Computer Applications for the Theatre THEA550
Professor: David Jacques
Office Telephone: 985-4044
Office Hours: Mon/Wed 1:00-2:00
Class Times: Tuesday 9:30-12:20

Location: Dept. of Theatre Arts Computer Lab

E-Mail: djacques@csulb.edu
Web Page: http://www.davidmartinjacques.com

Course Objective and Outcomes:

This course will introduce students to the basic techniques and tools incorporated in Adobe Photoshop CS5. Basic techniques in digital image manipulation, and exporting to hard and soft copies are covered. This class is taught in the spring semester on Tuesday mornings from 9:30 to 12:20. Students from multiple disciplines and backgrounds are welcomed to participate. Basic computer skills are a prerequisite.

Requirements:

The student is expected to attend all classes and special seminars.
Projects turned in after the due date will not be accepted unless for compelling reasons.
Exam and project dates are subject to change.

Evaluations:

Grading is based as follows:

Project #1 “Working Man”: 10%

Project #2 “Layer Mask”: 10%

Midterm Project: 30%

Project #3 “Cloning”: 20%

Final Project: 30%

Attendance: Students are expected to attend all classes and special events. Strict adherence to the CSULB attendance policy will be followed. If attendance problems occur the student will be notified in writing (via email) of the ramifications of the student’s absences. Excessive unexcused absences will result in the student being dropped from the class or in a grade of “F” for the class.

Computers and Digital Devices Used in Class: No computers or digital devices are permitted to be used in class unless used for the sole purpose of class assignments and instruction. If the student requires these devices for medical and/or learning disabilities, then exceptions will be made.

Materials:

Software: Adobe Photoshop CS5

Text: Photoshop CS5 Bible

1. INTRODUCTION

Class structure – Lecture and Demonstration, Lab time, Home Tutorials
Use and availability of equipment, computer lab, etc.
Basic Photoshop CS5 hardware and software requirements
Terminology
Painting and Drawing Applications
Turning on the Computer - opening Photoshop

Understanding the Photoshop Workspace (Chapter 2)
The Photoshop Desktop – Menu Bar, Image Canvas, Layers/Channels/Mask Palettes, History Palette, Dockable Palettes, Color Palette, Adjustments and Mask Palettes

2. GETTING AROUND PHOTOSHOP – The Desktop and Toolbox
Review toolbar
Selection tools
Navigation tools
Painting Tools
Color Tools
Mask Tools
Image/Window Tools

Layer and History Palettes

Assignment #1 - Using tools

Reading Assignment: Chapter 3

3. IMAGE BASICS (Chapter 3)

File Types - Image File Formats – Native PSD, TIFF, JPEG, Photoshop PDF

Creating and Opening Images

Resizing Files and Adjusting Resolution - Size and resolution - Print and Screen

Resampling and Cropping Methods – Start large and make smaller, never small to large.

Cropping and Straightening Images

Trimming a Border

Reading Assignment: Chapter 4

4. UNDERSTANDING COLORS, HISTOGRAMS, LEVELS, AND CURVES (Chapter 4)

Color Basics - Selecting and Editing Colors

Understanding Channels and Levels

Color Modes - RGB, CMYK

Adjusting With Histograms

Working in Different Color Modes
Grayscale

Choosing Colors

The Eyedropper Tool

Reading Assignment: Chapters 5

5. HISTORY AND ACTIONS (Chapter 5)

Using the History Panel

Creating and Using Automated Actions (Macros)

Assignment: Actions (Macros)

Reading Assignment: Chapter 9

6. DRAWING SELECTION OUTLINES - WORKING WITH SELECTIONS (Chapter 9)

Selection Fundamentals

The Select Menu

Using Selection Tools

Magic Wand – 9.8

Color Range – 9.9

Select by Shape

Lasso Tools - 9.16

Refining Your Selection – 9.17

Refining the Edges – Edge Detection

Using Paths – Project #1 – “Working Man”

7. SELECTIONS Cont.

Selecting via Masks
Painting and Editing inside Selections
Temporary Masking Functions
Quick Mask Mode – Complete Tutorial Pg. 283-285
Creating an Independent Mask Channel

