Graphics Design Course Outline -

Graphics Design

Lesson 1. Orientation

Syllabus Review – course content, resources and procedures.

Lesson 2. Intro to vector graphics and the design principles

Introduction to the four design principles
Recognizing the use of the design principles
Differences between vector-based graphics and pixel-based graphics
Intro to the Illustrator interface
Panels, tools and menus
Basic selections

Lesson 3. Typography and Illustrator text tools

Intro to typographic terms
Text tools in Illustrator
Stroking text
Outlining text

Lesson 4. Type categories, layers & art boards, brushes & patterns, converting bitmaps

Learning type categories
Using layers
Using art boards
Using 3rd party brushes and patterns

Lesson 5. Branding and corporate identity

Branding a concept or company
Why you should create your logos in Illustrator
Importing 3rd party brushes for use in Illustrator
Importing 3rd party patterns for use in Illustrator

Lesson 6. Intro to bitmap graphics

Introduction to creating bitmap-based graphics in Photoshop
Seeing the similarities and differences between the user interfaces in Photoshop and Illustrator
Learn the various color modes of bitmap files and their uses
Understanding bitmap file resolution and how it is important
Learn the differences in bitmap file formats and which one would be appropriate for your use
How the various selection tools work in Photoshop

Lesson 7. Cropping and resizing images, composing, using channels and layers

The crop tool and resizing images
saving existing selections into channels
using selections to create layer masks to edit your images in a non-destructive manner
make use of layers in Photoshop to compose multiple images.

Lesson 8. Advanced editing of selections, preparing images for various uses

Editing selections
Preparing images resolution and file formats for web delivery
Preparing images resolution and file formats for print delivery

Lesson 9. Retouching and repairing images

Learning the retouching tools in Photoshop

Lesson 10. Using blending modes, non-destructive adjustment layers

Editing selections
Using adjustment layers in your documents
Using layer styles and how to copy them between layers.

Lesson 11. Combining bitmap and vector elements

Understanding the differences between vector and bitmap-based images
Using Illustrator files in your Photoshop projects
Using smart objects.