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Evening Courses

Website Design (Dreamweaver)

in
1 May 2012 - 26 June 2012
24 HOURS
TUESDAY
18.00 - 21.00
Tutor: 
Thalia Deniozou

Create your own website! Our beginners Dreamweaver course has been extended to eight sessions to ensure that participants have sufficient time to cover HTML, CSS, Photoshop for the web and dynamic elements. Computer experience is required.

Please note: There will a 1-week break during this course between Week 4 and 5

Course Outline

Course Outline

Adobe Dreamweaver

Week 1: Getting started
An introduction to the Dreamweaver interface.  Learn the basics of HTML coding and how to use it to create a simple web page with links and images. By the end of the session, you'll be able to mark up text ready to go online.

Week 2: Site design with CSS
See how to link a ‘cascading style sheet’ to your web page, and use it to dictate how your site will look.  Start taking control of the layout of your page by adding margins and using absolute positioning.

Week 3: Advanced web layout
Gain an understanding of 'floating', 'the box model' and 'normal document flow', allowing you to position elements of your website relative to one another. By the end of the lesson you will be able to create whole page layouts via the CSS.

Week 4: Images
Learn how to optimise images for publishing online, and how to use them as part of a page's content, or as a background element. You'll see how to produce and style a basic web gallery.

Week 5: Using javascript
By the end of this session you'll be able to implement Dreamweaver's built in SPRY functionality to create effects such as drop down menus, image maximizes and scroll down content. You’ll also use online libraries like 'lightbox JS' to produce stylish galleries.

Week 6: Embedding mediaThis week aims to get you up to speed with online video. You'll be able to optimise video for web and embed it within a page by uploading it to Vimeo, or YouTube or by hosting the file on your site.  We'll also look at how to easily add Flash to a page using Dreamweaver.

You will also have a brief introduction to Flash and learn how to create movie-clips and moving, interactive elements to add to your page.

Week 7: Site production
A session ensuring that all the elements of the previous sessions are pulled together ready for publishing.  It will also provide the opportunity to get more detailed help with any specific web site issues.

Week 8: Publishing your site

Picking an internet service provider to host your site, connecting to your host via Dreamweaver and uploading your site. We'll also discuss maintaining and updating your site, web design usability rules and what you can do next!

How to book.
It’s easy to book, just choose your course and pay in advance to reserve your place. We accept payment by cash, cheque and most credit and debit cards, so you can even book over the phone. Give us a ring on 0131 622 6200 and we will do the rest!

Please read our cancellation policy before booking.

Waged: 
£199.00
concession: 
£179.00
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Beginners Website Design

in
31 May 2012 - 21 June 2012
12 HOURS
THURSDAY
18.00 - 21.00
Tutor: 
Thalia Deniozou

Create an on-line portfolio in just four weeks!
This beginner’s course will teach you how to use a variety of easy to use, customizable, web-design tools to enable you to put your work online easily and quickly without the need for code or programming. Computer experience is required.

Course Outline

Course Outline

Week 1: 
Learn about web design, get ideas on portfolio styles and find out the latest web-design trends of 2012. Organize and plan your work. You will be introduced to CMS (Content Management System) and find out how to register and use WordPress.com. By the end of the session you will be able to quickly publish pages online.

Week 2: 
Start customizing your WordPress theme and developing your own portfolio. Additionally, you will learn how to use iWeb, an easy drag-and-drop website publishing tool and customize your Twitter theme to match your web-design style.

Week 3: 
This week you will get to know WordPress in more depth, exploring the different functionality and continuing to build your portfolio by adding advanced features. You will learn how to embed a variety of media in your site, like image galleries, slideshows, videos and sound. Also, you will be introduced to the idea of micro-blogging and get to know Tumblr.

Week 4: 
During the final week you will add advanced sharing, mobile-web and plugin features for extra functionality to your site. You will also have plenty of time for portfolio development and you will be finishing up your website. Solve design issues, make final changes and understand hosting on the web.

 

Waged: 
£129.00
concession: 
£109.00
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Black & White Photography 2 – Fine Printing and Alternative Processing

in
29 May 2012 - 3 July 2012
18 HOURS
TUESDAY
18.00 - 21.00
Tutor: 
Morwenna Kearsley.

This course aims to both consolidate your existing photography skills and to help you develop new skills. Over the duration of the course, you will work primarily in Stills photography darkrooms where you will have the opportunity to experiment with the following printing methods; tray printing with fibre-based paper, split-grade printing and giant (over 1m square) enlargements.

You will also have the chance to experiment with a range of alternative printing methods including solarization, photograms and liquid light.

