The Digital Lounge is a creative makerspace where members of the Annenberg community can learn to experiment and play with the digital tools they have received as part of the Digital Literacy Initiative.
Located on the third floor of the new, state-of-the-art building, Wallis Annenberg Hall, right in the heart of campus and literally designed to foster creativity, collaboration and media. Through workshops, events, help desk support and Adobe Certification Courses, The DL aims to promote a DIY culture that empowers the students to create and learn, regardless of their background or prior experience.
Spring 2024 Classes
All classes will be recorded and posted on Blackboard. For any technical questions during the classes, please e mail the Annenberg DL IT/Support desk team. They will be able to provide you with answers.
Adobe Certified Professional Program
Validate your Skills
The Adobe Certified Professinal certification allows you to demonstrate proficiency in Adobe digital communications tools. Become a Certified Professinal and stand apart from your peers, boost your confidence, and expand your career opportunities.
Required reading for the programs offered in USC Annenberg DL: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop & Adobe InDesign.
Domain 1: Adobe Certified Associate Visual Design: (PS, ID, AI)
Setting Project Requirements
Identify the purpose, audience, and audience needs for preparing graphics.
Demonstrate knowledge of standard copyright rules for artwork, graphics, and graphic use.
Demonstrate knowledge of project management tasks and responsibilities. Communicate with others (such as peers and clients) about design plans.
Identifying Design Elements used when Preparing Graphics
Demonstrate knowledge of design principles, elements, and graphic composition.
Demonstrate knowledge of graphic resolution, graphic size, and graphic file format for Web, Video & Print
Demonstrate knowledge of typography.
Demonstrate knowledge of the use of symbols and representative graphics.
Understand key terminology of graphics.
Adobe Illustrator Certification Class
The industry-standard vector graphics app lets you create logos, icons, sketches, typography, and complex illustrations for print, web, interactive, video, and mobile.
Over 10 weeks, we will go over 5 major objectives that will prepare you for the test, as well as learning to design and use Adobe Illustrator and prepare you to apply for a Job in the professional world.
Graphic Design & Illustration Using Adobe Illustrator Objectives
1. Understanding Adobe Illustrator
2. Create graphics using Adobe Illustrator
3. Archive, export, and publish graphics using Adobe Illustrator
Understanding of vector drawing concepts.
Adobe Photoshop Certification Class
Adobe Visual Communication Using Adobe Photoshop
The world’s best imaging and design app is at the core of almost every creative project. Work across desktop and mobile devices to create and enhance your photographs, web and mobile app designs, 3D artwork, videos, and more.
Over 10 weeks, we will go over 5 major objectives that will prepare you for the test, as well as learning to design and enhance images using Adobe Photoshop.
1. Understanding Adobe Photoshop
2. Manipulating Images by using Adobe Photoshop
3. Publishing Digital Images by using Adobe Photoshop
Understanding Image Size and Resolution, working with pixel-based program
Adobe InDesign Certification Class
Print & Digital Media Publication Using Adobe InDesign
The industry-leading page design and layout toolset lets you work across desktop and mobile devices to create, preflight, and publish everything from printed books and brochures to digital magazines, iPad apps, eBooks, and interactive online documents.
Over 10 weeks, we will go over 5 major objectives that will prepare you for the test, as well as learning to design and use Adobe InDesign for creating brochures and page layout projects.
1. Understanding InDesign
2. Creating page layouts by using Adobe InDesign
2. Publish, export and archive page layouts by using Adobe InDesign
Understanding Page Layout set-up
Required reading for the programs offered in USC Annenberg DL: Adobe Premiere and Adobe After Effect.
Domain 1: Adobe Certified Associate Video Design (After Effects, Premiere Pro)
After Effects & Premiere Pro: Domain one:
- Working In The Video Industry: the purpose, audience, and audience needs for preparing video.
- Determine whether content is relevant to the purpose, the audience, and their need. Key Terms: Client goals, Target audience, demographics, accessibility, etc.
- Communicate with colleagues and clients about project plans.
- Demonstrate knowledge of techniques for communicating ideas about project plans with peers and clients. Key Terms: Pre-production: shot list, script writing, storyboarding, design comp or sketch, etc.
- Demonstrate knowledge of basic project management concepts.
- Determine the type of copyright, permissions, and licensing required to use specific content.
- Identify legal and ethical considerations for using third-party content such as copyright, permissions, and licensing. Key concepts: Creative Commons, Public Domain, Intellectual Property, Derivative Work, Commercial Use, Attribution, Work for hire, Fair Use/Fair Dealing, etc.
- Identify when and how to obtain permissions to use images or video of people and locations. Key Terms: model release, location release. Having permission to use a photo is separate from permissions to use a person’s face or restricted location, etc.
- Demonstrate an understanding of key terminology related to digital video.
- Demonstrate knowledge of digital video terminology.Key Terms: frame rate, aspect ratio, safe zone, image and video resolution, file formats, video codecs, pixels, rendering, audio sampling rates, etc.
- Demonstrate knowledge of how color is managed in digital video. Key Terms: white balance, color grading, etc.
- Understand and use key terms related to video production. Key Terms: Aperture, shutter speed, ISO, lens types (zoom, prime/fixed, telephoto, etc.), dolly shot, etc.
- Demonstrate knowledge of basic motion graphics principles and best practices employed in the video industry.
- Communicate visually using standard compositing techniques. Key Terms: lighting, color, scale and perspective, etc.
- Identify general design principles and guidelines for motion graphics. Key Terms Design: space, line, shape, form, color, texture, emphasis/focal point, unity/harmony, variety, balance, alignment, proximity, repetition, rhythm, scale, movement, negative space, gestalt, etc.
- Define common photographic/cinematic composition terms and principles. Key Terms: aspect ratio, rule of thirds, foreground, background, color, tone, contrast, cropping, Depth of Field, field of view, white balance, etc.
- Demonstrate knowledge of common animation terms and principles.
Adobe Premiere Certification Class
With the industry-leading video editing software, you can edit virtually any type of media in its native format and create professional productions with brilliant color for film, TV, and web.
Over 10 weeks, we will go over 5 major objectives that will prepare you for the test, as well as learning to use Adobe Premiere to edit your own projects.
Video Communication Using Adobe Premiere Pro Video Communication
1. Working In The Video Industry (Domain 1)
2. Understanding Adobe Premiere Interface
3. Editing a Video Sequence with AdobePremiere Pro
4. Exporting a Video with Adobe Premiere Pro
5. Publishing Digital Media
Adobe Premiere Interface
Adobe After Effects Certification Class
Adobe After Effects is a digital visual effects, motion graphics, and compositing application used in the post-production process of film making and television production. Among other things, After Effects can be used for keying, tracking, compositing, and animation.
Over 10 weeks, we will go over 5 major objectives that will prepare you for the test, as well as learning to use Adobe After Effect to edit your own projects.
Adobe Certified Professional in Video Composition Using Adobe After Effects CC
1. Working In The Video Industry (Domain 1)
2. Project Setup and Interface
3. Video Project Organization
4. Create and Modify Visual Elements
5. Publishing Digital Media
Adobe After Effects Interface
Join us
The Certification Courses are 10-week courses taught by Adobe Experts. The courses take you through your chosen Adobe software, inside and out. At the end of the course, you’ll take an exam to receive a certificate–hello, resume booster! .
The course is free to all current Annenberg students, with the optional purchase of a textbook (specifically, Photoshop, Illustrator, or Premiere Classroom-in-a-Book).