DIGITAL MEDIA DEVELOPMENT

Learn about digital photography, Photoshop, audio and video production, and DVD authoring.

Basics of Digital Video Cameras

Final Cut Pro Level 1

Final Cut Pro Level 2

Preparing and Uploading Media for the Web

Adobe Photoshop Short Courses (Please read pre-requisites carefully)

    Photoshop Level 1

    Photoshop Level 2
    Photoshop Level 3

Adobe Photoshop In-Depth (2-session course; faculty & staff only)
Adobe Photoshop for Web Graphics (Faculty & staff only)

Working in the Television Studio

Managing Images On Your Desktop: iPhoto, Picasa, Flickr

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The Basics of Digital Video Cameras

This session is an introduction to the digital video cameras that are available for check out to Smith College students, faculty and staff. Participants will learn the differences between MiniDV format and Digital 8 format and how to properly handle and operate these general-use video cameras. Participants will learn how to load a video tape, zoom, use a tripod, and pan and tilt. We will also explore audio options with different types of microphones and review the Center for Media Production’s (CMP) equipment loan policy.

Prerequisites: An interest in learning the basics of digital videography.

Date: February 19th
Time: 7:00-9:00 PM
Location: Center for Media Production
Instructor: Jeff Heath

Workshop Objectives:

• Participants will learn the proper handling and effective use of CMP’s video camcorders.
• Participants will learn basic camera moves, using a tripod for stabilization.
• Participants will understand the CMP’s equipment loan policy.

Instructional Content and Learning Activities:

Presentation Outline (PDF)

Related Links:

http://www.smith.edu/its/mservices/equipauthor.htm
http://www.smith.edu/its/mservices/equiploan.htm
http://www.mediacollege.com/video/camera/

To register for this workshop, click here.

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Final Cut Pro Level 1

This session is an introduction to the digital video editing techniques of Apple’s Final Cut Studio software. Using the official curriculum of the Apple Pro Training and Certification Program, participants will learn to organize project elements, capture video and audio, mark and trim clips, apply transitions, add text, and explore various export options (tape, DVD, web).

Prerequisites:

• Experience recording analog or digital video.
• An interest in digital video and/or a desire to begin a digital video project.
• Familiarity with Mac OS X windows, toolbars, and dock.

Date: January 30th
Time: 12:00-2:00 PM
Location: Seelye B8
Instructor: Kate Lee

OR

Date: February 6th
Time: 7:00-9:00 PM
Location: Seelye B3
Instructor: Kate Lee

Workshop Objectives:

• Provide an overview of Final Cut Pro’s features and interface.
• Describe and demonstrate how to import digital video.
• Provide hands-on activities for participants to learn basic editing techniques – drag and drop editing, marking in the timeline, adding filters, text and transitions, and importing audio files.
• Demonstrate export options (tape, web, DVD).

Instructional Content and Learning Activities:

Presentation Outline (PDF)
Presentation Handout (PDF)

Related Links:

Smith College ETS FCP Tutorials
Apple Final Cut Pro Support
Ken Stone’s Final Cut Pro
Final Cut Pro Newsletter

To register for this workshop, click here.


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Final Cut Pro Level 2

This session is an introduction to the advanced video editing features of Apple’s Final Cut Studio software. Using the official curriculum of the Apple Pro Training and Certification Program, participants will learn how to edit clips in the timeline, import, edit and animate audio, add and edit video filters, build composite images, key and matte video, and create motion effects.

Prerequisites:

• Basic editing experience with Final Cut Pro.
• An interest in digital video and/or a desire to begin a digital video project.
• Familiarity with Mac OS X windows, toolbars, and dock.

Date: February 13th
Time: 7:00-9:00 PM
Location: Seelye B3
Instructor: Kate Lee

Workshop Objectives:

• Provide hands-on activities for participants to learn advanced editing techniques – ripple, roll, slip and slide tools, extend, and replace and swap edits.
• Describe and demonstrate how to import audio CD tracks.
• Demonstrate how to edit and animate audio in the viewer and timeline.
• Provide hands-on activities for participants to learn how to add and edit video filters, build composite images, key and matte video, and create motion effects.

Instructional Content and Learning Activities:

Presentation Outline (PDF)
Presentation Handout (PDF)

Related Links:

Smith College ETS FCP Tutorials
Apple Final Cut Pro Support
Ken Stone’s Final Cut Pro
Final Cut Pro Newsletter

To register for this workshop, click here.

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Preparing and Uploading Media for the Web

Whether you are making video or audio clips for your course or website, or using media in Powerpoint and want to post your presentations to Moodle, you need to process your media correctly for use over the web.  Come learn about resolution, screen size, compression, file types and other tidbits that will help you get great web-based results.

Prerequisites:

• Basic computing skills such as select, drag, drop, cut, and paste.
• Awareness of copyright rules applicable to commercial video.

