VCT 300 ENTIRE COURSE

VCT 300 Week 1 Individual Assignment Good Design, Bad Design, and How to Fix It
Select two images from the Internet: one you consider to be designed well and another you consider to be poorly
designed. The images may be banners, online advertisements, or reproductions of print advertisements.
Write a 350- to 700-word paper that evaluates the images you have selected.
Explain why one image demonstrates effective design and why the other demonstrates ineffective design.
Consider at least two of the following aspects of visual design:
Color
Contrast
Symmetry and asymmetry
Balance
Alignment
Proximity
Visual hierarchy
Typography
Explain how you would improve the poorly-designed image using any of the Adobe Photoshop tools you have
learned about this week.
Cite the image consistent with APA guidelines.
Include a link to the image or the image file in your assignment submission

VCT 300 Week 1 Supporting Activity

Consider the article Copyright Basics and the video Protected Content: Fair Use located on the student
website.
Write a 200- to 300-word short-answer response to the following:
How can you tell if an image is copyrighted? If you find a copyright image that you want to use, what steps do you
need to take to obtain rights to use the image?

VCT 300 Week 1 DQS

DQ 1
Can the background be converted to a layer? Explain.

VCT 300 Week 2 Individual Assignment Design for the City of Kelsey, Part 1
Read the instructions in the University of Phoenix Material: Design for the City of Kelsey, Part 1 located on the
student website.

VCT 300 Week 2 Supporting Activity 1

Select a royalty-free or non-copyrighted image from the Internet or provide your own image.
Open the image in Adobe Photoshop.
Create 10 distinct alternations to the image, with each alternation having its own layer. You may use any Adobe
Photoshop tool to make alterations.
Save a .JPEG file of the image.
Share your .JPEG with the class.
Write a 200- to 300-word short-answer response to the following:
What tools did you use to modify the image? How did these tools allow you to achieve the results you wanted?

VCT 300 Week 2 Supporting Activity 2

Consider the Video Basics of Photoshop: Basic Drawing with the Pen Tool located on the student website.
Write a 200- to 300-word short-answer response to the following:
What is the purpose of the pen tool? What are some best practices for using the pen tool?

VCT 300 Week 2 DQS

DQ 1
What industries do you think heavily use image editing and which do not? Can you think of any industry that
would not or should not use image editing?

DQ 2
Find an example of a good picture or website and a bad one. Tell us why you think one is better over another.

VCT 300 Week 3 Individual Assignment Design for the City of Kelsey, Part 2

Read the instructions in the University of Phoenix Material: Design for the City of Kelsey, Part 2 located on the
student website.
VCT 300 Week 3 Supporting Activity 1
Select a royalty-free or non-copyrighted image from the Internet or provide your own image.
Open the image in Adobe Photoshop.
Use a selection tool to manipulate the image to achieve a new effect or visual design.
Save a .JPEG file of the image.
Share your .JPEG with the class.
Write a 200- to 300-word short-answer response to the following:
What selection tool did you use to modify the image? How did this tool allow you to achieve the results you
wanted?

VCT 300 Week 3 Supporting Activity 2

Consider the video Basics of Photoshop: Designing a Website, located on the student website, and Lesson 12,
Creating Images for Web and Video, of Adobe Photoshop CS6 Digital Classroom.
Write a 200- to 300-word short-answer response to the following:
What are the differences between designing for print and mobile? What best practices should be followed when
designing for each?

VCT 300 Week 3 DQS

DQ 1
Do all images have background layers? Explain.
DQ 2
How would you take a photo and make it black and white with just one color focus and what impact does it have?

VCT 300 Week 4 Individual Assignment Design for the City of Kelsey, Part 3
Read the instructions in the University of Phoenix Material: Design for the City of Kelsey, Part 3 located on the
student website.
VCT 300 Week 4 Supporting Activity
Consider the article Typography 101 located in the Electronic Reserve Readings.

Select two advertisements or banners from the Internet, one that effectively uses fonts and one that does not.
Write a 200- to 300-word short-answer response to the following:
What effect does font selection have on readability and the viewers perception? How does the use of font further
or hinder the intended message?

VCT 300 Week 4 DQS

DQ 1
How would your approach to editing an image change based on whether it is print, mobile, and web-based
media?
DQ 2
Pick a topic and tell us what type of font you feel is appropriate - show an example.

VCT 300 Week 5 Learning Team Assignment Final Project

Complete final revisions to your teams poster and web advertisement designs.
Complete the executive summary.
Submit the following deliverables to your instructor:
11 x 14 poster designed for print, delivered as an unflattened .PSD file (10 points)
300 x 300 pixel web advertisement, delivered as an unflattened .PSD file and a flattened .JPEG file of no more
than 200 KB (10 points)
1,050- to 1,750-word executive summary (7 points)

VCT 300 Week 5 Supporting Activity 1

Select a royalty-free or non-copyrighted image from the Internet or provide your own image.
Open the image in Adobe Photoshop.
Create a duplicate layer of your image layer.
Apply an adjustment layer of your choice.
Apply a layer style of your choice.
Save a .JPEG file of the image.
Share your .JPEG with the class.
Write a 200- to 300-word short-answer response to the following:
What visual effects where you able to achieve with these tools? Do you think these effects enabled you to
improve the quality of the image?
VCT 300 Week 5 Supporting Activity 2

Consider Lesson 11, Using Adobe Photoshop Filters, of Adobe Photoshop CS6 Digital Classroom.
Write a 200- to 300-word short-answer response to the following:
How can you use filters to creatively manipulate images? What filter effect do you find the most useful? Why?
VCT 300 Week 5 DQS
DQ 1
Based on your readings and assignments, what would you tell someone who has never done image editing the
most important element to utilize and keep in mind?

DQ 2
Which filter do you like best and what would be a good application to use it?
DQ 3
In your readings this week, in particular "Typography 101" what one point stands out to you or reminds you of
something important?