Lesson Plan 4

Corel Painter – Image Manipulation

Lesson Title	Corel Painter – Image Manipulation
Duration	3 classes (4.5 hours)
Synopsis	This module introduces students to the concepts, techniques, and software for digital image manipulation for preparing images for the virtual environment.
Description of Class	Students are introduced to and begin practicing the fundamental concepts and techniques of image manipulation. The instructor demonstrates a set of tools and procedures while the students observe. Then the students try them out. The process is repeated for the next set of tools.  Students work on the digital photographs from the sand painting project to prepare them for use in the virtual environment. Concepts of craftsmanship are observed and practiced.  Time is allotted for questions and review. Topics for demo and practice: User interface and primary menu structure File management Cropping Layers Copy/Paste Selection Scaling Resolution, aspect ratio Rubber stamp Alpha channels
Primary Educational Objective	To understand the tools and procedures for altering and combining digital images for use as texture maps in the virtual environment.
Additional Concepts and Skills	Photography
Assessment	Evaluate the images for depth of exploration and craftsmanship.
Classroom Activities	Using Corel Painter, edit (crop, touch-up) photographs from the previous sand painting project so that they can be used in a virtual environment.
Homework Assignments	Collect digital images by scanning or digital photography. Working with the collected digital images, modify them for use in the virtual environment.
Lecture Materials	Digital images for use as examples in the demonstration. Characteristics of good choices are:    An image with a plain background.    An image which lends itself to being repeated (e.g. a leaf)
Reference Materials	Getting Started with Corel Painter online DVD tutorials Help pages (within Painter) Corel Painter User Guide (available online with the software license)
Prerequisites (this course)	The sand painting project or other activity where digital photographs were taken.
Related Topics
Technology Requirements	Corel Painter

Suggestion: This is the first module in which students save files in their directories on the computer. More attention should be given to clarifying the procedures for file naming conventions, directory organization, and using the server.