Digital Arts Certificate (225 hours)

Course Overview/Description

The Digital Arts Certificate program focuses on developing technical skill and creative artistry in digital photography and imaging.

Students learn professional applications for Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator or equivalent digital imaging and vector drawing tools. Course projects include digital art studies, retouching, compositing, illustration, identity design, color matching and composition studies, photorealistic imaging, color correction, and art exhibition development.

Each course is instructor-led, project-based, and completed at your own pace. Expert Faculty members provide critique and feedback on projects within 1-2 business days, helping you build a design portfolio for prospective employers.

Course Objectives

By successfully completing this program, students will understand how to:

• Learn the technical fundamentals of computer-based art and design.
• Be proficient in Photoshop.
• Be proficient in Illustrator.
• Understand the basic concepts of digital photography.
• Understand the principles, terminology, and applications of color theory.
• Know how to achieve an effective color balance in their Photoshop images and optimize them for print output.

Course Outline

This program consists of eight required courses and one elective. The required courses are as follows:

• Intro to digital arts: Lay a foundation for your digital arts projects by exploring the technology and creative applications of digital imaging and photography. Students learn the technical fundamentals of computer-based art and design, exploring case studies on how digital artists create their work in both the commercial and fine arts space. Hands-on assignments explore core concepts in digital imaging and color.
• Photoshop basics: Get a thorough grounding in Adobe Photoshop, the premiere digital imaging program for graphic designers. Hands-on projects show how to select, enhance, distort, color, scale, and manipulate scanned images and artworks-or create them from scratch. Every designer must tame this creative powerhouse of a program.
• Illustrator basics: Build a working knowledge of Adobe Illustrator, the graphic designer's vector program of choice. Course projects explore selection tools, drawing tools, layers, the pen tool, transformations/ distortions, type tools, and modifying paths and shapes. Tapping the power of vector software allows you to produce detailed and scalable art for almost any application.
• Digital photography I: Explore the interaction of photography techniques and environmental factors to create powerful digital images. Students learn the fundamentals of lighting, perspective, and set-up and explore techniques for classic assignments: portraits, product shots, indoor and outdoor location shoots, and fast-action sports. Whether you're a fine artist, graphic designer, or Web developer, a mastery of digital photography gives you creative control of the medium.
• Color theory: Focus on developing appropriate color systems for graphic design projects. Course projects explore the principles, terminology, and applications of color theory, with an emphasis on manipulating color. A working knowledge of the expression and perception of color, and color interaction, lends credibility and sophistication to a designer's work.
• Photoshop advanced: Take your Photoshop skills to the next level by mastering Photoshop's advanced features. Students explore professional approaches to compositing, retouching, image correction, and masking. Brushes, lighting, textures, and special effects are explored as creative ways of producing high-impact images for print or Web media. The course builds on a basic level of Photoshop knowledge experience and offers projects that are challenging on both technical and artistic levels.
• Color correction and printing: Learn how to achieve an effective color balance in your Photoshop images and optimize them for print output. Students explore professional techniques for working with scanned, film, and digital source material, learn how to control, correct, and enhance the color palette of digital images for print media. Course projects emphasize developing a technical knowledge and an artistic understanding of color calibration for professional-quality digital imaging.
• Digital art photography: Explore the development of an art photography concept from genesis through its exploration, selection, treatment, and presentation. Students examine how to place images in photos and mock up drawings of three-dimensional spaces to promote exhibitions. Students complete the course with a photography project ready to be presented over the Web, sent via e mail, or distributed at client meetings.


Each student will be required to select one course from the following list:


• 3D Modeling using Form Z: Experience a practical introduction into the world of 3D modeling using the advanced Autodessys Form_Z 3D modeling tool. Class projects including a robot design, lighting effects, 3D architecture, animation, and ad design. The course show graphic designers how to integrate 3D effects into their work and establishes a good starting point for further exploration of 3D environment or game design.
• Illustrator advanced: Gain a working knowledge of Illustrator's advanced features, from tough Pen tool challenges to gradient meshes, symbols, actions, and filters. Students learn how to create photo-realistic illustrations, complex patterns, and rich designs, speeding their efforts with workflow features. The course builds on basic Illustrator skills to tackle high-end projects with depth, dimension, and wow-power
• Digital illustration basics: Explore tricks of the trade for creating Illustrator graphics that intrigue and delight. Step-by-step lectures explore how Illustrator tools such as the Pen tool, Bezier curves,and gradients are used to create graphic and icons. Principles of effective illustration are discussed, including lighting effects, smooth curves, and character design.
• Digital illustration advanced: Tackle advanced methods for communicating creative concepts through Illustrator graphics. Step-by-step lectures explore how an expert illustrator creates icons, characters, line art, and sequences. The focus is on developing a distinctive style in Illustrator projects.

Prerequisites/Audience

There are no specific prerequisite skills for this program. Each course builds on the skills and knowledge gained from the previous course. Students will begin with the Introduction course and work their way through the program.

The intended audience for this program is students seeking a thorough digital arts education.

PC Requirements/Materials Included

This course is compatible with Windows Vista Operating System.

This program can be accessed and completed using either PC or Macintosh computers. You'll need an Internet connection of 28Kpbs or higher, and a Web browser (Internet Explorer 4.0 or Netscape 4.0 or higher). We do not recommend AOL or Netscape 6 browsers.

