Monday, 01/03 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Aim: How do you make an animated .gif in Photoshop?
Do Now: Turn your chair around and look at the screen!
New Project! Create an original GIF animation in Photoshop.
Requirements:
- Create new file in Photoshop that is 5x5" and 72dpi
-Animation must be at least 20 seconds long
-No frame more than 1 second long
-Cannot repeat for more than 2 seconds
-Must include drawn and edited elements- not ONLY still images (otherwise we'd be using iMovie)
Handy video tutorial:
Monday, 12/13
Aim: What makes a good logo?
Do Now: Turn your chair around and look at the screen!
Think about all the things that make you unique. What are your interests? Skills? Hobbies?
New Project! The "You" Logo
Using Photoshop, you will create a logo that embodies all that is you. Like any good Graphic Designer, you must submit more than one idea. Requirements below:
- Create a New document in Photoshop that is 5x5" and 72dpi.
- Use no more than 3 colors
- Use no more than 2 words (can be your name, initials, or any other words- NO profanity)
- Must submit at least 3 ideas
Check out these tutorials on logo-making. See if you can pick up some new skillz!
Wednesday, 12/1 Happy December!
Aim: What is a visual pun?
Do Now: Turn your chair around and look at the screen!
New Project!: Visual Puns
You will choose 5 of the following words or phrases and create a visual pun for each using Photoshop:
Watch Dog
Fan Club
Book Worm
Loud Tie
Toothpick
Handcuffs
Fireman
Wisdom Teeth
Boxing Match
Handball
Football
Butterfly
Fruit Punch
Serial Killer
Milk Man
Mail Man
Fire Drill
Handbag
Muffin Top
Magic Marker
Lipstick
Book Club
Nose Ring
Tennis Shoe
Board Game
Ski Trip
Backpack
Tuesday, 11/30
Aim: How does photo retouching teach us about Photoshop tools?
Do Now: Continue working on your retouching/head swapping project. MAKE SURE you have finished and sent me your ROAD SIGNS!
NOTE:
1. Save all work to your USB
2. Work on retouching a photo of yourself from PhotoBooth if you're done!
Today you will be graded on: Staying on task- either finishing your Road Signs, or your photo retouching project in Photoshop.
Classwork points are out of 20. Everytime I see you off task, it's 5 points off.
WELCOME BACK!
Aim: How does photo retouching teach us about Photoshop tools?
Do Now: Continue working on your retouching/head swapping project. MAKE SURE you have finished and sent me your ROAD SIGNS!
NOTE:
1. Save all work to your USB
2. Work on retouching a photo of yourself from PhotoBooth if you're done!
Monday-Tuesday, 11/22, 23
Aim: Why does everyone in a magazine look so PERFECT???
Do Now: Make sure you have emailed me the 10 ROAD SIGNS assignment. You can put all 10 JPEG files into one Word document and email me that document at aapostolou@thewcs.org
NEW TASK!
"Who needs Hogwarts?"
Using Photoshop, you will make yourself into whatever you've always dreamed of being. Supermodel? Famous Ball player? Unicorn? You name it!*
*Remember: You are awesome and beautiful just the way you are- this is just for fun!
We'll be using PHOTO-RETOUCHING techniques like the ones explained in the videos below:
Tuesday, 11/16
Aim: How do I make a road sign in Photoshop?
Do Now: What tool in Photoshop does the following:
1.) Select an area of the image based on the color of the pixels?
2.) Copy one area of the image onto another?
3.) Choose a specific color from the image?
The road sign problem:
IMMEDIATE communication is the function of a road sign. People need to understand what the sign says RIGHT AWAY.
With this in mind, your task is to create a road sign in Photoshop for each of the following places or ideas:
- Ant Farm
- Baseball Field
- Checkers area
- Fortune Teller
- Archery Range
- Kite Flying Area
- Nuclear Power Plant
- Earthquake
- Skydiver Landing Zone
- Nerd Alert
Rules:
1.) NO WORDS or lettering
2.) Must use the follwing image as your starting point for each sign (click to download)
3.) Save each image as a ".jpg" with your name and the name of the sign.
Friday, 11/05
Aim: Am I done with my GarageBand song?
Do Now: Make sure you have saved any files you'd like to keep on an external USB drive. No computers on Monday!
REMINDER: MIDTERM ON TUESDAY!!!
