Research Graphic Design Software

1. CUV503111 Diploma of Graphic Design
Assessment 2 Visual Diary
CUVDIG502A
Investigate technologies for the creation of digital art
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© Open Colleges Pty Ltd, 2014
OC assessment
code:
30533/02
By Colleen
Sedgwick
Student no
E0498336

2. Assessment overview
Introduction
This assessment requires you to create a Visual Diary that serves as a reflection and learning journal for
this course and describes your exploration and investigation of a single software package used for the
creation or manipulation of digital art and content. This exploration revolved around the four progress
challenges detailed in the learning module.
File naming
Once you feel confident that you have covered the learning materials for this unit, you are ready to at-
tempt this assessment. To help Open Colleges manage your assessment, please use the following file-naming
convention: [student number]_[assessment]_[assessment number].doc for example 12345678_21850a_01.doc.
Assessment submission
When you are ready to submit your assessment, upload the file in OpenSpace using the Assessment Upload
links in the relevant study period of your course. The Student Lounge provides a ‘Quick Guide to Uploading
Assessments’ if you need further assistance. Uploading assessments in OpenSpace will enable Open Colleges
to provide you with the fastest feedback and grading on your assessment. It is important that you keep a
copy of all assessment materials submitted to Open Colleges.
TIP
We strongly recommend you complete all activities and engage in the student forums throughout the module.
Elements and critical aspects
Assessment for this unit of competency is comprised of:
• CUVDIG502A Investigate technologies for the creation of digital art
You will be assessed on your understanding of:
• research digital technologies
• select digital technologies for in-depth exploration
• integrate technologies into own work
• manage digital technologies in professional practice.
You must demonstrate the ability to:
• apply knowledge of digital technologies and how they may be used and adapted at a professional level
• evolve and refine ways of working with technologies through a demonstrated process of experimentation
• integrate technologies into own work in a way that supports coherence of the creative work
• demonstrate technical proficiency in the use of selected digital technologies using safe and sustainable work practices.

3. Assessment Part A – Software research and analysis
Nature of task: Critical analysis
Word count: 250
Required
You are required to complete Progress challenge 1.
Recommended
• Complete all activities
• Engage in forum discussion
Summary
• Save your final work as a PDF for final submission.
Activity Progress challenge 1: Software research and analysis
This progress challenge requires you to research and investigate three different software technolo-
gies that would allow you to create and manipulate digital imagery and designs. This report should
include the following:
1. An analysis describing the features and capabilities of each of the three different technol-
ogies you chose to investigate.
2. An analysis detailing the latest features and benefits used by each of the software technol-
ogies you chose and what this may potentially mean to any designer using it.
3. An analysis describing at least three effects and capabilities that can only be achieved by
using one of the technologies you chose to investigate.
4. An analysis describing how each of the software technologies you chose can be acquired or
purchased and what method of acquisition would work best for a freelance digital designer.

4. Assessment Part A - Software Research and Analysis
I chose the following for pho-
to imaging technology (these
are all software I have used
on my desktop computer):
1. Adobe Photoshop
2. Roxio Photosuite
3. Olympus Master 2
Features and capabilities:
1. For Photoshop, these include:
Rendering to various formats e.g.
jpg, png, bmp; Interactive with
other programs in CC; Many dif-
ferent effects
2. Photosuite: Also has many
different effects and able to edit
photos, e.g., simple shapes, pho-
to cut-outs, drop shadows.
3. Olympus Master 2: simple photo
editing, such as cropping, sharp-
ening, hue/saturation, bright-
ness/contrast; features similar
to Light Room (another photo ed-
iting application in the Adobe CC
suite)
Benefits:
1. For Photoshop: A comprehen-
sive array of effects; highly ver-
satile (able to use with the oth-
er programs in Creative Suite);
Upgrades and latest information
available
2. Photosuite: simple and easy
to use – not a lot of training is
required; cost-effective, as long
as you are happy with the range of
effects.
3. Olympus Master 2: simple and
easy to use; no prior knowledge of
digital technology necessary.
Features exclusive to this
program:
1. Photoshop: Puppet Warp; liq-
uefy; lasso tool and many other
effects which are not available
on other programs.
2. Photosuite: easy to use Cut-
out (trace) function; scroll-down
to preview effects
3. Olympus Master 2: Functions
similar to Lightroom (so not en-
tirely exclusive), but not avail-
able to Photosuite.
Acquisition
1. Photoshop: Via monthly sub-
scription to Adobe Creative Cloud;
Student discount c/o Open Col-
leges.
2. Photosuite: Came with comput-
er; upgrades available as down-
load;
3. Olympus Master 2: Available
as a CD-ROM, which I can load onto
the computer, and came with the
purchase of my Olympus camera.

