Media Arts

Media Arts 

The realm of Digital and Media arts continues to grow as our technology continues to advance.  With this access to programs and software students can make some creative and innovative  images they never imagined they could create.  Media arts can consist of Graphic Design, Photoshop, Typography, and Film Arts.  

Depending on funding and access to high quality equipment will determine the kind of projects students will be able to produce.  Though it is nice to have access to Mac Computers and High quality DSLR cameras, this is not completely necessary in order for students to create their work if all that is available is PC computers these will suffice.  Though Macs are the ideal choice when using Adobe software and to me work more efficiently, again it's not completely necessary.  

Media arts consists of using Adobe software such as Photoshop and Illustrator.  Students can also use InDesign as well. In Media arts students will learn how to use editing tools and filter tools.  In Illustrator students will learn how to create shapes with the shape tool and will learn how to use color and gradients.  They will also learn how to create objects and images in Illustrator using the shape tool.  Students can also learn to make logos and different designs in Illustrator.  With Photoshop students will learn to take their own images and manipulate them in Photoshop such as taking an image of their selves and placing it in another background.  This I believe is a classic Photoshop assignment that really helps to capture the essence of what one can achieve in using Photoshop.  I've done this assignment several times before and I've always enjoyed it and students seem to respond well to it. Students can also learn to manipulate colors and can learn how to use the cloning tool and will learn how to create layers in Photoshop.  

Depending on the school, sometimes they do offer courses solely in Graphic Design or Photoshop where you would be able to get in more depth with what students can create and learn.  If I taught a Media arts class like Photoshop, for instance, I would want to focus on several different kinds of concepts beyond just manipulating photographs, but also delves into Graphic Design and possibly Typography as well.  It's good to give students a nice variety in their projects.