Reading Assignment: Chapter 10

8. ALL ABOUT LAYERS (Chapter 10)

Understanding Multiple Layers and the Layers Palette – The Layer Menu

Adding New Layers

Adding Another Document to a Layer

Adding Text or Shapes as a Layer

Sending a Selection to a Layer

Selecting the Contents of Layers

Masking and Layers

Using Opacity and Blend Modes

Advanced Blending Techniques
Using Channel Operations Commands

Grouping Layers

Project #2 - Create Layer Mask and Composite Image

Adjustment Layers – 10.17A and 10.17B

Layer Styles

Creating a Separate Layer From a Layer Style – 10.22

Creating Smart Objects

Layer Masks

Type Masks – 10.30A Tutorial Pg 330-331

Editing Masks

Merging Layers

Reading Assignment: Chapter 11

9. CHANNELS (Chapter 11) – Guest Instructor

Understanding Color Channels

Using the Channel Mixer

Color Mixing

Swapping Colors

Converting Color to Grayscale

Using the Channels Panel

Selecting and Merging Channels

Making Channel Selections – Tutorial Pg 353-335

Loading Selections From Alpha Channels

Modifying Alpha Channels

Spot Color Channels

10- MIDTERM PROJECT: LAYER AND CHANNELS COMPOSITING PROJECT

11. MIDTERM PROJECT: LAYER AND CHANNELS COMPOSITING PROJECT

Reading Assignment: Chapter 13

12. LIGHTING AND COLOR ADJUSTMENTS (Chapter 13)

Applying Quick Adjustments in Light and Color

Brightness and Contrast – 13.1, Tutorial 13.2 Pg. 384-385

Changing the Color Balance – 13.4 Tutorial Pg. 387-388

Making Selective Color Adjustments – 13.7 Tutorial Pg. 390-391

Applying Photo Filter to Images

Replacing Colors

Using the Variations Tool

Changing Shadows and Highlights in Images

Hue and Saturation Tool – 13.9, 13.20 Tutorial Pg. 408-410

Levels – Using the Levels Adjustment Tool – 13.27 Tutorial Pg. 416-419

Curves – Using the Curves Adjustment Tool

Using Match Color Tool to Change Colors

Reading Assignment: Chapter 14

13. SHARPNESS, BLUR, AND NOISE ADJUSTMENTS (Chapter 14)

Sharpen Filters – 14.1 Tutorial Pg. 439-440

Unsharp Mask – 14.6 Tutorial Pg. 443-445

Smart Sharpen

Blur Filters

Reducing Noise in an Image – Median

Add Noise

Reading Assignment: Chapter 15

14. CLONING (Chapter 15)

Healing Brush – 15.4 Tutorial Pg 468-471

Patch Tool – 15.13 Tuorial 475-477

Content Aware Fill

Clone Stamp Tool – 15.23 Tutorial Pg. 483, 15.27 Tutorial Pg. 487-489

15.31 Tutorial Pg. 491-493, 15.35 Tutorial Pg. 494-496

Project #3 “Cloning”

15. PAINTING AND BRUSHES (Chapter 16)

Paint and Edit Tool Basics
Basic Techniques
Brushes – Using the Brush Panel
Opacity, Pressure, and Exposure
Tapered Lines
Brush Modes

Gradient Tool

Painting From a Blank Canvas, Tutorial Pg. 539-542
Dodges and Burn Modes
Setting color tolerances
Compositing / Landscape Assignment

FILLING AND STROKING TECHNIQUES
Filling selections with Color and Patterns
Applying Gradient Fills
Applying Strokes and Arrows

Assignment - Path/Layer/Scaling/Painting/Drop Shadow

16. WORKING WITH TEXT (Chapter 18)

Adding Text to Images

Formatting Text

Applying Layer Styles to Text

Applying Text to a Path

Controlling Text Flow

Applying Text Effects

Adding Text to a Smart Image – 18.25 Tutorial Pg 611-613

Applying Text as a Mask – 18.29 Tutorial Pg. 614-615