GarageBand song due today!!! Export it as an mp3 (directions below) and email it to me! aapostolou@thewcs.org
Thursday, 11/04
Aim: Am I almost done with my GaragBand song?
Do Now: Check out this cool new infographic!
If you are done with your song, export it by going to the "Share" tab and clicking "Send to iTunes". Make sure it is set to encode as an mp3, not AAC.
Wednesday, 11/03
Aim: Have I saved all of my work?
Do Now: Next week the computers are being wiped! Save any work on a USB that you don't want to be gone forever!!!
Continue working on your GarageBand song! DUE FRIDAY!!
Thursday, 10/28
Aim: How do I structure a catchy song?
Do Now: Check out this website on song structure:
Also, check out this video!
Today you will be graded on: Staying on task- either finishing your PSA, writing a response to the questions, or working on your GarageBand song.
Classwork points are out of 20. Everytime I see you off task, it's 5 points off.
Wednesday, 10/27
Aim: Have I started working on my GarageBand song?
Do Now: Check this out:
How to get rid of that annoying yellow line Johnny Google strikes again!
***TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO TURN IN YOUR PSA!!! IF I DON'T HAVE IT SAVED TO MY USB BY THE END OF THE DAY, YOU DON'T GET CREDIT!***
Today you will be graded on: Staying on task- either finishing your PSA, writing a response to the questions, or working on your GarageBand song.
Classwork points are out of 20. Everytime I see you off task, it's 5 points off.
Tuesday, 10/26
Aim: How do I add loops to my Garageband song?
Do Now: Watch the tutorial below on adding loops.
Watch the other tutorials as well, such as how to create a new project, and how to add effects. Learning!
Monday, 10/25
Aim: How do I create a song in GarageBand?
Do Now: Make sure you have finished your Me Movie and PSA, and answered the questions for the PSA. I will save the movies onto my USB, and you should email me the written response.
New Project!
Music, as we have learned, can add a great deal of emotion to a movie. Music has the power to inspire and to move people. Your task is to create an ORIGINAL song in GarageBand which adheres to the following requirements:
- Must be between 3-5 minutes long
- Must use loops
- No vocal recordings (sorry, we don't have the technology for it)
- Associate your song with a FEEL, THEME, or MOOD. Since there are no lyrics, how will you communicate your feeling?
You may work alone (solo artist) or in a "band" of no more than 2 other people.
↓↓↓ Please see the lessons from Thursday and Friday for GarageBand demos, tutorials, and cool videos! ↓↓↓
Friday, 10/22
Aim: Have I handed in all my work due today?
Do Now: If you are done with the three things listed from yesterday, you may watch the videos below, as well as the ones from yesterday. Our next project deals with GarageBand, so I want you to become a little familiar with the program. Check out the cool stuff it can do, make a little song, go nuts!
Some GrageBand videos (don't forget to check out the ones from yesterday too!)
Great tutorial
Editing and Arranging
Just Funny
Thursday, 10/21
Aim: Am I almost done with my PSA?
Do Now: Due tomorrow are the following:
1.) The Me Movie
2.) The PSA (make sure you check the rubric!)
3.) The response to the questions below (from Tuesday) in paragraph form, emailed to me.
I am not here today! Sad, I know. When you finish drying your tears, please check out the following videos (only if you are done with the above 3 assignments.) USE HEADPHONES. If you borrow them, return them. I have 15 in the box. I expect 15 back.
How to build an original music composition
Now open up GarageBand and test it out! Experiment! Have fun!
Tuesday, 10/19
Aim: What do I need to do to get an "A" on my PSA?
Do Now: Read the rubic below and make sure your project meets all the requirements!!
IF you are done:
Write 2-3 paragraphs in Microsoft Word explaining
1.) Why you chose your topic
2.) What your message is
3.) What you want people who watch it to think/feel
4.) Why you decided to use the images you chose
5.) Something you learned about your topic
Save and email this document to me when you are done.
Monday, 10/18
Aim: What is the MESSAGE of my PSA?
Do Now: Make sure you have a clear message that you are sending to the public in your PSA. I will come around and write down your message.
Continue working on your movies! Keep an eye out for the grading rubric tomorrow!
Friday, 10/15
Aim: What makes a good Public Service Announcement?
Do Now: Check out the following websites about successful PSAs:
Continue working on your movies! :D
Thursday, 10/14
Aim: How can I make my movie really dynamic?
