JRN 302: Introduction to Graphics
and Visual Communication
- Intro. to class, Overview of Design Softwares
Tuesday, 1-12-16
Class Objectives
 Anyone here wanting to bump?
 Lecture
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Introduction to the course; review the syllabus
Overview of Design Softwares
 Homework assignment
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Review the syllabus
Sign up for freeimages.com (you WILL use this in
this class and there have been problems with
signing-up for this site in the past)
If you want to get an early start, Photoshop tutorials are
posted on class homework webpage already (due by the
end of class Thursday 1-21-16)
Sites you will use
 Class website (can Google it)

http://ccfacourses.cmich.edu/jrn/302/kubik
 External web sites (non-CMU login suggested)
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www.freeimages.com (have to sign into);
color.adobe.com (recommended sign-in)
 For software tutorials
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Google, Youtube
 For homework drops, our CCFA server
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We’ll go over this next class
Overview of Design Software
 In the world of graphic design (vs.
CG/Animation/Interior Etc.), Adobe is the
monopoly
 Think of design software as doing either
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The creation of graphics (PS, AI)
The creation of outputs that have graphics in
them (ID)
 Getting snobby here- Wordpress is NOT a
design software!! Using templates is fine, but
it’s hardly unique design work.
Creating Graphics
 Think of this order as “lowest base on
pyramid” first
 2d raster image creation/manipulation
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Photoshop, Fireworks
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Camera Raw, Paint, Gimp
Even Instagram and mobile apps can do limited
manipulation
 2d static vector image creation/manipulation
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Illustrator, FreeHand
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Can export to raster image formats
NOTE: in the “real world” 99.9999% of all logos
are built with these types of softwarwe.
Creating Graphics and Output
 2d animated vector images

Flash exports to SWF

Can export to 2d static vector and raster
 3d static or animated vector images
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3d Studio Max, Maya, Sketchup, Rhino, all
engineering software (CAD)
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Can export/render to multiple 3d animated, static
formats and modes (wireframe, skinned, etc.)
Can export to 2d static vector and raster
Creating Output only
 For Print
 Adobe InDesign, Quark XPress, Acrobat (?)
 For Web and Mobile
 Muse, Dreamweaver
 Tons of templates on hosting sites (like WordPress,
Wix…)
 Responsive web designs = build your site
once and it will adapt/reformat to whatever it is
being viewed on
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Negatives to this are that your entire page needs to
download and THEN it adapts the layout to the
viewing environment