CMPA 110 Advanced Survey of Computer Art Applications
This page has the most up-to-date version of the class schedule with notes and changes.
Please refer to this page for accurate and updated information.
When we have Critique classes, I expect everyone to be present and ready to go.

Class 2: Review of Homepage Exercise.
Exercise 1, Part 2: Vector Drawing / Gradients continued, Due before start of Class 3
Read: Adobe Illustrator Help – Drawing, Color,
ViewCS3: Using the Appearance panel and effects, Working with layers and groups,
ViewCS3: Creating point and area type, Creating type on a path, Working with the OpenType panel and Glyphs

Class 3:Week 2: Adobe Illustrator Vector Graphics and Advanced Tools.
Review of Exercise 1, Part 2.
Project 1: Vector Based Postage Stamp with Text, Due at start of Class 4.
Read: Adobe Illustrator Help – Painting, Selecting and arranging objects, Reshaping objects.
ViewCS3: Working with clipping masks and Pathfinder effects in Illustrator, Aligning and distributing objects
ViewCS3: Working with blending modes in Illustrator, Working with transparency in Illustrator

Class 4: Vector Graphics and Advanced Tools continued
Project 1 Due at start of Class, Critique 1
Read: Adobe Photoshop Help – Getting Started, Workspace, Opening and importing images.
ViewCS3: Making and refining selections

Class 5:: Week 3: Advanced Raster Graphics. Adobe Photoshop
Exercise 2: Transparencies with Alpha Channels and Raster Graphics. Due at start of Class 6
Read: Adobe Photoshop Help – Color, Making color and tonal adjustments.
ViewCS3: Using Layers, Using blending modes for photographers

Class 6:: Review of Exercise 2
Exercise 3: Special effects with filters and Raster Graphics. Due at start of class 7
Read: Adobe Photoshop Help – Retouching and transforming, Selecting, Layers.
ViewCS3: Making tonal corrections, Making lighting corrections

Class 7: Week 4: Advanced Adobe Photoshop Raster Image Manipulation
Project 2: Image Manipulation with Alpha channels. Dues at start of Class 8
Read: Adobe Photoshop Help – Painting, Drawing, Filters, Type, Saving and exporting images.
ViewCS3: Retouching and repairing photographs

Class 8: Project 2, Critique 2 at start of class. Use this critique to make improvements to Project 2 for Project 3
Project 3: Filter effects, layer styles and new adjustment layers. Due before the start of class 9
Read: Maya Help – Learning Resources, Getting Started with Maya, Overview and Basics
View: Autodesk Maya Essential Movie Skills, sections 1-7
In order to prepare for Project 4, please review the images in the Dropbox/Abstract_Reference folder, Start to gather your own reference material.

Class 9: Project 3 due in Dropbox before the start of class
Week 5: Maya 3D Modeling and Language. MAYA
Exercise 4 - 3D Modeling and Language Using Maya. Due at start of class 10
Read: Maya Help – Using Maya, General, Basics

Class 10: Review of Exercise 4
Exercise 5: Light and render the material created in exercise four. Due at start of class 11
Read: Maya Help – Using Maya, Modeling
This is the MIDTERM class, please clean out your dropbox area!

Class 11: Week 6: Creating Abstract Art with 3D Modeling Language
Review of Exercise 5
Project 4 - An abstract painting using the basic tools, primitives and lights of Maya, Due at start of class 13
Read: Maya Help – Rendering and Render Setup

Class 12: Creating Abstract Art with 3D Modeling Language continued
Read: Adobe After Effects Help – Getting Started, Workspace, Planning and managing projects.
ViewCS3: Creating and organizing projects, Creating and managing layers
Check Out the AfterEffects DVDs from the Cage

Class 13: Week 7: Project 4, Critique 3 at start of class.
Week 7: Introduction to Adobe After Effects after the project 4 critique
Exercise 6: Importing Images into Adobe After Effects, due at start of class 14
Read: Adobe After Effects Help – Importing, compositions, Views and previews.
ViewCS3: Importing Photoshop files into AfterEffects, Working with keyframes in the timeline
lots of tutorials can be found here: http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials.html

Class 14: Review of Exercise 6
Exercise 7 – Introduction to Basic Key frames in After Effects. Due at start of class 15
Read: Adobe After Effects Help – Layers and properties, Animation, Color, Masks.
ViewCS3: Painting and masking, About shape layers, Applying effects in AfterEffects

