DESN 255 — INTRO TO COMPUTER GRAPHICS I  |  FALL 2020  |  TTH 1:00–3:45PM  |  ONLINE (AMI)

Lockers are available for you to store your supplies. Sign up from the Resource Room, #123.

Facilities (departmental) information such as shop and print lab hours can be found here.

COMPUTING REQUIREMENTS

During AMI working from home, you'll need a Computer and Internet Access. If you do not have these, NOTIFY the instructor immediately.

HARDWARE

Any computer from the past 5 years or newer should be sufficient. Laptop, Large-Screen Tablet, or access to a desktop computer.
Mac or PC, either is fine. Whatever you're most comfortable with or already own.

RAM RAM RAM. The more RAM you have, the better. RAM is a relatively inexpensive upgrade, and graphics software is RAM hungry. If your laptop only has 8Gb of RAM, most of that is used by the operating system itself. Upgrade to as much as your computer can handle and/or you can afford. Often, you do not need a new computer, simply more RAM. No one tells you this because they want to sell new computers.

ChromeBook are available for students on loan. Contact Brotman Hall 377: 562-985-5587 (Monday-Friday, 8 am – 5 pm).

Use a MOUSE and/or TOUCH-SENSITIVE TABLET. SERIOUSLY. You CANNOT design from a trackpad. Be sure your wireless mouse is always charged, or better yet, just use a wired mouse; they always work.

Special Requirements for participation in on-line learning instruction (AMI):

ZOOM. Students will need a video conferencing camera. Often built-in on laptops and tablets, or you can add on to a PC with a Logitech or other similar brand. You might also be able to use your smart phone, however be mindful of your cellular data limits, try always be on a wifi connection to avoid draining your cellular limits.

Internet access. Students will need reliable Internet access and a PC, Mac, or comparable computer with the latest version of a web browser; broadband Internet connection (DSL or faster); and a sound card (PCs) and headset with attached microphone for some courses. This course may incorporate tests/quizzes, graphics, video, audio, chat room, and links supported by a website to deliver instruction via the Internet; check course syllabus for details.

Students can contact Student Affairs for support services to assist with technological needs: https://web.csulb.edu/divisions/students/

 

Getting your work done outside class time alone and when our labs (103 & 105) are not available can be a challenge. However, the following other locations on campus all have Adobe Creative Suite:

Design Classroom 121 has 4 or 5 desktop computers available at all hours the building is open.

The Horn Center and

The Spidell Technology Center at the Library

SOFTWARE

Adobe Creative Suite / Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat)
Photoshop is the most widely used, industry standard Raster-Based 2D Rendering and Photo-manipulation software. I am on the Adobe Creative Cloud monthly subscription, but any version from CS5 or newer should be fine. Menus and tool selections may be a little different but we won't be using any advanced tools not available as far back as CS2 even.

Students can obtain Creative Cloud for just $20/year until you graduate. See Academic Technology for more info. During AMI Creative Cloud is FREE to students. Sign into myCSULB Single Sign-On > go to the Software Depot widget > choose Select Software >

Flash drive (for your working files!) - Not needed during AMI
For transferring your files from school computers and/or dropping off your your files to FedEx office or another printer service in your neighborhood. Check their services online, many have direct job upload services available.

Printer - Not be required during AMI
You'll need access to printing 11x17" AND 20x30" (oversized). Budget accordingly.

Become acquainted with our department print lab, Room 123.

DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE, OR HOUR! YOUR SERVICE BUREAU (Printing house) NEEDS TIME TO TURN-AROUND YOUR JOB.

 

TRADITIONAL MEDIA

Below is a standard list of things designers use in the studio. Students should have most of these from their other related design foundation courses. You do not need to run out and buy everything right away. Buy and add to your studio as you need. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

We understand art supplies are expensive and do add up. You may use materials that you may already have. Purchase your supplies outside of class time and have them available before the class in which they will be needed so that you can gain the most from your lab/studio time.

Area Art Supply Stores

Many supplies are available for checkout from The Department Resource Room, #123.