5. Assessment Part B – Software assessment and selection
Nature of task: Artwork and reflection
Word count: 250
Required
You are required to complete Progress challenge 2.
Recommended
• Complete all activities
• Engage in forum discussion
Summary
• Save your final work as a PDF for final submission.
Activity Progress challenge 2: Software assessment and selection
This progress challenge requires you to reflect on the evaluation and selection process you ob-
served to choose which of the three software technologies you wanted to investigate further. This
report should include the following:
1. An analysis describing at least three different types of real- world projects that each of
the three software technologies can be used for and what industries or organisations can benefit
from these types of projects.
2. An analysis describing the weaknesses and limitations that each of the three software tech-
nologies has and how this may affect designers using these tools.
3. An analysis explaining which among the three technologies you investigated would best suit
your practice and want to learn and experiment with, and why this is so.

6. Assessment Part B – Software assessment and selection
Part 1
Good uses for all three software
applications:
1. Creating diagrams and charts – much
like Visio in Microsoft
2. Create vector graphics – an alter-
native to Illustrator
3. Mind mapping
Google Draw can also be used for:
4. Educational activities - presenta-
tions
5. Collaboration and sharing – online
via Google Docs (all you need is a Google
account) (Google Docs, 2016).
Illustrator is the industry standard for
graphic design and I would expect most
kinds of industries to use it when there
is a call for illustration.
I have only used Google Drawings once,
for a mood board – however, I thought it
would do for creating simple graphics
until I become familiar with Illustra-
tor. I read it is good for educational
purposes (to be used with Google Docs)
and for basic illustrations and graph-
ics.
I have not used Inkscape yet, but I know
people who have.
Part 2
One of the drawbacks of Illustrator is
that like most programs with Creative
Cloud, it is costly. Another is that it
can be quite time consuming to learn
because there are so many different
things.
The main drawback I found with Google
Drawings is that its capabilities are
limited. Also, you have to go online
to use it (and be a member of Google as
well)
I have yet to discover the drawbacks
for Inkscape, since I haven’t used it
at all.
See Above (from left to right):
• An Infographic for Australia Post made using
Illustrator;
• A mood board made using Google Drawings;
• Another graphic made using Google drawings.

7. Assessment Part C – Software exploration and experimentation
Nature of task: Artwork and reflection
Word count: 250
Required
You are required to complete Progress challenge 3.
Recommended
• Complete all activities
• Engage in forum discussion
Summary
• Save your final work as a PDF for final submission.
Activity Progress challenge 3: Software exploration and experimentation
This progress challenge requires you to share the processes involved in experiment-
ing with the software you chose by submitting the following:
1. Website link to two different online tutorials or exercises that take you through the process
of creating different pieces of digital art.
2. At least three images or screen shots showing various work- in-progress versions while you were
doing one of the two tutorials.
3. One image of the final artwork you created through the tutorial.
4. Using the techniques in the tutorials you viewed, submit one image of your own original simple
artwork created by using the software you chose.
5. Show your original digital artwork to a friend or peer for and, in a short report, describe
opportunities of refinement and personal improvement based on your peer’s feedback.
6. Describe at least three sustainability issues, safety and health procedures and practices you
want to observe when using the design software you chose.

