ACE Photoshop CS6 Course

The Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) Photoshop CS6 Course is an ideal course for those who want to learn more about using Adobe Photoshop software, and about graphic design in general. In preparation for the Adobe Certified Expert Photoshop 9A0-303 examination, this course builds your knowledge of correcting, painting, and retouching images, as well as Adobe Bridge and processing digital camera raw files using Camera Raw.

ACE certification is a recognised standard for graphic designers, Web designers, video professionals, system integrators and developers seeking validation of their proficiency and expertise in Adobe products. Earning the Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) gives you worldwide recognition of your skills in using Adobe software packages.

The ACE certification will help to expand your job opportunities, help you to stand out from your competitors in the job market, and may increase your earnings potential.

The course has been designed as a self-study course and you can take as long as you need to complete it. Tutor support is available via email should you need assistance.

APPLE MAC USERS: We recommend you complete this course on a PC with the Windows Operating System. While the course can be run on an Apple Macs using software such as Boot Camp, Parallels Desktop 7, VMware fusion or CrossOver Mac, we cannot support any issues that may occur with PC-Based software running on a Mac.

Stonebridge College offers the official Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) self study course materials supplied through DLC, an official partner of the ACE Program.

Adobe Photoshop CS6 Basics Course Book:

Unit 1: Getting Started

• Understand different file types used in Photoshop and save files
• Customise the Photoshop environment
• Magnify and scroll images
• Set up rulers, guides & grids
• Specify tool options
• Create and export tool presets

Unit 2: Image Selections

• Use various tools to select image areas (marquee tools, the lasso tool, and the quick selection tool)
• Modify and manipulate selections

Unit 3: Layers

• Create empty layers
• Create layers based on a selection
• Arrange layers and move layers from one image to another
• Transform layers by using commands
• Use type layers to add and format text
• Use opacity & layer styles to apply effects to layers

Unit 4: Basic Image Adjustments

• Use automatic adjustments to maximize image contrast
• Locate image shadows and highlights
• Set target points in a Levels adjustment layer
• Use a Curves adjustment layer to adjust image contrast

Unit 5: Repairing and Retouching Images

• Repair image defects by using Red Eye, Spot Healing Brush and Patch tools
• Retouch images by using the Burn, Blur, Content-Aware Move, Clone Stamp and History Brush tools
• Remove image areas by using the Background Eraser tool and Content-Aware Fill
• Select a painting colour and use the Brush tool to paint an image
• Use the Filter Gallery to apply filters to a layer or selection

Unit 6: Resizing Images

• Determine an image's resolution and resize images with and without changing their resolution
• Change an image's canvas size by using the Crop tool
• Canvas Size dialog box

Unit 7: Managing Files with Adobe Bridge

• Import files, navigate your computer's folder structure and review files in Bridge
• View and modify file metadata and use metadata to find and filter files
• Organize files by creating collections and smart collections
• Output files by creating PDF contact sheets and Web galleries

Adobe Photoshop CS6 Advanced Course Book:

Unit 1: Working with Multiple Layers

• Group layers and clip layers to underlying layers
• Apply layer blending modes
• Use Smart Objects when creating a composite
• Create and export layer comps

Unit 2: Working with Colour

• Specify colours and store them in the Swatches panel, and apply colours to image selections and as fill layers
• Apply fill types such as gradients and use overlay layer styles to apply colours and gradients to layer content
• Select colour in an image, adjust colour, colourise an image, create a spot-colour channel and replace a colour in an image

Unit 3: Masks

• Paint in Quick Mask mode and in an alpha channel to specify a selection
• Create a layer mask to hide part of a layer, and use grayscale masks to partially mask part of an image
• Refine a selection by using the Refine Edge dialogue box

Unit 4: Vector Shapes

• Understand how vector layers differ from raster layers and when you might use a vector layer
• Use the path tools and commands to create vector paths and shapes
• Use the path tools and options to edit vector paths
• Use paths to apply creative effects to type

