COURSE: MT 35101 Discovering Computer Graphics
RESOURCES: Course Resources
PROF: Walsh, Aaron (bio) <walshag AT bc.edu>
| PAGE: http://www.gridinstitute.com/bc/mt35101/
COURSE: MT 35101 Discovering Computer Graphics RESOURCES: Course Resources PROF: Walsh, Aaron (bio) <walshag AT bc.edu> |
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01. OUR DIGITAL TEXTBOOK and GIMPshop |
The readings, tutorials, and videos that you'll do tonight come from our digital (online) textbook. A link to the textbook is in our course SYLLABUS.
You'll also need to download and install GIMPShop now if you haven't already done so. Below is a link to the Windows installer for GIMPShop (if you are using a Macintosh look under appendix B.9 of our textbook for the Macintosh installer and see the notes below about GIMP vs GIMPShop for Macs). Click the link below and either RUN the installer or save it to your computer (and then run it). When the installation is complete a shortcut for GIMPShop should appear under in your PROGRAM menu (click on the START button, and then select PROGRAMS and look for GIMPShop):
Windows GIMPShop Installer: http://www.plasticbugs.com/blogimg/gimpshop_2.2.8_fix1_setup.exe
When you run the installer (and when you run GIMPshop the first time) simply accept the default settings it suggests. In other words, let the installer configure GIMPshop for you.
In this course we'll use the GIMPShop bitmap graphics content authoring tool. For Macintosh users who can't install GIMPShop you might be able to run "The GIMP" instead. The GIMP is the original program on which GIMPShop is based (GIMPShop is a slightly modified version of the GIMP -- the modifications make GIMPShop look more like Photoshop). In terms of look and feel the GIMP is still quite close to GIMPShop, however, and so Macintosh users might find it helpful in cases where GIMPShop can't be used. Here's the GIMP homepage and installer for Macintosh:
http://www.gimp.org/ (HOME PAGE)
http://www.gimp.org/macintosh/ (MAC INSTALLERS)
Alternately, you can always use Photoshop or any other graphics program in this course.
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02. WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER |
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TIME: Complete this section within 15 minutes
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Our online textbook features a number of "video tutorials" that are in the Windows Media format. You will need to install the freely available Windows Media Player (version 10, or a higher version if you can't install 10) to continue tonight's online class. If you are unable to see the video in your browser you may have to install the Windows Media Player plug-in (the most current installer is here and an older installer is here). You can also try the VLC Media player (Mac users, especially, since it's difficult to see the videos on Macintosh computers). If you can't view the video in your browser window you can download it to your computer by scrolling to the very bottom of the video tutorial window (a link to download the video is under the area in which the video would normally play in your browser window; right-click on that link to download the entire video to your computer, and then open the video file using VLC Media Player or another media player).
If you haven't already done so, test to ensure that you can view the video tutorials in our textbook (follow the bullets below to test). If you can't see the video tutorials you'll have to install Windows Media Player 10 (or a more recent version if you can't install version 10) using the link provided in the bullet points below. Then test to ensure that you can view the video tutorials provided in our textbook by reading (and doing!) each item listed under the bullet points below:
If you can't hear the audio when watching the video be sure to TURN UP THE VOLUME for both your Windows XP computer (the computer volume itself) and also for the Windows Media Player. The computer's audio volume and Windows Media Player volume are two different volume controls: turn them BOTH up to hear the audio clearly. Here's how:
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03. GIMPSHOP INTERFACE BASICS |
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TIME: Complete this section within 15 MINUTES
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Now watch the video tutorial "B.10 GIMPshop Video Tutorial: Open and Zoom" in our textbook again, and this time pay close attention so that you can become familiar with the basic interface of the program. Follow along with the video by downloading the following "monster" image (Monster.jpg) onto your desktop, and then open Monster.jpg with GIMPshop and do all the things shown in the video "B.10 GIMPshop Video Tutorial: Open and Zoom":
MONSTER: http://gridinstitute.com/bc/mt35101/images/Monster.jpg
Note that GIMPshop's floating tool menu (not the main menu in the background) is the window that you'll use to open graphics files and work with them. The main GIMPshop window that appears behind the floating tool window is merely used to QUIT (end) the program when you are done. Sometimes GIMPshop won't quit, in which case you must either RESTART your computer. Alternately, you can press the following three keys at the same time to bring up the task manager to force the GIMPShop program to quit. Only do this if you're comfortable using the task manager, however:
CTRL ALT DELETE
If you press the above 3 keys at the same time you can enter the task manager and force any application or task to quit.
