Unit 1: Grade 9 Foods, Tourism.Com - Intro and Photo Editing

Welcome

Welcome to the the grade 9 Foods, Tourism.Com course. This is the Graphic Communications Technology (Com-Tech) section,with the other two sections being Tourism and Foods. The Com-Tech and Foods will have more focus with Tourism integreated with each.

SPICE

You will notice each unit activity below is broken down into five subtopics, SPICE, to guide and help you through the project and assignments related to the unit activity:

  1. Situation - This is the introduction, big picture, or you can think of it as the setting of story/novel
  2. Problem/Challenge - What must be resolved or completed, i.e. what you will need to accomplish
  3. Investigation/Ideas - includes gathering ideas, research and organizing information to help create, construct, and/or complete the Problem/Challenge
  4. Create/Construct - take your best idea and complete and/or build the needed solution
  5. Evaluation - did the Problem/Challenge above get resolved and/or completed

This unit will introduce you to the course, routines, safety, expectations, and introduction to photo editing.

Course Units and Descriptions

Use this table for an overview and navigate to each of the course unit pages.

Unit Description
Review course outline for more details
1 Intro & Photo Editing - intro, routines, pictures, and photo editing
2 Graphic Communications - graphic editing and manipulation
3 Food Intro, safety, & Prep - intro to industry, safety, food prep and practice
4 More Foods - different food preps and methods practiced
5 Portfolio - web page creation and culminating work to showcase
6 Tourism - select a location to market using a brochure

Unit Activity Quick Links, Click to Jump to the Specific Activity!

  1. Unit 1, Act. 1: Organization, Routines, and Course Information
  2. Unit 1, Act. 2: The Tourist Brochure
  3. Unit 1, Act. 3: Graphic Course Logo Design

- TOP - Unit 1, Act. 1: Organization, Routines, and Course Information next

Situation:

Class of students starting a new course-rotation to learn about Graphic Communications

Problem/Challenge:

Getting familiar with what the course is all about, class routines, expectations of the course and the teacher, general administration of class, and safety are all important issues to know and understand, so that the learning process can begin.

Investigation/Ideas:

The following is list related to this course and should be reviewed by students:

Checklist
  • Course Details
  • General Safety
  • Detailed Safety Issues
  • Shop/room Layout
  • Shop/room Resources
  • Emergency Procedures
  • Expectations
  • Evaluation
  • Class Policies
  • Routines
  • Attendance and Lates
  • Moodle Log-in

It is important that students feel comfortable with the above points and should know what is happening in the course.

Create/Construct:

roomStart by organizing your school equipment and supplies for taking and storing your notes. Review the course outline and class routine, write down any questions you have about the course, requirements, or responsibilities you need to be clear on.

The following list of links are details that students are to review, after going over them in class:

  1. Foods, Tourism.Com Course Outline
  2. Introduction to Technical Classes
  3. General Safety Presentation
  4. General Safety Contract
  5. Course Achievement Breakdown
  6. Evaluation and Tips Breakdown
  7. Moodle Log-in
USB Memory Stick, Folders and Shortcuts

One of the first things in class we do is review the Tech Info page, point number 2 above. The top section with 10 blanks is to be filled in with the important things we will cover in this course. You will find this information by reviewing the course outline and listening to the teacher discussing what is happening in the course. The bottom section will also need to filled out with two in class peers for contact information and support with in the class to help foster teamwork and responsibility.

Folder-shortcuts

Next you will need to get a USB memory stick, for saving your work on to. You will need to follow instructions on the tech info page to create three shortcuts inside a main folder with your course code, and a sub-folder Shortcuts.:

  • Pick-up Folder
  • Hand-in Folder
  • mfranzen web

You will also need to create more folders for future projects as you go, to keep your work organized. The intent is to work off of your USB in school and save to your H: drive when you are finished at the end of class as a back-up. This way you can take your work with you and work elsewhere if needed and it is usually faster to access then the board network.

File Naming Conventions and Shortcut Test

To finish you will need to use all three shortcut links in an exercise called Shortcut Test:

shortcut test
  1. Go to the pick-up folder and get a file called Shortcut Test
  2. Save the text file to your shortcuts folder, and open it up
  3. You need to type your name in, then go to each of your shortcuts, right click and select properties, then copy the shortcut link address and paste it into the text file in the required location
  4. Go to the Tech info page on the site and open up the PDF file and copy the section that explains file naming conventions, i.e. how to properly name files you hand in (just above the shortcut instructions
  5. Re-name your file according the the section you just copied into your text file, then hand in the hand-in folder for your class using your hand-in shortcut.
Tip

Make sure all work you put in the hand-in folder is saved first in your USB, then drag and drop into the right sub folder in the hand-in folder. It will have a due date at the front and then the related project name.

