WELCOME TO DIGITAL TOOLS

Spring/Fall 2009 at Moore College of Art.

Class Description:

The class will develop an informed awareness and equip the attentive student with a practical vocabulary and familiarity with basic Macintosh computer skills, web-image interface and an indepth introduction to the Adobe Creative Suite Programs. Class assignments and the final project will address the vocabulary of artistic language, including perspective, scale, figure-ground, balance, repetition and elements of color. Students will leave with a portfolio of projects uploaded to an online blog ready for presentation, as well as self-published “zine” based on a chosen subject for the class.

Instructor: Lena Helen
lenahelen.moore@gmail.com

STORAGE AND MEMORY Lecture 1

About your Mac Memory and Storage: (Menu: AboutYourMac/MoreInfo)

Your processor (Menu: AboutYourMac/MoreInfo)

• The processor is set up to process all the functions of the computer.
• Your processor will determine the speed of your applications.

Harddrive Storage: (HD/Command/i)

• • Harddrive memory is set up to store files.
• • The larger your HD memory the more files you can hold.
• • Some HD memory must be set aside for spill over of RAM.
• • Using your HD memory for RAM processing will slow down your MAC.
• • Mac HD does not fragment, like PCs.

RAM-Random Access Memory: (Finder:HD/Applications/Utilities/Activity Monitor)

• • RAM functions to allocate memory to process software.
• • More RAM will allow you to open and use more programs at one time.
• • More RAM will not make your computer faster.
• • CS3 needs at least 3G of RAM to function fully.
• • Turning off your MAC will flush your RAM.

Search Function

• Search your Mac on the right of the Menu Bar
• Search a Folder on the right of the Finder window
• Find the Location of a file: On the Bottom of the Finder Window

Storage and Ports:

• Computer HD
• Servers Online and Networks
• EXT HD and thumbdrives

DISCOUNTS ON MAC'S AND MAC SOFTWARE

If you are interested in purchasing a Mac or Mac software, you are entitled to an Educational Discount.
Below is how you go about obtaining it:

Required beforehand is a "987" identification number and access to IQ Web. Once you have obtained a student ID # then you can go ahead and request access on the IQ Web homepage.
Below are the step to request access:
* Go to the IQ Web HomePage and click "Request Access"
* Select "Current Member of Moore College of Art
*Fill out the personal identification information. (I recommend using the same user name and password for logging into IQWeb as you do to log into the Macs.)
*At the bottom of this page check "guest access" and click "Request Account".
*You are now routed to you IQ Account. On the left hand side of your account will be a series of links to different resources. At the bottom of this list under the subject "Computer Services" (see below) are links to the Mac Store and other services.




Once you have gained access to IQ Web. There is nothing more you will need to do. Shop Away! Mac can now contact Moore to verify your enrollment status.

If you run into trouble registering with IQWeb contact Shaun Flanly, the administrative computer coordinator, at 215.965.4004 or sflanly@moore.edu to initiate the process.

The ED. Discounts are significant, I recommend taking advantage of it, if you are intending to purchase
Mac products.

MACINTOSH DESKTOP

Apple has tutorials for the OS X 10.5 Leapord Operating System. See this link to view the tutorial.

DOWNLOAD YOUR WORK TO THE DOCUMENT FOLDER

IMPORTANT At the beginning of each class you will need to downloaded your assignments and images from your dropsend or your thumbdrive into your documents folder. The documents folder can be found by clicking your name at the left of the finder window.

There a two reasons for doing this:

1) You always want to work off the computer and never from an external drive. The ext.drive cannot handle constantly transferring data from itself to the computer. You also run the risk of losing information.

2) The second reason is when I come around to check your homework we can have immediate access to your files. This also insures that all your images are at your disposal when you are working on the assignments.

