San Antonio College -- 1300 San Pedro Ave. -- San Antonio, TX, 78212-4299

Credit Hours: 3-3-2

Instructor: See Faculty for instructors teaching the course.

Office: Loftin 204   Phone Number: (210) 733-2870  FAX: (210) 733-2868

Email: email to benthinkin@mac.com   Web Address: http://www.makethewaves.com/

I. Catalog Description: Practicum in Electronic Media (Digital) (3-3-2) Prerequisite: None.

TThis course focuses on development of Photoshop skills to be used in newspapers, magazine, the Web or other publications. It enables students interested in photography or photojournalism to build on their skills for publication..

II. Pre-requisites, co-requisites and other requirements:(1) None

III. Text: None.

Some recommended references: Photoshop 7: Visual Quickstart Guide, Elaine Weinmann and Peter Lourekas, Peachpit Press; Photoshop 7 Killer Tips, Kelby & Nelson, New Riders; New Masters of Photoshop, Cina Stanick Youngi, New Masters; Real World Photoshop 7, Blatnard & Frasier, Adobe & Peachpit Press.

IV. Instruction will consist of: a variety of techniques, including lecture, video presentations, Power Point presentations, Web sites, readings, guest speakers, enrichment assignments and group activities. Much of the learning in this course depends on reading and understanding course materials. We will survey the course information through class discussions..

V. Course Content: Learn to shoot and manipulate digital images, gaining practical experience with photo restoration, montage techniques and creating original art. Even if you don't plan a career in psychedelic pixel distortion, you will learn what can't (or shouldn't) be done.

VI. Learning Outcomes and Performance Objectives with their methods of measurement as used to determine the students' mastery of those outcomes.

Learning Outcome 1: Students will achieve a firm understanding on the practices of adjusting the properties (resolution, hue, saturation and luminosity) in a digital image.

Performance Objectives/Method(s) of measurement for each objective

1. The student will demonstrate the ability to arrange palettes effectively by daily use of the palettes and toolbar in editing digital photos
2. The student will demonstrate the ability to work with multiple images at once by moving elements from one image onto another
3. The student will demonstrate the ability to correctly load, save, and organize image files
4. The student will demonstrate the ability to check revisions of their work by checking its history
5. The students will demonstrate understanding of at least four image adjustment controls in Photoshop such as:
- "Curves" and "Levels" by improving tonality in a series of images
- "Hue/Saturation," "Color Balance" and "Variations" by correcting color in a series of images
6. The students will demonstrate a well-rounded knowledge of Photoshop by passing a written mid-term exam that covers:
- The origins of Photoshop
- Common keyboard shortcuts
- Citing layer blend modes
- Citing specific tools used to accomplish certain tasks
- Defining basic terminology including RGB, HSL, and CMYK
- Explaining resolution, including the difference between resizing and resampling an image
- Describing the factors that determine file size

Learning Outcome 2: Students will gain practical experience manipulating digital photos.

Performance Objectives/Method(s) of measurement for each objective

1. The students will demonstrate understanding of the uses of layers and masking by:
- The ability to duplicate and arrange layers by turning one image into a pre-determined tiled pattern
- The ability to creating montages by importing images or parts of images from different files into a single digital image
- The ability to overlay layers by changing their opacity and blend mode
2. The students will demonstrate an understanding of non-destructive image editing techniques including:
- The ability to use layer masks by hiding and revealing parts of images
- The ability to copy parts of images to different layers by selectively creating new layers
- The ability to use layers to cast virtual lights, tints, and tonal corrections on preceding layers

(SCANS COMPETENCIES are only required for courses which are a part of an AAS degree plan.) SCANS Competencies: See attached for a list of competencies related to the workplace as outlined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

VII. Course requirements and grade computation: Methods of instruction include lecture, discussion, videotapes, slides and group activities as well as readings.

Most of your grade will come from weekly projects. You also are required to complete a mid-term exam and a final project. Each project is worth a certain number of points. At the end of the semester, your grade is based on the number of points earned divided by the number of points possible. For example, if three projects are worth 50, 100 and 150 points, you could possible earn 200 points. If you score 40, 90 and 140 points, respectively, your total earned score would be 170. 170 divided by 200 = 85%, a solid B.

