The first area we will concentrate on learning this semester is graphics. The knowledge and skill you will learn and practice during this unit is necessary in virtually all other types of digital media, so it is a great place to start because we will be using it frequently. Graphics can take the form of paintings, logos, photos, icons, and many more different types of designs. No matter what type of career you may have in the future, your business or company will need graphic design in order to be successful. What you will be learning is important information to know and a useful set of skills to have.
The software we use in class to create graphic designs is called Adobe Photoshop. It is a high-powered, versatile program that is very common in the real-world, industry setting. Although it is rather expensive, it is considered one of the best photo editing softwares and is certainly one of the most popular among professionals and consumers alike. 
                       (click title for project descriptions)

We will begin by completing projects that focus on developing the fundamentals of graphic design as you explore and learn the basics of  Adobe Photoshop. As the semester progresses, we will learn and practice more advanced techniques and become proficient users of the software. 

Inside the SKILLS page, you will find project descriptions and constraints, the files necessary to complete each project, and how you will be submitting your finished works of art.
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There will be a lot of things to learn during the graphics unit. From the four distinct Elements of Design to common graphic file types, we will be covering many different topics as we learn the tools and features of Photoshop. 

Inside the KNOWLEDGE page, you can find and download the PowerPoints I use during class lectures and discussions, links to take your assessments on BlackBoard, and other learning resources. 

RESOURCES


                                     IMAGE  SEARCH  WEBSITES

Out-sourced images are often absolutely necessary to create stunning graphic designs. However, it is up to the designer to carefully choose their images and artfully adapt and utilize them to develop an original, creative masterpiece. 

Stock Exchange, StockVault, and TurboPhoto are websites that provide free stock photos that are available for use without copyright, trademark, or misappropriation issues.
    FREE  GRAPHIC  EDITING  SOFTWARES
Photoshop is an excellent graphic editing software. However, it is a rather expensive product - especially for the beginning artist. Fortunately, there are several online graphic editors or downloadable softwares that are completely free to use and will accomplish a lot of what Photoshop can do. A few are listed to the left, but there are many more out there.
PHOTOSHOP  TOOLBAR  EXPANDED
WCPSS  PHOTO
PERMISSION  FORM
Click the icon below to find Photoshop Tutorials that will test your abilities and teach you helpful new tools and features as you create these amazing graphic designs by following the steps provided on the website. Some are pretty easy, while others are quite difficult so you should be able to find one that challenges your abilities and results in an outstanding finished product. 

dafont.com is a site that has thousands of downloadable fonts that can help you utilize text effectively in your graphic designs. Choosing the appropriate text style and color is imperative to conveying your intended message to the audience. Search through the different categories to find your perfect font and download it using the instructions on the website. 
Creating and using customized brushes in Photoshop is a quick and easy way to replicate a shape or image in your design. Rather than using copy and paste, simply paint your custom design on with the brush tool. Brusheezy.com has hundreds of downloadable brushes that can be imported into Photoshop.