8. This one is from 3D Buzz:
http://www.3dbuzz.com/
t r a i n i n g / v i e w / p h o t o -
shop-cs5-fundamentals/
photoshop-cs5-fundamen-
tals
These are the Photoshop
tutorials I did for Study
Period 2, Module 1, and
Progress Challenge 10.
These include painting ba-
sics, brush presets and
history brushes.
Assessment Part C – Software exploration and experimentation

9. Assessment Part C – Software exploration and experimentation
Another set of tutorials are
these ones on Adobe TV, in re-
lation to image compositing, for
Progress Challenge 6, Study Pe-
riod 2, and Module 2:
https://helpx.stage.adobe.com/
photoshop/atv/cs5-tutorials.
html

10. Assessment Part C – Software exploration and experimentation
Final image: Reclaiming the Harbour

11. Assessment Part C – Software exploration and experimentation
From left to right: Gotcha - hammerhead shark (using Photo-
shop); t-shirt designs (using Illustrator); and poster design
(using InDesign)

12. Assessment Part C – Feedback, OH&S, Sustainability
Hi Colleen,
I like the theme that you chose for your com-
position. I nearly did the same type of thing
(with the floating sharks), but I changed my
mind at the last minute. I also had a look at
some of your blog sites. It took me quite some
time to go through it all - as you always do
such a thorough job in many of the tasks. I
thought you did really well with managing to
get a lot of your work out there on multiple
websites. Good to see!
Re: Progress Challenge 6:
Student discussion
by Andrew Yu - Saturday,
12 December 2015, 04:49
PM
Greetings all,
Here is my work for Progress Challenge 3.
I used Photoshop to do the pictures, then
InDesign for the final layout.I actually worked
on some of those images in Study Period 2, so I
am re-using them, but what I forgot to do was
upload and submiBut anyway, it showcases what
I have done or can do with Photoshop and then
with InDesign.
Cheers,
Colleen
Re: ACTIVITY progress challenge
3
By Lakeia Mundine - Monday, 28
March 2016, 02:05 PM
For the ‘Gotcha’ picture
and ‘Shark Smart’ adver-
tisement
Re: ACTIVITY progress chal-
lenge 3
By COLLEEN SEDGWICK - Mon-
day, 28 March 2016, 01:38
AM
Hi Colleen,
Thank you for the feedback. I quite like your
T-shirt shark design, the shark looks like it is
3D and that it is coming out at you.
Good work!
- Lakeia
My safety plan will include:
• Being aware of and abiding by the
potential hazards
• Setting up equipment – cameras and
computers;
• Sitting correctly at my work sta-
tion and taking regular breaks
Sustainability:
• turning off lights and equipment
when not in use;
• minimising resource usage;
• Using recycled materials.

13. Assessment Part D – Managing the design software
Nature of task: Report
Word count: 250
Required
You are required to complete Progress challenge 4.
Recommended
• Complete all activities
• Engage in forum discussion
Summary
• Save your final work as a PDF for final submission.
Activity Progress challenge 4: Managing the design software
This progress challenge requires you to create a short report describing practices and habits you
can develop to expand and improve your skills in using the design software you chose to experiment
with. This report should include the following:
1. A description on how you plan to continuously improve your competence, knowledge and skill
in using the software
2. At least three practices that will allow you to save electricity, disk space and paper in
using the design software.
3. At least three practices you want to observe to ensure your software and computer life will
be extended in terms of storage, logistics and handling it on an everyday basis.
Assessment SUBMISSION
Instructions
• Collate parts A–D into a single ZIP file comprised of 4 PDFs.
• Follow file-naming conventions.
• Navigate to your Assessments page to submit.