Do Now: Watch the videos below for inspiration for your PSA
NOTICE: Keep in mind when making your PSA, if you can make Ms. Apostolou sincerely LOL or cry when watching your movie, you will get 5 extra points!!!
Wednesday, 10/13
Continue working on your iMovies!
1.) The "Me" movie (30 seconds)
2.) The Public Service Announcement (2 minutes)
***See requirements below!***
Also, here are some videos you can watch for inspiration:
The More You Know (serious) :|
The More You Know (funny) :D
Tuesday, 10/12
Aim: How does iMovie work?
Do Now:
1.) Watch the intro video here about getting started in iMovie. You may use headphones if you have them.
2.) Complete the mini-project from last week. See below for instructions.
PROJECT! The following will be your first major project for this class. READ CAREFULLY!
You are the creative director of a successful ad agency and have been contacted to direct and edit a Public Service announcement to be broadcast all over America. The truly amazing thing is that you are being given the freedom to choose any important issue you want as the subject of the PSA! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity!
Here are the requirements:
- The PSA must be at least 2 minutes long
- It must be in SLIDESHOW format- no moving images.
- It must include slide transitions
- There must be text over each slide. The text must include FACTS about the issue. (That means research!)
- It must include music!
You can find great, royalty-free ad music to download on this website. Simply click on the type or mood of music you want, and browse the available options. Make sure to take note of the length of each clip!
Here is an example I made:
Thursday and Friday, 10/7&8
Aim: How am I doing in this class?
Do Now: Make sure you have completed all the assignments below and emailed them to me! See me if you're not sure I got the email.
Once you have completed/sent everything:
1.) Watch the intro video here about getting started in iMovie. You may use headphones if you have them.
2.) Follow the instructions on this website to make a simple iMovie slideshow using just pictures of yourself.
Requirements:
- Must use at least 5 photos (NO FACEBOOK! Photo Booth only)
- Must have text over each slide
- NO music
- At least 30 seconds
- Must use cool transitions
- If you finish it, make a longer one! Make up a story about yourself! Be creative!
IMPORTANT NOTE: iMovie does not save like most programs. Your work remains in the program until you export it. You must click "Share" and then "Export Movie". When you are done with your slideshow, export your iMovie at the MEDIUM size. Let me know when you are done and I will put it on my USB.
Wednesday, 10/6
Catch-up day! Make sure you have finished and handed in or emailed the following:
1.) Black squares assignment in Microsoft Word
2.) Videos quiz
3.) Superman logo and questions (see below)
Progress reports come out next week!
Tuesday, 10/5
Finish the Superman logo at 4dpi on your graph paper and make sure to answer the questions below! When you are done, hand in the logo and email the questions.
Monday, 10/4
Aim: What is a pixel?
Do Now:
1.) Open up a blank Microsoft Word document and put your name, the date, and the period #.
Today's Activity:
1.) Open up iPhoto (NOT PhotoBooth)
2.) Go to "file" and choose "Import to Library"
3.) Choose the file from the Desktop called "Original_supermanlogo.jpg"
4.) When the photo is in iPhoto, double click it.
5.) Go to "file" and choose "Export"
6.) Under size, choose "Custom" and select "width". Enter 43 in the width field.
7.) Click Export and title the file "4dpi" and your first name. Save to the Desktop.
8.) Repeat steps 5 and 6 two more times, but change the widths so that for one it reads "792" and is saved as "72dpi" plus your first name, and one reads "3300" and is saved as "300dpi" and your first name.
9.) Close iPhoto.
10.) Open your finder window and open the file called "4dpi"
11.) Zoom in until the image takes up the whole screen.
12.) Use the colored pencils to copy each square onto your graph paper. Try to match each square color as exactly as possible.
When you are done, open up the other two images. Notice the difference in the resolution. Zoom in on each image and take note of the pixels. Answer the following questions in your Word document:
1.) Which of the three images has the highest resolution? How do you know?
2.) How would you define pixel in your own words?
3.) What is the resolution of the image you drew on your graph paper?
4.) Which of the three images is best suited for the web?
5.) Which image would you use to make a printout on your home printer?
Friday, 10/1 Happy October! 
Aim: Why is Media Literacy important?
Do Now:
1.) Open up a blank Microsoft Word document and put your name, the date, and the period #.