Class 15: Week 8: : Week 8: Introduction to Adobe After Effects and Animation
Project 5 - Create a breakdown/buildup of your Photoshop project with Adobe After Effects. Due before the start of class 16
Read: Adobe After Effects Help – Text, Drawing and painting, Effects and animation
ViewCS3: Rendering and exporting, Achieving consistent video color

Class 16: Adobe After Effects and Animation continued
Project 5, Critique 4 due at the start of class, we will add your m2v footage to a DVD
Read: Dreamweaver Help – Getting Started with Dreamweaver.
ViewCS3: Defining a site, Creating new pages, Getting started in Dreamweaver for GoLive users, Creating new pages,

Please make sure that all other assignment files are removed from your dropbox space before starting Exercise8/Project6.
Your Montgomery Hall Dropbox must be clean at the start of class 17.

Class 17: Week 9: Adobe (Macromedia) Dreamweaver and Web Page Design
Exercise 8 Defining a new site and inserting new media, due at the start of class 18
Read: Dreamweaver Help – Dreamweaver Basics.
ViewCS3: Creating templates, Adding images, Creating links

Class 18: macromedia Dreamweaver and Web Page Design continued.
Review of Exercise 8 at start of class
Read: Dreamweaver Help – Working with Dreamweaver Sites.
ViewCS3: Using CSS, Creating rollovers in Dreamweaver

Class 19: Week 10: Dreamweaver and CMPA110 Portfolio Web Page
Macromedia Dreamweaver web page creation introduction.
Assignment, Project 6: CMPA110 Portfolio Web Page Design, Due at start of class 20
Read: Dreamweaver Help – Laying out Pages, Adding Content to Pages.
ViewCS3: Designing websites with Photoshop and Dreamweaver

Class 20: Post – Test in Blackboard
Project 6 Due, Critique 5
Discussion: Postmortum, class review, planning ahead

Exercises:
Homepage Exercise: Introduce yourself to the class. 
Introduce yourself and use the course management system to learn about fellow students.  The homepage assignment is optional and will not reflect your grade. It is an opportunity to introduce yourself to other students.
Homepage Exercise:  In order to introduce yourself to your classmates, you are encouraged to take a moment to setup your homepage in Blackboard. Click the "My Homepage" link in the course menu and create a brief, written biography. Please attach a photo of yourself. If you're not sure what to say, tell us where you are from, your background, your expectations of the course, your experiences, if any, with character design, and your favorite game or characters.
You will be able to view the homepages of other students in the course by clicking "Students" in the course menu, then clicking the hyperlinked names of the students listed in the roster.
When you have completed your homepage, email everyone in the class by way of introduction, and encourage them to view your homepage.  The homepage assignment is to be submitted before the start of class 2.

please include the first initial of your first name with your last name, similar to the login, example: JSmith.e1p2.ai

 Exercise 1 : Vector Drawing / Gradients : E1P1-Examples : E1P2-Examples
The creation of two vector based drawings and the application of gradients using the gradient tool and the gradient mesh tool within Adobe Illustrator
Exercise 1
Part One: (1) Vector drawing of an apple and colorization using gradients with the gradient tool.  Exercise one part two is to be submitted as an illustrator format (i.e. Smith.e1p1.ai) before the start of Class 2.  Make sure that you have placed the file in your Montgomery Hall Dropbox.
PartTwo: (1) Vector drawing of a second apple and colorization using the gradient mesh and the gradient mesh tool
Exercise one part two is to be submitted as an illustrator format (i.e. JSmith.e1p2.ai) before the start of Class 3.  Make sure that you have placed the file in your Montgomery Hall Dropbox.

Exercise 2: Transparencies with Alpha Channels and Raster Graphics : E2-Examples
Create a transparency of three images using alpha channels and layer masks. The capture of a bitmapped (color) image and creation of an alpha channel and layer masks.
Exercise 2 - Using Photoshop’s brush tools you are to paint in an alpha channel of your image. All files are to be submitted electronically and must follow the course naming configuration.
Exercise two is to be submitted as a targa format (i.e. JSmith.e2.psd) before the start of Class 6.  Make sure that you have placed the file in your Montgomery Hall Dropbox.
If you don't have your own images in class, look in the sample folder or online. Nothing should be smaller than 720x480. aim for 1280X960-square pixels!!!
For your own storage(on your M-drive), save a .psd file!!!!, for the dropbox, save a 24bit.psd. Do not use illustrations or cartoons, use photographs.

