GRDSN 166
Photoshop II

Projects:

• Project 5
• Project 6
• Project 7
• Project 8

Working Tips

These projects are long and involved. Please save backups as you work, just in case you need to retrace your steps.

As you work on the quizzes, use the “Save and Continue” option to retain your answers.

Fonts

The textbook may ask for a particular type font. Macintosh users in the lab can activate these fonts with the Linotype Font Explorer application. Select the Font Explorer from the Applications folder. Click on the "DIGIM fonts" folder to activate the project fonts.

If you are working on a computer lacking the ATC fonts, feel free to substitute a similar font.

Project Files

The files used in the projects are available from the CBE Lab server, in the AVA-Disciplines volume. Access the Against_the_Clock folder.

 

Self-paced Courses  •  Applied Visual Arts  •   Spokane Falls Community College

Welcome to the Photoshop II course.

The activities in this course are the last four projects in the Against the Clock Adobe Photoshop CS4: The Professional Portfolio textbook. It is recommended that you complete the first Photoshop course before this one. If you have not taken Photoshop I, you should read the Getting Started and User Interface sections to become familiar with the book’s process.

Working Tips

Please pay attention to these instruction pages. If problems and errors are found in the textbook, they will be listed for each lesson.

You will use the sample files from the CD disk in the back of the book.

You have several options for storing your class files at SFCC.

• You have a network account Home Directory with 500 megabytes of storage space. This can be accessed from any computer you log in to on campus, but cannot be accessed off campus.
• You can use a USB flash drive or portable hard drive to save your work and access your work from any computer you plug this device into.
• If you are working on a Mac, a set of secure folders are created in your “User directory”. These exist only on the machine you have logged onto, and they remain there all quarter. No one but you will be able to access these files. If you return to the same machine day after day you could store working files on the machine. Be forewarned that these machines are not immune to hard drive crashes and other dire events. You could lose everything stored on a computer; this applies to any computer, anywhere. You should always save a backup of your files to the network or a portable device.
• In a pinch, if you have an email account that allows large attachments, you can email yourself an archive .zip file of your lesson. The archive process is explained later.
• Consider saving your completed work onto CD or DVD disks. These are not read-write media, but they are a cheap and stable place to keep backups of files, in case of system problems. It is wise to keep your backup disks at home or another safe place...not a in a backpack or in your car.

Project 5

In this project I will learn to:

• Duplicate an image channel to create an Alpha channel mask.
• Use effects filters and Levels adjustments to isolate edges in an Alpha channel.
• Posterize an Alpha channel to remove shading.
• Use the Brush and Eraser tools to complete a complex mask.
• Composite a complex image onto a different background image.
• Edit a background image for visual impact.
• Create a spot channel for a fifth ink separation, and add design elements to the spot channel.
• Save the file in the DCS format to preserve spot-color information.

HOW TO PROCEED

Read and work through the project in the Against the Clock book. You will use the sample files from the CD disk in the back of the book. You may find it convenient to copy the files from the CD to your personal storage area.

The Exercises

Complete the exercises for the Catalog Cover.

What to turn in.

Create a compressed .zip archive of your folder. The zip files are a very safe way to move collections of files over the internet, and they usually reduce the file size.

Use the Macintosh Finder’s File>Compress “filename”, or Windows’ “New>Compressed (zipped) Folder” tools to create a .zip archive of the folder. Remember to save a copy of your work folder onto your personal storage device.

Rename your .zip file to 166-5-My name.zip.

Attach this .zip archive to your Angel turn-in area for this project.

Take the quiz

Go to Angel’s Lessons section and take the quiz. You are allowed to retake the quizzes until you achieve a 100% score. You should use the Save and Continue Later option to store your answers, in case you need to retake the quiz.

You are done with the first project!

 

SFCC APPLIED VISUAL ARTS  •  GRAPHIC DESIGN   •  INTERIOR DESIGN  •  PHOTOGRAPHY  •  WEB DESIGN