Thursday, 9/27/12

Here's a helpful tip for you, especially when you're going back and forth from browser to Photoshop to iTunes, etc:
Command Tab will allow you to quickly switch between applications. 
You're welcome!  :)

 

Graphic Design:  Ketchup day (postcard judging will be Monday)

Adv. Graphic Design:  Ketchup day

Digital Media: Ketchup day

Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, 9/26/12

Seniors:
Are you a senior with an aid period?  I am looking for a student aid.  Your work would be sporadic, and any time you need to study or finish school work, you do that before my jobs.  And...you get candy and gifts throughout the year!   Please let me know if you want the job!


Graphic Design:  Finish postcard
Upload to blog, and email me the url to the image (directions below) if you would like to enter your finished design in the Postcard Contest.

• How to find your image's url:  
• After you publish your post, click "view blog."
• Right click on the image and click "copy image address" or "copy link location" or "copy image url" depending on your browser.
• Open your email program (everyone at least has gmail if not some other email program).  
• Create a new email and in the body of the email, right click and paste (or go to the "edit" menu, then click "paste.")
• Send email to lmiller@nbisd.org

Adv. Graphic Design:  Cont. with assignments

Digital Media: Cont. working on App Research

Tuesday, 9/25/12

Graphic Design:  Postcard Assignment

Before starting this assigment, please make sure you have done the following:

1. Make sure you link your blog to my blog using the white laptop on the student aide's desk.  Instructions are next to the laptop.  This will count as a grade.
2. Edit your photo card and your potato head so that they are "extra large" images.  From now on, please make sure your images are all extra large.
3. Turn in your potato head assignment for 10 points off (per day); [please see me if there were extenuating circumstances]

Postcard Contest
The following assignment will be our first Photoshop 1 contest.  Students will submit their postcard, and the winner will be voted on by all the classes.  The designs that receive the most votes will be awarded a prize, and will be showcased on my blog.

This assignment will require you to have 6 horizontal pictures all of the same subject.  The finished design will look similar to this:

Here are the tutorials:  Filmstrip 1, Filmstrip 2

Adv. Graphic Design: 

Note:  The following will now be part of your grade:
Giving your post a title-name your artwork! (10 points)
Explaining what you did and how you did it (20 points)

Halloween Design:  create a design to go in a "Happy Halloween" message to the school via the announcements.  Designs will be put in a slideshow and set to scary music and at the end will say "Happy Halloween from the Advanced Photoshop Students" (or something like that).

Photoshop 1 students will vote on their favorite design.  Winner will receive a prize and top billing on my blog. 

Deadline is October 12, which should give you enough time to finish whatever you're doing now and still meet the deadline.  Please make sure your images are 300 dpi in case we decide to print them.

Need some inspiration?  Check these out (you will have to scroll down):
http://fab.com/sale/10886
http://fab.com/sale/10792 
I am sure you can find lots more at worth1000.com
Digital Media: Cont. working on App Research

Monday, 9/24/12

Graphic Design: Finish Mr. Potato Head
Catch up on any missing assignments

Want to work ahead?  This is what we'll be starting tomorrow:  Filmstrip 1, Filmstrip 2

Optional:  Want to review?
Re-watch this video:  Cut and Paste Heads
You will need these images.  Right click and choose "open link in new tab":
Wonder Woman                 Superman
OR use two images of your choice.

Adv. Graphic Design:  Cont. with assignments

Digital Media: App Research

1. Do a search on http://www.appexplorer.com for the best iPad app for flashcards.  
2. After you run the search, click the "education" category, and under "price" on the right of the page, click "free."
3. Using the template, list 5 apps that are not magazines or written for another country   
4. Download 3 free ones and test them out.
5. Continue with the review, using the form.  Make sure to take screenshots of the features of the app that you liked the most.

Friday, 9/21/12

Hey! Do you know how to resize the photos on your blog?  Simply click on the image after it's been uploaded to your page.  You'll see a little popup with different size options.

Graphic Design:

Begin Project:  Mr. Potato Head (two class periods)
Reminders about projects:  you are not allowed to ask the teacher questions.  However, you can use any other resource available--the web, the help menu, and especially, each other.
Video 1   Video 2   Starting Image

Adv. Graphic Design:  Cont. with assignments

Digital Media: Catch Up Day
Note:  When it comes to the deadlines on your Research assignments, I have not set any.  When you are finished with one, go to the next.  We are giving these reviews to other teachers.  Please make them good, quality reviews!