Date: February 13th
Time: 4:00-5:30 PM
Location: Seelye B3
Instructor: Jo Cannon

OR

Date: February 27th
Time: 7:00-8:30 PM
Location: Seelye B3
Instructor: Jo Cannon

To register for this workshop, click here.

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Adobe Photoshop Level 1  

Learn the basics of Photoshop. Explore the tools and layers palettes and learn the basics of image manipulation. We will explore many filters that Photoshop has to offer and learn how to save images in different formats for different uses.

Prerequisites: Basic computer navigation knowledge.

Date: February 12th
Time: 10:00-12:00 PM
Location: Seelye B3
Instructor: Frank Citino


Workshop Objectives:

• Provide an overview of Photoshop’s interface.
• Learn to use Photoshop’s tools to manipulate digital images.
• Learn what different file types are available and what they are used for.

Instructional Content and Learning Activities:

Presentation Outline (PDF)
Presentation Handout (PDF)

To register for this workshop, click here.

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Adobe Photoshop Level 2  

Photoshop 2 will expand on many of the concepts from Photoshop 1. We will continue with a more in depth look at the tool palette, layer compositions, screen vs. print resolution, and graphics for DVD's.

Prerequisites: Basic Photoshop knowledge and at least 6 months experience using Photoshop.

Date: February 19th
Time: 10:00-12:00 PM
Location: Seelye B3
Instructor: Frank Citino

To register for this workshop, click here.

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Adobe Photoshop Level 3   

In this session we will cover layer masks, adjustment layers, channels, masks, and selection techniques. Please feel free to bring a project that you are currently working on so that we can brainstorm design ideas.

Prerequisites: Basic Photoshop knowledge and at least 6 months experience using Photoshop.

Date: February 26th
Time: 10:00-12:00 PM
Location: Seelye B3
Instructor: Frank Citino

Workshop Objectives:

• Provide an understanding of masking, selection techniques, adjustment layers, and the channels palette.
• Provide Photoshop users who are currently working on a project an opportunity to brainstorm design ideas with other Photoshop users.

Instructional Content and Learning Activities:

Presentation Outline (PDF)
Presentation Handout (PDF)

To register for this workshop, click here.

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Photoshop In-depth (Faculty & Staff only)

This class is taught in two 2-hour sessions. Participants will learn the fundamentals of working with Photoshop, with no particular emphasis on print or web production.

Prerequisites: None. 

Please note that this class meets twice.

Date: March 11th and March 13th
Time: 9:30-11:30
Location: Seelye B2
Instructor: Pat Billingsley

Workshop Objectives:

Session 1. This session introduces the Photoshop environment, palettes, tools, and navigation techniques. You will learn how to open and resize images, change image resolution, select areas within an image, move and transform selections, and crop an image.

Session 2. In this session, you will use layers to create a composite image using text, painting, and selection tools. You will practice applying various effects and filters, and learn how to save images for use in print or on the Web.

To register for this workshop, click here.

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Photoshop for Web Graphics (Faculty & Staff only)

In this class, we'll use PhotoShop to create simple graphical buttons, button rollovers, text labels, and background images appropriate for Smith web pages. We'll also create simple animated gif files using the ImageReady component of Photoshop and insert those files into a webpage.

Prerequisites: Basic working knowledge of Photoshop, plus web development experience.  This class will be taught using Dreamweaver and Photoshop.

Date: March 25th
Time: 9:30-11:30
Location: Seelye B2
Instructor: Pat Billingsley

To register for this workshop, click here.

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Working in the Television Studio

This session is an introduction to the video studio and studio equipment available to faculty and students. Much of what we see on television today originates in the studio. The studio is the center of production for news, talk shows, soap operas and many other types of programming. This workshop will provide you with an overview of how to produce a television show in the studio using studio equipment. Smith College is fortunate to have a spacious 24' x 28' studio with a 15' ceiling and lighting grid, floor lighting, and a blue chromakey curtain. Connect the studio with the College’s private cable television channels and we have the ability to broadcast our own programming over the college’s cable TV system.

Prerequisites: An interest in learning about studio television operations.

Date: February 5th
Time: 7:00-9:00PM
Location: Center for Media Production
Instructor: Jeff Heath

Workshop Objectives:

• Provide an overview of the Smith College video studio.
• Describe and demonstrate how to use the video studio.
• Provide hands-on activities for participants to learn studio operations by creating a news segment.
• Discuss possible uses for the video studio.

Instructional Content and Learning Activities:

Presentation Outline (PDF)

Related Links:

http://www.cybercollege.com/tvp_ind.htm
http://www.seanet.com/users/bradford/bluscrn.htm

To register for this workshop, click here.

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Managing Images On Your Desktop: iPhoto, Picasa, Flickr

This workshop investigates how to best manage images and metadata on Macintosh and Windows desktop computers. It covers iPhoto & Picasa. It also examines how to get image and linked descriptive information up to the internet-based repository Flickr

Date: February 28th
Time: 7:00-8:30PM
Location: VCRC Hillyer 218
Instructor: Dan Bridgman

To register for this workshop, click here.

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