Academic Catalog

PHOT 6A: PHOTOSHOP FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS I

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Summer 2025
Units: 4
Hours: 3 lecture, 3 laboratory per week (72 total per quarter)
Advisory: PHOT 5 or equivalent; this course is included in the Digital Photography family of activity courses; not open to students with credit in PHOT 4A or 65A.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: CSU/UC
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable
Formerly: PHOT 4A

Student Learning Outcomes

  • A successful student will create photo-based artwork that demonstrates proficiency in the beginning level digital photography techniques covered in course materials.
  • A successful student will define digital photography terminology and identify basic image editing software features and their proper use.

Description

Introduction to the tools for expressive communication in digital photography using Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. Development of skills in image capture, enhancement, printing, and web publishing, for both fine art and commercial applications. Exposure to multiple perspectives on photography as practiced, and exploration of contributions by photographers from diverse cultures.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate ability to use digital imaging software.
  2. Demonstrate ability to use current computer hardware.
  3. Create hard copy photographic images for portfolio presentation and web appropriate images for electronic publishing.
  4. Discuss and describe expanding visual awareness.
  5. Demonstrate an awareness of basic photographic principles underlying the new technologies and the ability to apply these interdisciplinary principles in the sciences and fine arts.
  6. Demonstrate understanding of ethics of the new technologies, including the principles of truthfulness in images, copyright, and appropriation.
  7. Discuss the significance that photography has had on past and current social concerns and beliefs.
  8. Recognize and appreciate the motivations, concerns, and differences between selected photographers.
  9. Understand how to approach and critique photographs made by others and formulate intelligent interpretations.

Course Content

  1. Introduction to digital image technology
    1. History of imaging from silver to pixel
    2. Terminology of the digital darkroom
    3. Future of imaging and directions in technologies
    4. Ethics of digital manipulation, copyright issues, appropriation in modern artistic expression and in commercial applications
    5. Contribution from diverse cultures and individuals to the advance of electronic technologies
    6. Historical development of the medium, including influential photographers from different cultures and backgrounds
  2. Digital imaging hardware
    1. The computer
      1. Platform choices
      2. Memory requirements for working with images
    2. Digital cameras (brief overview)
    3. Scanners for negatives, prints, objects
    4. Printers (input, output, and WYSIWYG)
  3. Introduction to the software
    1. File formats and their uses
    2. Digital imaging software menus and tools and their use
      1. The brush tools (healing brush, spot healing brush, patch, clone tool/rubber stamp, paint brush, eraser)
      2. Selection tools (marque, magic wand, lasso and their modifiers)
      3. Editing tools (cut paste, rotate, scale, crop)
      4. Basic adjustments (levels, curves, brightness/contrast)
    3. Resolution
    4. Color controls
    5. Selection controls
    6. Filters and special effects
    7. History panel
    8. Layers and blending modes
    9. Use of type in Photoshop
    10. Automate menu and actions
  4. Organizing and archiving images
    1. Rating systems and methods
    2. Keywords and other metadata
    3. File management
  5. Using digital imagery to make artwork of meaning and intention
    1. Effective communication through digital imaging
    2. Truthfulness in digital imaging
    3. Formal and alternative presentation of the digital image

Lab Content

  1. Assignments and exercises that practice digital imaging techniques.
  2. Assignments and exercises that practice the use of digital imaging vocabulary.
  3. Assignments and exercises that practice the use of printing and other output methods.
  4. Preparation of professionally presented photographs using both matting framing and digital presentation techniques.
  5. Visit and review photography exhibitions in museums and galleries.
  6. Exercises that have students make revisions or corrections and edit their photographs.
  7. Critiques and evaluation of assignments and exercises.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. A lecture room equipped with an LCD overhead projector for displaying projected computer displays; a desk or workstation for each student; an instructional computer with high-resolution monitor, scanner, color printer, and Adobe Creative Cloud software; lighting and wall space suitable for displaying and critiquing hardcopy output; an integrated or separate facility for student computer time.
2. When taught via Foothill Global Access, ongoing access to a computer with email software and hardware, including Adobe Creative Cloud software; email address.

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Critiques of digital photographs
Instructor's review of student's on-going work
Review of student's participation in discussion and critiques, laboratory performance
Written paper(s) on current issues in digital photography
Quizzes/tests

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Lectures on the techniques of digital imaging software and digital photography
Discussion and electronic discussions/chat using the language of digital imaging and photographic/artistic critiques
Demonstrations of digital imaging software and digital photography
Field trips to visit photographic, artistic, and technical locations

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Chavez, Conrad. Adobe Photoshop Classroom in a Book. 2023.

Access to Adobe Creative Cloud software.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

  1. Reading of the textbook
  2. Review of handouts and relevant reading material
  3. Review of tutorial videos
  4. Research and planning of individual creative projects
  5. Written assignment statement
  6. Written portfolio statement
  7. Written critiques of student work
  8. Written report of attending a photography exhibition or event

Discipline(s)

Photography