I will be sharing the grade sheet through Google Docs.  In the meantime, here is how you'll be graded.  I haven't graded any of them yet, so feel free to go back and make corrections. 

Format:

·      Follows the template (except the note taking and photo editing app reviews)

·      Photos are all one appropriate size

·      Written work has been copied and pasted into Microsoft Word for

o   Spell Check

o   Grammar Check

 Content:

·      Follows directions pertinent to subject (i.e. list 10 free blogs in this category)

·      At least 3 apps downloaded and tested

·      Pros and cons of each app tested

·      Explanation of why final app was chosen

·      Screenshots of final app

 

Thursday, 9/20/12

Graphic Design:  

 Finish Photo Card, then watch and follow along with:

• Blending Layers (use an image of your own)
• Opacity (use Layers.04 from your flowers folder, or right click and download here)
  (Upload the Opacity image, but not Blending Layers)

Adv. Graphic Design:  Continue with assignments


Digital Media: Research 

1. Do a search on http://www.appexplorer.com for the best iPad app for Marketing.  
2. After you run the search, click the "business" category, and under "price" on the right of the page, click "free."
3. Using the template from yesterday, list 10 apps that are not magazines or written for another country   
4. Download 3 free ones and test them out.
5. Continue with the review, using the form.  Make sure to take screenshots of the features of the app that you liked the most.

Wednesday, 9/19/12

Note:  Graphic Design (Photoshop 1), today will be phase 2 of grading.  Those of you who did not have your blogs graded, please have your blog open, but minimized, so you can bring it up quickly.  Then move on to the assignment.  I will come around and grade each blog individually.

 Graphic Design (Photoshop 1):  Photo Card  (1 1/2 class periods)

1. Find 5 large images (1 horizontal, 4 vertical) on a subject of your choice. Save them to your pictures folder.
2. Open Bridge and navigate to the folder.
3. Watch and follow along with Mr. Hawes to create a photo card.

Adv. Graphic Design (Photoshop 2):  The video tutorials folder has been updated.  Make sure to copy the videos to your computer.

Digital Media: Research:  finish yesterday's assignment

Tuesday, 9/18/12

Note:  Graphic Design, I will be grading today.  Please have your blog open, but minimized, so you can bring it up quickly.  Then move on to the assignment.  I will come around and grade each blog individually.

Graphic Design: Selections
Watch the following videos using an image of your own to follow along and try out the tool:

• MarqueeTool
• Lasso Tool
• Wand/ Quick Select

 After you've learned how to select from the videos, find a photo with two people in it and switch their heads by selecting, cutting (Edit- Cut) and pasting (Edit- Paste).  Save your finished image (note, this is a completion assignment, so it doesn't have to be perfect!) as a jpeg and upload it to a post called "Selecting."

Optional:  Here is a video showing you how:  Cut and Paste Heads
You will need these images.  Right click and choose "open link in new tab":
Wonder Woman                 Superman

Adv. Graphic Design: 

• By now, everyone should have at least one assignment uploaded to their blog.  (Note:  make sure you are adding a "title" in the "title" text box; this makes it easier to link to.) 
• Each time I check the blogs as a group, I will choose one or two posts that I particularly like.  This week I chose two, for their work as much as their descriptions of what they did:
• Thomas O's "My First Post"
• and
• Jacob G's "Raven"
• Make sure you pick up your prize!

Digital Media: Research
(First, go to the 
'settings" area of your blog and add me as an author so I can comment on your posts: lmiller@nbisd.org
then go to "Posts and comments" and make sure you have clicked "only members of this blog" next to "Who can comment?"

1. Do a search for iPad apps for entrepreneurs (small business owners)
2. List all the apps (Copy and paste the template below to use in your post.) that are not magazines or written for other countries  
3. Download 3 free ones and test them out.
4. On your blog, write which ones you downloaded, and which one you chose as the best and why.
5. Upload screenshots of the app on your iPad to go with your post.  Make sure to take shots of the features of the app that helped you decide it was the best.  (To take a screenshot of your iPad, briefly hold the power button and the home button at the same time.  The photo will appear in your Photos area.)

