Digital Graphic Arts
Before Your First Day of Digital Graphic Arts
Welcome to Digital Graphic Arts!
We will be using professional Adobe design software throughout the school year. To make sure we can begin creating on the first day of class, please complete the following steps before our first class.
1. You Will Need a Laptop
Students must bring a laptop to class each week.
Before the first day:
✓ Make sure the laptop is working properly
✓ Make sure you know the computer login/password
✓ Fully charge the laptop
✓ Bring the laptop charger to every class
✓ Make sure there is enough available storage for Adobe programs and class projects
A computer mouse is strongly recommended. Photoshop and Illustrator are much easier to use with a mouse than a trackpad.
2. Sign Up for Adobe Creative Cloud Pro
Students will need access to Adobe Creative Cloud Pro.
The current promotional offer is:
Creative Cloud Pro
Regularly: $69.99/month
STUDENT Promotional price: $19.99/month for the first year with an annual plan billed monthly
Creative Cloud Pro includes 20+ Adobe applications, including the programs we will use in class.
3. Install Adobe Creative Cloud
After purchasing the Creative Cloud Pro plan:
- Download the Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop App.
- Install Creative Cloud on the student's laptop.
- Sign in using the Adobe account connected to the subscription.
Please make sure the student knows the email address and password for the Adobe account.
4. Install Adobe Photoshop
Open the Creative Cloud Desktop App.
Find Adobe Photoshop and click Install.
Once installation is complete:
✓ Open Photoshop
✓ Make sure it launches correctly
✓ Make sure you are signed into the correct Adobe account
5. Install Adobe Illustrator
Next, find Adobe Illustrator inside the Creative Cloud Desktop App and click Install.
Once installation is complete:
✓ Open Illustrator
✓ Make sure it launches correctly
✓ Make sure you are signed into the correct Adobe account
Both Photoshop AND Illustrator must be installed before the first day of class.
6. Create Your Class Folder
On your laptop, create a folder called:
Digital Graphic Arts
We will use this folder throughout the year to save projects, images, assignments, and completed designs.
Your First-Day Checklist
Before coming to our first class, make sure you have:
✓ Laptop
✓ Laptop charger
✓ Computer mouse, strongly recommended
✓ Adobe Creative Cloud Pro subscription
✓ Creative Cloud Desktop App installed
✓ Adobe Photoshop installed and working
✓ Adobe Illustrator installed and working
✓ Adobe login information
✓ Digital Graphic Arts folder created
Please Do Not Wait Until the First Day!
Adobe programs are large and can take time to download and install.
Please install and open both Photoshop and Illustrator at home before coming to class.
If either program does not open correctly, please contact me before our first class so we can try to resolve the problem ahead of time.
You do not need to know how to use Photoshop or Illustrator yet. That's what we're going to learn together!
Design Help!
How to Save Your Work (VERY Important)
- Always save your file as you work
- Use File → Save As the first time
- Name your file clearly:
YourName_ProjectName - Example:
Kaelah_LogoDesign
File Types to Know:
- .PSD (Photoshop file) → keeps layers (editable)
- .AI (Illustrator file) → keeps vector work (editable)
- .JPG → small file size, good for sharing
- .PNG → high quality, supports transparent background
Tip: Always keep your original file (.PSD or .AI) before exporting!
How to Export Your Design
- Go to File → Export → Export As
- Choose PNG or JPG
- Use PNG if you want better quality or transparency
Save Often
- Press Ctrl + S (Windows) or Command + S (Mac)
- Get in the habit of saving every few minutes
Keep Your Files Organized
- Create a folder for this class
- Inside it, create folders like:
- Logos
- Photoshop Projects
- Illustrator Projects
This will save you time and stress later
Layers Are Your Best Friend
- Always check your Layers Panel
- Name your layers (ex: “text”, “background”, “image”)
- This helps you stay organized and edit easily
Undo Is Your Safety Net
- Press Ctrl + Z (Windows) or Command + Z (Mac)
- Made a mistake? No problem. Just undo it
Zoom In and Out
- Zoom in to fix details
- Zoom out to see the whole design
Shortcuts:
- Ctrl + + (zoom in)
- Ctrl + - (zoom out)
Grading Breakdown
90–100: Excellent (A)
Student completed the assignment fully, demonstrated the skill taught, and created a thoughtful, polished design.
80–89: Good (B)
Student completed the assignment and showed understanding of the skill but may need more refinement or creativity.
70–79: Satisfactory (C)
Student completed most requirements but needs improvement in design choices, effort, or technical skills.
60–69: Needs Improvement (D)
Assignment is incomplete, missing requirements, or shows limited understanding of the skill.
0–59: Incomplete (F)
Assignment was not submitted or shows little evidence of effort or understanding.
