This is a master list of the 10 "Assignments" and final Web page project for COMS 226, Spring 2011, with Dr. Bob Stepno. It is based on the original assignments, tutorials and simulations by Sam Jennings and the modified assignment sheets posted at Dr. Stepno's COMS226 page.
Assignment checklist
- Crop and straighten tools: Demonstrate use of these tools in Photoshop CS5 using a group of provided images, then use the same tools to make adjustments on images of your own. ("Part 2" of the assignment sheet says to be prepared with 20 images of your own, but the number is not as important as demonstrating that you have learned to use the tools.) Display your best finished images on one or more Web pages.
- Selection and Text tools: Practice using the lasso, wand and related selection tools to create collages from multiple images. Add text to the images to identify the tools you have used. For example, "For this image I used the Quick Selection, Magnetic Lasso, Eraser and Text tools." Display your best finished images on one or more Web pages.
- Restoration tools: Fixing faces and cars using the various healing brushes. Improve images of your own using those tools plus the dodge and burn tools. Display your best finished images on one or more Web pages. Add text to the Web pages saying which tools were used.
- Use Dreamweaver layouts to make a COMS226 about.html page and assignment pages showing your best work so far. Include clear descriptions of which exercise is which, and which Photoshop tools were used.
- Create transparent-background GIF images and incorporate them, Dreamweaver rollover effects and Photoshop exposure adjustments in an assignment page.
- Part 1. Create a Photoshop sliced-image map using eastern U.S. map and Photoshop "slicing" technique. Part 2. Create a "website navigation" image map with Photoshop, then add a menu and style elements with Dreamweaver.
- Sam's site repeats Assignment 6. INSTEAD -- Following Bob's instructions in class, repeat one or both parts of Assignment 6 using Dreamweaver image-map feature. Use either Sam's states-map or an image of your own design, as long as it has at least four links.
- Create six to 10 banners using images and text. (Bob's changes: See April Shower Memo... Create ANY Web-publishable informational images -- advertising banners, nameplates, logos, etc. Read the April memo linked pages about current Web ad attitudes, and use the industry-standard shapes and measurements.)
- Use Flash to create an animated banner. (GIF and .SWF animation)
- Create a fictitious magazine cover layout.
Final project: By the end of the scheduled final exam time, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, May 2, polish your "best work on each assignment" demo pages and add "reflection" essays as described below. (INCLUDES final adjustments after discussion with Sam Jennings April 18)
Turn your about.html page into the main page for your course work Web site by renaming it "index.html" so that it is visible automatically at http://www.radford.edu/yourname/coms226.
Using Photoshop and Dreamweaver link to all of your pages using a text-navigation menu OR an image-map menu. This main page should:
Link to your best work from all 10 assignments, including samples that used your own images, not just those provided in the tutorials. Your Web site may include one, two or three Web pages per assignment, depending on whether you used rollover effects (assignment 5) to combine images, how much space you used to identify the tools used, etc. The simplest menu would be a list of the bold terms on this page, linked to your pages with those exercises.
Link to three "reflection" essays
- one Web page reflection (3-5 paragraphs) on the history of photography readings - Use the course reading assignments -PBS website and Bob's notes
- one Web page reflection (3-5 paragraphs) on visual communication issues you have read about, including Photoshop One-on-One text, Bob's April links on graphical banners, the "extra credit" links on the digital imaging jargon page, and this general discussion of Visual Design for the Web.
- one Web page reflection (3-5 paragraphs) on the tools, techniques, and processes you have used throughout the semester. For example, which do you feel can be most useful, which do you feel most competent using, which do you want to learn more about, and what sources on the Web look most useful in continuing your "digital imaging" education? Include a list of at least five Web links to relevant sites. If your general Web use hasn't led you to any, explore more of the links on the April Shower page or skim through this list and identify ones that look most useful to you.
(Note: "Paragraphs" on Web pages should be short, so "3-5 paragraphs" means about 8-16 well-formed sentences.)
Grading Guide: "D" completed more than half of the exercises, using provided images, with sufficient Web presentation to display the work; "C" completed all but one or two exercises using provided images, basic final navigation page and reflections; "B" completed all exercises, including examples with original content on most of them and thoughtful reflection pages; "A" original content for all exercises, extra effort at design, and reflection pages.