COURSE: Photoshop for Emerging Artists

Gerard Santiago • December 9, 2015

Updated: May 16, 2021


Course Learning Outcomes:

 

  • Use Adobe Photoshop as a tool to produce your artistic output.
  • Demonstrate image adjustments, retouching, repair, and composite tasks.
  • Produce fine-quality images and prints.

 

Description of Context

  • Setting: Computer Lab
  • Required Equipment/Software: Computer/Laptop with Adobe Photoshop (CC/Classic) Access, Pointing Device (Mouse/Graphic Pen/Finger for touchscreen).
  • Optional Equipment/Software: Graphic Tablet, Printer, Peripheral Accessories (TourBox, Loupedeck, Monogram, etc.), plug-ins.
  • Students: Undergraduate/Graduate - Photography/ Non-Photography Major
  • # students in a class: 1- 10 Max
  • # of class meetings: 22 Meetings
  • Length of class meetings: 2 Hours 50 Minutes per meeting

 

Student Expectations

Explore your inner creativity and execute it using Adobe Photoshop to successfully produce fine-quality artistic outputs. Render your ideas by using the tools to translate them into images. Discard the cluttered workflow and organize it by following the proper hierarchy of layers and preserving the quality of your images. You will expect to see a lot of demonstrations and apply those unique approaches that will build your creative style. You are expected to do hands-on applications to achieve the course learning outcomes.

Final Project Descriptions

Produce 8 to 10 successfully cohesive images that will demonstrate your knowledge of Photoshop and will show your creative ideas and vision into exemplary artistic outputs. The images should be of the highest quality and will display your keen observation and attention to detail. It should imply a wide range of use of Photoshop tools, editing techniques, and adjustments to exhibit your understanding of the software and the course. Lastly, to produce fine-quality images for your portfolio that will show your skills and techniques to the industry.

Course Topics Breakdown

Meeting # Subject Title
 

  1. Overview of Photoshop (Photoshop In A Glace)
  2. The Interface, Tools, and Workstation
  3. Organization: Masterfile Workflow and Layer Hierarchy
  4. Blending Modes & Options
  5. Fine-Tune: Image Adjustments
  6. Basic Tool Selections
  7. Basic Image Repair and Retouching*
  8. Image Transformation and Multi-Images Processing
  9. Concealers: Masking and Advanced Selections
  10. Isolation: Local Adjustments
  11. Midpoint Exam (Theoretical/Application)
  12. Special Effects and Filters
  13. The Art of Black and White
  14. Text and Typography
  15. Shapes and Graphics
  16. Illustration and Digital Painting
  17. Multimedia Integration
  18. Specials: Action Script and Plug-Ins
  19. Color Management and Output Technicalities
  20. Looking and Creating Fine Quality Prints*
  21. Final Exam (Theoretical/Application)
  22. The Final Presentation

 

* Sample Lesson Plan provided (refer to another module - Category: Lesson Plan) 

Exam - Theoretical and application evaluations based on the covered curriculum and student's performance. 

NOTE:

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GERARD SANTIAGO

Author

Gerard Santiago is an image maker and artistic visionary. On the other hand, he is also an avid wanderer, heavy eater, and a die-hard workaholic.

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