Recording Skype Calls

Last class I mentioned there are applications that allow you to record video/audio from Skype calls. You may find these programs useful for gathering interview footage for your audio/video projects. There are other methods and products available for recording screencasts, so you are certainly not limited to these suggestions. These apps are not free, but they do come with free trial periods:

Windows

Pamela
Replay Telecoder

Mac OS X

Call Recorder
IMCapture for Skype

 

Draft Logo

COM499: Content Creation for Media
Draft Logo (50 pts)
Due Date: 9/29, 5pm

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to develop a logo that illustrates and brands your topic. This logo should be accompanied by a written description of how your design communicates your topic.

Think about your topic and how it can be summed up in a simple illustration. You might find it useful to sketch out your logo ideas before you start working in your design software.

Using the Illustrator tools you learned in the tutorials, create a new logo that is at least 400 x 400 pixels. You can choose your aspect ratio.

Write a 250 to 500word abstract about your your design choices and story. Post it in your blog along with your draft logo. I recommend writing and saving this description in Word then copying and pasting the text into the blog post when you are ready to post.

Reading

There are several online resources that will help you in thinking about logo design.

Required Reading:

30 Brilliant Vector Logo Designs, Deconstructed: http://vector.tutsplus.com/articles/web-roundups/30-brilliant-vector-logo-designs-deconstructed/

Logo Design Tips: http://www.thelogofactory.com/logo-design-tips/

5 Branding Basics Every Logo Designer Should Know: http://sixrevisions.com/graphics-design/5-branding-basics-every-logo-designer-should-know/

What Makes a Great Logo: http://www.code-interactive.com/thinker/a112.html

Step-by-Step Logo: http://www.ideabook.com/tutorials/logo_design/stepbystep_logo.html

Additional Resources:

Logo Design History: http://www.logoorange.com/logodesign-A.php

70 Excellent Logo Design Tutorials: http://sixrevisions.com/graphics-design/70-excellent-logo-design-tutorials-and-resources/

Grading
Your grade for the draft logo will be determined using the following criteria:

  • Creativity in visual composition
  • Creativity in writing
  • Demonstration of the use of the tools learned in this unit’s tutorials

The draft graphic logo should be posted to your blog accompanied with the written description by Thursday, September 29 at 5pm.

 

Illustrator Tutorials

COM499: Content Creation for Media
Illustrator Tutorials
Due Date: Sep. 26, 5pm 

Overview & Background

You will be using Adobe Illustrator to create your Logo. These tutorials will help you get familiar with the basic tools in Illustrator. Ultimately, the skills you learn here will help you realize your creative vision for your logo.

Instructions

You will be following several tutorials. We will go through the first tutorial in class together. Once you have completed all the tutorials, please create a blog post with all of your final assets (finished versions of the images). You can export images for the web by clicking:

File->Export. Select “JPEG” as the “file type” in bottom center, then click save

Please also save your original Illustrator (.ai) files on the network drive under “Z:\COM499\[YOUR LAST NAME]\Illustrator Tutorials\”

Tutorials

(In class):

  1. Stacked Paper: http://vector.tutsplus.com/tutorials/illustration/quick-tip-how-to-create-a-stacked-paper-document-illustration/

(On your own):

  1. Example LTD Logo: http://dryicons.com/blog/2009/02/28/logo-design-process-tutorial/
  2. RSS Icon: http://www.blog.spoongraphics.co.uk/tutorials/create-a-vector-rss-icon-with-illustrator
  3. Bunny Illustration: http://vector.tutsplus.com/tutorials/illustration/how-to-create-a-cute-bunny-vector-character/

(Bonus):

  1. Purple Lemon Logo: http://www.blog.spoongraphics.co.uk/tutorials/how-to-design-a-logotype-from-conception-to-completion
  2. Obama Logo: http://www.clickpopmedia.com/2008/08/07/vector-tutorial-obama-logo-2/
  3. Glowing Abstract Light: http://vector.tutsplus.com/tutorials/illustration/create-a-glowing-abstract-light-vector-graphic/

Note: You may replace either “on your own” tutorials 1 or 2 with the more advanced bonus 4-6 tutorials, but you must complete tutorial 3.

