Spring 2005 Information

| projects instructions for this class | calendar and deadlines for this semester | instructor's home |
other learning resources on this site & this instructor's other classes:
| Intro to Computer Graphics | Electronic Illustration | Electronic Paint |

IMPORTANT: This class will be replaced by the Survey of Computer Graphics Applications class. The following material will no longer be updated.

This class is here to let you know what is possible in computer graphics, and which advanced classes to take to find out more. You will be treated to an overview of all kinds of multimedia done with a computer:

Formatted and linked text, using the Web's HTML format.

Real-world images, such as photographs, transferred to the computer using a scanner--then modified and combined.

Animation of images that you either draw on the computer, or scan into it.

Sound recordings (or sounds synthesized on the computer)--to be used as the soundtrack for your animation.

Vector graphics images that viewers can zoom into, or link to other pictures.

3D scenes that viewers can explore interactively.

Digital video, a combination of camera footage with transitions and special effects.

We hope you will come back for more in-depth study in the semesters to come. Advanced classes in each area introduced here are offered just about every semester: see our schedule at http://acg2.fullcoll.edu/schedule for details

Each lecture will demonstrate the activities you will later perform hands-on, and explain how the day's exercise fits in with the rest of computer graphics. It will also describe how the particular branch of computer graphics being discussed evolved into its present form. The lab work uses the ideas learned in the lecture to gradually build a multimedia web site with all of your contributions.

The most important requirement to succeed in this class is being able to follow detailed written instructions. If you need assistance with your reading comprehension skills, contact Fullerton College's Skills Center at http://skills.fullcoll.edu. Each class project will be described step-by-step in writing on this site. This is meant to prepare you for the constant skills updates demanded by a career in computer graphics--an ongoing learning process that will require you to read and understand software manuals, technical support web pages, and other written material.

In the following days, these web pages will be the focus of our study, as you sketch and flesh out your electronic diary.

• Class goals:
  • Develop entry-level skills in graphics programs.
  • Create multimedia elements suitable for the web.
  • Produce a portfolio of computer-generated artwork.
  • Learn the technical fundamentals of computer graphics.
  • Understand the history of computer graphics and the opportunities it opened up for visual artists.
• No textbook is required for this class
• Optional texts:
  • A number of manuals are available in the lab: ask the lab aide for them, with your student ID in hand.
  • Several relevant magazines are available in the Graphics lab. These are especially useful because of their timeliness.
  • Program reference manuals:
    • A variety of books are available providing step-by-step instruction and reference information. Make sure that any books you choose match the versions of the software we will use.
    • Many of the programs used in the Lab come with electronic manuals, which you can view directly on the computer. This documentation is accessible to all students on our file and web servers.
• Work evaluated:
  • The final course grade will be based on the student's performance in class and in completing assignments. Grade weights: class/lab participation (9%); HTML, Portrait, Animation, Sound, Map, 3D Logo, Video (13% each).

ACG102 syllabus	Lecture	Lab
week 01
	Computer basics and text entry	Start using the Mac and enter the text for your web page.
week 02
	Text: importing, editing, and formatting	Complete the text for your web page.
week 03
	HTML: links and URLs; creating Web pages	Generate the HTML framework of your web page.
week 04
	Raster graphics: scanning photographs	Scan a still image for the web page.
week 05
	Raster graphics: editing scanned photographs	Edit your scanned image.
week 06
	Animation: creating visual elements	Paint characters for your animation .
week 07
	Animation: assembling visuals on a timeline	Animate the characters you painted.
week 08
	Digital sound: recording	Digitize sounds for the soundtrack of your animation.
week 09
	Digital sound: soundtrack completion	Assemble the soundtrack and add it to the animation; link the animation to your web page.
week 10
	Vector graphics: organizing document layers	Import and revise a map for your web page.
week 11
	Vector graphics: creating basic shapes	Add graphic elements to the map; link the map to your page.
week 12
	Digital video: recording, creating visuals	Digitize video of yourself greeting the visitors to your web page.
week 13
	Digital video: editing	Add transitions to your video; link the video to your page.
week 14
	3D: simulating a simple scene	Build a scene using basic 3D techniques.
week 15
	3D: rendering the scene	Render 3D scene; link it to your web page.
week 16
	Review and refine Web pages	Complete your web page.

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Created 1996-02-10. Last modified 2005-01-14. This document originally at <http://www.sanedraw.com/LEARN/ACG/ACG_102.HTM> Copyright 2005 by Sandro Corsi.