Exercise 3: Special effects with filters and Raster Graphics : E3-Examples
Apply Photoshop filters and layer styles to texture and color correct an image. -or- You may choose to make significant improvements to Exercise 2 as the basis for this assignment.
Exercise 3 – Using photoshop’s filters and layer styles features apply effects to create an artistic texture to your image.  All files are to be submitted electronically and must follow the course naming configuration.
Exercise three is to be submitted as a targa format (i.e. JSmith.e3.psd) before the start of Class 7. Make sure that you have placed the file in your Montgomery Hall Dropbox.Nothing should be smaller than 720x480. aim for 1280X960-square pixels!!! For your own storage(on your M-drive), save a .psd file!!!!, for the dropbox, save a 24bit.psd. Do not use illustrations or cartoons, use photographs.

Exercise 4 - 3D Modeling and Language Using Maya. :
The creation, translation and manipulation of standard primitives and NURBS surfaces within Maya.
Exercise 4 – Using the basic tools and viewports in Maya create simple primitives and nurbs surfaces and manipulate those primitives in 3D space. Exercise four is to be saved as a maya binary file (i.e. JSmith.e4.mb) format before the start of Class 10.  Make sure that you have placed the file in your Montgomery Hall Dropbox.

Exercise 5 – Light and render the maya environment created in exercise four.: E5-Examples
The lighting and rendering of standard primitives and NURBS surfaces within Maya.
Exercise 5 – Using your scene from exercise four, apply and manipulate light sources as desired and render your image in the preview renderer.  Save your file as a Targa format (i.e. JSmith.e5.tga). Exercise five is to be submitted as a targa format before the start of class 11  Make sure that you have placed the file in your Montgomery Hall Dropbox.
Please save your image at HD720 resolution, thats 1280x720 72dpi, use the correct setting in the render globals menu.

Exercise 6 – Importing Images and/or Animating Text in Adobe After Effects
Exercise 6 -Using Adobe After Effects create a new project and composition.  Import an image you desire for a background and import an image you desire for your foreground. -OR- Set up the titles that you will need for Poject6. Remember the image you will use for your foreground will contain the alpha channel. Save your After Effects file as an .aep (after effects format) with your name (i.e. JSmith.e6.aep).  Exercise six is to submitted at the start of Class 14.  Make sure that you have placed the file in your Montgomery Hall Dropbox

Exercise 7 – Introduction to Basic Key frames in After Effects.
Please think of this exercise as an opportunity to get a head start on Project5, I will look at the your work in class and make suggestions for improvement.
Please consider adding text of your name and text descriptions of each layer, this is sorta of a mini demo reel.
Using your scene from exercise six, (OR, starting your scene for Project 5) apply and manipulate key frames as desired and preview your animation in the preview.
Exercise 7-Using Adobe After Effects create a new project and composition.  Import an image you desire for a background and import an image you desire to animate. Students create basic key frames and staging within exercise 7.  Render your After Effects file as a SD mpeg2 (m2v) file with your name (i.e. JSmith.e7.m2v).  Exercise seven is to be submitted at the start of Class 15.  Make sure that you have placed the file in your Montgomery Hall Dropbox.

A few more After Effects tips:
Re-size and optimize your original .psd file, name layers and group them into folders.
Make sure that you do not have 'sequence' checked when you import your compositions.
Frequently test render your compositions to check you timing/tempo at realtime.
Have the title/action safe layer on. Make sure you render with 'best/full' settings.

Special instructions for After Effects projects:
For Exercise 7 and Project 5(the after effects projects) please follow these format instructions:
1) Create composition, new composition (not File, new project) in AE with these settings: NTSC DV 29.97
Pay attention to your composition duration, this can be changed later...