Pencils

  • Graphite HB lead pencil. .5mm or Thicker! .3mm leads break too easily
  • Prismacolor PREMIER pencils, full spectrum color, 18 min, Plus extra Black PC935, White PC938, Indigo Blue 901, Tuscan Red 937, and Crimson Lake 925
  • Prismacolor VERITHIN pencils are Optional. These are much harder
    lead than the Premier line. They're good for sketching on mid-tone
    papers, but don't "stick" well on marker renderings

Ink Pens

  • Technical pen set. Micron or similar. Copic SP are great because you
    can replace the ink cartridge and replace the tips, especially important
    for beginners who often ruin tips due to a "heavy" hand
  • .005 and 0.3 mm for detail work
  • 0.5 and .07 (good for sketching), 0.9 min
  • Dual-tip Sharpie, black
  • Papermate Flair, black
  • Blue Ball-point

Rendering Tools

  • Markers. I personally use Copic and recommend them, however Prismacolors, AD, or Touch are all fine as well. Learn more here.
  • Greys 1—10, (odd or even increments ok). Warm, Cool, Neutral gray,
    or French Gray are fine; do not mix families. Blending marker is not needed, but there are some expressive things you can do with one.
  • Colors. You may prefer to collect them as needed
  • Paint brush. Ultra Fine 000, long bristle to be used with
    white gouache or Dr. P.h. Martin’s Bleed Proof white.
  • An opaque white-out paint pen can be a "quick and dirty" tool
    for strong highlights. Copic makes an excellent white paint, though I personally find the handle is too short and not as good as a paint brush.
  • Pencil sharpener. Battery powered electric sharpeners are not recommended, they don't
    work that great, are bulky, and always out of juice. Just get a good solid hand sharpener.

Erasers

  • Kneaded Eraser—the best eraser for working on trace.
  • Staedtler Mars White Plastic—recommended.
    Magic Rub block or Pink Pearl ok as well.
  • Portable electric erasers are ok, but not highly recommended
    for the same reasons as with electric sharpeners.

Papers

  • Tracing paper roll. 18” wide, white
  • 14 x 17” Marker paper. 1-2 pads of 50 sheets,
    (Bienfang Graphics 360 rag recommended, inexpensive and semi-transparent making it easy to trace)
  • 14 x 17” Bond Paper. 1-2 Pads of 50 sheets

Optional

  • Canson Mei-teintes papers
  • 9 x 12” Bogus Recycled Rough Sketch pad, or similar medium toned sketching pad. Available at Art Supply Warehouse.

Drafting Tools - Optional in this course

  • 30/60° and 45° triangles 12”minimum longest side. I like having 2 sets.
    1 small set, and 1 medium-large set. An adjustable angle triangle can often be useful, but is not required.
  • Drafting dots are recommended over drafting tape. Tape is ok, but
    dots will save you time and energy and simply work better. Buy Alvin, Kohinoor, or Staedtler brands only. Do not purchase the cheap brand
    at campus store, trust me.
  • T-square, or
    Mayline-type bar drafting table setup is nice for home, but a hassle to carry, just bring a T-square.
  • 24” (min) straight edge
  • Architectural scale
  • French curve set, aka Sweep curves,
    especially necessary for beginners who do not have a good hand for clean arcs.
  • Erasing shield
  • Protractor
  • X-acto Knife, Scissors, or paper cutter appropriate for cutting
    your trace paper into sheets.

Other Supplies

  • Tool box, Art-Bin, or similar supply carrier for transporting supplies.
  • Portfolio Case, rigid, to keep your projects clean and flat. If you don't take care of your work,
    it shows you're not ready to be in this major. Period.

Ellipse Guides

  • Ellipse Guides/Templates. Minimum of one with a range of
    15, 30, 45, and 60 degree ellipses. Serves as a useful reference when discussing ellipses in perspective views.
  • Circle templates or a Drafting compass, or both—for orthographic drawings.
  • If you're serious about learning to draw well, you may want to consider buying one of these comprehensive sets from the students at AI-OC:

ellipsetemplate@gmail.com

 

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* Estimate only. See instructor and calendar for specific due dates. Summer Session schedule is more compressed with one week equal to approximately two and half semester weeks.

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