Digital Graphic Arts

DGA Week 7

Adobe Photoshop Basics Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has made everything appropriate in its time.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 reminds us that YAH makes everything beautiful and appropriate in its time. As designers, we can appreciate the beauty of His creation while using our...

DGA Week 6

Color & Typography Focus: Vector Illustration Genesis 1:31 “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.” Genesis 1:31 tells us that YAH looked at what He had created and saw that it was very good. Throughout creation, we see variety, color, order, purpose, and...

DGA Week 5

Pen Tool Practice Focus: Vector Illustration Exodus 35:31–32 “He has filled him with God’s Spirit, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in every craft to design artistic works...” YAH gives us creativity, wisdom, and the ability to make things with our hands. This...

DGA Week 4

Master the Pen Tool! Pen Tool Basics: Creating Magazine Illustrations Proverbs 22:29 “Wisdom is supreme, so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding.” "Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand in the presence of kings." Have you ever...

DGA Week 3

Adobe Illustrator Introduction Focus: Illustrator Workspace + Getting Started With Your Magazine Proverbs 4:7 HCSB “Wisdom is supreme, so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding.” Welcome to Adobe Illustrator! This week we are beginning Adobe...

DGA Week 2

Design Basics Brand Style Guide 1 Corinthians 14:40 “But everything must be done decently and in order.” Your Magazine Needs Its Own Style You are creating your own magazine, which means you are also the designer responsible for deciding what your magazine will look...

DGA Week 1

Introduction to Graphic Design & Magazine Project  What graphic design is + overview of Photoshop and Illustrator + intro to year-long magazine project Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people.”...

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.