In this course students learn the basics of Adobe Photoshop on a Mac platform and create art and design projects based on the Elements and Principles of Design, (the evaluating criteria for artists and designers). Projects investigate twentieth century artists, art movements, designers, logo creation and personal expression.

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

• What is digital media?
• How can you use the elements of art and principles of design to create and evaluate design?
• How has digital technology affected how we create and present art?
• How does an artist’s life experience shape their artwork?
• How do the arts of the past continue to influence us today?
• How can viewing or creating art impact your understanding of the world around you?

FOCUS QUESTIONS

• What is digital media; and where do we see it and what is its application?
• How do different approaches in software; vector vs. raster affect digital print work?
• How do we use a Mac and Photoshop to obtain, save and create digital images?

CONTENT OBJECTIVES

DEVELOPING AN UNDERSTANDING The student will . . .

• examine the Macintosh interface and compare it to a PC.
• analyze the difference between vector and raster images.
• demonstrate a way to obtain and save digital images.
• analyze and use the Photoshop toolbar interface and shortcuts.

DEVELOPING AN INTERPRETATION The student will . . .

Lesson Option 1 - Introduction to Digital Media and Photoshop

• discuss and define what digital media is; where and how you get images and Photoshop’s role in digital media.
• discuss file formats and their purpose in the digital world.
• discuss what color ways are in the digital world and their purpose.

Objectives

• students will learn the various media that digital images are incorporated into; where and how you obtain digital images.
• students will learn what file formats are and their purpose.
• students will learn what role color plays in the digital world.

Lesson Option 2 - Navigating a Mac

• explore the Mac interface.
• launch and explore the doc icons.

Objectives

• students will grasp an overview of the Mac interface and icons within the doc.
• students will learn to navigate and utilize the doc.

Lesson Option 3 - Digital Images

• search for x-large images using Safari on the web.
• copy and paste an image into a Photoshop document.
• zoom in to see the pixels of a raster image, zoom into a vector image.
• name and save the image.

Objectives

• learn the difference between a vector image and a raster image; understand the application of each format.
• understand what resolution is and how important it is in digital images.
• learn to search for x-large images on the web.
• learn to name and save an image on the computer.

Lesson Option 4 - Photoshop Interface

• examine the Photoshop new doc. dialog box.
• examine the Photoshop interface.
• create a .psd (Photoshop document).
• use the tools in the tool bar.

Objectives

• learn the dialog box options within Photoshop.
• learn the tools within the tool bar.
• learn where the options bar is and how it changes with the tool assigned.
• learn what the pallets are and their function.

Lesson Option 5 - Navigating, Storing on a USB Drive & Shortcuts

• insert their USB drive, name the drive.
• open a saved document, then save it to their USB drive, close the drive safely.
• examine and use the shortcuts within Photoshop.

Objectives

• learn proper procedure for using a USB drive.
• learn the Photoshop shortcuts and the advantages of using them in Photoshop.

FOCUS QUESTIONS

• How do you use the elements of art and apply the principles of design to evaluate a composition?
• How has color, value and shape inspired artists and played a major role in art movements throughout history?
• Why do some artists work in three dimensions instead of two?

CONTENT OBJECTIVES

DEVELOPING AN UNDERSTANDING The student will . . .

• examine the elements of art and principles of design.
• demonstrate their knowledge of these concepts in Photoshop designs.
• apply techniques within Photoshop.
• analyze art movements and artists that were related to these concepts.

DEVELOPING AN INTERPRETATION The student will . . .

Lesson Option 1 - Preloaded Shapes/Repeat Design - Complimentary Colors/ Layer Basics

• use preloaded shapes in Photoshop with a complimentary color set to create a balanced design; save and print.

Objectives

• analyze and apply the elements of art and principles of design to create a successful design.
• learn how complimentary colors, and what saturation and brightness do to create impact in design.
• learn how to apply and edit (copy, resize and move) the custom vector shapes in Photoshop.
• learn to minimize file space, save and expedite the printing process in Photoshop.

Lesson Option 2 - Straight Lines, Geometric Shapes, Primary Colors - Da Stijl Movement

• create a geometric design inspired by Piet Mondrian and the Da Stijl movement.
• use straight lines and geometric shapes with a primary color pallet in Photoshop to create a balanced design.

