Refined skill development in advanced color and black and white image retouching and production for the printed object. Evolve color and black and white printing methods and techniques to produce exhibition quality work that communicates authenticity. Deeper understanding of visual literacy and the language necessary to curate/screen work for a call for entry theme, edit a significant amount of images to convey and illustrate that theme, and collaboratively produce work for exhibition consideration.

Course Prerequisites
FLMC 2310, PHTC 1342, PHTC 2341, or PHTC 2343

Catalog Description
Photographic processing and printing using a variety of specialized techniques. Student will work on both color and black and white printing techniques. Requires visual acuity, accurate color perception, and good eye/hand coordination.

Color Correction + Color Grading
Processing, Color Correction and Grading techniques utilizing Capture One Pro, Photoshop, and others. Finessing renders through blend modes, advanced selections, and channel masking in Adobe Photoshop. Advanced and creative RAW conversions with Capture One Pro, ACR and others. Concepts such as variance versus saturation and contrast versus luminosity blending.

Complex Actions
Building longer form actions for production and efficiency, as well as leveraging tools from the Dan Margulis panel, the PPW. (Picture Postcard Workflow)

Advanced Sharpening
Expanded techniques from the second stage of Bruce Fraser’s workflow, creative sharpening as well as the role of noise reduction and output sharpening. The PPW Panel is an excellent resource as are HIRALOAM techniques finessed with blend if’s.

Printing For Exhibition + Large Format Printing
The varied considerations in producing exhibition quality work, including choice of media for surface, scale, contrast, dynamic range and color white. Use of ICC printer/paper profiles, soft-proofing and expand on proper resolution for device, re-sizing concerns and finishing techniques such as grain.

The Printed Object
Introduction and research into the printed book and object – including examples of fine printing and the study of the form and language of the book, utilizing celebrated and distinctive photography titles as reference. (The Book of 101 Books: Seminal Photographic Books, by Andrew Roth is in the Highland library)

Curating + Exhibition Development
Producing/Selecting work for a call for entry theme, edit a significant amount of images to convey and illustrate that theme and collaboratively produce work for the exhibition.

Suggested textbooks:

The PPW Supplemental .pdfs by Dan Margulis. (PDFs are available in class or online.)

Not required, the following are some I find worthwhile & encourage you to investigate.

The Digital Negative (2nd Edition)
by Jeff Schewe.

Modern Photoshop Color Workflow
by Dan Margulis.

The Digital Print: Preparing Images in Lightroom & Photoshop for Printing
by Jeff Schewe.

Professional Photoshop: The Classic Guide to Color Correction
by Dan Margulis.

Photoshop LAB Color: The Canyon Conundrum and Other Adventures.... (2nd Edition)
by Dan Margulis.

Color Management & Quality Output: Working with Color from Camera to Display to Print
by Tom Ashe.

Real World Image Sharpening with Adobe Photoshop, Camera Raw, and Lightroom (2nd Edition)
by Bruce Fraser and Jeff Schewe.

Grading based on quizzes, class projects, and final portfolio. This course requires participation in the department wide Exhibition CFE.

· Adobe Creative Cloud (Discounted subscription of $10/semester provided by ACC). Once registered, subscribe here:  https://www.austincc.edu/adobe-creative-cloud-acc

· An ACC Gmail account. Once registered, set up here: http://www.austincc.edu/accmail/

· Access to Blackboard: https://acconline.austincc.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp  

· All course related communication will be sent to your ACC email address and most homework assignments are completed online through Blackboard. Please seek technical support through the Help Desk if you encounter any difficulties.

Coursework will consist of multiple modes of inquiry such as tests, quizzes, class assignments, peer reviews, and a final portfolio.

In addition to the various techniques and problem solving philosophies investigated in PHTC1302, we will focus our attention to the printed object and dedication to craft that quality production demands. The Pareto principle is alive and well in digital imaging, in that 20% of your effort can often yield 80% of what is commonly accepted as “good enough”. This class will ask for you to concentrate your efforts accomplishing success in the remaining 20% where mastery lies. In doing so we will forgo convenience for value, establishing workflows and tool sets that seek creative excellence.

The information posted on this site addresses the syllabus information required by Texas House Bill 2504. The syllabus handed out in class will contain more information than is noted here, including the class withdrawal policy, class participation requirements, scholastic dishonesty, and other important information.