Your folder should always contain:
1) Your password file.
2) Your original images
3) Your images formatted for the web and
4) Your assignment in the appropriate format (usually .psd, ai, .indd, or .pdf)

OK HERE IS HOW YOU DO IT:

Create a temporary folder:

1) From the DOCK Open the Finder. On the left side of the finder, under PLACES there is a folder named "Your Name"
Click your folder .
2) In your folder click and open the documents folder 3) and create a temporary folder:
a. File/NewFolder
b. Name the folder by clicking the name area once and renaming it: for example-"Photoshop Perspective Project" then double click it to open.

From a thumbdrive download your images:

1) With your temporary folder open, open a new finder window (apple N) and double click your external thumbdrive, (which should be plugged into the computer. If it is not plugged in, plug it in and wait for it to show up in the finder window.)

2) With your thumdrive open, locate the folder which you have created for the class assignment. Double click to open the folder and drag the files into your new folder located in the other finder window that is open.

From your Dropsend account:
1) From your Dropsend account first download individual files one at a time. Each download will show up in the folder on the DOCK named downloads. Open downloads and drag them to the folder in your documents folder.

ONLINE FILE STORAGE

There are several sites that offer online file storage. These services, like email services offer a free account that allow you to store a small amount of files (250 MB), more than you would be able to email, for instance, but less than what is needed to say for video and audio files. In these cases you are given option to buy larger amounts of storage (1G and beyond) for a monthly fee.

Here is a site called DropSend that I use. There are many sites out there. Search around, this service is a great supplement to a thumb drive.

SETTING UP FIREFOX WEB BROWSER AND TABS

Above is a FireFox Web Browser with open tabs.:

Fig C - allows you to scroll back to a previous site
Fig D - a link in a website
Fig B - the URL address window
Fig E - (ignore)
Fig A - the google search engine on the firefox browser.

1) At the beginning of each class OPEN A FIREFOX WEB BROWSER. The browser is on the Dock. If it is not there then check in the Applications Folder. This folder can be found on the left of the finder window by clicking Macintosh HD . If it is not there then go to the Firefox website and download it.)

2) CREATE SEVERAL TABS in your browser. (apple T ) Tabs allow you to haves several websites open on one window.

3) Type in Moore College of Art and Design in the Google Search Engine Window and Click on the Link for "Moodle". Log into Moodle. Click the link for the class blog. Drag this url onto your browser's dashboard to permanently save the link on the computer you are using.

4) ClICK ON THE SECOND TAB and Log into your blog for the class.

5) CLICK ON THE THIRD TAB and Log into your DropSend Acc.

TIPS FOR PURCHASING AN EXTERNAL HARDRIVE

A great economical option is a Flash, Jump or Thumbdrive. These are connected by USB plug, attached to the drive itself. A thumb drive will be handy for all of your classes and a quick, small, portable way to move files around. Make sure if you go to buy one that it is atleast 2G. (AND REMEMBER TO WRITE YOU NAME ON THE DRIVE!)

Here is a link for PORTABLE DRIVES.

-If you are anticipating accumulating several photos, video and audio files over the course of your time at Moore, I would suggest that you also purchase an External Hard Drive (300G'S is plenty) The ExtHD should plug into your computer with a firewire connection. (If you choose a USB1 connection for your external harddrive it will be a lot slower to save files, however another option is the USB2, which is a bit faster than USB1 and sometimes less expensive than a firewire.) These exthd need to be plugged into a power source. For this reason are not as portable, but great to sit on your desk at home or in your dorm.

Lacie makes a large model that does not require an external power source, but it will be more expensive. Note: Find one that comes ready to use, with out the addition of any software to your computer and make sure it is MAC compatible.


Some places to shop:
www.cnet.com
CNET has great product reviews and price comparisons. Go here first to shop around.
http://www.jr.com/
http://www.lacie.com

Publish Post

http://www.macmall.com

COURSE ASSIGNMENT 1 WEEK 1

The first assignment is a little tedious. However, please be sure to follow through with each part. It may seem like busy work, but doing this now will help you along the way.

PART I

1) CREATE A TEXT or WORD DOC FOR YOUR PASSWORDS It is important to record your passwords as you create accounts for this class. You should have these passwords with you in class at all times.