2) Drag your working composition into the new NTSC DV comp window and scale your image/composition to fit the DVD-composition
(please don't non-proportionally scale it, DV wants non-square 0.9 pixel ratio)
-OR, depending on your original composition, just scale (twirl down) it to fit the framing of the dv screen, or it might not even need re-scaling...
(if your image looks squeezed in y, don't worry, it will get stretched back out on the dvd)

3) Make sure that you have the DV-ntsc composition (this is you output composition) selected when you do a Composition "make movie"
(go ahead and say ok to the file name as .avi, this will change in the following step)
it will open the render que, click on the "lossless" setting (the blue word 'lossless', not the arrow next to lossless)
look for the top-most button and change format for MPEG2(from 'video for windows')
(this will take a brief moment and opens another dialog window )

4) Go to format options and turn audio off -and/or- uncheck export audio, and change the frame rate in the "Basic video settings" to 29.97 (the top one)
(everyone should be making their original compositions at 29.97fps
Then ok (to close the first window) and ok again at the next window

5) In the render que, double check that your "output file" is going to the right place and is named correctly.
Click on "Render" You should get a m2v file, this is what I want
you can double click your m2v file to get a preview in VLC

6) This video will look squeezed in y in after effects, but when it is played back from a DVD viewer or player it will get stretched to the correct size

For the Website, once you have determined the size of the window you want for your webpage, create a new composition with that resolution.
After you resize your working composition into the web-based-resolution-composition, Export it as a flash video(SWF) file

Please make sure that all other assignment files are removed from your dropbox space before starting Exercise8/Project6.
Your Montgomery Hall Dropbox must be cleaned at the start of class 17.
Exercise 8 Defining a new site and inserting new media
Define a new Dreamweaver site, the creation of an index page, and the start of your website navigation. Please sign up for your MySCAD webpage during class at http://studentpages.scad.edu/
remember, the ftp site is: http://studentpages.scad.edu/uftp then you have to login
Using Dreamweaver 8 create and define a new site.  Design your home (index) page and design the navigation with rollovers linking to other pages.
Establish your personal SCAD studentpage, request one from MyScad, and familarize yourself with the FTP process outlined there.
Please place a shortcut link to your studentpage in the Montgomery Hall Dropbox before the start of Class 18. Make sure that you have placed the shortcut in your Montgomery Hall Dropbox
Please gather examples of work that you have done in other classes, like color theory, life drawing, photography, etc, and scan and gather everything, make sure you are ready to start making the webpage for Project 6

In order to get your SCAD studentpages website:
Login to MySCAD, My Info, College Services, Activate Student Webspace, Create webspace, copy your web-address into a URL line af a browser,
create a shortcut to the web-address and put that in the dropbox, Open http://studentpages.scad.edu/uftp, login with the same login that you use to login to the classroom computers(not to myscad), notice that there are two folders: personal storage and webspace, go to the webspace folder and start to transfer your website files to the webspace folder, your webspace folder on the remote server must equal your local folder: same files in the same relative locations, remember: the main file must be index.html and the top-most level. You must copy all of your local website files/folders to the ftp site so that both file structures are identical.

Projects:
Project 1: Vector Based Postage Stamp with Text : P1-Examples
The creation of a vector based postage stamp using Adobe Illustrator CS as the applied application.
One (1) Vector drawing of your postage stamp design using Adobe Illustrators advanced tools.  You may choose the design of your choice. Vector based postage stamp drawings are created with the use of vector tools, gradients, type tools and filters.  Adobe Illustrator files must be 612pt X 792pt format and saved with your last name and project number (jsmith.p1.ai) and as .ai file and is due at the start of Class 4. This will be Critique 1.  Make sure that you have placed the file in your Montgomery Hall Dropbox.
This is not simply the apple stamp that we did for exercise 1, this is your chance to get creative, research google image, postage stamps, to get some ideas. This should look like a stamp that you would buy in the postoffice or see on a letter you get in the mail. Pay attention to the size and legibility of the text, and the shape of the perforation holes. This is a vector based project, please do not hand in raster/photoshop files into illustrator. This project is about you making the shapes, please do not use live-trace! Do not simply include raster images in this project!!

Project 2:  Image manipulation with alpha channels, layer masks, layer styles, and new adjustment layers. : P2-Examples
 The capturing, merging and effects enhancement of scanned color images.
One (1) The digital image with a collage of a minimum of 5 other images.  Save your image as a Photoshop file and name it with your last name. (i.e. jsmith.p2.psd).  Project 2 is due at the start of Class 8. This will be Critique 2.  Use this critique to make improvements to Project3. Make sure that you have placed the file in your Montgomery Hall Dropbox. Please note, if your psd file is larger that 100Mb, please talk to me. Aim for 1280X960-square pixels!!! Do not use illustrations or cartoons, use photographs.

