Elizabethtown College

Department of Communications

Course Syllabus

Spring 2006

 

Com. 135A Publication Design and Graphics                     Tu. – Th. 9:30 a.m. – 11:20 a.m.

4 Credits                                                                                       Blackboard site

Dr. Hans-Erik Wennberg                                                          http://blackboard.etown.edu

206H Steinman Center

Phone 361-1259

Home Phone 367-2424

E-mail: wennberg@etown.edu

http://users.etown.edu/w/wennberg

 

Office Hours - Others by Appointment

 

M – 12:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.

Thurs. - 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

T - 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

F – by appointment

W – 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 pm

Others by Appointment

 

 

Prerequisites: Communications 125

 

Textbooks (Required):

 

Lawler, Brian, Print Publishing Guide, 2nd edition, Adobe Press, Berkley, California, 2006.

 

Ryan, William and Conover, Theodore, Graphic Communications Today 4th ed., Delmar Learning, Clifton Park, New York, 2004.

 

Weinmann, Elaine, Visual Quickstart Guide: QuarkXPress 6 for Macintosh, Peachpit Press. Berkley, California, 2003.

 

The student is responsible for the reading assignments as noted on the syllabus and you will be tested on this information.  While questions on the reading are always appropriate, class time will NOT be used to review most reading assignments.

 

Recommended Books

 

Cohen, Sandee and Williams, Robin, The Non-Designer's Scan and Print Book, PeachPit Press, Berkley, California, 1999.

 

Parker, Roger C., Looking Good in Print, 4th ed., The Coriolis Group, LLC, Scottsdale, Arizona, 1998.

 

Williams, Robin, The Non-Designer's Type Book, PeachPit Press, Berkley, California, 1998.

 

 

 

Williams, Robin, and Tollett, John, Robin Williams Design Workshop, PeachPit Press, Berkeley, California, 2001.

 

Blackboard

 

Com 135A Publication Design and Graphics will use Blackboard as a web-based course supplement.  It is the student's responsibility to monitor Blackboard 12 hours before every class and examination for up-to-date announcements and assignments.  The digital drop box will be used for delivery of specific assignments during the semester.

 

Class Materials (Required):

 

Production Supplies for Com. 135A - Purchased the second session of class, cost $35.00. Supplies will be distributed as needed throughout the semester. Print cards will be provided for printing in Steinman.

 

Use of Basic Drawing Equipment will be available for your use in Steinman 212.

 

Single items of production material are available from the Department of Communications and the College Store. $2/$5 purchase cards and print cards will be used for small transactions in the Department.

 

Resource Materials:

 

See list of library and Departmental journals of related publications (available in the Communications Conference Resource Room, Steinman 206).

 

Communications Department Lab Hours: Opening Monday, January 30th   

 

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 midnight.

Monday - Thursday

11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Friday

12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Saturday (After March 5th)

2:00 p.m. - 12:00 midnight

Sunday

In class demonstrations have priority use of the laboratory facility.  See posted class schedule.

 

Computer Applications

 

This course will use word processing, page layout and image modification programs to produce print products.  Word 2004, Quark 6.5, Illustrator CS2 and PhotoShop CS2 will be used in this course.  While the applications are available in both the Windows and Macintosh platforms, only the Department standard Macintosh application will be used for instructional purposes.  All students will be required to use Macintosh Computers in class and for testing purposes.  All files submitted must be in Macintosh format and using the fonts available in the Department Computer Laboratory.

 

Project submission must be made in PostScript level 3 quality (minimum 300 dpi).  Projects submitted at a lower quality will receive a failing grade and be returned for resubmission.  You should limit yourself to the standard fonts contained in the Macintosh Computers in Steinman 211. A utility program, such as StyleScript, may be necessary to print postscript quality from other ink-jet printer.

 

 

Student Use of Computer Laboratory

 

Students using the computer lab shall save their data on zip disks and class directories only. No data is to be saved on the computer hard drives.  Any stored data may be deleted. Class directories and student directories are also available for storage of data.  Backup all your computer work. The laboratory is for academic use and no game playing is permitted. No eating or drinking is permitted and student debris should be kept to a minimum. Students are not permitted to add fonts, programs or to re-configure these computers.

 

While using the computer, save your data files in the local student use folder.  When your lab session is complete, copy your data files to your zip disk or your class directory.  DO NOT USE YOUR STUDENT DIRECTORY FOLDER ON RES SERV FOR CLASS MATERIAL.

 

Please Note:

 

The second floor of the Steinman Center, TV control room, and radio station are equipped with HALON fire extinguishers - special equipment to fight fires and keep electronic equipment damage to a minimum.

 

HALON extinguishers use a gas that can be harmful to humans after prolonged exposure. If a fire occurs, point and release the special extinguishers as normal in fighting a fire. However, during the course of fire fighting, if one's voice is affected enough to sound like "Donald Duck", leave the fire areas before the gas becomes disabling. The effect on the voice is temporary and not harmful.

 

Course Description and Purpose:

 

The course employs the principles of design, typography, and other assorted methods of production to provide a foundation in the preparation of posters, newsletters, magazines, and special interest publications and slide graphics. Elements of computer graphics are included.  New media may be explored as time permits.

