NSCC Kenji Tachibana - Computer Art

Computer Art 210

DIGITAL ART

ART 210

M & W 1:00 to 3:50 and/or T&Th 7:00 to 10:00

Room #: IB 3404

Instructor: Kenji Tachibana

Office & hours:IB#2406 -- by appt. only

phone: 527-3766

email: Kenji Tachibana - kenji@tidecomm.com

Class URL: Kenji Tachibana's Tidemark Communications website

Required Text
A text is not required, but I’ll suggest references that may be useful throughout the course and beyond which you may, or may not, want to purchase.

Required Materials

1. One Mac or PC formatted 100 or 250 MB Zip disk, CD, or a 256 MB portable USB storage device ($50 at Costco).

2. Computer access card

Introduction & Objectives
I’m purposely calling this course digital art rather than computer art to reflect the fact that your digits (i.e. your fingers), not to mention your eyes and brain, are the primary artistic tools you utilize to produce your art. The computer is an almost infinitely flexible tool. With it, you can render aesthetically compelling artwork in many forms and in many ways. We will briefly look into some of those possibilities in this class.

However, first and foremost must be to establish some basic working skills with 2 key power-house applications from Adobe, which are Illustrator (version 10) and Photoshop (version 7). Along with learning to become computer literate with the applications, you will need to ground yourself with primary art concept such as color, composition, form, line, scale, and perspective, etc.

You bring the unique creative potential to harness the tool and apply the art concept to your individual class assignments. The tool and applications are powerful but, what you do with it can be devastatingly dull or gloriously gorgeous.

We all have our strength and weaknesses you’ll see mine and I’ll see yours. Tip-toe on your strength to reach higher and don’t let your weakness get in the way. It is very important to know your own strength and weaknesses. If you know your weakness, you can avoid the pot-holes on the road to creativity. Also don’t under estimate the creative potential from your so-called weak side. Accidental discoveries tend to take an artist far beyond their own limited creative abilities.

One you are introduced to new tools and technique, jump on it like a creative kitten. Bat it around and see what it does play with it! I will teach you computer techniques to help you play safely. A condom against disasters…

Attendance
Each class will build on the knowledge and skills gained from the previous class. This makes perfect attendance and on-time arrival a critical requirement for getting the most out of this class.

As for the school rules, you are allowed a maximum of 3 unexcused absences. Beyond that, your grade will drop _ letter grade for each absence. Being on time is equally important since the instruction start when class starts. If you are over 5 minutes late, you will be marked absent for that class. You are responsible for finding-out from fellow classmates what you missed and making sure you keep-up with instructions and assignments.

Grades
Aside from attendance and class participation, your performance will be evaluated by your ability to successfully complete a series of assigned tasks on-time. You must complete all the assignments. Take a professional attitude and pretend that I am your client. Please avoid offering even creative excuses excuses offer a guaranteed road to failure.

Course Outline

A generalized scheme, and not necessarily in the order given. Topics include, but are not limited to:

1. Beginner’s introduction to computing.

What is a computer to creating your own files.

Demystify computer speak such as Edit>Copy.

Learn about file management - its concept, practice, and use.

Learn about the Menu - universal and application specific.

Learn about and start using “safe computing” procedures from backup, undo, to the systematic approach.

2. Introduction to supporting skills.

Create and work in teams.

Write and present class assignments

Learn about the scanner, scanning, settings, and making scans.

Learn about Resolution - dependent and independent.

Brief intro to using Microsoft Word as necessary.

3. Beginner’s introduction to Adobe Illustrator 10.
     Line (path/stroke) line character and beauty.
    Bezier curve curve manipulation.
    Line editing and control (add, subtract, and multiply).
    Power “line & fill” editing tools.
    Power tracing and transparency control.
    Blending and blending to path with layering control.
     Type, typography, and layout design.
     Logo and identity design.
     And more…

4. Beginner’s introduction to Adobe Photoshop 7.
    Cool new stuff
            a. Healing Brush amazing results.
            b. Patch Tool wonderful tool.
            c. File Browser very useful to photographers.
            d. Tools Preset useful in production environments.
            e. Brush Palette improved for increased performance.
    Photoshop Basics
            a. Layers amazingly powerful multifaceted layout tool… and more.
            b. Selection fully adjustable dynamic tool.
            c. Filters amazing automated effect with expandable potential.
            d. Brush works wonders with advanced feature sets.
            e. Type resolution independent vector-based scalable type.

email: Kenji Tachibana - kenji@tidecomm.com
website: Kenji Tachibana's Tidemark Communications
phone: office 206-526-0062

NORTH SEATTLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE - 9600 COLLEGE WAY N., SEATTLE, WA 98125
ART DEPARTMENT (206) 528-4535 email - echriste@sccd.ctc.edu