We will try as much as possible to structure the course around you and your photographic interests.

Some previous darkroom experience is required. * Please bring a few of your own 35mm B&W negatives to the first session *

Course Outline

Week 1: Refining Darkrooms Techniques: Printing and Editing
Learn to Split-Grade print your existing negatives on resin and fibre-based paper.

• Black and White Darkroom Refresher/Contact Sheet Printing
• Magnifying the Contact Sheet: Selecting and Enlarging Prints
• Printing the Photographic Enlargement: Using Filters, ‘Dodging’ and ‘Burning’
• Tray Processing with Fibre Prints

Week 2: Medium Format Cameras Lighting techniques for Photographic Studio Portraits. This will include using medium format cameras such as a Hasselblad and Mamiya.
• A presentation of portrait photographers and their work
• Introduction to Studio Lighting and using an electronic Light Meter
• Shoot in Studio

Week 3: Medium format film processing and printing
You will hand-process the medium format negatives shot in the studio. This will give you the opportunity to enlarge 120 negatives and practice the printing techniques you learnt in week one.
• Hand-process medium format films
• Refine printing techniques
Task
• Bring in a selection of translucent objects for alternative processing session
• Bring in a paper of your choice (watercolour, plain etc) to use with liquid light

Week 4: Alternative Photography Techniques
Experiment with various alternative-printing methods including Photograms and Solarization.
• Photogram demonstration
• Solarization demonstration
• Liquid Light paper preparation

Week 5: Liquid Light and Giant Enlargements
Collectively as a group, we will print a giant enlargement (over 1m square). You will also have the chance to experiment with printing onto Liquid Light emulsion.
• Make a giant enlargement as a group
• Experiment with liquid light emulsion

Week 6: The Fine Print
Working towards printing a final set of photographs. This final session will allow you time to print with some 1-1 tuition. We will discuss some printing techniques to help you get the most from your negatives. Once all the final prints are printed and mounted we will have a final presentation session.
• Mounting and Framing Presentation
• Work on final prints for mounting

Waged: 
£199.00
concession: 
£179.00
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Environmental Landscape Photography

in
25 May 2012 - 29 June 2012
18 HOURS
FRIDAY
2PM - 5PM
Tutor: 
Keith Brame

Photography has always been a rewarding and powerful process for exploring and engaging with the physical environment. Effective landscape photographers often develop a consistent set of visual concerns and interests that they express in their own unique style.

In this dynamic practical course participants will consider the idea of ‘Boundaries, Borders, Frames and Edges’ as a stimulus for short forays into a variety of physical environments in and around Edinburgh. The trips will be an opportunity to explore environments, develop practical technique, and also to discuss some of the ways of thinking about and approaching photography. Through an online blog, participants can also explore some of the significant photographers of the environment and use their work as a source of inspiration to develop their own consistent photographic response to landscapes. The tutor will also offer online critique of participants’ photographs, and discussion of points of interest arising from the shooting trips.

Intermediate-level: Some previous photographic and computer experience desirable.

This course includes light physical activity.

The course outline may change depending on conditions, and the interests of course participants. 

Course Outline

Course Outline

Week 1: Introduction to the course
Discussion of themes and introduction to classic practitioners such as Josef Sudek, Edwin Smith, Atget etc. Followed by a short shooting excursion within Edinburgh city centre. Planning of week 2 location shoot along with sources of information for photo trip planning, such as maps, tides, light, weather, safety.

Week 2: Greenbelt location shoot
Location shoot – Bypass/Greenbelt. Meet at pre-agreed location. It is recommended that suitable outdoor clothing is worn and mobile phones are brought along.

Week 3: Mountain in the city
An excursion through the varied architecture of the city, and onto the mountain architecture of Arthur’s Seat.

Week 4: Post-Industrial landscape
A trip into the unique landscape of the oil shale ‘bings’ of West Lothian. Meet at pre-agreed location. It is recommended that suitable outdoor clothing is worn and mobile phones are brought along, and access to transport by car.

Week 5: Waterfront location shoot
Meet at pre-agreed point for walk though one of Edinburgh’s waterfront locations. A mix of picturesque harbour, slick futuristic housing developments, industry and the sea. Again, it is recommended that suitable outdoor clothing is worn and mobile phones are brought along.

Week 6: Edge of the city and foothills of the Pentlands
Starkly sculptural beech avenues lead into the hill farms and open moors of the Pentland Hills. Again, it is recommended that warm outdoor clothing is worn and mobile phones are brought along.