Safety Passport
Safety Passport Site

Not only learning about safety in the workplace but being able to show that you completed the certificate will be able to show this to employers and keep in their portfolio. This is worth almost $15, but through this opportunity, it is free to students who get a code from the teacher. This will make you aware of several safety issues, concerns, and your rights as a young worker. Here are some resource material you can use:

To start, go to the main Passport to Safety page and click on quick register and enter the registration code you received from your teacher, fill in your information and you will receive an e-mail with your username and password to login with and get started. . A tutorial with quiz questions will allow you to earn your safety passport certificate which you can use in your portfolio/ resume. Ensure you keep your user name and password safe for future access when needed.

To hand /show your instructor that you have successfully completed the Passport to Safety program, you will need to print to a PDF file and hand-in.

Evaluation:

Although these are not heavily weighted, they are important project assignments that will benefit you throughout the rest of this course

Target
Evaluation Breakdown Component Descriptions Marks
Always double check that you have completed all components for full marks.
Survey - Answer all 7 questions fully 7
Course Outline Signed - Take home to show your parents and get signed by parent 5
Tech Info - Filled out with weight %, 10 course components, and two peer contacts 10
Shortcut Test - All 3 shortcuts done, shortcut test file handed in correctly 10
General Safety - Class reviewed, read through and sign, parent signature also 5
Safety Passport - Certificate saved in web page format with file and folder named correctly 15
What Did you Learn - Test your knowledge here:  
Moodle Quiz - Based on above work covered, log-in here, help with quiz access/process 10
Total Marks 62

- TOP - Unit 1, Act. 2: The Tourist Brochure next

Tourist

Situation:

Using Adobe Photoshop is one of the biggest components of graphic communications and can be used to do a lot of things with raster images. It is for this reason that learning about this program and how to edit, manipulate and enhance photo images, is an ideal way to be introduced to graphic communications.

Problem/Challenge:

Create travel picture to be used later in a travel brochure You will need to find your favorite destination and insert an action shot of yourself into this picture looking like a tourist. As a tourist you will need to also add a related hat with your picture. Your picture must show at least half to a full body shot taking up about 25% of final image. The image size is to be 1024*768 pixels at 72 dpi in RGB colour mode. Careful attention to accurately selecting objects once images have been properly sized and moved into your travel destination background, will create the best results.

Investigation/Ideas:

As this is the first time using Adobe Photoshop, you will need to familiarize yourself with the program and its image edition tools. Here are a some images showing the interface of this program:

Main Interface

Main Interface

Toolbar

Tool Bar Icons

Pallets

Some Pallets

Layer Details

Layer Pallet

There are several components of Photoshop that need to reviewed. The following is a list of those items:

CMYK vs RGB
  • Basic Screen Interface
  • Tool Bar Icons
  • Tool Pallets
  • Application Menu
  • Workspace
  • New File Creation
  • Preferences
  • CMYK vs RGB
  • Photo Resolution
  • Dots Per Inch, dpi
  • Selection Tools
  • Inverse
  • Viewing Tools
  • Transformation
  • Image sizing
  • Canvas sizing
  • Cropping
  • History Pallet
  • Layer Pallet
  • Save
  • Save As

Below are some linked resources that will help with your introduction to Photoshop

Links

It is important for all of us to make sure we are following all laws and protecting the rights of others. This includes learning about and following through with attributions and acknowledgements of the source of an image when required.

TipIt is always a good idea to edit images in higher resolution if possible, such as removing a person from the background, do this with the original larger file first, then re-size down to the size you will need. Because this brochure is for the web, the image only needs to be 72 dpi, but you are better again to edit any images in their native original higher resolution first. Careful separation of images from there background is very important, in order for your travel brochure to look realistic.

Here are some samples of past student work showing themselves inserted into a travel destination with one extra item, a hat:

Sample Tourist with Hat

Sample 1

Sample Tourist with Hat

Sample 2

Sample Tourist with Hat

Sample 3

Sample Tourist with Hat

Sample 4

Create/Construct:

A handout assignment, Photoshop Introduction and Interface work sheet PDF has been created for you to explore specific tool icons and menu commands that will help you complete your tourist brochure Review and answer the questions. Above are some additional linked resources that will help with your introduction to Photoshop, but remember to answer each question not only with what the tool is, but an example of how/where you would use this tool with the travel brochure project.

TipReview the steps to understand what needs to be done to complete the travel brochure first, then answer the questions on the work sheet handout.

Here are the steps you should be following to properly complete the tourist photo image brochure project:

steps
  1. First ensure you have finished the Photoshop Introduction and Interface work sheet PDF
  2. Review resource links and explore new information
  3. Get your full body picture taken in various positions and angles (try 5 minimum) with a solid colour wall or door behind you
  4. Picture will be available in the pick-up folder once instructor has transferred image over
  5. Use resource links to find your perfect travel destination and ensure it has a resolution to meet project requirements
  6. Open travel image up in Photoshop and crop and re-size if necessary and save work
  7. Decide on which image you will use of yourself, and open it up, crop what you need,
  8. Accurately using selection tools, select the background using the magic wand, refine, inverse, and then mask yourself from the background
  9. Save image then temporarily re-size image to fit into travel background by having both open, drag and drop yourself into the travel background tab
  10. Do the same for a hat, once done save PSD and also save as a JPG with proper file naming convention (j-joe-tourist.psd and .jpg)

