Students will use page layout (desktop publishing) applications to design and produce pages and documents to given specifications. Skill development will include importing and placing text and graphic files, the application of style sheets, templates, snippets, libraries, and color specifications. The application of design and typographic principles, industry terminology, measurement systems, font management, and file management are also covered.

This course introduces students to the fundamental skills needed to create designs that work on the World Wide Web. Students are introduced to the Internet, learn basic HTML programming for graphics, and legal issues of the Internet. Text based technology is used to separate design from content using templates and cascading style sheets (CSS). Topics such as image preparation, page design, site graphic design, navigation & linking, content, usability, speed, originality and audience are discussed. Students are expected to create web pages that demonstrate their understanding and use of basic application of the above topics.

This course provides students with a general understanding of the graphic production industries, its techniques, tools, and standards. A range of production technologies and deliverables will be examined and experienced first-hand. Exemplar workflows will be analyzed based on reverse engineering from the desired product. Students will gain a basic understanding of the design process, develop a critical awareness of good design and its value in the workflow, and explore the variables impacting the quality and cost of the production process.

Students will build on the skills previously learned in Raster and Vector Graphics. This course includes specialized image preparation techniques used to acquire, optimize, correct, reconstruct, restore, and enhance images for placement in print and digital media layouts. Topics include: determining and applying resolution and magnification settings appropriate to the characteristics of the specified purpose of an image, setting highlight and shadow points, removing color cast, sharpening, and tone-adjustment of acquired images; the use of desk-top scanners hardware/software; the use of appropriate color settings/modes and file formats.

This course emphasizes the procedures and skill development required for the efficient and effective manipulation and compositing of digital images in a production environment building on the skills previously learned in Raster and Vector Graphics. This is a production-oriented course with a focus on the non-destructive editing of (primarily raster) digital images. This course includes specialized image manipulation methods such as advanced selection and masking techniques for producing images that blend together into a single composite image. Additional topics include applying production planning techniques to image manipulation, production quality standards, advanced methods and quality criteria for image manipulation, and legal and ethical issues.

This course includes the study and management of color for design, printing, web, and photographic imaging systems and procedures. Students will use and apply correct technical vocabulary, and various concepts and procedures related to the perception, specification, evaluation, correction, and management of color in various graphic arts.

The students will study the Portable Document Format (PDF) file format including defining and applying specifications for color management, file optimization and file security; recognizing and editing PDF documents; and using PDF files in a variety of print and non-print media production workflows. Topics include procedures for making PDF files, and adding interactive features including bookmarks, action button, hyperlinks to internal anchors, and hyperlinks to other documents and Web content. Emphasis is given to file optimization for interactive display size formats, color, and resolution.