Art Department - Spring 2025 - Digital Art - Ronaldo Kiel
ARTD 2811 Introduction to Digital Art - Desktop Publishing (Formerly ART 48.11)
Section: WQ6 - Code 3418 - W 06:05-09:45PM 01 OL - Feb 05 to May 14, 2025
Course Description Class Projects Schedule Important Dates Contact Index
This is an online class that will meet regularly as scheduled on Black Board.
Attendance is required. Please have a computer with working camera&mic and all software intalled.
You MUST use your CUNYID login credentials for accessing Adobe CC (not your personal email or BC-email).
We will use Adobe Illustrator, Adobe PhotoShop and Adobe InDesign.
Instructions using your CUNYID to access Adobe CC:
https://cisweb.cuny.edu/covid19/Accessing-AdobeCreativeCloud-COVID19-Outbreak.pdf
If you are having any trouble with using your CUNYID to login to use Adobe Creative Cloud you must contact the ITS Helpdesk:
Hours: Mon–Fri: 9am–5pm
Phone: 718-951-4188
Email: helpdesk@brooklyn.cuny.edu
Introduction
Design surrounds our everyday lives through television, advertisements, magazines and architecture. Underlying all of this design however, is a series of fundamental principles. In this course we will focus on graphic design. During the semester, we will analyze examples of graphic design looking for the basic rules for successful design. An understanding of the this visual vocabulary, will improve your ability to create your own pieces. You will develop your design skills while acquiring the necessary software training.
In the graphic design of today, software like Adobe InDesign, among others, will place in your hands the essential tools to combine type and graphics on the printed page in less time than ever before. Your competence will accumulate in direct proportion to the amount of time you practice.
Well designed documents require many skills—including typing, proofing, typesetting, selecting images—and the expertise to organize all of these elements into a pleasing layout. Just a few years ago, these skills involved more than one person. Today, with the use of a computer and desktop publishing software, a single person is able to perform all of these tasks. Digital page designers must be able to assemble traditional skills within the computer graphics environment.
Printers LAB 5102
PHASER7800 (color printer)
HP5200 (black and white printer)
Printer LAB 5207: HP521 (black and white printer)
Course Objectives
create graphic design projects
develop techniques for simple graphic illustration and photo retouching
introduce the use of Bezier curves for precise line work
understand the basics of image processing
create and organize content for small and medium scale publications
Software
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe PhotoShop
Adobe InDesign
Every student should spend at least four hours per week practicing (besides classes). Individual experience on the computer will be required in order to finish all course requirements.
Materials
You should buy an USB Drive. It will be useful for transferring files and backups. You are responsible for backing up your files. If your files are lost or deleted from the computers in the lab you will have to start over if you don't keep backups. Make a habit of saving copies of your work at the end of every class and taking it with you.
Special paper for portfolio quality laser printing can be obtained from Staples or Paper Presentation, 23 West 18th Street, NY 10011. Phone: 1 800 PAPER 01.
Do not use coated papers designed for inkjet printers in the Phaser Color Laser Printer. The coatings on inkjet papers may damage the printer.
If you want to use Glossy or any other special paper to print Project #5 in the Phaser Color Laser Printer refer to special papers specifications. (On line classes do not provide access to printers.)
Attendance and Grades
This course will offer training in multiple software packages in only 14 classes and a total of five projects will be required to pass the course. The material in this course is technical and specific. These projects demand a lot of work and time. At least four hours a week of independent work in the lab is required. Attendance is essential and work on the tutorial will be necessary to successfully finish all projects. Prior notification and arrangements will be necessary in the case of late work and it will be graded down at least one letter grade.
NOTE: All students will be graded on the work that they complete during the semester. No incomplete grades will be given. Projects submitted still in progress will be graded accordingly.
Black Board keep records of the attendance to the on line sessions. Attendance will be factor into your final grade. But if you missed some of the class material, you can look at pre-recorded videos on https://www.illumira.net (these are the same videos that are on the Black Board web class).
Projects not uploaded to the Black Board class site will not be considered. Do not email projects.
Online Training : If you have a NYPL card you can access Lynda Workshops now InLEARNING in the New York Public Library.
Adobe Learn & Support - http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/video_workshop/
Illustrator - http://www.adobe.com/products/tips/illustrator.html
Photoshop - http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html
Suggested Books - Software
Adobe Photoshop CC Classroom in a Book
Adobe Illustrator CC Classroom in a Book
Adobe InDesign CC Classroom in a Book
Suggested Books - Typography & GD