App Review Template

My Review of ______________ Apps

List the free apps available in this category (Note:  do not include magazines or apps written for other countries)

List and briefly define the three apps you decided to download:



List the pros and cons of each one:
1.

• Pros
• Con

2

• Pros
• Con

3

• Pros
• Con

Which app do you feel is the best?

Why?


Post screenshots here:

Monday, 9/17/12

Graphic Design:
Create a folder in your pictures folder called "flowers"
Download the images on this page to the folder
Open Bridge and navigate to the folder
Follow along with Mr. Hawes in the following videos:  Layers 1
Open the file called "Layers01" and follow along with this video: Layers 2
When you are finished, load the final image to your blog as "Flower Layers"

Adv. Graphic Design:  Cont. with assignments

Digital Media: Research (please email me your blog url)

1. Do a search in Safari for the best iPad app for note taking. 
2. Download 3 free ones and test them out.
3. On your blog, write which ones you downloaded, and which one you chose as the best and why.
4. Upload screenshots of the app on your iPad to go with your post.  Make sure you include the features of the app that helped you decide it was the best.  (To take a screenshot of your iPad, briefly hold the power button and the home button at the same time.  The photo will appear in your Photos area.)

 Anyone:  Practice your selecting and painting skills with these car coloring pages, formula one coloring pages, and cartoon cars coloring pages.

Friday, 9/14/12

Graphic Design (Photoshop 1):

1. Click this link and download the 4 images:  Wedding Pictures
2. Use the pictures while you watch this video to see how to go back and forth between Bridge and Photoshop:  BridgeSmart
3. Using this file, watch this video to see how to warp a photo: Warp Photos
4. On your own, find another photo and warp it.

 When you're finished, upload both warped images to your blog.

Adv. Graphic Design (Photoshop 2):  Copy the Adv PS Tutorials folder to your computer to have additional resources to work from.  To get there:

1. Click on desktop to access Finder
2. Cmd K
3. afp://172.16.120.94
4. Click "guest"
5. Teacher Public Folder

Digital Media:  Finish yesterday's assignment.  Make sure you include what the app actually does (i.e. crop, whiten teeth, etc.)

Thursday, 9/13/12

Graphic Design (Photoshop 1): 

1. Watch this video to see how to arrange your windows: Arranging windows
2. Using this file, watch this video to see how to work with layers:  Naming/Renaming Layers 
3. Using this file watch this video to see how to use "Content Aware Scale" with photos: Content Aware Scale (There are two photos in the file--one to do with the tutorial, one to do on your own.  Save each as a jpg when you are finished.)

 When you're finished, upload both content aware images to your blog.

Adv. Graphic Design (Photoshop 2): Make sure you are working on a project, please.  Many of you don't have anything on your blog yet.  Notice the new link on my page????

Digital Media: 

1. Plug your iPad in so that it keeps its charge.
2. On your iPad, go to Safari and download 20 photos (subject of your choice).
3. Do a search in Safari for the best iPad app for photo editing. 
4. Download 3 free ones and test them out, using your photos.
5. On your blog, write which ones you downloaded, and which one you chose as the best and why.
6. Upload an image you edited to go with your post.

Wednesday, 9/12/2012

Graphic Design (Photoshop 1):
When you are finished with the following assignments, save each file as a jpg
(go to File, click Save As, change from Photoshop to jpg)

1. This movie will show you how to rotate and scale your image.  Use this file during the assignment.
2. This movie will show you how to Straighten your image.  Use this photo during the assignment.
3. This movie will show you how the benefits of using Smart Object.  Use this file during the assignment.

Upload the Free Transform and the Straighten photos to your blog to a post called "Free Transform and Straighten."

Adv. Graphic Design (Photoshop 2):  When you upload your finished files, please include the "before," (if appropriate) and explain what you learned during the assignment.  (example)

Digital Media:  Open iPads

Tuesday, 9/11/12

Graphic Design (Photoshop 1):
When you are finished with the following assignment, save each file as a jpg
(go to File, click Save As, change from Photoshop to jpg) and upload your finished files to your blog.  Name the post "Cropping Photos."