Objectives

• learn how the Da Stijl art movement and artist Piet Mondrian effectively used geometric shapes and primary colors.
• learn how to apply straight lines, primary color and geometric shapes in Photoshop to design with.
• apply the elements of art and principles of design to create a successful geometric design.

Lesson Option 3 - Filters and Movement - Bridget Riley/Op Art

• create a design in Photoshop using geometric shapes, vibrant, contrasting colors and filters that emphasize optical movement or illusion inspired by Bridget Riley’s art and the Op Art movement.

Objectives

• examine the Op Art movement and how the artist Bridget Riley used geometric shapes, vibrant contrasting colors, to create the feeling of optical illusions and movement.
• learn how to use geometric shapes, contrasting colors and filters in Photoshop to create an Op Art digital design demonstrating optical illusion with a feeling of movement.

Lesson Option 4 - Pattern/Texture/Opacity/Dimension - Abstract Art

• create an abstract design in Photoshop using geometric shapes, emphasizing patterns, textures, opacity and dimension.

Objectives

• how to use patterns, textures and alter opacity with geometric shapes to create an abstract composition.
• learn how to add or subtract from shapes.
• learn how to add dimension with drop shadows to shapes.
• apply the principles of design to create a successful composition.

Lesson Option 5 - Drawing Organic Shapes/the Pen Tool - Matisse/Fauvist Movement

• create a design by drawing brightly colored organic shapes, inspired by Henri Matisse with the freeform pen tool.

Objectives

• learn how color was a major influence in Henri Matisse’s work and the Fauvist art movement.
• learn the definition of organic shapes vs. geometric shapes.
• learn the use of the pen tool, and the freeform pen tool to draw organic shapes in Photoshop.
• apply learned knowledge of elements of art and principles of design.

Lesson Option 6 - Contemporary Bas-Relief - Frank Stella

• create a 3-D bas-relief from a previously created design by extending the shapes off the edges of the bottom copy; backing them with foam core to add dimension.

Objectives

• observe historical and contemporary bas-relief. Investigate and be inspired by Frank Stella’s contemporary bas-relief work.
• create a bas-relief of any previously made design, extending edges off the backing and adding dimension.
• learn to safely cut foam core and use adhesive for bas-relief.
• learn to prepare artwork for presentation.
• apply learned knowledge of Elements of Art and Principle of Design, discuss in critique.

FOCUS QUESTIONS

• What to we look for a successful portrait; how does color impact it?
• How do we define landscapes real and imagined?
• How can you influence the way a viewer interprets an image?

CONTENT OBJECTIVES

DEVELOPING AN UNDERSTANDING The student will . . .

• apply the color editing tools and sharpening tool to adjust color and clarity.
• demonstrate resizing a photo and changing resolution.
• analyze the art movements impressionism, dada, cubism and surrealism.
• analyze and apply filters to photographs.
• demonstrate and apply selection techniques within Photoshop.
• demonstrate creative photomontage techniques.

DEVELOPING AN INTERPRETATION The student will . . .

Lesson Option 1 - Color to Black and White Portraits

• shoot an expressive portrait in color; use image adjustment tools in Photoshop; turn the color photo into a dynamic black and white; save and print both.

Objectives

• observe the qualities of a good portrait background expression, lighting and mood.
• learn to resize, change resolution, and color adjust in Photoshop.
• learn to crop and clone unwanted elements in a photo.
• learn to turn a color photo into a dynamic black and white.

Lesson Option 2 - Filters and the Impressionist Landscape

• shoot a successful landscape and perfect the image in Photoshop and save.
• alter the landscape to create an impressionistic landscape by changing the color and using filters in Photoshop; print realistic and impressionistic landscape.

Objectives

• observe the qualities of a successful landscape foreground, middle ground and background.
• investigate Impressionist landscape and the influence of color and light in their work.
• shoot a landscape, image adjust it to perfect the image.
• change the color and use filter to create an Impressionistic feel.
• save and print realistic and impressionistic landscape.

Lesson Option 3 - Marquee Selection and Cubism

• create a cubist interpretation with the marquee selection tool on a previously shot image; print and submit.