Evaluation:

Extra marks for added tourist objects if time permits, but maximum marks are first earned through quality selections. Ensure you hand your work into the appropriate hand-in folder as reviewed in the last activity with the correct file naming convention.

success
Photoshop Interface Assignments Marks
Always double check that you have completed all components for full marks.
Interface Tool bar Answers - image size, trave destination, colours 10
Interface Menu Answers - image size, trave destination, colours 10
Tourist Brochure Image Handed-in  
Travel Background - image size, trave destination, colours 5
Person(you) - well cut out showing just person with no rough edges 15
Hat - Related and appropriate travel hat fitted to head properly 5
Technical - Layers named, PSD and JPG handed in, file name 5
What Did you Learn - Test your knowledge here:  
Moodle Test - Based on above work covered, log-in here, help with quiz access/process 20
Total Marks 70

- TOP - Unit 1, Act. 3: Graphic Course Logo Design

Situation:

Photoshop has many tools for working with graphic images. and learning how to work with multiple images is one of the most important skills to have with this program. Media today, if you look closely, you will find logo's identifying the source or supplier as part of market branding.

Problem/Challenge:

Title image

Create a course logo based on your interests. It must include the following requirements:

  • Setup: 800 * 600 pixels web page with transparent background
  • Minimum of three course related image objects cleanly cut, with at least one photo and one clip art/illustration
  • Outside edge to be an odd custom shape, not a square or round type shape and use a minimum of 75% of the page space
  • Text clearly showing your initials
  • Brush strokes to be included as part of the logo build process
  • Gradient used as a major fill

Investigation/Ideas:

You will need to think about the three areas of the course, and come up with some images that interest you and would show a little bit about what this course is all about and your interests.. You could use the course outline to search key words to think of images you would like to show in this course logo. When deciding on an odd custom shape for your outside logo shape, make sure that it is going to be able to fit 75% of the page size, i.e. a carrot shape will not work but a fat fish shape would.

There are several components of Photoshop that need to reviewed. The following is a list of those items:

Investigation
  • Relative image sizes
  • Standard web sizes
  • Print vs Screen
  • Adv. Image selection
  • Fills
  • Gradients
  • Shapes
  • Pen tool
  • Pathways
  • Bézier Curves
  • Custom Shape
  • JPG vs GIF
  • Inverse
  • Type
  • Brushes
  • Rotate
  • Scale
  • Layers

Resource links from the last activity will also be helpful in this project. Selecting images from backgrounds can be challenging some times and different tools can be used to acquire needed image. The pen tool is a very important tool to master and helps with this process. Below are some linked resources that will help with this project.

it is important for all of us to make sure we are following all laws and protecting the rights of others. This includes learning about and following through with attributions and acknowledgements of the source of an image when required.

TipSome pen tool tips while using to create a pathway, single click for sharp corner, click, hold, and drag for curve handles, ctrl to adjust during pathway selection, alt to change anchor point to curve or sharp corner.

Here are some samples of past student work, note the area around the odd shape logos are the same colour as the background:

Logo Sample 1

Sample 1

Logo Sample 2

Sample 2

Logo Sample 3

Sample 3

Logo Sample 4

Sample 4

Create/Construct:

Below is the suggested steps you should take to complete this project in a timely manner. Although you will want to create your outside odd shape first wait till step 8 below to create it.

Steps
  1. Get three images from each of the course sections. Use the course outline, and/or the google internet serarch terms for your image ideas
  2. Separate each of your chosen images from their backgrounds carefully using the selections tools you learned in class
  3. Setup a 800 * 600 Pixel web page with a transparent background
  4. Bring all your clean cut images into the page, naming each layer according to the image object
  5. Decide on which object will be in front and behind and move layer accordingly
  6. Create some kind of visual interaction amoung them
  7. Locate and place using transformation scaling, rotate, etc.
  8. Create a a custom course related shape from one of the course topic areas using the pen tool (to fit a minimum of 75% of page)
  9. Use the brush tool and pathway to add effects or looks
  10. Use the type tool to leave your initials
  11. Refine your design/images and add if necessary
  12. If you have more time think about additional graphic components
  13. Save a both a PSD and GIF file

Evaluation:

Ensure you hand your work into the appropriate hand-in folder as reviewed in the last activity with the correct file naming convention in both PSD and GIF formats.

Photoshop Graphic Course Logo Design Marks
Always double check that you have completed all components for full marks.
Minimum of three Images -well sized/selected images -photo/illustration, cut out well 15
Custom Odd Outside Shape - image size, shape detail, Gradient fill 10
Added Touches - rotation, gradients, type, colours 5
Final Image - Integrated and related images, course theme, overall look, PSD and GIF 10
What Did you Learn - Test your knowledge here:  
Moodle Test - Based on above work covered, log-in here, help with quiz access/process 20
Total Marks 60