Overview:
Did you ever wonder how the "great" web sites do their graphics? This class will give you an overview and experience with some of the tricks for building professional graphics for your web site. Building on your basic PhotoShop and Dreamweaver skills, we will learn to optimize graphics for the web, practice various uses of background images. work with photos and layers to create composite images, slice a larger image for flexibility and faster download time.  Graphic effects with CSS will be covered.

Prerequisite: Photoshop and Dreamweaver.

Day	Class Description
1	Introduction | Analyze and Create Colors & Backgrounds CASE 1      - What is the visual effect of this background, in the context of the rest of the page elements?      - Does the background image deliver a message?      - Task: create 3 pages with full background images. Add words over the top of the background.      - Side Trip: Here is what I saw when I checked the site above.   CASE 2        - What would happen if the background repeated over the whole page?      - What is the font - background interaction problem?      - How could you manipulate a background image to blend?      - Task: create a smoother, more subtle background image from a small, but busy image.   CASE 3      - How are the stripes created. How are they used differently from The Computer Gal?      - Does the page look flat? Why or why not?      - Compare and contrast Case 3 with this page. Background tricks Image Map Navigation Discussion Is it obvious? Is it obvious? In Programming Homework: Bring a page to analyze for next class.
2	Where Does CSS Fit into all This?    Lines    CASE 1      - How is the peach-colored stripe implemented? Properties?      - Is the logo an inserted image or a background image? Properties?      - How was the spacing created?      - What are the side effects of using a background image, instead of an inserted image?      - What is the effect of the offset lines in the logo?      - Why is there a line at the bottom of the page?   CASE 2      - How are the corners created?      - How do the graphic elements line up in the banner - and what happens if the window is too small?   CASE 3      - Find the lily pad image in several versions Just for Fun
3	Analyze and Create Photo Effects    Collage Effects    Cutouts Exercise
4	Consider Graphic Text and its Effects - and Side Effects Review Exercise: Corners      CASE 1     CASE 2   CASE 3     - With a partner, choose a case above      - List all the graphic text
5	Analyze and Create Banner Elements   CASE 1      - What is the underlying structure holding the graphic elements?      - Which images are background images and which are inserted images?      - What is the user feedback and how is it created? Exercise
6	Slicing Large Images   CASE 1   CASE      - How would you slice it? Exercise