Waged: 
£179.00
concession: 
£159.00
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Photography Book Publishing

in
12 April 2012 - 31 May 2012
18 HOURS
THURSDAY
6PM - 9PM
Tutor: 
Lena Dobrowolska

 In this exciting project-based course, participants will be guided through all stages of photographic book production, from concept and design research, to editing and production. Participants will develop their ideas in order to assemble their photographs ready to publish and take home their very own bespoke photography book!

Through organizing photographs into a book format, participants will be introduced to techniques of project structuring and concept development, with a mixture of creative and hands-on technical skills. Exploring traditional bookbinding techniques, artist sketchbooks, and the world of digital layout (using Adobe Photoshop and InDesign) participants will design their own book before using online publishers to produce a finished artist monograph, family album or archival/research book.

Intermediate-level: Some previous photographic and computer experience desirable.

Course Outline

Course Outline

Week 1: Introduction
Introduction to the tradition of artist books in the context of photography with a presentation of works by photographers and artists who work with this format. Using examples of books and artist publications from Stills research library as inspiration, the group will discuss participant’s ideas for their own projects. The session will finish with a short introduction to creative publishing, self-publishing and publisher’s specializing in photography books.

Week 2: Photo editing/ Case Study
Introduction to editing techniques in photography, including elements of narration and visual storytelling, typographies and collections. Participants will discuss core ideas of format and sizes and explore image sequencing by a hands on structural exercises preparing participants to think about images in sequences and creating different meaning through variations of visual order Editing the content of participant’s projects in groups as an exchange of ideas. ** Participants are required to bring printed images for this session

Week 3: Sketchbook Session
Sketchbook presentation and bookmaking session. An overview of different types of handmade books and bookbinding methods. Participants will explore the relationship between the design and content by creating a physical dummy version of their book. Participants will look at different methods of bookmaking (hand stitched and glued sketchbooks), and see why size, format, cover design and paper types are so important. The session will finish with introduction to Blurb bookmaking software Booksmart.

Week 4: In Design- Layout and Typeface
Further work with the structure of the book and its contents. Placing images onto page space, exploring the relationship between images and text, caption types, fonts etc. through introduction to desktop publishing software Adobe InDesign. At this stage participants are welcome to continue working with hand made books or use on line publishers for highly finished results.

Week 5: Troubleshooting / Ordering books
Troubleshooting session. Finalising individual’s projects and placing orders with Blurb.

Week 6: Follow up meeting
Feedback session with a tabletop book exhibition/presentation followed by a feedback discussion on all the projects under-taken.

**Please note a two week break between sessions 5 and 6 to allow time for printing and delivery of books.**

Waged: 
£199.00
concession: 
£179.00
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Digital SLR Photography FRIDAY MORNING

in
25 May 2012 - 29 June 2012
18 HOURS
FRIDAY
11AM- 2PM
Tutor: 
David Grinly

 

Master the camera and post processing skills required to produce an end result that matches your creative vision and expectations. This practical and fun course enables participants to fully explore the essential camera and Photoshop skills you need to produce stunning digital photographs. Experienced tutor David Grinly helps you harness your creative potential in six engaging and empowering sessions. Demystify the technical jargon and unlock your DSLR camera’s full potential. Learn Photoshop from a photographer’s perspective and the essential skills you need to really make your images shine.

If you don’t have a digital SLR we can provide one for you. Computer experience is beneficial.

 

Have a look at previous participants work on the Stills DSLR Flickr site.

What's next? Photoshop Essential Training Modules, Portrait Photography

Course Outline

Course Outline

Week 1: Camera Controls 

You will be guided through the manual settings of your Digital SLR camera, fully exploring how to capture light and time in a single image. Learn how to generate accurate exposures through aperture and shutter speed control, and how to read digital histograms of the results. Understand and feel confident using ISO and colour balance settings, focus modes and depth of field, and how/when to apply them creatively. You will also be introduced to the work of a wide variety of photographers.

Assignment: You will be given a project to be done for the final week

Week 2: Shooting and Image Management

Put into practice all the features discussed and demonstrated in Week 1 on a walk around town with your camera. You will then return to the gallery to import, organise and filter your digital images in Adobe Bridge and Adobe Camera RAW. Get to grips with common image formats such as RAW, JPG, TIFF and PSD.

Week 3: Photoshop Introduction

Discover the Adobe Photoshop interface and experiment with basic image enhancements and adjustment tools. You will practice moving, rotating and cropping images, as well as converting colour photographs into black and white - learning fundamental techniques for image composition and form.