1.  Watch this movie about opening and arranging files.
2.  Watch the three movies about cropping.  To get the photos, right click on the link and save the photo to your computer.
Crop 1 movie, Crop 1 photo
Crop 2 movie, Crop 2 photo
Crop 3 movie, Crop 3 photo

Adv. Graphic Design (Photoshop 2):  Make sure I have your blog link

Digital Media:  Correcting photo pages in Microsoft Word  (note: I have these on a flash drive)

Monday, 9/10/12

Photoshop 1: 

1. Make sure you have finished creating your blog, and that 
2. you have your first blog post that you created by following the video and that 
3. you have uploaded the Bridge assignment (the two photos I assigned to your class).

DIM:
Editing & printing using Microsoft Word

Friday, 9/7/12

Photoshop 1:

1. Watch and follow along with Create a Blog (the video links are under Photoshop 2)
2.  After you've created your first post, create another post titled "Bridge Assignment," and upload your two images.

Extra Credit:  If you like, you can work on additional photos in Camera Raw and upload those on the same post.

Photoshop 2:
Check out this list of video tutorials on lynda.com:
Deke's Techniques
Most of the videos are greyed out because they want you to subscribe, but the blue links are viewable, and there are some pretty good tutorials.  I'll also put this link on the Resources tab.

DIM:
You will use your blog as a place to keep track of what you do each day.  For now, use the white laptop to email yourself one of the photos you scanned.  Then at your own computer, create a post titled "Scanning Work" and upload that photo.

Thursday, 9/6/12

All:
Bring your flash drive* tomorrow to backup your files and be prepared to change seats.

(*You could also save your files to Dropbox or Google Docs if necessary.)

Photoshop 1:

1. Finish videos from yesterday (Bridge)
2. Bridge Assignment:  Go to this page and find the two photos you need for this assignment.  Download them to your pictures folder.
3. Using Bridge and Camera Raw, correct the photos.
4. Export the photos to a (new) folder named "Finished Assignments."
5. If you want, when you are finished, begin watching and following along with Create a Blog (the video links are under Photoshop 2)

 DIM:

1. Transfer yesterday's videos from your Movie folder to Mrs. Miller's flash drive;
2. Continue with scanning (15 minutes)
3. Watch and follow along with Create a Blog

Wednesday, 9/5/12

Photoshop 1: 

1. Watch videos:  Bridge 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
2. Follow along using Bridge Photos in place of the photos folder he uses.

Digital Media:  Firefox addons and Downloading videos:
1.  Go to "Tools," then "Addons" and watch the movie "Get Started with Addons"
2.  Then, do a search for Addons that will allow you to download movies
3.  In Google, do a search for the following subjects under the "Videos" tab (Under "More" at the top of the page).  Preview the videos to ensure they are worthwhile:

1. 2nd Period:  iBooks Author tutorials.  Get at least 3 videos.  Save them to your Movies folder.
2. 3rd Period:  iPad tutorials.  Get at least 3 videos.  Save them to your Movies folder.
3. 5th Period:  iTunes tutorials.  Get at least 3 videos.  Save them to your Movies folder.
4. 7th Period:  iPhoto tutorials.  Get at least 3 videos.  Save them to your Movies folder.

Tuesday, 9/4/12 :)

 

Feature Artist:  Every once in a while, I try to feature artists who use Photoshop to create their work.   Andrew Heath is one of those artists.  Heath uses clean lines and bright colors to create retro posters and other works of art.  Some of his work is intricate, but some of his work could definitely be completed by Photoshop 2 students, and by the end of the year, Photoshop 1 students.  Take a look at his webpage here:  Andrew Heath Design and Illustration.

Taking Grades:  Please be prepared to show your Custom Workspace.

Today's Assignments:

A.  Complete this form for Monday Mail emails.

B.  Watch the video called:  Low vs High Quality Images
(Remember, to watch videos, click on the Resources tab above, then click the link to the videos.)

C.  Create a folder on your desktop called "Bridge Photos."
Find and save 10 large images for each of these subjects:

1. Animals
2. Plants
3. Vehicles
4. People

Don't put them in Photoshop, just download them to the folder.  You will use these for later assignments.