Computer Graphics Live Course Instructions
Start Date: 31st October 2023
Teachers Details
Equipment Needed
Before your training session you will need the following equipment:
- High-speed internet connection (Suggested minimum speed: 5mb)
- Headset with microphone: It is advisable to use a plug-in headset and microphone as the inbuilt Mike pick up background noise that is disrupting to class
- Webcam (An internal webcam is suitable. If your computer does not have an inbuilt webcam, you can purchase any model online.)
- An external device to backup your work.
- Access to a scanner or camera for the first few weeks is helpful.
- Please ensure you are using Google chrome and not Microsoft edge browser.
How to Join Class
You will find your courses on your dashboard.
Click on ‘class’ button to join your class.
You will have to set your timezone
10 mins before your class join button will be orange and you can join.
Software Details
- You will need to have the programs, Photoshop, Illustrator and Indesign working on your computer for the first class.
- The only legal way to obtain the software is via the Adobe.com subscriptions which give you to use all the Adobe software online.
- Anyone who offers to install it on your computer (for free or for a minimal charge) is likely to be installing a copied version.
Instructions:
- Sign up for a monthly subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud.
- The student edition of Adobe Creative Cloud costs $19.99 per month for the first year (price will be different for subsequent years).
- Terms and conditions can be found here.
- To sign up for the student edition, you will be asked for the name and address of your school. Please note that Design Alive does not appear on the list of schools on their website, and it is usually sufficient to write Design Alive, Manchester UK.
- If Adobe requests proof of student status please request using this link.
Course Instructions
- Adobe Illustrator is taught Tuesday evenings for 14 weeks and Photoshop is taught Thursday evenings for 13 weeks.
- Adobe InDesign will follow with 10 classes over a 5 week period. (see your calendar for exact dates and vacation dates)
- Students have 1 full week to complete homework assignments.
- Each class is approximately 2-2.5 hrs.
- Each lesson will begin with a quiz, which will be reviewed during class.
- The classes consist of mainly instruction and demonstration. The student will be given time to try out the new tools taught on their own computers at designated times throughout the class. It is not advisable to practice as the instructor is demonstrating.
- The teacher will do her best to ensure all students have mastered the tool(s) before continuing. Students who have a question in the middle of a class can type (chat) or ask their questions to the teacher. The teacher will either address the issue or deal with it after class. Students who did not grasp any particular tool or method during class and require individual help will have the opportunity to email the teacher out of class hours.
- We have tutors available for those requiring extra help when email support is not sufficient.
- Towards the end of each class, a homework assignment will be given.
- Mastering any graphics software requires hours of practice. It is in the student’s best interest to complete the homework assignment before the next class and to thoroughly review all material in preparation for a quiz that will be given at the beginning of each class.
Filter/Whitelist Info
Design Alive recommends the following filters as students have been very happy with these filter companies and the support they provide.
- Techloq
- Gentech
- Nativ USA
- Netfree filter has also be approved for Design Alive but please note that having a filter which blocks skin content may be frustrating at some point
Before you begin the course please ensure that all the following sites below are unblocked: You can copy the list and send it to your filtering company.
- designaliveschool.webex.com
- webex.com
- designalive.com
- school.designalive.com
- for cisco webex- exclude multiple EXE
- You will need the cisco webex app working.
- autodesk.com (for Autocad students)
For more information regarding filter issues and troubleshooting please use this link
Tutor Assistance
If you require help while doing homework or practice, we first recommend watching the class recording.
You may email your teacher with short questions between sessions if you cannot wait until the next class to receive an answer. The teacher will either respond via email or address the question in the next class if she feels it can wait.
It is advised to condense all questions relating to a particular homework in a single email rather than multiple emails .
If you require extra out of class assistance then we have tutors available to assist you.
- Yona Botnick: envisiongraphics_yona@yahoo.com (USA)
The tutor can coordinate a live session with you if necessary. This is offered without charge providing tutoring support is not excessive (under 5 hours in total).
Computer Specs
Design Alive does not assist with helping you buy a computer suitable for the course, but below are suggested computer specs and details of a computer technician/salesperson who can help you.
Students doing 3D rendering or video editing/animation will need a top-end computer whereas students doing graphics only can get away with a slightly lower spec.
Please refer to these computer specs that are appropriate for all of our courses ranging from Interior & Graphic Design to the very robust 3D modeling applications (Autocad & Revit)
- An i7 or i9 CPU
- At least 16GB of RAM & 256GB of storage
- A 64-bit operating system
- A dedicated (internal) graphics card (ex. NVIDIA) – not integrated!
- Besides being more expensive, we do not recommend Apple especially because our instructors use a PC (and Revit is not supported on Macs.)
- While a 17 inch laptop is easier to see what you are designing, it would be too heavy to carry when visiting clients. Instead; we suggest a standard 15.6 inch screen and when working from home, you can opt for a secondary & larger 27” monitor (about $200).
- An (external) SSD drive to safely hold your projects and ensure that your computer does not get overloaded.
Design Alive has partnered with B&H Photo in NYC to handle all of these technical requirements and queries. They are a well-known and established company and are up-to-date with the most current specs and performance. Our contact is Boruch Berman and he can be reached at Boruchb@bhphoto.com. Please mention Design Alive when you send an email for his personal call back to select a machine that’s right for you (please do not call).
Here is a link to the current computers he currently suggests which are priced from low to high. Bear in mind that spending more money does not necessarily mean you are getting anything better and he will discuss this. Please feel free to do your own research for comparisons. (If this link becomes invalid then please let us know)