 

Course Objectives:

 

The student will be able to:

 

1. Identify the techniques used in the production of print/visual materials and their characteristics.

 

2. Demonstrate successful project management skills by completing a number of simultaneous projects on deadline.

 

3. Demonstrate successful operation of a computer-driven digital scanner.

 

4. Demonstrate several techniques for production of typography and understand the standards for their use.

 

5. Plan, develop and produce camera-ready artwork for various types of graphic print media.

 

6. Select the proper form for production of specific print assignments.

 

7. Identify the general aspects and development of new graphic procedures.

 

8. Understand and take into account the basic legal conditions and public relations aspects of graphic production.

 

9. Demonstrate successful use of computer desktop publishing in the Macintosh Operating System.

 

10. Design, setup and reproduce a color computer graphic.

 

Course Policies:

 

Standards of Academic Integrity

 

Elizabethtown College assumes that its students will act honorably and will conduct themselves according.

 

Students in Com 135A are expected to adhere to the Pledge of Integrity adopted by the Student Senate and the Faculty Assembly. Academic dishonesty – including cheating and plagiarism – constitutes a serious breach of academic integrity. It is expected unequivocally that all academic work be the honest product of the studentŐs own endeavor. Only in this way can students reveal authentic achievement and potential to an instructor.

 

Statement on Disability

 

 If you have a documented disability and need reasonable accommodations to fully participate in course activities or meet course requirements, you must

 

(1) Contact the Director of Disability Services, Shirley Deichert, in the Center of Student Success, BSC 288, (717) 361-1227, deichesa@etown.edu, AND

 

(2) Meet with the Director of Disability Services and the instructor, within two weeks of receiving a copy of the accommodation letter from Disability Services to discuss your accommodation needs and their implementation.

 

Attendance

 

It is expected that all students attend every class and be on time. Absences severely handicap the learning process because you are unable to acquire knowledge through firsthand discussions and demonstrations. Being late for class interrupts the momentum of the class and distracts other students. A grade reduction will be made for students repeatedly late.

 

A student may miss two class sessions without penalty; however, on each successive absence, a grade reduction will be made from the course final grade.

 

Student athletes should discuss their schedules individually with the instructor. There may be occasions where the absence of a student athlete will not be permitted.

 

Electronic Communications

 

The use of electronic communications devices (cell phones, beepers, PDAs) will not be permitted.  Turn these devices off or to silent before coming to class.  Students interrupting class with these devices will be asked to leave and marked absent for the class.

 

Makeup Work

 

Assignments are due at the beginning of the class period. No late work will be accepted and a grade of 0 will be given.

 

Assignments, quizzes or tests missed as a result of absence, will be made up only by prior arrangement with the instructor. Unless allowed to be made up, a grade of 0 will be given.

 

Written Work

 

All drafts of treatments, proposals and projects must be typed or word-processed.

 

Out-of-Class Learning Experiences:

 

During the semester there will be a number of required out-of-class learning experiences.  These will be scheduled to accommodate the class and instructors.  Recognizing the variety of experiences among the class, a pre-test may be given in a regular class period before the session.  Any student who achieves a satisfactory grade in the assessment will be excused from that particular learning experience.

 

Learning experience will be scheduled for specific times during the weeks of:

 

January 23rd   - Macintosh Operation System 10.4 and Microsoft Word 2004.

 

January 30th   – Scanning with Adobe PhotoShop CS2

 

February 13th  – Basic Quark Express 6.5

 

February 20th  - Adobe Illustrator CS2

 

March 20th   – Problems with Quark Express

 

November 14th   – Adobe Go Live CS2

 

The instructor and/or the class tutor will conduct these sessions. Tutors are also available for Com 135 through the Learning Center.

 


Resubmission of Projects

 

Recognizing that professional assignments are judged acceptable and no grade given so multiple reviews and revisions are expected. In an effort to emulate this process any graded work assignment submitted on time maybe resubmitted at any time up to February 21, 2006 for projects due before the basics exam and up to the April 27, 2006 class session for project due the remainder of the semester.

Ľ Both the original assignment and the resubmitted assignment must be submitted.

Ľ The resubmission will be graded and averaged with the original submission to get one grade.

Ľ Resubmissions will not be accepted for late work or without original submission.

 

Grading

The final grade for the course will be determined in the following manner:

Quiz Grades*

5%

Basics Examination**

7%

Final Examination**

8%

Work Assignments

60%

Final Project

20%

 

* Quizzes are unannounced and given to assess studentŐs progress.

**Examinations will cover theory, technique, and general knowledge and production skills. A demonstration of production skills may be required.

 

Grading Scale

 

Graded work will be awarded (+) and (-) letter grades each corresponding to a fixed numerical value on a scale of 10.

 

9.3 A+

9.0 A

8.7 A-

8.3 B+

8.0 B

7.7 B-

7.3 C+

7.0 C

6.7 C-

6.3 D+

6.0 D

5.7 D-

Below 5.7 F

 

 

 

 

The instructor reserves the right to alter course content or pace to accommodate class progress. Additional computer assignments may be added as new technologies become available.