Week 4: Postproduction in Photoshop 

Explore in more depth the Photoshop interface and advanced methods of post-production using Levels, Curves, Layer Masks and the Cloning and Healing tools. Utilise the High Dynamic Range capabilities of Photoshop to create stunningly detailed compositions. Participants will also learn how to correctly photograph for this specific purpose.

 Week 5: Introduction to Studio Portraiture

 Participants will be guided through the preparation and use of portable strobes in a "studio" environment before taking a variety of their own photographs, emulating specific lighting techniques and learning how to control artificial light and it’s effects on the final photograph.

Week 6: Final Adjustments and Project Critique

Continue applying relevant editing techniques learnt during the course to the images shot for your personal project. On completion, the group will have an informal and supportive presentation of each others work, with technical and critical feedback provided by the tutor.

How to book.
It’s easy to book, just choose your course and pay in advance to reserve your place. We accept payment by cash, cheque and most credit and debit cards, so you can even book over the phone. Give us a ring on 0131 622 6200 and we will do the rest!

Please read our cancellation policy before booking.

 

Waged: 
£149.00
concession: 
£129.00
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Graphics, Layout and Print (Adobe InDesign & Illustrator)

in
18 June 2012 - 6 August 2012
24 HOURS
MONDAY
18.00 - 21.00
Tutor: 
Nicole Heidtke & Stefan Baumberger

Everything starts from a dot (Kandinsky)

Graphics, Layout, Print (Adobe InDesign & Illustrator)

“problem: a chaotic world in which parameters are always changing; a need for control without being controlled; a desire to find beauty and truth; vast quantities of words and images that need to be placed on a page...

(Introduction of the “designer and the grid” by Lucienne Roberts and Julia Thrift)

Course Outline

Course Outline

Dot WEEK ONE 6–9PM
Introduction & Basic elements
The Adobe InDesign workspace · working with panels · navigate through a document · create a new document · using the selection tool · using basic shape tools · create and select objects · create text frames · Exercise: Communicating content with basic visual elements

Line WEEK TWO 6–9PM
From dot to line
Importing and editing text in InDesign · change fonts and type style · using the glyphs panel · type on a path · how to import images from Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator · wrap text around a graphic · working with the stroke panel · Exercise: Text lines as lines – creating movement and rhythm

Plane WEEK THREE 6–9PM
Principles of Order and Variation
The Adobe Illustrator workspace · working with panels · using the selection tool · using basic shape tools · selecting and aligning objects · shape mode · transforming objects· working with text · Exercises with planes and shapes

Colour WEEK FOUR 6–9PM
Colour physiology & Colour for print
(Illustrator) RGB & CMYK · swatches panel · live paint · colour wheel · tracing images · working with layers · Exercises with Shape and Colour contrast

Contrast WEEK FIVE 6–9PM
Working with Greys
(Illustrator & InDesign) Bezier · Pen tool · Creating and editing symbols · straight lines and curved paths · curves and corner anchor points · working with text in Illustrator · working with brushes & effects · Exercises with brightness, structure and texture

Grid WEEK SIX 6–9PM
Modular constructions
(InDesign) Order & pagination · creating a baseline grid · adjusting letter and word spacing · creating Master pages · working with libraries · Exercises with invisible nets – creating a layout

Image WEEK SEVEN 6–9PM
Image organisation
Collecting and arranging · mixed styles: combining bitmap, vector graphics and text · individual troubleshooting in InDesign & Illustrator · Working on individual projects

Layout WEEK EIGHT 6–9PM
Completing projects for print and/or screen
How to prepare your project for print or screen · creating hyperlinks and page transitions · when using Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator? · Working on individual projects

Waged: 
£199.00
concession: 
£179.00
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Introduction to Black and White Photography WEDNESDAY

in
9 May 2012 - 30 May 2012
12 HOURS
WEDNESDAY
18.00 - 21.00
Tutor: 
Caroline Douglas

Discover the magic of Black & White Photography and learn some of the secrets the masters use to make stunning photographs. Explore the fundamentals of light and time and no longer be a slave to the Auto setting. Master the manual functions of your 35mm SLR film camera and unlock its true potential. Get to grips with the complete darkroom workflow from processing film to printing your own black & white photographs.
Perfect for those with no experience or those looking for a full refresher.