14. •
Assessment Part D – Managing the design software
Keeping up to date:
Ways to keep updated include:
Blogs
In well as https://www.smashingmagazine.com/, another de-
sign magazine I have come across is HOW Design Magazine:
http://www.howdesign.com/. It has many tips for keeping
updated on technology.
Online video tutorials
• YouTube: for me, it is the ‘go to’ site for video tuto-
rials - https://www.youtube.com/.
• Adobe TV (the official video site for tu-
torials on using their software): http://
tv.adobe.com/. Because Adobe Creative
Suite and Creative Cloud are ‘industry
standard’ (i.e. I need to use them), I
know I can be updated on the latest soft-
ware.
• Lynda.com: For a monthly fee, there are
limitless courses to choose from.
Social Networking Sites:
• LinkedIn: I can look out for different
jobs, connect with other people, and watch
presentations on Slide Share (now part of
LinkedIn).
• Facebook: Like most people, I am a member
of this site as well.
Reducing Wastage
Three ways I intend to reduce waste:
Electricity:
• Turning off the power when a device (e.g. computer, tablet
or mobile phone) is not used;
Disk space:
• compressing documents and/or saving to PDF,
• using applications like Disk Cleanup or Crap Cleaner,
• backing up documents to an external hard-drive or storage
cloud (like Google Drive);
Paper:
• Using recycled paper,
• using both sides of paper,
• Not using paper unless necessary.
3 ways I intend to extend the
life of my computer and stor-
age:
• Switching off when there is an electrical
storm;
• Running virus checks regularly;
• Storing my external storage (i.e. CD-ROMs,
USB drive) when not in use.

15. •
References
3D Buzz: Photoshop CS5 Fundamentals, http://www.3dbuzz.com/training/view/photoshop-cs5-fundamentals/photoshop-cs5-fundamentals
Adobe TV (2016): http://tv.adobe.com/
Adobe.com: CS5 Tutorials, https://helpx.stage.adobe.com/photoshop/atv/cs5-tutorials.html
Department of Primary Industries (2015): Fishing and Aquaculture - Sharks, http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/info/sharks
Department of Primary Industries (2015): Tips to Reduce Your Risk of Shark Attack in http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/info/
sharks/tips-to-reduce-your-risk-of-shark-attack; see also ‘Shark Smart Brochure: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_
file/0017/304415/SharkSmart-brochure.pdf)
Google Docs (2016): Google Drawings for Graphic Organizers, in https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SCRsgF-3Su8DYYgzXqwCGCg_Xy-
lq-LrZ5_jcSPbPRW0/edit#; viewed Sunday, 27 March 2016 at 10:47 PM
HOW Design Magazine: http://www.howdesign.com/
Lynda.com: http://www.lynda.com
Open Colleges (2013): ‘1.1: Exploring Photomedia’ in CUV50311 Diploma of Graphic Design – Stock Code 30529a (Work with Photo-
media in Creative Practice), page 9; see also Trendbreaker - Source: http://trendsbreaker.com/fashion-photography-diet-coke/;
OpenSpace Student Forum (2015): : Progress Challenge 6: Student discussion https://learning.opencolleges.edu.au/mod/forum/dis-
cuss.php?d=66771#p327477; viewed Saturday, 2 April 2016 at 8:48 AM
OpenSpace Student Forum (2016): Re: ACTIVITY progress challenge 3, in https://learning.opencolleges.edu.au/mod/forum/discuss.
php?d=51596; viewed Monday, 28 March 2016 at 12:54 AM
Sedgie Art (2015): Sedgie Art on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/SedgieArt/);
Sedgwick, C (2015): Colleen Sedgwick on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set
=a.1081149281917419.1073741862.277379758961046&type=3;
Sedgwick, C (2015): Colleen Sedgwick on LinkedIn, https://au.linkedin.com/in/colleen-sedgwick-51a0315b
Sedgwick, C (2015): Colleen Sedgwick on SlideShare, http://www.slideshare.net/ColleenSedgwick
Smashing Magazine (2016): https://www.smashingmagazine.com/
YouTube (2016): https://www.youtube.com/.