 

            Schedule

 

Tuesday, 

January 17th

(1) Course Introduction

Review Of Word

Discussion of the Campus Network and Printing (Home Dirs and Class Dirs)

(Cohen, Chapter 1)

(Weinmann, Chapter 1)

(Conover, Chapter 1)


 

Thursday.

January 19th

(2) Print Production and the Revolution in Communication

 (Cohen, Chapter 3)

(Conover, pgs. 295-312)

Week of

January 23rd

Macintosh Operating System 10.4 Tiger and Microsoft Word 2004

Out-of-Class Learning Experience

Tuesday,

January 24th

(3) Criticism of Existing Print Product

 (Conover, Chapter 2) (Weinmann, Chapter 2-5)

Commentary About Existing Graphic (oral and Written)

Thursday,

January 26th

(4) Desktop Publishing &Typography

 (Cohen, Chapter 15)

(Conover, Chapter 3)

Week of

January 30th

Scanning with

Adobe PhotoShop 7.0

Out-of-Class Learning Experience

Tuesday,

January 31st

(5) Typography Design and Graphics

 (Conover, Chapter 4)

(Weinmann, Chapter 6-7)

Type Collage Due

Thursday,

February 2nd

(6) Art and Illustrations

(Conover, Chapter 7)

Tuesday,

 February 7th

(7) More Art and Illustration

Desktop Publishing:

Quark Introduction

Cohen, Chapter 6-8, 12)

(Weinmann, Chapter 9-10)

(Conover, Chapter 8)

Thursday,

February 9th

(8) Introduction to Scanning and PhotoShop

Cropping And Scaling Work Assignment Due

Week of

February 13th

Quark Express 6

Out-of-Class Learning Experience


Tuesday,

February 14th

(9) Color:

A Powerful Communications Tool

Color Reproduction

 

Quark Exercise Assignment Due in Class (Cohen, Chapter 15, 9, 10,11)

(Weinmann, Chapter 15)

(Conover, Chapter 6)

Thursday,

February 16th

(10) Paper and Ink

Basic Design Tools and Principles

(Cohen 21-32)

(Conover, Pgs 313-324 and Chapter 5)

Monday,

February 20th

College Early Warning

 

Week of

February 20th

Adobe Illustrator CS

Out-of-Class Learning Experience

Tuesday

February 21st

(11) Putting it Together

Preparing for Production

(Conover pgs 325-334)

 

 

 

Thursday

February 23rd

(12) Field Trip to Continental Press, 9:30 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.

Meet in Steinman 211 at 9:30 a.m.

Tuesday

February 28th

(13) Discussion of Company/Organization Project

(Conover, Chapter 12)

Thursday

March 2nd

(14) Examination - Basic Design Tools

Blackboard in Steinman 210

 

Spring Break

Friday, March 2nd 5 p.m. –

Monday, March 13th 8 a.m.

 

Tuesday, March 14th

College Midterm Date

 

Tuesday

March 14th

(15) Illustrator Lab Exercise

Steinman 210

Thursday

March 16th

(16) Logos/Corporate Images

Designing Print Communications

Company Profile Due In Writing

(Conover, Chapter 12)

Week of

March 20th

Problems with Quark Express

Out-of-Class Learning Experience

Tuesday

March 21st

(17) Open Lab Period of Logo Design

 

 

Thursday

March 23rd

(18) Brochure Design

(Conover, pgs. 400-417)

Logo Proposal With Four Examples Due

Tuesday

March 28th

(19) Newsletters

Preliminary Brochure (Proposal And Dummy Layout) Due In Class

Thursday

March 30th

(20) Newspapers

 

Preliminary Newsletter (Proposal And Dummy Layout) Due

(Conover, Chapters 15, 16)

 

Week of

April 3rd

Adobe Go-Live

Out-of-Class Learning Experience

Tuesday

April 4th

(21) Advertising Design

Logo Work Assignment Due

(Conover, Chapter 13)

Thursday

April 6th

(22) Introduce Web Page Design

Adobe Go-Live 6.0

Newspaper Page Design Work Assignment

Due in Class Directory

Tuesday

April 11th

(23) Web Pages

Brochure Camera Ready Due In Class

Thursday

April 13th

(24) Final Project Introduction

 

Camera Ready Newsletter

Due in Class

 

Easter Break

Thursday, April 13th 5 p.m. –

Monday, April 17th 6 p.m.

 

 

 Tuesday

April 18th

Day Classes Resume

(25) Web Pages

 

Thursday

April 20th

 

 

Tuesday

April 25th

(26) Lab Session on Web Pages

 

Thursday

April 27th

(27) Magazine Design

Color Advertising

Assignment Due

Magazine

Work Assignment Due

(Conover Chapter 14)

Last Day For Resubmissions

Tuesday

May 2nd

(28) Annual Report Design

Web Page submitted on line by the conclusion of class (Conover, Chapter 10)

Thursday

May 4th

(29) Course Summary

Final Project Presentation

Thursday

May 11th

 

 

Final Examination

8:30 am – 10:30 am.

(Steinman 211)