MACA 1200 - Digital Illustration

Credit Hours: 4.00

Objectives:

1. Trace templates or scanned drawing files in order to create vector based digital illustrations.
2. Import files from various graphic and drawing applications or library storage disks into page layout applications.
3. Manipulate graphics to conform to a given layout.
4. Place and modify graphic images in the document.
5. Use the tools needed to create and modify graphic images in an electronic document.
6. Select various type styles and sizes to conform to specific job specifications.
7. Apply various type or character attributes to manuscript copy (text).
8. Convert colors from RGB to CMYK, and use various color libraries.
9. Identify color theory, and prepare files for various prepress specifications (Separations: Process color, spot color and trapping, etc.).
10. Use networking and servers.
11. Use various filter and plug-ins to enhance projects.
12. Connect to a (file sharing) network to transfer and save files.
13. Change application defaults that affect documents created in a computer application.
14. Navigate through an electronic document.

Outcome 2: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to identify problems, approach them systematically, and explore viable solutions.

Objectives:

1. Trace templates or scanned drawing files in order to create vector based digital illustrations.
2. Import files from various graphic and drawing applications or library storage disks into page layout applications.
3. Output files to various peripheral devices, laser printers and color printers.
4. Save files in the proper file formats (for image setters or internet).
5. Prepare files for output to Image setters and Service Bureaus.
6. Manipulate graphics to conform to a given layout.
7. Place and modify graphic images in the document.
8. Use the tools needed to create and modify graphic images in an electronic document.
9. Select various type styles and sizes to conform to specific job specifications.
10. Apply various type or character attributes to manuscript copy (text).
11. Use the printers system of measure.
12. Scan black and white, grayscale or halftone and color images.
13. Convert colors from RGB to CMYK, and use various color libraries.
14. Identify color theory, and prepare files for various prepress specifications (Separations: Process color, spot color and trapping, etc.).
15. Use networking and servers.
16. Use various filter and plug-ins to enhance projects.
17. Connect to a (file sharing) network to transfer and save files.
18. Change application defaults that affect documents created in a computer application.
19. Navigate through an electronic document.

Outcome 3: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to import and export various text and graphics formatted in several different file formats.

Objectives:

1. Import files from various graphic and drawing applications or library storage disks into page layout applications.
2. Manipulate graphics to conform to a given layout.
3. Place and modify graphic images in the document.
4. Use the tools needed to create and modify graphic images in an electronic document.
5. Select various type styles and sizes to conform to specific job specifications.
6. Apply various type or character attributes to manuscript copy (text).
7. Use various filter and plug-ins to enhance projects.
8. Navigate through an electronic document.

Outcome 4: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to create various text and graphics using Bezier Path attributes.

Objectives:

1. Trace templates or scanned drawing files in order to create vector based digital illustrations.
2. Manipulate graphics to conform to a given layout.
3. Use the tools needed to create and modify graphic images in an electronic document.
4. Select various type styles and sizes to conform to specific job specifications.
5. Apply various type or character attributes to manuscript copy (text).
6. Navigate through an electronic document.

Outcome 5: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to create vector-based files for proper output to a service bureau, internet application or media printer.

Objectives:

1. Save files in the proper file formats (for image setters or internet).
2. Prepare files for output to Image setters and Service Bureaus.
3. Place and modify graphic images in the document.
4. Use the tools needed to create and modify graphic images in an electronic document.
5. Select various type styles and sizes to conform to specific job specifications.
6. Use the printers system of measure.
7. Convert colors from RGB to CMYK, and use various color libraries.
8. Identify color theory, and prepare files for various prepress specifications (Separations: Process color, spot color and trapping, etc.).
9. Change application defaults that affect documents created in a computer application.
10. Navigate through an electronic document.

Outcome 6: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to work within a network environment.

Objectives:

1. Output files to various peripheral devices, laser printers and color printers.
2. Save files in the proper file formats (for image setters or internet).
3. Prepare files for output to Image setters and Service Bureaus.
4. Use networking and servers.
5. Connect to a (file sharing) network to transfer and save files.
6. Navigate through an electronic document.

Outcome 7: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to work with peripheral devices such as removable drives, printers, and scanners.