Project 3: Using the feedback from the Project 2 Critique, implement the improvements. : P3-Examples - Spring08 P3
The capturing, merging and effects enhancement of scanned color images . If Project 2 was deemed finished in the Critique, please start a new image for project 3, otherwise,based on the critique, please make significant improvements to project 2 for project3. Aim for 1280X960-square pixels!!!
One (1) The digital image with a collage of a minimum of 5 other images.  Save your image as a photoshop file and name it with your last name. (i.e. jsmith.p3.psd).  Project 3 is due before the start of Class 9. This will not be Critiqued. Make sure that you have placed the file in your Montgomery Hall Dropbox. Please note, if your psd file is larger that 100Mb, please talk to me. Do not use illustrations or cartoons, use photographs.

Project 4 - An abstract painting using the basic tools, primitives and lights of Maya. : P4-Examples
The creation of an abstract render using Maya.
One (1) digital image using Maya’s primitives and or NURBS surfaces, create an environment of abstract geometry.  Create simple shapes, translate, manipulate and light your scene as desired.  Work with the quick render quite often.  You’re encouraged to render multiple images from different perspective viewport angles. Please save your image at HD720 resolution, thats 1280x720 72dpi, use the correct setting in the render globals menu.  Save your image as a targa file and name it with your last name. (i.e. Smith.p4.tga). Project 4 is due before the start of class 13. This will be critique 3. Make sure that you have placed the file in your Montgomery Hall Dropbox.

Project 5 - Create a breakdown/buildup of your Photoshop or Maya (or Illustrator) project with Adobe After Effects.
Examples will be posted in the G:drive of MONT_220_13 (the instructor's computer) as a DVD folder, use WinVideoDVD to play it.
Using the photoshop file from project 2 or 3, or maya elements from project 4, create an animated breakdown of your image
You may set key frames for any transition you desire.  Render your file as a SD(standard definition) MPEG2 (m2v) file in your folder (i.e. jsmith.p5.m2v). The resolution for your composition is as follows 720pixels X 480pixels 30fps.  Project 5 is due before the start of Class 16. This will be Critique 4.  Make sure that you have placed the file in your Montgomery Hall Dropbox. At the start of class 16, we will add your file to a group DVD. You must have it ready and working on time.

Project 6 - Adobe Dreamweaver and CMPA 110  Portfolio Web Page Design. : please see examples linked on my main page
This is a continuation of the site started in Exercise 8.
The creation of a fully integrated – multiple paged Web Site using Macromedia Dreamweaver as the applied application and Adobe Photoshop as the supporting image application.
Using Exercises one through seven and Projects one through five. Create a multiple page web site with functioning links and an understandable navigation system.  The web site is to be used as a digital based portfolio for your work in this course.  The site must be a minimum of four pages including the introduction page (index page or entry point) and the portfolio pages for 4 entries.  You may increase the number of pages as you desire, and you may include earlier artwork as content.  The digital folder must be named with your last name and site defined Dreamweaver 8, media files are to be submitted to the course dropbox. Images must be saved as a jpeg or gif. Project 6 is due before the start of Class 20. This presentation will be Critique 5.

Section 05
kamack20@student.scad.edu,zichen20@student.scad.edu,laduda20@student.scad.edu,agalle20@student.scad.edu,kguthr21@student.scad.edu,jhacke22@student.scad.edu,elhood20@student.scad.edu, ahowle20@student.scad.edu,ahuang20@student.scad.edu,ljeffo20@student.scad.edu,tlapan20@student.scad.edu,kmckin20@student.scad.edu,znorma20@student.scad.edu,kocall20@student.scad.edu,
gokoro20@student.scad.edu,nrathb20@student.scad.edu,asliga20@student.scad.edu,asribn20@student.scad.edu,jstewa26@student.scad.edu,jsuthe20@student.scad.edu
Kori Amacker,
Zijun Chen,
Lauren Duda,
Amy Galletta,
Katie Guthrie,
Jennifer Hacker,
Lauren Hood,
Allison Howle,
Mario Huang,
Lawrence Jeffords,
Tyler Lapan,
Kacea McKinney,
Nathan Norman,
Kristen O'Callaghan,
Chika Okoro,
Naomi Rathbun,
Adam Sligar,
Allison Sribnick,
Jennifer Stewart,
John Sutherland,