Your work will be graded based on your PSD (Photoshop Document) files. JPEGs and TIFFs are fine forprinting, but for grading the instructor wants to see your layers, masks, clippings, text, etc.

The mid-term exam is a written test taken in class. Questions will cover terms, history and workflow, all from the first half of the semester.

The final project will be discussed in class.

Each semester is different, often thanks to changing technology - but also because each semester draws a different set of students. As the class structure adapts semester-to-semester, the schedule is subject to change. The instructor won't move major deadlines without due notice.

A. College Requirements: A written, comprehensive final examination, not to exceed two and one-half hours in length, shall be given at the end of each semester for each course at the regularly scheduled time. Any exceptions to these requirements must be approved by the appropriate dean. Other examinations are given at the discretion of the instructor.

A student who must be absent from a final examination should petition that instructor for permission to postpone the examination. A student absent without permission from a final examination is graded "F." Postponed examinations result in a grade of "I." The final exam must be taken within 120 calendar days from the end of the semester or the grade automatically becomes an "F." (San Antonio College Bulletin, Faculty Handbook - January 1995)

B. Departmental Requirement: A student wishing to withdraw from this class during the semester must process a formal withdrawal through the Office of Admissions and Records. Failure to withdraw formally will result in the assignment of a failing grade (F) for the  course.  You may drop by going to the Office of Admissions and Records, or you may send me an e-mail requesting that I drop you from the class. If you do the latter, please be sure to type your full name at the bottom of your request. You also may drop by Room 204-a of Loftin Student Center to pick up a drop slip.

The college bulletin allows absences for the equivalent of two weeks of class, but you will be dropped after that number. After the drop date, each absence over six will take three (3) points off your final grade.

C. Instructor Requirements:

A digital camera is optional. The department owns several cameras, and we will use them during the semester. If you have a digital camera, I encourage you to use it. A personal computer is optional. You're welcome to work at home, but the lectures, demonstrations, announcements and hands-on help are only available during class. You can bring in projects you work on via 100MB Zip disks, floppy disks and the Internet.

B. Students are urged not to bring children to either a class or a lab. Minors under the age of twelve (12) must not be left unattended on campus. College Academic Council - April, 1998

C. ADA Statement: "As per Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, if accommodation is needed contact the Office of DisABILITY Support Services, CAC 124C, Phone: (210) 733-2347.

D. A Rapid Response Team exists for the purpose of responding to emergencies. If you have a disability that will require assistance in the event of a building evacuation, notify Disability Support Services, Chance Academic Center 124C, Phone: (210) 733-2347.

E. Academic Dishonesty: Students may be subject to disciplinary proceedings resulting in an academic penalty or disciplinary penalty for academic dishonesty. Academic Dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism and collusion. For additional information refer to the "Student Code of Conduct" in the San Antonio College Bulletin.

F. Students are required to silence all electronic devices (e.g., pagers, cellular phones, etc.) when in classrooms, laboratories and the library. College Academic Council, 01/ 2000.

G. San Antonio College Attendance Policy: Regular and punctual attendance at all classes and laboratories, day and/or evening, is required. A student absent for any reason is responsible for all work missed. Both tardiness and early departure from class are forms of absenteeism. The instructor establishes the policy with regard to each.

Absences of each student are recorded without exception. The counting of absences begins on the first day of class. A student absent the equivalent of two weeks of instruction in a 16-week semester may be dropped by the instructor. If a student is dropped from a class for excessive absences, the instructor will record a grade of "W' (withdraw). It is the student's responsibility to ensure that the withdrawals have been submitted.

H. San Antonio College is a smoke free campus.

I. ACCD DPS Emergency Phone Numbers:

ACCD DPS Emergency Phone (210) 222-0911
ACCD DPS General Phone (210) 208-8099
ACCD DPS Weather Phone (210) 208-8189 (For information on college closures)