: Beginning of class 10-6
TURN IN: 1 color laser

10-6 LAB TEST: 20 Minute Test on Computer. Illustrator Skills

FINAL PROJECT - ILLUSTRATOR
Due: Beginning of class 10-20
TURN IN: 1 color laser of your Illustration, as well as 1 color laser of the image you used

10-11 Student Holiday - No class

10-13 Work in Class: Final Illustration

10-18 MIDTERM EXAM: ILLUSTRATOR
Work in Class: Final Illustration
You need three (3) photos to work from to bring to next class

10-20 Assignment #7: LIVE TRACE, LIVE PAINT AND CREATING CUSTOM BRUSHES
You will have 9 Illustrations to turn in
Due: Beginning of class 10-25
TURN IN: 9 color lasers, clipped together

Begin Photoshop

10-25 Assignment #1: SELECTION TOOLS

You will learn: how to use multiple selection tools, using the pen tool, magic wand, channels, lasso tool
We will cover the tools and menus
We will discuss size, resolution, modes, image size and canvas size as well as file formats
Due: Beginning of class 10-27
TURN IN: 1 Photoshop file
*Bring Scanning Materials to the next class

10-27 Assignment #2: SCANNING AND RESOLUTION EXERCISE

You will learn: How to scan in line Art, Half Tones and in color
Understand resolution, how to crop, how to straighten, how to change modes, descreening
Due: Beginning of class 11-1
TURN IN: 10 Photoshop files
*NOTEBOOK CHECK- All Illustrator Materials
*Bring Materials to the next class for Layers Project

11-1 Assignment #3: MUSIC COLLAGE

You will learn: How to create multiple layers. How to move layers around, how to link layers
Due: Beginning of class 11-8
TURN IN: 1 Digital file

11-3 Work in Class

11-8 Assignment #4: IMAGE CREATION AND SIZING FOR THE WEB
You will learn: Image sizing and optimization for the web
Due: Beginning of class 11-10
TURN IN: 9 image files, various formats
11-10 Assignment #5: CLIPPING MASKS, BRUSHES, TYPE, GRADIENT TOOL AND FILTERS
Due: Beginning of class 11-15
TURN-IN: 2 Photoshop files

11-15 Assignment #6: ACTIONS AND BATCH FILES

Due: Beginning of class 11-17
TURN-IN: 2 Photoshop files

11-17 FINAL PROJECT - PHOTOSHOP

FINAL PROJECT: MIMIC STYLE OF ARTIST
You will use all the tools you have learned to create an image from multiple sources that fits within the confines of the artist and style I give you.
Focus of project will be primarily on your use of Layers and Layer Styles, Color, Filters, Brushes, etc. Technical ability will be of more importance
than artistic ability.
Due: Beginning of class 12-6
TURN IN: 1 color on photo paper, 1 CD with original files and final Photoshop file with layers

11-22 Work in Class: Final Project

11-24 Thanksgiving Holiday - No class

11-29 Work in Class: Final Project

12-1 Work in Class: Final Project

TURN-IN: NOTEBOOKS

12-6 Turn in Final Projects (due at beginning of class)

12-8 FINAL EXAM: ILLUSTRATOR AND PHOTOSHOP (during normal class time)