Grading Rubric

Tutorials will be graded for completion. Tutorials 1 and 2 (or replacement bonus tutorials) are worth 5 points each. Tutorial 3 is worth 10 points. Bonus tutorials are worth 2 points extra credit each.

Final Graphic Collage

COM499
Final Graphic Collage (100pts)
Due Date: Friday, September 16, 5pm 

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to develop a graphic collage that describes your topic. This collage should be accompanied by a written description of your topic (you can use a revised version of your first blog post) and a description of how your collage illustrates your topic.

Think about your topic and what you want to say about it. Next, think about how you can use photos and effects to illustrate these ideas.

Using the Photoshop tools you learned in the tutorials, create a new image that is at least 580 x 400 pixels. Within this space create your graphic collage. Your final graphic collage should be an update of your draft collage. Based on the feedback you received from your peers and your own critique of your design, how can you more clearly communicate your visual story to your viewers?

Write a 300 to 500 word abstract about your topic and your collage choices and post it in your blog along with your draft collage. Your post should be creative and engaging and supplement your visual design. In your write-up, include a description of your revision process, including why you decided to make design changes. Also, please include some language describing your design choices (e.g., repetition, continuity).

I recommend writing and saving this description in Word then copying and pasting the text into the blog post when you are ready to post.

Any graphics that you did not personally create must be credited and linked as a reference in your post.

Grading

Your grade for the final draft collage will be determined using the following criteria:

Design

Creativity in Visual Composition                                           ______ / 30
Clear Visual Depiction of Your Topic                                    ______ / 10
Follows Design Principles                                                       ______ / 5
Demonstrates proficiency of design tools                             ______ / 10
SubTotal                                                                                       ______ / 55

Write-Up

Creativity in writing                                                                      ______ / 20
Relates image to topic                                                                  ______ / 5
Reasoning/Meaning (why you made the design that way)     ______ / 5
Design choices                                                                                ______ / 5
Technical Details                                                                           ______ / 5
Grammar                                                                                         ______ / 5

SubTotal                                                                                       ______ / 45

Total:              ______ / 100

The draft graphic collage should be posted to your blog accompanied with the written description by Friday, September 16 at 5pm.

Group Feedback Assignments

COM499: Content Creation for Media
Group Feedback (20 pts each)
Due Dates: 9/7, 10/3, 10/24, 11/28 

Overview & Background

You will be working on strengthening each other’s designs throughout the semester in groups of 3 or 4 by providing feedback on each others’ designs. As we discussed, good critiques will describe, analyze, and interpret your group partners’ designs.

After you have received feedback from your group members, you should reconsider your design. Think of ways to improve the visual story you are telling and revise your design.

Instructions

  1. Log on to your group members’ blogs, linked from http://com499.mabeam.net/
  2. Find their draft collages and consider the visual stories they are telling.
  3. Write 50-200 word critiques of their design. In your critique be sure to describe, analyze and interpret the design elements. Provide constructive feedback about which design choices seem to work, and which could be improved.
  4. Post the critiques as “comments” in their blogs.
  5. Be sure to log in to your administrative panel at http://YOURURL.wordpress.com/wp-admin/ . Click on “posts.” Click on the blue “chat box”:
  6. Approve any critique comments you may have held in your queue.

Groups

1. Calvin Grover, Kelsie Duncan, Eric Francavilla
2. Josh Moran, Brian Grove, Liz Nugent
3. Nero Threet, Jeff Fairbanks, Kelleen Curtis
4. Sierra Haight, Ryan Myers, Tyler Brazas, Patrick Winter

Draft Graphic Collage

COM499
Draft Graphic Collage

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to develop a graphic collage that describes your topic. This collage should be accompanied by a written description of your topic (you can use a revised version of your first blog post) and a description of how your collage illustrates your topic.

Think about your topic and what you want to say about it. Next, think about how you can use photos and effects to illustrate these ideas. Before you create your collage, you will post the individual photos/graphics you will use in your collage, 3 elements at a minimum. You might find it useful to sketch out how you want your collage to look before you start working in your design software.

