CSC/FAR 020, Computer Graphics, December 1-11, 2010

Dr. Dale E. Parsonhttp://faculty.kutztown.edu/parson

Final Image Assignment 8Due in my Inbox

11:59 PM Saturday December 11

Final Assignment # 8 Schedule

• We have had a total of 8 Image Composition projects this semester with no exams. The final course grade will be the mean (average) of these 8 project grades at 10% each + 4 ungraded mandatory class activities at 5% each. The 4th class activity will be a mandatory working session on the final project on December 6.

• We will not meet final exam week.• Our last week on December 6 & 8 will be working

sessions for the final project. Please come prepared to work on this project, which is due on the 11th.

Final Project Overview

• The design of the final composition is up to you.

• My only fixed requirement is that you must use both PhotoShop and Illustrator in the final assignment.

• Your use of these tools and the overall goal for the composition are your decisions. The next pages give alternative scenarios.

Final Illustrator Topics

• The final Illustrator topics covered in class include Trace, Expansion of Trace to Paths, Conversion of Trace to Live Paint, use of Live Paint and Live Color, Swatches, and back-porting results of Trace to PhotoShop.

• You are not specifically required to use these techniques, but if you are at a loss for ideas, you can use this final project to exercise them.

Project Outlines

• The following pages outline possible project Scenarios.

• You can following one of these scenarios or you can design a project scenario of your own.

• Your scenario can be entirely original, or it can be a hybrid of these scenarios.

• The goal is to create a visually satisfying and/or interesting and/or provocative image using appropriate mechanisms from both tools.

Scenario 1 Outline

• Capture a photographic image.• Repair damage, enhance imagery, and/or

compose visual elements in PhotoShop.• Place the image into an Illustrator layer.• Add illustration objects such as Type,

Geometric objects, Live Paint, etc. Add effects via the Effect menu.

• Save As AI, optionally export to Photoshop.

Scenario 2 Outline

• Capture a photographic image.• Repair damage, enhance imagery, and/or

compose visual elements in PhotoShop.• Convert a selection to a Path in PhotoShop,

copy & paste the Path into Illustrator.• Treating the Path as an abstract composition /

line drawing in Illustrator, add enhancements as in the previous scenario.

Scenario 3 Outline

• Capture a photographic image.• Repair damage, enhance imagery, and/or

compose visual elements in PhotoShop.• Place the image into an Illustrator layer.• Apply Trace to the raster image, and then

process further after Expand or Live Paint.• Save As AI, optionally export to Photoshop.

Scenario 4 Outline

• Capture a line drawing, geometric art or symbol-based composition in Illustrator. There is no photograph.

• Apply additional Illustrator Effects, Live Paint, etc.

• Export to PhotoShop.• Use PhotoShop as a post processor to add raster

effects, Adjustment Layers, Smart Filters, etc.

General Scenario Guidelines

• Your can use one tool to prepare a composition, the other tool to add additional visual elements not supported by the first tool, and then back to the first for final edits.

• A one-way scenario from PhotoShop to Illustrator or Illustrator to PhotoShop is fine.

• The goal is to apply capabilities unique in each tool to a coherent composition.

• Sometimes one stumbles into good design ideas.

Illustrator Orientation

• Illustrator is good for abstracting away from photorealism – cartoons, posters, extraction of line art via Trace and Expand.

• Have some compositional ideas in mind before becoming mired in tool features, but . . .

• Be open to lucky accidents (serendipity).• Use the project and tools to explore ideas before

converging prematurely on a goal.• The goal is not just to “get it done!”

Grading Criteria

• The composition trumps all. I have given extra points for focused and well executed compositions. However, aesthetics are subjective, and so, if the composition does not knock me over, then . . .

• Hard work trumps everything else. It shows.• Significant use of tool features is next.

• Especially Illustrator features and cross-tool symmetries such as Path extraction in PhotoShop or Trace in AI.

Tool Mechanisms to Consider

• PhotoShop: Multi-Layer Composites, Image Adjustments, Adjustment Layers, Filters, Smart Filter Layers, Layer Blending Mode, Layers Masks, Vector Masks, Gradients, Paths, Type.

• Illustrator: Strokes and Fill, Multi-Layer Composites, Geometric Objects, Line Drawings, Object Groups, Symbols, Gradients, Live Paint, Live Color, Raster Image Tracing.

• Moving images back and forth between tools.

Have a Good Winter Break

• CSC/FAR 020 has been an attempt to balance mechanisms of the medium, in this case digital imaging tools, with the desire to create compositions.

• Students have done a lot of good work in this course. I enjoyed working with you.

• Enjoy your break!