Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Students should be able to:

• Create professional design solutions requiring the use of multiple programs 
• Analyze project specifications to determine optimal software selection aligning with current industry standards 
• Successfully prepare digital elements to seamlessly integrate with multiple programs used in the field 

Projects will be the major criteria for evaluation. Emphasis will be placed on creativity, presentations, meeting assigned deadlines, and participation in critiques. Additional methods of assessment may include quizzes, exercises, assignments, and attendance.
 

Themes, Issues and Concepts:

Themes:

• Design industry standards

• Foundation design principles applied in a digital environment

Issues:

• RGB vs. CMYK (understanding color spaces)

• Concepts and practices for color correction of images

• Appropriate application for a designated task

• Use of correct resolution of images for destination

• Use of correct export formats for destination

• Self-directed trouble-shooting strategies

Concepts:

• File management

Skills:   

At the completion of this course students should be able to:

• Identify the strengths and appropriate uses of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat

• Save graphic elements in appropriate export formats

• Import files into various applications

• Combine techniques from multiple applications

• Create clipping paths in Photoshop for use in Adobe InDesign

• Save InDesign pages as .eps for use in Adobe Photoshop

• Save drawings in Illustrator for use in Adobe InDesign or Adobe  Photoshop

• Create PDFs in Adobe applications

• Create Interactive files in Adobe applications

• Organize and plan for a web site

• Correctly scan and create images based on final output device and application

• Design and produce digital documents using multiple applications

• Prepare files for successful output

• Demonstrate professional copyright ethics