The instructor will either provide weekly paper handouts that include lessons to be covered in class, refer to textbook chapters, show video lessons, or provide electronic files of lessons. Images are provided to the students corresponding to the lessons. Images are to be used for practicing the lessons and are not intended for public reproduction.

However, in order to get the most from this course, students are encouraged to work with their own images during the 8 weeks. Picture taking assignments may be given. By the conclusion of the course you should have several digital image files and Epson prints. Epson printing papers will be provided in class. Attendees will be able to print large prints.

Each student will need a notebook (paper) and some type of storage and transfer media for image files and hand-outs to bring to and from class. Don discourages the use of CD-R’s & DVD’s to store and transfer images. Thumb drives or external portable hard drives are better suitable to manage large Photoshop files in a timely manner. Don suggests nothing less than 4-gigabyte storage capacity for thumb drives, though larger is better.

Rules:

1. Keep your work area neat, share the space with others, and leave your workstation ready for the next class.
2. No food or drinks allowed in the lab; refer to lab rule pamphlet for details.
3. Respect each other and each other’s work.
4. Cell phones are not allowed, set phones to silent or vibrate, leave the lab to speak on the phone. See #3.
5. Exercise care when using the lab equipment.

Course Syllabus:

Week 1
- The Photoshop Level I review and Level II workflow discussion.
- Color Management, Custom Color Settings and Preferences; Bridge Review.
- Digital Input - review of file formats, bit depth.
- Workflow Editing Strategies: Where to start, What to do, When to stop.

Week 2 - Workflow Practice
- Selection Tools – Quick Selections, Marquee, Lasso, Magic Wand
- Selecting with Color Range
- Refine Edge Brush
- Content Aware Fill
- Saving and loading selections
- Quick Masks
- Intro to the Channels Palette
- Alpha Channels

Week 3 - Workflow Practice
- Midtone Contrast Adjustments using Blend If Layer Style.
- Layers Review - palette commands and options
- New Blending Modes
- Transforming layers
- Layer Masks
- Painting on Masks.

Week 4
- Filters
- Smart Filters
- Smart Objects

Week 5
- Camera Raw, in-depth processing of the digital image

Week 6
- Color & Tonal Adjustment
- Using the Info Palette
- Adjustment Layers
- B&W Conversions
- Curves
- Hue/Saturation
- Targeted Adjustment Tools

Week 7
- Shadow/Highlights Command
- Special Corrections - Dodge & Burn tools
- Blend Layers
- Adjustment Layer Masks
- Gradient masks

Week 8
- Image Correction Work Session
- Sharpening Techniques: Smart Sharpen, Unsharp Mask, High Pass Filter
- Sharpening Actions