Photoshop CS4 Level 1 for
Print and Web Graphics Course

Length
3 Days (21 actual hours of training)

Class Fees
1 Student       $945
2 Students    $1590
3 Students    $2085
4+ Students     Call


Note: Maximum class size at our Atlanta classroom is four students. Five or more students must train on-site at their place of business. For more information, please read about our class sizes.

Note on Fees:  Multiple student discounts are for multiple students from one organization.

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Class Times
Classes can be held at any time per the customer's schedule, but unless arranged otherwise, classes run from 9 AM to 5 PM each day, with an hour for lunch.

Description
Art=Visual offers two introductory Photoshop CS4 courses--one for those interested in creating graphics and photographic compositions for print layouts or web page designs, and one geared for photographers.  Both are three day courses and are designed for those who are completely new to the software or who have limited knowledge of the software.  The first two days of either course are nearly identical, while the third day covers topics germane to the respective field of work.

Both courses were designed by Steve Markos and are based on his experience as both a Photographer and a Graphic/Web Designer.  The Photoshop CS4 Level 1 for Print and Web Graphics course covers what Steve feels are the ESSENTIALS needed to use Photoshop on a competent level, allowing graphic and web designers to return to work with confidence to get basic jobs done.

After completing this course a student will be able to:

• Crop and straighten images
• Adjust exposure and correct for color casts
• Touch-up photographs of people and products
• Understand how to analyze resolution and prepare photos for print and web
• Create multi-layered compositions
• Create collages from selected elements of different images
• Create colors required for print and web applications
• Use text effectively
• Convert color images to black and white

Class materials
Steve uses his own photographs and written materials for the class, but also provides student's with their own copy of Deke McClelland's Photoshop CS4 One-On-One book to use as a reference manual.

Art=Visual classes have plenty of hands-on practices that allow students to create real world art and compositions.

Course Outline

Lesson 1: Photoshop Workspace
• The Toolbox and Panels
• Arranging and customizing the workspace
• Document Navigation
• Rulers, ruler guides, and snapping
• Setting Program Preferences

Lesson 2: Creating a Blank Canvas
• Creating a new canvas
• Choosing a color mode
• Saving document characteristics as a Pre-set

Lesson 3: Creating Colors
• RGB, CMYK, Grayscale, and Spot Color Definitions
• Document Color Modes
• Color Picker vs. Color Panel
• Swatches Panel
• Creating Gradients
• Fill command
• Eyedropper Tool
• Info Panel

Lesson 4: Modifying Existing Image Canvas
• Rotating and Flipping
• Cropping, Straightening, and Trimming
• Modifying a canvas size

Lesson 5:  Resolution
• Analyzing resolution and image size
• Enlarging and Reducing image size
• Resolution parameters for print and web graphics

Lesson 6: Layers
• Layers Panel and option
• Transforming layers
• Opacity and Fill
• Layer style basics
• Saving layered document

Lesson 7: Adding Text
• Text Tool
• Character and Paragraph Panels
• Typography Basics and Definitions
• Text Color
• Text Effects
• Text Warp
• Text and Clipping Masks

Lesson 8: Correcting Exposure
• Adjustment layers
• The correct way to read a Histogram
• Levels
• Shadow/Highlight
• Sharpening an image

Lesson 9:  Correcting Color
• Correcting for color casts
• Hue and Saturation
• Vibrance
• Colorizing an image

Lesson 10: Image Manipulation Tools
• Importance of Soft Brushes with manipulation tools
• Burn and Dodge Tools
• Saturate/Desaturate Tools
• Healing Brush
• Patch Tool
• Spot Healing Brush
• Red Eye Removal Tool
• Clone Stamp Tool

Lesson 11: History
• Undo/Redo and Revert commands
• Importance of history
• History Panel
• Non Linear History
• Fade command

Lesson 12: Selection Basics
• Reasons for making selections
• Adding and deleting from selections
• Marquee Tools
• Magic Wand and Quick Selection Tools
• Saving selections as Alpha Channels for future use

Lesson 13: Advanced Selections
• Lasso, Polygonal Lasson, and Magnetic Lasso Tools
• Manipulating and moving selections
• Creating compositions from multiple photos
• The Eraser Tool

Lesson 14: Vector Shape Tool
• Vector vs. Bitmap
• Shape Tools
• Editing shapes
• Getting Custom Shapes from Adobe Exchange

Lesson 15: Saving Files
• Choosing a File Type
• Saving JPEGs, GIFs, TIFFs, PSDs, and PNGs
• File compatibility with other Adobe products
• Converting RGB images to CMYK and Grayscale