Photo Editing Projects

This is the first unit I teach at the beginning of the quarter, and lasts approximately 3 weeks.  It gets the student’s interest immediately and gives them skills to use in all the other units.  Most of them are familiar with paint that they learn in their computer applications class.  In Multimedia, I use Corel Draw and Adobe software for image editing. 

 

Prior to beginning and also as the units progress, we talk about file size, type, etc.  It is important the students understand the different formats for image editing.  See explanation.

 

 

Corel Draw (we have an older version site license but it works fine) is used to teach vector graphics.  It has thousands of clipart and has many tools for manipulation of the graphics and creating your own.  The latest version is Graphics Suite X4.  I teach Corel Draw for the vector graphics so students learn the different from vector and photo images.  I hate pixelated graphics that have been stretched too much and then used in their projects, so vector graphics are taught early.  Corel Draw also has a photo-editing program with many tools similar to Adobe Photoshop, so it is a stepping stone.  It also has several tools that are not in the Adobe software, so they learn to use different software for different effects on the same photo. 

 

Corel Projects: 

·         Personalized notepads for teachers for Christmas presents.  These are printed in 3 packets of 50 sheets at our school print shop.  Click here to view example.

·         We also make signs and banners for the school for various activities using a rubric which has many of the tools/features/effects that they must include in creating the signs, and other documents.

 

 

Adobe Photoshop (any version is fine to use since this is the industry-standard software).  I begin with the basics of layout and design along with critical vocabulary and they teach the tools/features/applications.  Sources for tutorials are Adobe, Lynda.com, and there are many others that you can find through searching.  We purchased dvds from Lynda.com and really like them; they also have an on-line subscription service.

 

Adobe Projects:

·         Various photos to be edited to teach concepts, tools, effects.   Click here for sample assignments.

·         READ posters to be hung in the school (posters 24” x 36”)  (We purchased the license to use this logo from American Library Association  (ALA Graphics at: graphicsmarketing@ala.org) and used some of their designs the first year.  Now students must create their own backgrounds.  See example.

 

Adobe Image Ready (animations for webpage unit or powerpoints):  We use Image Ready and Morepheus to create animations to be used in later units.

 

·         Animations – I teach using simple stick figures, then go to more advanced artwork.

·         Web animation – Each student creates a logo or nameplate for their personal webpage (a later unit). Click here for examples done in Image Ready

·         Morphing (animation):  Students are required to use a digital camera to take pictures of each other and download.  (A requirement in my class worth 10 points each is to use the digital camera and download a picture and to use the scanner.)  Then in one of their projects, each student is required to do a morph of themselves.  Click here for information on the software we use.