FNAR 128: Intro to Digital Media

This course is designed to introduce students to the principles and techniques of digital media and their specific application to an artistic process. During the course of the semester students will complete exercises, projects and participate in critiques, in order to develop a working knowledge of computer media as a tool for artistic expression and experimentation. While students learn software techniques, the emphasis is on applying digital technologies to the development of the student’s artistic practice. Students will be introduced to ‘new media’ history and theory. The student must purchase all personal and expendable art material.

Hot Air Balloon

Project 1: Tangrams

Used basic Adobe Photoshop skills: Masking and Layering

The Dancer

The Flying Butterfly

The Runner

The Standstill Butterfly

Original Photo

Project 2: Photo Restoration

Adobe Photoshop: Colorizing and Photo Restoration

Restored Photo

Tools used:

  • Crop Tool

  • Eye dropper

  • Spot Healing Brush

  • Brush Tool,

  • Clone Stamp

  • Eraser Tool

  • Smudge/Blur/Sharpen Brushes

  • Dodge/Burn Tools

  • Layers - opacity, modes, multiply

  • Color and Swatches Panel

  • Navigator/Histogram/Info

  • Adjustments - Levels, Hue/Saturation, Color Balance

Project 3: Digital Collage - Place and Identity

Part 1: Artist Research Response Paper

Wrote a 1 - 2 page response paper from a list of artists given in class. The artists I chose to research were Man Ray (Glass Tears, 1932) and Richard Hamilton (Just What Is It That Makes Today’s Homes So Different, So Appealing?, 1956).

Part 2: Technical Considerations and Source Material Creation/Collection

  • Resolution - Screen Resolution (72-150dpi) and Print Resolution (300dpi+)

  • Capture - Collected and Photographed original items included in the final project, Green Screen Techniques, Panorama Techniques

  • Editing -- Background Removal or Replacement, Collage and Airbrushing, Refined Detail Masking, Layer Modes

  • Print Production

Part 3: Conceptual Requirements and Final Project

  • Place - Own original photographs and scan of a Place that I found meaningful

  • Identity - Original photographs and scans that express a range of different identities

My final project questions the idea of: What is true beauty? I provided pictures of lamps, light, flowers, makeup, mirrors, as well as a picture of myself. Beauty is what we make and define.

Project 4: Pattern Design with Adobe Illustrator

Constructed a basic “tile” for 2 patterns I designed. The template provided shows the tile and the finished patterns.

Project 5: Poster Designs with Adobe Illustrator

Using Adobe Illustrator I created 2 posters as pure vector images. Through this project, I learned to work within illustrator interface and use the pen, trace, text, shape, and pathfinder tools. These final pieces engaged images that illustrate the concept of my chosen place and event.

Event Poster:

New York City Fashion Week 2025

Travel Poster:

Paris, France - Moulin Rouge

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ENGL 353: Writing for the Profession