Salem Community College Course Syllabus Course Title: Digital Illustration Course Code: CGA 132 Lecture Hours: 2 Laboratory Hours: 2 Credits: 3 Course Description: Digital Illustration will increase student skills needed for desktop publishing and Web page design utilizing vector images. Basic design and layout concepts are reviewed. Adobe Illustrator software will be employed. Students learn to make and modify shapes, draw using the pen and paintbrush, work with layers, paths, text, masks, and prepare documents for printing. Before starting the course, students should be familiar with opening graphic menus, scanning images, storing and accessing files, and placing images into a graphics program. Prerequisite: Completion of ENG 98, if required, and CGA 101 or written permission of instructor Co-requisite: None Place in College Curriculum: This course is required for the AS in Computer Graphic Art and the AFA in Digital Media or may taken as an open elective. Date of Last Revision: October 2011
CGA132 Digital Illustration page 2 Course Outline I. Illustrator A. Using the Program 1. Creating a new file 2. Naming and saving the file 3. Workspace, preferences, and keyboard shortcuts B. Learning the tools 1. Selection & arrangement tools 2. Pen, pencil, and paintbrush tools 3. Shape & transformation tools 4. Working with strokes, fills, and color 5. Working with Layers 6. Working with Type, appearances, and styles 7. Path tools 8. Working with masks, envelopes, meshes, and blends 9. Working with filters, effects, and graphic styles 10. Working with 3-D effects C. Design projects 1. Posters 2. Stylized image series 3. Logos 4. Package design 5. Product labels II. III. Using PowerPoint for Presentation A. Prepare images 1. Re-size 2. Export image as either EPS, PNG or JPEG B. Create presentation C. Enhance presentation Printing A. Prepare image 1. Scale 2. Mask/frame B. Sending image 1. Page setup 2. Choose printer 3. Load paper 4. Print
CGA132 Digital Illustration page 3 Course Objectives Course Performance Objective #1: The student will demonstrate an ability to use the vector graphics program, Adobe Illustrator. 1. Run the illustration program. 2. Identify the artboard and scratch area. 3. Arrange the workspace to suit individual needs. 4. Learn basic keyboard shortcuts. 5. Set units, and guides & grids preferences. 6. Create and save a new file. 7. Open panels and work with tool options. Course Performance Objective #2: Using the toolbox, panels and artboard, the student will demonstrate an ability to create, select, transform, and arrange vector shapes and objects. 1. Create basic geometric shapes. 2. Use the select and group select tools to edit points on a shape. 3. Select and align shapes. 4. Apply stroke and fill to shapes and objects. 5. Group and distribute shapes horizontally and vertically. 6. Rotate and scale objects and shapes. Course Performance Objective #3: The student will continue using the toolbox, panels and artboard to demonstrate a facility with the pen, pencil and paintbrush tools. 1. Utilize the pen to draw closed path shapes, trace images, convert anchor points and join paths. 2. Use the pencil, eraser, arc, and spiral tools for image tracing. 3. Draw shapes and apply brush styles with the paintbrush tool. 4. Access and utilize brush libraries. 5. Create custom art and pattern brushes. 6. Save a custom brush library. Course Performance Objective #4: The student will explore techniques for adding and editing strokes, fills, and color on an object.
CGA132 Digital Illustration page 4 1. Manipulate color and color swatches. 2. Edit pattern strokes, fills, color, and pattern swatches. 3. Draw shapes and apply brush styles with the paintbrush tool. 4. Access and utilize color swatch libraries. 5. Edit strokes, dashes, caps and joins on existing sample images. 6. Apply linear gradients and multiple strokes to sample images. Course Performance Objective #5: Using the Layers panel and Appearance panel, the student will master the use of layers in an Illustrator document. 1. Utilize the selection tool and Appearance panel to organize, group and rename layers in a document. 2. Select objects, duplicate appearances, and duplicate layers in a document. 3. Move layers and control layer opacity within an image. Course Performance Objective #6: The student will utilize typography tools to create, format, and control text content within a document. 1. Create text at a point within a document. 2. Create text within a specified area within a document. 3. Create type on a path. 4. Insert text directly into the document from a word processor or text document. 5. Format characters of text within an area, type on a path, or placed text. 6. Format paragraphs of text. 7. Thread text within a document. Course Performance Objective #7: Utilizing the type appearances and styles panels, and the OpenType and Glyph panels, students will apply unique appearances to text and prepare text in a document for sharing. 1. Utilize the eyedropper tool to fill type with color. 2. Utilize the selection tool to fill type with a gradient. 3. Apply new colors to specific characters using paragraph styles. 4. Change a string of text within a paragraph using the character style panel. 5. Format characters of text within an area, type on a path, or placed text. 6. Repair ligatures using the OpenType palette.