Objectives

• observe cubist’s artwork both traditional and contemporary and comprehend theories behind the movement.
• investigate selection tools apply marquee selection tool to create rectangular selections.
• create cubist composition by moving selections to alter perspective.
• apply Principles of Design to completed composition.

Lesson Option 4 - Selection Tools and Dada Photomontage

• create a Dada montage by photographing two objects and using Photoshop techniques to combine the two objects to create a Dada creation.

Objectives

• observe Dada artwork and comprehend theories behind the movement.
• learn skills to shoot object for ease in Photoshop selections.
• learn to apply appropriate selection tools to objects to create to create a Dada photomontage object.
• present digital Dada image to class for critique.

Lesson Option 5 - Surrealism Photomontage

• create a Surrealism Photomontage by shooting a background or scanning a previously shot background and adding three photographed objects that are inspired by Surrealist concepts.

Objectives

• observe Surrealist artwork and comprehend how Surrealist theories can be a source of inspiration for artists.
• shoot images then photomontage onto a shot or scanned background to create a Surrealist composition.
• use Photoshop skills to integrate images.
• write a 1-2 page interpretation of Surrealist Photomontage.
• present digital Photomontage to class.

FOCUS QUESTIONS

• What relationship does text have in design?
• What influence does the graphic designer have in promotion?
• How do the elements of art and principles of design come into play in commercial advertising?

CONTENT OBJECTIVES

DEVELOPING AN UNDERSTANDING The student will . . .

• apply the knowledge of the text pallet within Photoshop.
• demonstrate techniques manipulating text.
• analyze advertising and promotion.
• demonstrate and apply knowledge to create promotion using text.
• demonstrate creative promotion of object or event with text and Photoshop.

DEVELOPING AN INTERPRETATION The student will . . .

Lesson Option 1 - Photo Text Fill

• use a photo and word to create an interpretation of a Text Fill in Photoshop. (Photo will be inside text of word)

Objectives

• learn to use the various functions in the text pallet in Photoshop.
• shoot a photo and interpret a chosen word visually.
• learn to create a photo text fill that successfully interprets a word and image of their choice.
• participate in a critique.

Lesson Option 2 - Literal Word Composite

• create a composite of four images on a theme and interpret the images with a word added to the composition.

Objectives

• learn that text and images can persuade the viewer.
• learn more in-depth techniques with text in Photoshop.
• apply their compositional skills.

Lesson Option 3 - Advertising and Poster Design

• create a poster in Photoshop for promotional purposes within school after examining historical and contemporary poster design.

Objectives

• learn about historical and contemporary poster design and consider the ways that popular culture is recorded in advertising.
• learn that good design is timeless and that a graphic designer can visually influence an audience
• analyze and apply the principles of design.
• use all learned technical skills in Photoshop to create the poster.
• participate in a critique.

FOCUS QUESTIONS

• How are we inspired to create by looking at art we admire or intrigued by?
• How can you effectively communicate with a PowerPoint presentation?
• Why is it important to reflect on the investigative and creative process?

CONTENT OBJECTIVES

DEVELOPING AN UNDERSTANDING The student will . . .

• apply the knowledge of Photoshop skills to create an inspired artwork.
• demonstrate effective research strategies and citation ability.
• analyze and research an artist of choice.
• demonstrate and apply knowledge of successful presentation practices with Power Point.
• demonstrate creative problem solving and planning in approach to digital art project.

DEVELOPING AN INTERPRETATION The student will . . .

Lesson Option 1 - Art Research Project

• create a Photoshop digital artwork inspired by research of a student selected artist.
• present the research to the class in a PowerPoint presentation.
• print your PowerPoint slides and citation information.
• write a 1-2 page paper summarizing your research and reflect on how your digital art piece was inspired.

Objectives - The student will learn that . . .

• you can be inspired to create by examining an artist’s body of work and applying your Photoshop skills to the creative interpretive process.
• it is important to research from multiple sources and cite sources appropriately.
• your understanding of an artist’s life, ideas and inspiration the Five W’s (who, what, when, where, and why) can enhance your understanding of their artwork.
• understanding what makes a successful visual PowerPoint can create a dynamic presentation for others.
• you can print hard copies of PowerPoint slides six to a page.
• summarizing by writing and reflecting on the learning process is a vital step in education.