2.) Google "media literacy" and write the definition in your document. We will share these answers.
Today's Activity:
Web Quiz!
First, TURN THE SOUND OFF ON YOUR COMPUTER! You will not need it.
You are going to watch 3 short videos about media literacy. Please copy and paste the questions below into your Word document. For each video, answer the questions in your Word document. This will be graded as a QUIZ!
1.) How many babies will be born in the next 8 seconds?
2.) In 2006, which country had the highest number of college graduates?
3.) How many jobs does the US department of labor estimate the average US learner will have by their 38th birthday?
4.) How many hours of TV have today's 21 year olds watched?
5.) What percentage of US 4 year olds have used a computer?
6.) In what year was the Internet first widely used by the public?
7.) If MySpace were a county, what size would it be?
8.) In what year do they think a computer's capabilities will exceed that of the human race?
9.) Who said, "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."?
1.) How many webpages do Americans have access to?
2.) How many unique visitors do myspace, youtube, and facebook get per month?
3.)How many songs last year were downloaded and not paid for?
4.) How many articles are on Wikipedia?
5.) How long did it take Ang Chuang Yang to type a 160-character text message?
6.) How many texts did Brady James send in March 2009?
7.) What percentage of the 200 millions emails sent a day are spam?
8.) Google "convergence". Write the definition here.
1.) How many married couples last year met on a social networking site?
2.) How long did it take Internet to reach 50 million viewers?
3.) If facebook were a country, how big would it be?
4.) Which two celebrities have the most Twitter followers?
5.) What does "wiki" mean?
6.) How much did hulu grow from 2008-2009?
7.) How many pieces of content are shared on facebook daily?
8.) Why do you think it's important to be media literate in the 21st century? Write at least 5 sentences.
Once you have finished the quiz, email it to me! Also, make sure you have finished all of the assignments below!
Thursday, 9/30 
Aim: What is semiotics?
Do Now:
1.) Open up a blank Microsoft Word document and put your name, the date, and the period #.
2.) Google"semiotics" and write the definition for it in your Word document. We will be sharing these answers.
3.) Open up the homework tab on this website, and make sure you are not missing anything. ↑
Today's activities:
Please make sure you have finished yesterday's assignment and EMAILED IT TO ME before you start today's assignment. See below on how to set up a Gmail account.
Once you have finished the 3 compositions and answered the questions from yesterday, please complete the following:
1.) Take this quiz. Write your score in your Word document for #2.
2.) Now take this quiz. Write your rank in your Word document for #2, next to your score for the first quiz.
3.) For #3, answer these questions:
a. What is the difference between the two quizzes?
b. Which one was harder? Why?
4.) Look at this list of new logos. Some are better than the old ones, some are not. Read the descriptions and list 5 things that you learned about logo design. (For example, using one or two colors in a logo is better than using a whole bunch.)
5.) Google "subliminal ads". Write the definition in your Word document for #5.
6.) Now check out these logos with hidden messages.
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Make your life easy! Sign up for a Gmail account if you do not already have one. It will make it MUCH easier for you to send me stuff, and for me to send you stuff.
Save your Word document and send it to me at aapostolou@thewcs.org
Wednesday, 9/29 
Aim: What is composition?
Do Now:
1.) Open this black square.
2.) Open up Microsoft word and drag the black square into a new blank document.
3.) Double Click on the square and select "layout", then select "behind text". This will allow you to move the square around freely.
4.) Now click on the square and press "Commad C" to copy it, and "Command V" to paste it. Paste three times, so that you have 4 black squares just chillin'.
5.) Move the squares around to create three compositions: One for the word BALANCE, one for the word CONGESTED, and one for the word INCREASE.
6.) You may only use 4 squares. They can be any size, but remember they have to be SQUARES. (see note below)
***When you resize an image in Microsoft Word, you have to hold the SHIFT key while moving the mouse to make sure it stays a square and doesn't get all warped.****
After you finish the black squares assignment, answer the following questions in a Word document:
1.) Which word was the easiest for you to design? Why?
2.) How do you think graphic designers use this same apprach to create ads, logos, etc.?
3.) Why do you think it's so important for images to be understood right away, especially in advertising?
4.) How would you define "composition"?
5.) What do you think the phrase "visual problem solving" means? How did we use it today?
When you are done, save your documents and either put them on a USB drive, or send them to me at aapostolou@thewcs.org