What's next? Digital SLR Photography, Website Design

  

Course Outline

Course Outline

Intro to black and white Photography

“Any good photography is a successful synthesis of technique and art.” Andreas Feininger

Discover the magic of Black & White Photography and learn some of the secrets the masters use to produce stunning photographic prints. Artist tutor, Morwenna Kearsley takes you on a journey of discovery through four enlightening modules. Master the Manual functions of your 35mm SLR camera and unlock it and your true potential. Get to grips with the complete darkroom workflow from processing film to printing your own black & white photographs.
A practical and fun course designed to give you the confidence and skills to use Stills’ open access darkrooms independently. Perfect for those with no experience or looking for a full refresh

If you don't have a SLR camera we have a limited number of available for use during the course please call or email for availability

Week 1 Capture, technical notes, discussions, art context.
Understand the fundamentals of light and time in balancing an accurate exposure; No longer be a slave to the Auto setting! Know how to utilise the Manual functions of their 35mm SLR camera;Understand film types, film speed, depth of field, different lenses and how to use them creatively; Appreciate photography within an art context - Begin to look at the work of other photographers.

Assignment: You will be given a project and one roll of B&W film to be done for the second week

Week 2 Film processing:
Learn how to process B&W film by hand in Stills’ darkrooms. We will discuss different film types and chemistry, as well as best practice procedures for film handling.  Appreciate photography within an art context - Look at the work of photographer Nan Goldin

Week 3 Contact printing:
Gain an appreciation of general darkroom procedures; Experiment with photograms, learn contact printing and printing from negatives.

All paper and chemistry will be provided

Week 4 Darkroom printing:
This last session will allow participants to keep on printing with some one to one attention. We will also explore some basic dodging and burning and other printing techniques to get the most from your negatives.

How to book.
It’s easy to book, just choose your course and pay in advance to reserve your place. We accept payment by cash, cheque and most credit and debit cards, so you can even book over the phone. Give us a ring on 0131 622 6200 and we will do the rest!

Please read our cancellation policy before booking.

Waged: 
£149.00
concession: 
£129.00
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Digital SLR Photography

in
23 May 2012 - 27 June 2012
18 HOURS
WEDNESDAY
18.00 - 21.00
Tutor: 
David Grinly

Master the camera and post processing skills required to produce an end result that matches your creative vision and expectations. This practical and fun course enables participants to fully explore the essential camera and Photoshop skills you need to produce stunning digital photographs. Experienced tutor David Grinly helps you harness your creative potential in six engaging and empowering sessions. Demystify the technical jargon and unlock your DSLR camera’s full potential. Learn Photoshop from a photographer’s perspective and the essential skills you need to really make your images shine.

If you don’t have a digital SLR we can provide one for you. Computer experience is beneficial.

 

Have a look at previous participants work on the Stills DSLR Flickr site.

What's next? Photoshop Essential Training Modules, Portrait Photography

Course Outline

Course Outline

Week 1: Camera Controls 

You will be guided through the manual settings of your Digital SLR camera, fully exploring how to capture light and time in a single image. Learn how to generate accurate exposures through aperture and shutter speed control, and how to read digital histograms of the results. Understand and feel confident using ISO and colour balance settings, focus modes and depth of field, and how/when to apply them creatively. You will also be introduced to the work of a wide variety of photographers.

Assignment: You will be given a project to be done for the final week

Week 2: Shooting and Image Management

Put into practice all the features discussed and demonstrated in Week 1 on a walk around town with your camera. You will then return to the gallery to import, organise and filter your digital images in Adobe Bridge and Adobe Camera RAW. Get to grips with common image formats such as RAW, JPG, TIFF and PSD.

Week 3: Photoshop Introduction

Discover the Adobe Photoshop interface and experiment with basic image enhancements and adjustment tools. You will practice moving, rotating and cropping images, as well as converting colour photographs into black and white - learning fundamental techniques for image composition and form.

Week 4: Postproduction in Photoshop

Explore in more depth the Photoshop interface and advanced methods of post-production using Levels, Curves, Layer Masks and the Cloning and Healing tools. Utilise the High Dynamic Range capabilities of Photoshop to create stunningly detailed compositions. Participants will also learn how to correctly photograph for this specific purpose.

 Week 5: Introduction to Studio Portraiture

 Participants will be guided through the preparation and use of portable strobes in a "studio" environment before taking a variety of their own photographs, emulating specific lighting techniques and learning how to control artificial light and it’s effects on the final photograph.

Week 6: Final Adjustments and Project Critique

Continue applying relevant editing techniques learnt during the course to the images shot for your personal project. On completion, the group will have an informal and supportive presentation of each others work, with technical and critical feedback provided by the tutor.

How to book.
It’s easy to book, just choose your course and pay in advance to reserve your place. We accept payment by cash, cheque and most credit and debit cards, so you can even book over the phone. Give us a ring on 0131 622 6200 and we will do the rest!

Please read our cancellation policy before booking.

Waged: 
£179.00
concession: 
£159.00
  • share
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