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04. GIMPSHOP STEP-BY-STEP TUTORIALS |
See our MIDTERM NOTES located on our main course notes webpage (click the MIDTERM link) for examples of this midterm.
After you open the redeye.jpg in GIMPshop use the pencil or paintbrush tool to write your full name (first and last name) on this red eye image. WRITE YOUR NAME ON THE IMAGE BEFORE YOU DO THE TUTORIAL! Write your name large enough so that it's easy to see and takes up a lot of space. This is important: don't continue until you've written your name on the image. Then finish the tutorial (remove red eye as instructed in the tutorial).
When done upload the image that you create to your blog and give it the subject "MIDTERM 1". The image that you create in this tutorial is the first midterm exercise that you'll submit for grading. In the same blog post write a few sentences about what you just did (in other words, "blog your work").
See our MIDTERM NOTES located on our main course notes webpage (click the MIDTERM link) for examples of this midterm.
When you load this tutorial in your browser you'll see a picture of a cat, which is the image you'll download onto your computer desktop for this tutorial. Read the "downloading images to your computer here" link that appears above the cat image if you need help downloading the image to your computer.
In this tutorial you'll use the "Select Region" tool that appears on the GIMPshot floating tool window. The "Select Region" is denoted by a dotted rectangular outline (it looks like a square, and is usually located on the toolbar alongside the oval selection tool). Can't find the tool you're looking for? Note that if you REST YOUR MOUSE OVER A TOOL ICON FOR A FEW SECONDS THE NAME OF THE TOOL WILL APPEAR. If all else fails, rest your mouse over every tool icon (one at a time) until you find the "Select Region" tool.
Note that in the tutorial you are shown how to put the text "samus is a trouble maker" onto the cat image. This is not enough! BE SURE to add your FULL NAME (first and last) and "says" before the word "samus" so that your text reads, for example, "Jane Doe says samus is a trouble maker". If your full name and "says" doesn't appear before "samus is a trouble maker" (i.e, "Aaron Walsh says samus is a trouble maker", etc) you won't get credit for this midterm exercise.
When done upload the image that you create to your blog and give it the subject "MIDTERM 2". The image that you create in this tutorial is the 2nd midterm exercise that you'll submit for grading. In the same blog post write a few sentences about what you just did (in other words, "blog your work").
See our MIDTERM NOTES for examples of this midterm.
When you load this tutorial in your browser you'll see a link called "Ball.tif" which is the image you'll download onto your computer desktop for this tutorial. Read the "downloading images to your computer here" link that appears beside "Ball.tif" if you need help downloading the image to your computer.
After you open Ball.tif in GIMPshop use the pencil or paintbrush tool to write your full name (first and last name) on the ball image. WRITE YOUR NAME ON THE IMAGE BEFORE YOU DO THE TUTORIAL! Write your name large enough so that it's easy to see and takes up a lot of space. This is important: don't continue until you've written your name on the image.
Once your name is on the ball image follow the tutorial instructions and save the resulting image in JPEG, GIF and PNG format as shown in this tutorial.
When done upload the images that you create to your blog and give it the subject "MIDTERM 3". Upload the JPEG, GIF and PNG ball images that you created (together these 3 images are midterm #3) and write a few sentences about what you just did (in other words, "blog your work").
Open the completed (finished) "red eye" image that you created earlier, and use the "Save As..." option to save it in both a GIF and a PNG format. Previously you created it in JPEG format, but now you have it in GIF and PNG as well. Upload all three images (JPEG, GIF, and PNG) to your blog and write a note about the quality difference that you see between these formats. Can you see a difference? If so, write about it in your blog. If not, write that you can't.
Video tutorials and readings from our online textbook:
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Book: Discovering Bitmap Graphics (click icon at left to open this book)
Sections to complete Midterm #6:
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Assignments and Exercises:
MIDTERM #5: Do this midterm exercise while watching the corresponding video tutorials from our online textbook. For details SEE OUR MIDTERM NOTES.
MIDTERM #6: Do this midterm exercise while reading the corresponding tutorials from our online textbook. For details SEE OUR MIDTERM NOTES.
| RELATED CLASSES: |
MT35801 Video Games and Virtual Reality |