Unit 5: Creative Image Effects

• Warp text and layers
• Use the Liquify filter to modify an image's pixels
• Use the Black & White options to maximise image contrast when you convert a grayscale image to a duotone
• Apply filters as Smart Filters, and mask Smart Filters

Adobe Photoshop CS6 Production Course Book:

Unit 1: Camera Raw and Batch Processing

• Maximise digital image quality by specifying settings for camera raw images
• Make selective image corrections in Camera Raw by using tools
• Process multiple images in Camera Raw
• Automate multiple images in Photoshop and Adobe Bridge

Unit 2: Photographic Techniques

• Merge images to create panoramas
• Merge images of varying exposures to create High Dynamic Range images
• Use photo filters and the Match Colours command to adjust image colours
• Apply filters to counteract lens distortions or simulate lens effects, and sharpen images

Unit 3: Colour Management

• Examine colour models' different gamuts and colour space differences
• Specify how to handle images when their colour profiles are different from the current colour space
• Proof image colour onscreen

Unit 4: CMYK Separations

• Specify colour settings for print images, and separate images into CMYK components
• Correct image colours by adjusting CMYK curves

Unit 5: Web Images

• Downsample Web images to decrease file size, optimize JPEG and GIF images for Web use, and optimise a Web image to a target file size
• Optimise images with transparency or simulated transparency
• Use the Timeline and Layers panels to create frame-based animations, and output animations for online use

Unit 6: Timeline Animation

• Start a new video animation project and import video clips
• Navigate the video timeline, trim and split clips, and add audio tracks to a video project
• Add transitions between clips
• Add graphics and text to a video project, and animate clips by using presets and keyframes
• Apply a colour lookup table and export a video

Assessment

To earn the Adobe Photoshop CS6 certification you must sit a separate Adobe Certified Expert Examination (Adobe Photoshop CS6 9A0-303). The exam is in a multiple choice/multiple answer format. There are 50 questions in total and the exam lasts approximately 65 minutes. The minimum passing score to gain the Photoshop CS6 ACE certification is 60%.

Adobe examinations must be sat at a registered Pearson VUE testing centre and cost £115+VAT each. You can locate testing centres and schedule exam appointments on the Pearson VUE website.

Adobe Re-certification Policy:

You must be certified on the previous version of the product and pass the current version's exam in order to get recertified. For example, to recertify for ACE Photoshop CS6 you must already be certified for Adobe Photoshop CS5 and pass your Adobe Photoshop CS6 examination.

On successful completion of this course you will be able to apply for the Adobe Photoshop CS6 9A0-303 Examination. You must pass the examination in order to gain the certification.

Becoming an Adobe Certified Expert communicates your status as proficient at a worldwide standard of using Adobe software. It sets you apart from the competition with advanced skills recognised and respected by employers.

Plus, once you are certified you are entitled to join the Adobe Certified community, where you can create a profile and connect with other Adobe Certified Experts.

For more information visit http : / / training . adobe . com / certification . html.

The Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) Photoshop CS6 Course is an ideal course for those who want to learn more about using Adobe Photoshop software, and about graphic design in general. ACE certification is a recognised standard for graphic designers, Web designers, video professionals, system integrators and developers seeking validation of their proficiency and expertise in Adobe products. Earning the Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) gives you worldwide recognition of your skills in using Adobe software packages.

There are no prior qualifications or experience required to enrol on this course. However, we recommend you have a solid, general knowledge of using computers and software.

You must have your own version of Adobe Photoshop CS6 in order to complete the course, as well as Internet access for downloading exercise files and using exam preparation software.

On successful completion of this course you will be able to apply for the Adobe Photoshop CS6 9A0-303 Examination. You must pass the examination in order to gain the certification.

Plus, once you are certified you are entitled to join the Adobe Certified community.

For more information visit http :// training . adobe . com / certification . html