Students will be required to provide their own software for each of the courses. There are no required textbooks.

The following software is required for this program:

• Adobe Photoshop 7.0 or CS
• Adobe Illustrator 10/CS or Macromedia Freehand 8

Students will also need to have access to a digital camera, rated 1 megapixel or higher.

Instructor Bio

Stephen Voss is a Portland, Oregon-based documentary photographer and web designer. Stephen's photographs have appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Willamette Week and he writes about photography for a number of magazines. He is currently working on a grant-funded project documenting people experiencing homelessness in the Portland area. Stephen has a BA in Computer Science from the George Washington University in Washington, DC.

James Dodson graduated from the University of Texas School of Architecture with a Bachelors Degree in Architecture in 1995. During his studies he spent two semesters studying abroad and fell in love with travel. His passion for design and travel brought him to Oslo, Norway where he joined Snèhetta (the internationally acclaimed designers of the Alexandria Library in Egypt). In 4 years at Snèhetta Jim worked on a variety of projects and a number of prize-winning competitions. Jim's specialty in the office was the use of 3D modeling as a design tool. His models have been published in magazines and trade publications in Europe and the US. Jim has also given lectures in 3D modeling at architecture schools in Oslo and Bergen.

Michael Hamm is a freelance designer and web developer with more than 8 years of experience in the field of interactive design. Based in Houston, Texas, Michael previously worked for JPMorgan Chase as an interactive designer. Michael's work has been published in various Web design books and magazines. In addition, he has served as technical editor on several design books published by Friends of Ed. Michael is an Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) in Adobe Illustrator and he is the founder, designer, programmer, and writer of Ergodraw.com, a Web site that grew from his passion for the illustration software and all things vector.

Piper Nilsson is a graphic designer and information architect. In her four-year career for a leading Web design agency, she blueprinted sites for such global clients as MetLife, Pepsi, ETS, and Citibank. Her current projects include building an e-learning prototype for children with learning disabilities and teaching technology in New York City public schools. She received a degree in graphic design from Pratt Institute.

Young Mo Yoon is a digital illustrator who hails from San Francisco and lives in New York. He's worked on all kinds of design projects from illustration to new media, for clients such as JP Morgan, Bowman International, and Studio Bada. He has received an award from the Society of Illustrators in LA and plans on producing animations in the future. Young holds a BFA in illustration from California College of Arts and Crafts, and MFA from School of Visual Arts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do I register?
Click on the register button at the top of the page and follow the directions. It is important that you type all your information in the boxes, then print it out to sign.  Payment and sending instructions are in the bottom right corner of the form.

2. How much do the courses cost?
The fee is in the pink box at the top of the page.

3. Can I register for courses if I live outside the United States?
Yes you can!

4. Do I ever have go to the school I register with?
All of our courses are delivered entirely online, so you never have to go to a class or travel to the school.

5. How long does it take to complete a course?
All of our courses are self-paced and open enrollment. You can start and finish the course at your own pace. When you register for a course, you are given an 180 days (6 months) to complete the course. If you need more time, extensions are available.

6. Do I have to buy additional materials?
All materials are included. The cost of materials will be covered by your tuition. GES will ship all materials via UPS ground service upon registration.

7. Can I get financial aid?
GES courses are non-credit courses, so they do not qualify for federal aid. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses.

• GES provides a loan opportunity for students. Simply go to www.collegeloanapplication.com to apply for an easier qualifying loan at a slightly higher rate. Click here for more information on this loan program.

8. What happens when I complete the course?
Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a certificate of completion from the school you registered with. You must obtain a final passing grade of 70% or greater to be awarded a certificate.

9. Am I guaranteed a job?
GES courses will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. We do not provide direct job placement services, but our instructors will help you build your resume and are available to give advice on finding your first job. Instructors will also be available to use as a professional reference upon completion of the course. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.

10. Who will be my instructor?
Each student is paired up with a facilitator for one-on-one interaction. The facilitator will be available (via email or phone) to answer any questions you may have and to provide feedback on your performance. All of our facilitators are successful working professionals in the fields in which they teach.

11. What do I have to have in order to take an online course, and what are the system requirements?
In order to take our online courses, you must have access to a computer and the Internet (a normal dial-up connection is fine). You can access the course contents from any web-enabled computer. There are no necessary plug-ins. You do not have to use the same computer to log-in to the course every time. We recommend that you have a word processing program (Microsoft Word is best) and the latest version of Internet Explorer.

12. Can I use a Mac or an iMac?
This program can be accessed and completed using either PC (IBM Compatible) or Apple (Macintosh) computers.

13. How can I get more information on the course?
All of the information we have is available online under our course catalog (www.gatlineducation.com). If you have questions that are not answered online, please feel free to email us at courseinfo@gatlineducation.com or call 817-870-2870. We will answer your questions promptly.

14. When can I start the course?
Our courses are all open enrollment. You can register and start the course as soon as you are ready.

15. How many hours per week should I spend studying?
As a general rule, we suggest a minimum of between five and ten hours per week. However, this will vary from individual to individual. If you are just getting started and have little to no experience, certainly try to put in as much time as you can and try to maintain a persistent schedule. Ultimately each student will find a pace that is comfortable for them.