Tech 265 Graphic Communication


Course Description:

"This course covers fundamentals of graphic communication including relief, screen, and offset printing, electronic publishing, and related processes used in advertising, and visual communications."

The course will introduce student to the field of Graphic Communication - the practice of using text and images, in well-conceived layouts, to convey information. In this class, a synthesis of theory and practical application provides students with a basic understanding of visual communication theory, industry software (Adobe PageMaker, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator), page layout, digital imaging, printing process and professional applications. Students will be introduced to a variety of different media and presented with problem solving opportunities. Lab time will include group and individual projects, field work, software assignments, digital camera work, and screen printing.


Assignments and Study Resources

Weekly Assignments and Quiz Topic Guides

Powerpoint Copies

Introductory Powerpoint Presentation
Visual Communication Powerpoint Presentation
Typography Summary
Screen Printing Presentation
Photos and Density Curves
Prepress or Preflight

The Following are Copies of Lecture Topics

Careers in Graphic Communications
Basic Principles of Graphic Design and Layout
Colorwheels and Additive and Subtractive Colors
Color Schemes
Multcultural Color Schemes
Copyrights
Fonts: An Introduction
Inks: An Introduction
Paper: Types and Characteristics
Planning for Desktop Publishing
Prepress Notes
Printing Processes: An Introduction and Overview
Problems with Document Designs
Screen Printing Notes
Style Sheets: An Introduction
Trapping Notes


The Following are Supporting Documents

These require a recent version of Acrobat Reader to view. Your browser may already have it installed. It is a free download from Adobe if you need it.
How to use Quark XPress
How to use Adobe Illustrator
How to use Clarisworks Draw 4.0
How to use Freehand 5.0
How to use Typestyler
How to use Windows Paintbrush


The Following are Links to Outside Resources

Essays on Color Management and Other Related Topics
Graphic Communications Central Links to Hardware, Software, Design and Information Sources
Cooltype has "how-to" PhotoShop articles, free special-effect plug-ins for you to download, and Illustrator, PageMaker, and Corel Draw articles.


Text:

Graphic Communications The Printed Image, by Z.A.Prust. Quark XPress, Illustrator, and PhotoShop, will be used to complete assignments, and will be available in the Department of Technology labs. Manuals will be available for check out. Supplies: 6 each 3.5" HD Floppy Disks. Zip disks may also be used.
Instructor: Professor James Braukmann, Cheney Hall Room 200E, Phone 2437.

Laboratory Experiences:

Students will produce examples of published documents weekly. Computers are also available in Cheney Hall labs from about 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Check for posted times especially for weekend hours. Students may use their own computers if they have the proper software available. Other laboratory assignments include operation of an offset duplicator press, and silkscreening.

Policies: (Braukmann)

This is a "production" oriented course. Deadlines are critical in business and industry. Late assign-ments will receive a 10% grade reduction. Assignments will not be accepted if more than one week late. If you foresee missing an assignment due date, or even a late date, contact the instructor before that date for other possible arrangements. As computers make it easy to edit documents, full credit will be given only for "perfect" documents. All work handed in should be of professional presentation quality: neat, legible, uncluttered, with correct grammar and spelling. However, certain printing problems may arise in the labs due to low toner, etc. In that case, no points will be deducted for printer related problems. Please note that printing can be slow and often requires extra time. Please don't be late for class because your job is being printed!

Tentative Weekly Outline:

Week 1: Overview of Graphic Communications, Introduction to XPress
Week 2: Planning, Files, Measurement, Type Fonts, Typography
Week 3: Document Design, Copyfitting (Stylesheets), Proofreading
Week 4: Graphic Images, Halftone Reproduction
Week 5: Stripping, Imposition, Lithographic Platemaking
Week 6: Lithographic Press Systems, Document Design Continued
Week 7: Screen Printing, Document Design Continued
Week 8: Line Photography, Process Cameras, Color
Week 9: Substrates, Ink, Legal Issues
Week 10: Binding, Estimating, Review of Printing Processes

 

(c) Braukmann, 1997

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