Vector Art: AD360_7152, AD360_7147
(2 credits)

• Wednesdays 11:30 am- 2:00 pm
• Wednesdays 2:30 am- 5:00 pm

Professor: Jenna Spevack

Email: ad360@jennaspevack.com

Office Hours: Mondays 1:30-2:30pm / Tuesdays 5-6pm

Office Location: N1111

Office Phone: 718-260-5221

Course Description: This course will introduce the student to the vector art application, Adobe Illustrator and present techniques for creating vector art, design and illustration. The class will cover beginning and intermediate lessons including creating basic shapes, using the pen tool, painting with stroke, fill and gradients, transforming objects, creating compound shapes, type, layers, and brushes. To this end the student will become proficient in the use of this industry leading application and will be able to produce original art.

Equal emphasis will be placed on the development of professional work practices, creative problem solving techniques and critical thinking skills. Competency will reflect a mastery and control of the application and an ability to apply learned skills to creative projects.

Prerequisites:
AD 260, proficiency with Macintosh or PC computers, working knowledge of Photoshop

Goals

• At the end of this semester students should have become proficient in Illustrator, learned the skills to create inspired vector-based art and developed the tools to continue to learn.
• There will be two major projects, ePortfolio, quizzes, homework assignments and in-class demos.

Expectations

• You are expected to spend at least 2 additional hours a week (outside of class) on homework, class projects and study.
• You are expected to turn in your work on the date due.
• You are expected to arrive on time and attend all classes. If you miss or are late for a class, you will miss the quiz for that class and/or points will be deducted from your final grade.
• You are expected to participate in class discussions, critiques and exercises.
• You are expected to be respectful of your fellow students and offer help when needed.
• You are expected to back up your work on CD or an alternate device every week. Do not leave files on the lab computers, they will be deleted. Excuses for lost or corrupted ZIP disks or FLASH drives are not acceptable. THERE ARE NO FLOPPY DRIVES IN THE ADGA LABS

Course Materials

• You will need a Flash drive, ipod or USB Zip drive to transport your files AND a spindle of recordable/rewriteable CDs or a Firewire Drive to back up your work. Flash Drives and Zip Disks are fine for transferring files from computer to computer, but they are not an acceptable form of permanent backup.
• The following CLASS SITE will be utilized for the posting of homework and project assignments, reference materials (additional books, readings, web sites) and tests. You must check it every week for new announcements and updates. The syllabus, handouts, assignments and quizzes will be posted here for your reference. www.jennaspevack.com/~citytech/

References:

• Illustrator CS for Windows and Macintosh : Visual QuickStart Guide
  by Elaine Weinmann, Peter Lourekas
  Peachpit Press (April 16, 2004)
  ISBN: 0321199553
• Adobe Illustrator CS Hands-On Training
  by Jeff Van West
  Peachpit Press; Bk&CD-Rom edition (March 31, 2004)
  ISBN: 0321203038
• Illustrator 10 Shop Manual
  by Steve Kurth
  Publisher: New Riders Press; 1st edition (July 15, 2002)
  ISBN: 0735711763

Attendance Policy:

• Points are taken away from your final grade for each class you arrive late to or are absent from. Two lates equal one absence. If you are more than 15 minutes late to class, you will be marked absent.
• You are permitted to be absent from class a maximum of three class sessions.  This is in accordance with college policy that sets the maximum number of permissible absences at 10% of the number of class meetings scheduled for the semester.

Grade:

• 25% tests
• 60% project and assignments
• 15% class participation

*See Understanding Your Grade under Assessments for more info.

Course Outline:
Following is an outline of topics covered each week and material covered.

next >