-Name the doc: Your name_Passwords_DigitalTools
-Type in the passwords for:

1. logging into the Moore computers, Logging into Moodle and your Email.
2. Instructor’s email: lenahelen.moore@gmail.com
3. The class blog URL address (the url address is locate on top middle of this browser)
4. and other usernames and passwords as they are created: your blog, dropsend...etc

2) REGISTER A BLOG.

a. Register a blog with Blogger.
b. Name it: "Your name's Blog"
c. Copy and Paste the usernames and password into to your password file.

3) CREATE A POST ON YOUR BLOG

a. Name and describe three interesting and new things you have noticed since being at Moore. REMEMBER TO CLICK THE PUBLISH BUTTON!


PART II

1) REGISTER AN ACCOUNT WITH DropSend.
a. Copy and Paste the usernames and passwords into your password file.
b. Create a folder in your DropSend Account. Name it Digital Tools.

2) REVIEW USING YOUR MAC OSX 10

REVIEW Mac Desktop: Become familiar with navigating the desktop-the dock, the menu bar, open finder windows and create folders.


WEB BROWSER WINDOWS AND TABS
Practice setting up a web browser using Firefox. Create tabs with your class blog, the dropsend account and the class drop send account open. You will be expected to have this ready to go at the beginning of each class.

(See the tutorial on Setting up Web Browsers and Tabs. NOTE: Do not use the safari browser when editing your blog posts. Safari limits what you can edit. Moodle is not compatible with Safari.


PART III

EMAIL ME (lenahelen.moore@gmail.com)

• From the email that you use most often, email me your blog URL address (this is the address located on the top middle of the browser window when your blog home page is open and visible.)

EMAIL YOURSELF:
Email your password doc you created with all your usernames and passwords.
(This way you can access this document from you email the next time you come to class)


PART IV

1) PURCHASE A THUMBDRIVE (2G min)-See Tips for Purchasing and External Harddrive for details on a variety of resources for external hard drives and online file sources.

PURCHASE a 2" RING BINDER or NOTEBOOK for class. You are expected to download and print the syllabus and all the lecture notes from "Moodle." (All the posts on the class blog are also available for you to copy, paste into a word doc and print.)

3) ACQUIRE A POCKET DIGITAL CAMERA, a CAMERA CARD READER and a CAMERA CARD.

Acquire a digital camera. For the first part of the semester we will be working with a digital camera. (If you do not own a digital camera and are not able to purchase one, the library has several cameras for loan. The technician in the library is available to help you navigate how to operate the camera.)

Acquire a memory card that will fit your camera (min 500mb) This is a card that pushes into a slot in the camera. It is simply a storage devise for digital data.

(optional) Acquire a card reader. A card reader allows you to download your data from the card without using the camera. With a reader you can also use the card to store other files, such as word doc's, .pdf's. mp3s...etc

Tiger Direct had memory cards and flash card all-in-one reader.


PART V

Choose a Subject that is visually interesting to you. This subject must be something that you encounter everyday in order for you to be able to easily take photo's of it. These photo's will be your resource for creating your assignments and final projects.

Choose a day to write down ten events in that day and accompany these events with digital photos of your subject. For example: If you subject can be moved (say your subject is fruits and vegetables) then place the subject with your event. If your subject cannot be moved (say your subject is street signs) then try bringing your event to your subject.

Post to your blog a record of your events and include you subject too.

For example:
6:00 am took a shower with broccoli in the dish soap (take a pic)
7:00 ate breakfast with orange before eating it. (take a pic)
7:45 walked my dog "Shilo" with banana in his mouth. (take a pic)
and so on.....


BRING TO NEXT CLASS

1. Your thumb-drive and ring-binder.
2. A camera card with the ten photos stored on them, and either a card reader or the camera with the cords to plug into the computer.
3. A registered DropSend Acc.
4. Your password's File stored in your email account.
5. Your registered Blog with the 2 posts:

• A description of interesting things you observed.
• A written record of your ten events.