CMAT 350 - Computer Graphics
Objective
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
- identify and define computer graphics/design terminology;
- integrate graphics with text via desktop publishing programs;
- use a desktop publishing program to create documents of varying sophistication;
- create and/or manipulate pixel and vector-based images.
Required Supplies
USB Flash drive (500 MB minimum), or blank CD-R/CD-RW/DVD-R/DVD-RW
Required Text
The Design Collection: Adobe InDesign CS3, Photoshop CS3, Adobe Illustrator CS3 Revealed. ©2008 by Thomson Course Technology. Available in the UB bookstore, or through Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Borders, etc.
Course Requirements
Attendance is mandatory; material covered in class is very "hands on" oriented and portions of it won't be documented in the texts. Participation in class discussion is expected. You will be responsible for knowing and understanding things discussed in class that are not supported by handouts or the texts.
Assignments will be given that practice the techniques learned in class. Unless you have access to other equipment, you will have to sign up for lab time each week to complete the assignment. Please note the lab rules in the Lab Manual.
Turn off your cell phone and don't answer it during class. No texting during class.
Grading
Grades will be based on competent execution of exercises and projects on a timely basis, as well as on class participation. There will be four tests throughout the semester, with fair warning given. For each class that an assignment is turned in late, the possible grade for that assignment will drop by 10 points. Assignments are due at the beginning of the class, after that they are considered late. You must come to class with your assignment already printed out -- no printing will be allowed during class . Re-done assignments are penalized 5 points per week. There will be no make-ups for exams.
Final grades will be determined [as follows]...
Test 1: InDesign Test 25%
Test 2: PhotoShop Test 25%
Test 3: Illustrator Test 20%
Assignments 20%
Attendance and Participation 10%How to Successfully Complete This Course
Computer Graphics is somewhat unlike other courses at the School of Communications Design. It can be a very intense information and task-filled class that requires more from students than other courses. In order to help you complete this course, you will need to: purchase the text immediately and bring it to class, attend all the meetings, complete all the assignments on time, and spend time preparing for the exams. Students can expect to spend anywhere from 1 to 6 hours per week outside of class time on assignments.
If you discover you need help, voice your concerns as early as possible. The Academic Resource Center at UB (http:// www.ubalt.edu/arc (410) 837-5383) has tutors that can help you, one-on-one, at no cost to you. You are strongly encourage to work on your assignments in groups of 2 or 3 (each person doing their own work), so that you can help each other.
Email listserv
There is a listserv set up so that students can interact with each other: answering questions, help troubleshoot problems, etc. A listserv is just an email address that you can use to send one message to everyone in your class. Subscribing to the listserv requires having and using an email account. Any messages you send to the listserv will be sent to all members of the class, and responses will also be distributed to the whole class. Subscribing to the listserv is mandatory for the class. To subscribe, go to http://astro.ubalt.edu , click on "Mailing Lists", and click on the list for CMAT.350.001 (Computer Graphics DAY section).
UB Plagiarism Statement
It is illegal and unethical to use someone else's work without properly crediting the source . If you are not sure where that line is between needing to credit a source or not or between quoting, paraphrasing, and original language, or between imitating and copying an existing piece of work, please ask me in advance or err on the side of over-citing. If I discover that you've plagiarized material for this class, I will follow the University's policy for violations of academic integrity (see the UB Student Handbook), the consequences of which can include failing the course and expulsion from the University of Baltimore.
Computer Graphics Syllabus
(by week - with some adjustments possible)
1. Intro to the course, intro to Mac OS X, Begin Adobe InDesign using textbook, chapters 1 - 2.
2. Continue Adobe InDesign work using the textbook, chapter 3.
3. Complete Adobe InDesign textbook, chapters 4 - 5.
4. Adobe InDesign lab class: review skills and work on sample test and assignments
5. Adobe InDesign TEST, Begin Adobe Photoshop using text, chapter 1.
6. Review test, review Adobe Photoshop text chapter 1, continue text chapters 2 -3.
7. Continue Adobe Photoshop work using textbook, chapter 4.
8. Complete Adobe Photoshop work using textbook, chapter 5.
9. Adobe Photoshop lab class: review skills and work on sample test and assignments
10. Adobe Photoshop TEST , then begin Adobe Illustrator using text, chapter 1.
11. Continue Adobe Illustrator work using textbook, chapters 2 - 3.
12. Continue Adobe Illustrator work using textbook, chapter 4.
13. Complete Adobe Illustrator textbook, chapter 5.
14. Adobe Illustrator lab class: review skills and work on sample test and assignments
15. Adobe Illustrator TEST
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