Objectives:

1. Import files from various graphic and drawing applications or library storage disks into page layout applications.
2. Output files to various peripheral devices, laser printers and color printers.
3. Use the printers system of measure.
4. Scan black and white, grayscale or halftone and color images.
5. Navigate through an electronic document.

• Communication: The graduate can communicate effectively for the intended purpose and audience.
• Critical Thinking: The graduate can make informed decisions after analyzing information or evidence related to the issue.
• Global Literacy: The graduate can analyze human behavior or experiences through cultural, social, political, or economic perspectives.
• Information Literacy: The graduate can responsibly use information gathered from a variety of formats in order to complete a task.
• Quantitative Reasoning: The graduate can apply quantitative methods or evidence to solve problems or make judgments.
• Scientific Literacy: The graduate can produce or interpret scientific information presented in a variety of formats.

1. INTRODUCTION
   1. MACA Department and Course Policy
   2. Assumptions about Current Proficiency
   3. What We’re Going to Learn
2. GETTING STARTED
   1. Naming Conventions
   2. Key Commands
   3. The CD-ROM and Initial Setup Considerations
3. THE ILLUSTRATOR WORKING ENVIRONMENT
   1. The Toolbox
   2. Toolbox Pop-up Menus
   3. The Menus
   4. The Palettes
4. THE ILLUSTRATOR WORKING ENVIRONMENT
   1. Creating a New Document
   2. Setting Up Your Document
   3. Preferences
   4. Saving Illustrator Documents
   5. Saving-As Illustrator EPS (Encapsulated PostScript)
   6. Opening Illustrator Files
5. GUIDES AND GRIDS
   1. Grids
   2. Guides
   3. Setting Ruler Zero Points
   4. Making Guides from Paths
6. VIEWING MODES
   1. Using Preview and Artwork Modes
   2. Preview Selection
   3. Views Maximize Drawing Efficiency
   4. Custom Views
7. ORGANIZING YOUR ART WITH LAYERS
   1. The Layer Concept
   2. Organizing the Elements
   3. The Layers Palette
   4. Basic Rules for Layers
   5. The Order of Layer Levels
   6. Changing Layer Levels
   7. Reassigning Objects to Other Layers
   8. The Layers Palette Menu
   9. Layer Options
8. TEMPLATES
   1. The Making of a Template
   2. Autotracing a Template Image
9. DRAWING PRIMITIVE SHAPES
   1. The Ellipse Tool
   2. The Rectangle Tool
   3. Other Tools
10. CREATING PATHS
    1. The Pen Tool
    2. Drawing Straight Lines
    3. Anchor Points & Segments
    4. Open and Closed Paths
    5. Drawing Curves
    6. The Many Shapes of a Curve
    7. The Smooth Point
    8. The Corner Point
    9. Combining Straight Lines with Curves
    10. The Pencil and Paintbrush Tools
11. MODIFYING PATHS
    1. Anchor Points and Segments
    2. The Path Editing Tools
    3. Connecting Anchor Points
    4. The Slice Tool
12. CREATING AND EDITING TYPE
    1. Selecting text
    2. Typographic Basics
    3. Font
    4. Size
    5. Leading
    6. Tracking
    7. Kerning
    8. Scaling Type
    9. Baseline shift
    10. Paragraph
    11. Text Effects
13. PAINTING OBJECTS
    1. Stroking and Filling a Path
    2. The Swatches Palette
    3. The Paint Bucket and Eyedropper Tools
    4. Importing Colors, Styles
14. COLOR BASICS
    1. Color Output
    2. Color Definitions
    3. The Color Palette
15. USING GRADIENTS
    1. Creating Custom Gradients
    2. Changing Angles and Directions of Gradients
    3. Making Gradients
16. TRANSFORMATION TOOLS
    1. Transformational Basics
    2. Manual Transforming
    3. Reflect
    4. Scale
    5. Rotate
    6. Transform Again
    7. Shear
17. WORKING WITH PLACED IMAGES
    1. Graphic Formats
    2. Linking Placed Images
    3. Identifying Placed Images
    4. Photographic EPS Images
    5. Include Placed Files?
18. MANIPULATING OBJECTS
    1. Locking
    2. Hiding
    3. Grouping
    4. Working With Front/Back
    5. Arranging Objects
    6. Precision Alignment Techniques
    7. The Info Palette
    8. The Transform Palette