Using the Photoshop tools you learned in the tutorials, create a new image that is at least 580 x 400 pixels. Within this space create your graphic collage.

Write a 300 to 500 word abstract about your topic and your collage choices and post it in your blog along with your draft collage. I recommend writing and saving this description in Word then copying and pasting the text into the blog post when you are ready to post.

Grading

Your grade for the draft collage will be determined using the following criteria:

  • Creativity in visual composition (30 pts)
  • Creativity in writing (10 pts)
  • Demonstration of the use of the tools learned in this unit’s tutorials (10 pts)

The photo collection elements should be posted by Friday, September 2 at 5pm. These elements can be posted without any written description and will be graded for completion, 20 points.

The draft graphic collage should be posted to your blog accompanied with the written description by Thursday, September 8 at 5pm. The draft collage is worth 50 points.

NOTE: All photos that were not taken by you must be attributed and linked to the original location.

Resources

Digital Photography Tips:

Chapter 8 of Journalism 2.0: How to Survive and Thrive

Free image collections:

  • stock.xchng – More than 350,000 free photo images, searchable.
  • dreamstime – Free section of a very large photo images archive. Excellent quality images.
  • morgueFile – More than 200,000 free photo images, searchable in several ways, including by color and topic.
  • WorldImages – About 75,000 international images, well-organized by content areas and searchable.
  • Flickr – Must check box for “Find Content to Modify, Adapt, and Build Upon”

Week 2 Annoucements

Lab Hours

The Murrow Collage has the following open computer lab hours this semester:

CADD123: 1-5pm Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays
MURE 243: 12-2pm Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays (our classroom)

 Class Notes

Any slides that are not posted in this blog, will be posted under “Lessons” on the course’s Angel site.

Class Blogs

Links to your class blogs have been posted on the right sidebar.

Photoshop Tutorials

COM499: Content Creation for Media
Photoshop Tutorials
Due Date: Sep. 2, 5pm 

Overview & Background

You will be using Adobe Photoshop to create your “Graphic Collage.” These tutorials will help you get familiar with the basic tools in Photoshop. Ultimately, the skills you learn here will help you realize your creative vision for your collage.

Instructions

You will be following several tutorials. Links to the original asset files can be taken from the tutorial links, or from the link posted in Angel. We will go through the first two tutorials in class together. Once you have completed all the tutorials, please create a blog post with all of your final assets (finished versions of the images). You can export images for the web by going to:

File->Save for Web & Devices. Select “JPEG” as the file type” in the top right, then click save

Please also put all of your final PSD files in a single folder called “Tutorials.” Then, zip that folder:

Right click the folder and select “Sent To”->Compressed (zipped folder). You will now see a file called “Tutorials.zip.”

Please also attach this file to your blog post.

Tutorials

(In class):

  1. Layers: http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/tools-tips/photoshop-layers/
  2. Text: http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/tools-tips/type-tool-photoshop/
  3. Correcting perspective with Crop tool: http://tv.adobe.com/watch/learn-photoshop-cs5/gs03-correcting-perspective-with-the-crop-tool/

(On your own):

  1. Blending Layers: http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/tools-tips/blending-modes-photoshop/
  2. Adjustment Layers: http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/tools-tips/adjustment-layers-photoshop/
  3. Separating Picture from Background: http://www.photoshopstar.com/basics/separating-complex-objects-from-background-2/
  4. Separating Picture from Background and add effects: http://www.photoshopstar.com/photo-effects/perfectum-beautiful-photo-effect/
  5. Facial Retouching: http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/photo-effects-tutorials/super-fast-and-easy-facial-retouching/

(Bonus):

  1. Image Adjustment: http://pshero.com/photoshop-tutorials/photo-effects/image-adjustment-101
  2. Colorizing: http://pshero.com/photoshop-tutorials/photo-effects/artistic-sepia-colorizing-effect

Grading Rubric

Tutorials will be graded for completion. Each tutorial is worth 4 points. Bonus tutorials are worth 2 points extra credit each.