CGA132 Digital Illustration page 5 7. Access and replace special characters within a body of text using the Glyph panel. 8. Convert the type in a document to outlines for sharing and editing the shape of the text. Course Performance Objective #8: The student will explore compound path techniques for adding holes and transparent regions to an image. 1. Combine two objects to make a compound path with a hole. 2. Utilize six or more objects and combine to make a complex compound path. 3. Divide a large object with the pathfinder in order to insert objects within an image. Course Performance Objective #9: The student will crop unwanted image areas and create type effects using masks. 1. Apply a clipping mask to an image in order to crop unwanted areas or create a frame. 2. Utilize a clipping mask in order to create type filled with an image. 3. Adjust the opacity within a specific area of an image using a clipping mask. 4. Apply multiple areas of opacity and a gradient mask with opacity to an image. 5. Utilize blending modes and apply a gradient transparency to an image. Course Performance Objective #10: The student will warp, distort, and apply mesh gradients to images. 1. Create a wave effect with an object and type, using the envelope distort option. 2. Utilize the envelope distort option to create type in perspective. 3. Edit mesh objects to wrap text around a curved shape. 4. Use a gradient mesh to create the effect of a rounded object. 5. Morph one shape into another utilizing the blend tool. Course Performance Objective #11: The student will discover the difference between filters and effects and apply graphic styles to objects. 1. Apply drop shadows to two versions of the same object using both the filter and effects menus. 2. Make changes to the object shadows; ascertain that only effects are editable. 3. Select and apply stylized effects to an image, then edit the effect. 4. Transform a simple object and use the object to create a more complex object. 5. Experiment with effects using both raster and vector images.
CGA132 Digital Illustration page 6 6. Create a graphic style using multiple strokes and fills. 7. Edit and save graphic styles to the graphic style library. 8. Use graphic styles to apply multiple effects to an image. Course Performance Objective #12: The student will create images that appear to be 3-dimensional. 1. Visualize 3-D objects through a series of sketches on paper. 2. Decide which 2-dimensional shapes will be used to make the 3D shape. 3. Practice using the 3D extrude and bevel tools to make a cylinder and a cube. 4. Make 3-dimensional type with the extrude and bevel tools. 5. Edit the object shading and lighting angles. 6. Edit and adjust the bevel effect of the object. 7. Rotate image symbols and apply to the 3D surface. 8. Revolve an object on the y-axis. 9. Map art onto the 3D object. Course Performance Objective #13: The student will create solutions to assigned final design projects. 1. Produce 3 to 5 sketches for instructor approval, before proceeding with the design assignment on the computer. 2. Provide a type comp sheet if required by the assignment. 3. Research the assigned subject to gain ideas for images to include in the design project. 4. Create stylized versions of all images using Illustrator. 5. Provide a color comp sheet if required by the assignment. 6. Produce two final comps for instructor approval. 7. Participate in a class critique for each final design assignment. Course Performance Objective #14: The student will prepare all of his/her final images and load them into a PowerPoint presentation template. 1. Re-size the image to fit into the PowerPoint page template. 2. Export the re-sized image utilizing the EPS, PNG or JPEG file format to a designated folder. 3. Insert the re-sized image into the PowerPoint page template and label the image. 4. Utilize Microsoft PowerPoint slide show mode to view the images that have been placed in the template. 5. Utilize the PowerPoint tools to adjust images, transitions and text, on each slide, for correct viewing in the slide show mode.
CGA132 Digital Illustration page 7 Course Performance Objective #15: The student will print hard copies of all finished images. 1. Re-size the image, if necessary, to fit the output media. 2. Change the orientation of the image to fit the output media using page setup. 3. Choose the appropriate printer and media to be used. 4. Load the appropriate media into the printer. 5. Send the image to the printer. Course Performance Objective #16: The student will gain further insight on artists' use of Illustrator to create digital images by producing a written critique of selected work. 1. Utilize web browsers to locate web sites that display examples of artists working with Illustrator. 2. Choose three Illustrator images from two or three different web sites. 3. Produce a 2 3 page comparative critique on these images that were created using Illustrator. 4. Refer to paper topic handout to include answers to specific questions in the critique.
CGA132 Digital Illustration page 8 General Education Requirements: The general education goals covered in Digital Illustration are critical thinking & problem solving, communication, quantitative skills, aesthetic perspective and information literacy. See student handbook for additional details. General Outcomes Assessment: A college-wide outcomes assessment program has been put into place to enhance the quality and effectiveness of the curriculum and programs at Salem Community College. As part of this assessment program, the learning outcomes for this course will be assessed. Assessment methods may include tests, quizzes, papers, reports, projects and other instruments. Copies of all outcomes assessments are available in an electronic assessment bank maintained by the Institutional Research and Planning Office. Course Activities: Learning activities include reading and completing class assignments and tutorials, participating in PowerPoint lectures, internet research and critique of selected works created with Illustrator, and maintaining a class notebook and completing final projects for presentation as both hard copy and digital images. Course Requirements and Means of Evaluation: Please refer to the instructor s syllabus addendum (to be distributed in class) for specific information regarding the course requirements and means of evaluation. Academic Honesty Policy: Students found to have committed an act of academic dishonesty may be subject to failure in this course, academic probation, and/or suspension from the college. See the Student Handbook for additional details. Attendance Policy: Regular and prompt attendance in all classes is expected of students. Students absent from class for any reason are responsible for making up any missed work. Faculty members establish an attendance policy for each course and it is the student s responsibility to honor and comply with that policy. ADA Statement: If you have a 504 Accommodation Plan, please discuss it with your instructor. If you have any disability but have not documented it with the Disability Support coordinator at Salem Community college, you must do so to be eligible for accommodations. To contact the Disability Support Coordinator, call 856-351-2773, visit DON108, or email disabilitysupport@salemcc.edu to set up an appointment. To find out more information about disability support services at Salem Community College, visit www.salemcc.edu/students/student-success-programs/disability-support. Instructor Information: (See handout) Required Text(s): For textbook information, please see the Salem Community College Bookstore Website. Optional Text(s): None. Supplies: Flash drive with at least 256 MB available, notebook, pen/pencil. Additional Costs: As necessitated by the required supplies.