Digital Arts Certificate

The Digital Arts Online Training Program will help you develop technical skills and creative artistry in digital imaging, traditional drawing, and digital illustration. You’ll learn professional applications for Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator alongside traditional materials like pencil and charcoal. Course projects include retouching, compositing, digital illustration, and still life drawing.

This online certificate program is offered in partnership with major colleges, universities, and other accredited education providers.

Looking to make your mark in the digital arts? The Digital Arts Online Training Program will give you the education you need. You'll gain hands-on experience in fundamental technical and creative skills in digital imaging, traditional drawing, and digital illustration. You will master the intricacies of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, build your understanding of color, and explore the representation of form through vector illustration and drawing. Hands-on projects focus on core skills and provide you with experience in traditional and digital media. Class assignments include digital imaging, vector drawing, traditional drawing, color and composition, and editorial illustration. Upon registering, you're given an initial thirty-six weeks to complete this program. Should you need more time beyond the thirty-six weeks, an extension of six months is available with a fee of $250.

Objectives:

As a student, you will learn the following: Digital Imaging: Your work will demonstrate entry-level professional Photoshop skills and effective decisions in selecting and editing images. You will be able to improve images for professional publication by retouching and correction, and create realistic or imaginative images by compositing or collage. Color: You will develop distinctive color palettes based on the principles of color harmony. Your work will exhibit a sophisticated use of color and contrast, the ability to research colors and make choices that are appropriate for each client and project. Vector Art: You will develop entry-level professional skills in creating vector art illustrations in Illustrator, using shape drawing and freehand drawing/tracing tools, Pen tool, type tools, and basic effects. You will be able to create simple, stylized logos, icons, and illustrations for effective visual communication. Basic Drawing: You will be able to create basic line drawings using pencil and paper following the principles of perspective and proportion. You will be able to identify and draw positive and negative space in a drawing subject. Advanced Vector Art: You will develop an expanded range of skills in Illustrator for creating photo-realistic illustrations, complex patterns, and richly illustrated designs. You will be able to use color sampling, meshes, blends, masks, 3D tools, and tiles to create both realistic and stylized artwork. Intermediate Drawing: You will develop drawing skills that show the ability to analyze a subject, represent realistic form and perspective, manipulate value and color, and reflect contemporary stylistic approaches. Your work will be informed by subject, lighting, color, and media choices. Vector Illustration: You will be able to create straightforward, clear, balanced, and stylized icons, sequential illustrations, logos, and editorial illustrations using Illustrator's shape tools, freehand drawing tools, and classic illustration techniques. Your work will show an ability to communicate complex graphic and editorial concepts in digital form.

Outline:

Photoshop Basics Color Theory Illustrator Basics Intro to Drawing Illustrator Advanced Drawing I Digital Illustration Advanced

Prerequisites:

The certificate program is designed for adult learners interested in building skills and portfolio for a design career. Students can enroll at any time, with monthly class starts. The program is open admissions: students must be 18 or over and provide high school or college transcripts prior to starting classes.

Materials:

Students must have a computer (PC or Mac) and an Internet connection (56 Kbps modem or faster). For any courses with software requirements, computers must meet software manufacturers' system requirements. Required software and technology: 1. Adobe Photoshop CS5 or CS6 2. Adobe Illustrator CS5 or CS6 3. A digital camera for photographing drawing work 4. Basic drawing supplies including pencils and sketch paper. The Intro to Drawing course and Drawing I course will provide specifics and a discount code for art supply site utrecht.com. No textbooks are required for this program.

FAQ

1. Can I register for programs if I am an international student? Yes, because ed2go programs are online you never have to actually travel to the school. Most schools offer telephone or online registration. 2. How long does it take to complete a program? Upon registering, you're given an initial thirty-six weeks to complete this program. Should you need more time beyond the thirty-six weeks, an extension of six months is available with a fee of $250. 3. Do I have to buy additional materials? This program may require additional software. Please refer to the PC Requirements/Materials Included page for details. 4. Can I get financial assistance? ed2go courses are non-credit courses, so they do not qualify for federal aid. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses. 5. What happens when I complete the program? Upon successful completion of the program, you will be awarded a certificate of completion. 6. Am I guaranteed a job? ed2go programs will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. We don't provide direct job placement services, but our facilitators and career counselors will help you build your resume and are available to give advice on finding your first job. Facilitators will also be available to use as a professional reference upon completion of the program. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering. 7. Who will be my instructor? Each student is paired up with a facilitator for one-on-one interaction. The facilitator will be available (via e-mail) to answer any questions you may have and to provide feedback on your performance. All of our facilitators are successful working professionals in the fields in which they teach. 8. What software or hardware do I need in order to take online programs and what are the system requirements? In order to take our online programs, you must have access to a computer and the Internet. You can access the program contents from any Web-enabled computer. You don't have to use the same computer to log-in to the program every time. We recommend that you have a word-processing program (Microsoft Word is best) and the latest version of Internet Explorer. 9. Can I use a Mac? Yes, you can use a Mac for this program. 10. How can I get more information about the program? If you have questions that are not answered on our website, please feel free to contact us via LIVE chat (click the button below). If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please feel free to send us a question using the "Ask a question" button below. You may also call us at 1-877-221-5151. We will answer your questions promptly. 11. When can I start the program? Our programs are all open enrollment. You can register and start the program as soon as you are ready. 12. How many hours per week should I spend studying? As a general rule, we suggest allocating an average of ten hours per week. However, this will vary from individual to individual. If you’re just getting started and have little to no experience, certainly try to put in as much time as you can and try to maintain a consistent schedule. Ultimately each student will find a pace that is comfortable for them.