UCLA Extension and Digital Imaging: Andrew Behla's Courses Gain Acceptance and Momentum September 30, 2004 by Harald Johnson (all images courtesy of Andrew Behla and UCLA Extension) Introduction The acceptance of digital imaging and printing has been making steady progress in hundreds of art and photography schools plus colleges, community colleges, and universities in the U.S. These courses occur under varying titles such as fine art printing, graphic design, photography, computer graphics, and electronic imaging and printing. Examples of schools offering these courses include: Savannah College of Art & Design (Savannah, Georgia), Community College of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), International Center for Photography (New York City), and UCLA Extension (Los Angeles, California). Examples of non-U.S. schools include: SACI (Florence, Italy), and Staedelschule (Frankfurt, Germany). There are also several digital arts training facilities in the U.S. such as the Palm Beach Photographic Centre in Delray Beach, Florida, and the Santa Fe Workshops in Santa Fe, New Mexico. These organizations typically combine digital art classes, galleries, workshops, and special educational events centered on digital imaging and printing. (For a list of selected workshops, schools, and classes, click here.) Let's take a closer look at one example: Andrew Behla's courses at the Extension division of famed Los Angeles university UCLA (University of California Los Angeles). UCLA Extension UCLA Extension serves as UCLA's community outreach arm by providing 65,000 adult learners annually with an enormous range of accessible, university-level educational opportunities to develop their professional capabilities and fulfill personal intellectual aspirations. The UCLA Extension Visual Arts Program offers 465 courses per year; a student body of close to 5,000 that includes designers, photographers and fine artists; and an active instructor base of close to 100 instructors who are industry professionals. Established in 1917, two years before the first branch of the Berkeley-based University of California at Los Angeles was created, UCLA Extension has been continuously dedicated to public service and receives no state funding. The Courses Educator and color management consultant Andrew Behla offers a 10-week course ("Mastering Fine Art Digital Printing") in the Spring and Fall quarters at UCLA Extension. This course is attended by artists, photographers, and printmakers. Following is a recent (Fall 2004) course description... Mastering Fine Art Digital Printing X 481.98C Art 3 units $750 This hands-on course allows students to develop their skills in the process of digital printing. Students scan, print, and edit their photography or art to create their own limited edition prints. Students learn about the history of fine art digital printing; how to choose a printer, inks, and papers; color management; print permanence; wide-format vs. desktop printers; scanning and advanced printing; and image-editing techniques. Special topics also include using Photoshop to color correct and edit artwork and get professional results with both large- and small-format digital printers. In-class scanning and printing sessions allow students to print on an HP Designjet 5500ps, a large-format professional digital printer; each student produces two large-size prints. Prerequisite: Basic knowledge of Photoshop is required. Fulfills Specialization requirement in Computer Graphics and Graphic Design Certificate Program. Course materials are available both in class and via Internet. Westwood: B04 1010 Westwood Center Tuesday, 1-4pm September 28-December 14, 10 mtgs. (no mtg. 10/12 & 10/19) ABOVE: UCLA Extension's digital lab includes 27 computer workstations as well as scanners and digital printers. Instructor Andrew Behla is at left. In addition to the main course, Behla is starting to add shorter one- and two-day workshops. As he explains, "With photographer Scott Stulberg, I've created a new workshop for UCLA called The Complete Digital Workshop: Capture, Edit, and Print. We are now listing the courses with the Photography Dept., and I think this is a great move for additional exposure. See below for details for the new course and also a return of the weekend workshop on color management." The Complete Digital Workshop: Capture, Edit, and Print 864.88 Art 1.2 CEU $395 This short-intensive workshop is designed for the serious amateur to professional photographer looking to enhance their skills in digital photography, digital imaging using Photoshop, and ink jet printing. This course goes beyond the basics and takes you through the entire process from digital capture, to editing in Photoshop and learning time-saving tips and tricks, to the final stage of preparing your image files, getting them ready for print, and printing test samples. Emphasis is placed on retouching skills, calibration from camera to computer to printer, working with raw files and using many of the third party plug-in filters available in Photoshop that take your images to the next level. By learning how to apply color management techniques, students save time and money by producing more accurate results from their personal printers. Students work from their own images in class and have the opportunity to produce up to two 20"x 24" large format prints on the HP Designjet 5500ps, a large-format professional digital printer. Prerequisite: A working knowledge of digital photography and Photoshop. Reg# Q9818B Westwood: B04 1010 Westwood Center Saturday, 10am-5pm February 26-March 5, 2 mtgs. Demystifying Color Management 849.83 Art 0.5 CEU $175 What are ICC profiles? What is soft proofing? Can I cut down on wasted time and materials? If you are working with Photoshop and have not taken advantage of its color management solutions, then you are simply not working as efficiently or as accurately as you can. For artists, designers, or photographers, this workshop demystifies color management from input devices to monitors to final output. Instruction also covers the creating of profiles for devices using software and hardware designed to make workflow more effective and predictable. Reg# Q9875B Westwood: 1010 Westwood Center Saturday, 1-5pm March 12 & 19, 2 mtgs. ABOVE (left to right): Kin Hau-UCLA Extension Photography Dept., Bryan Balocca-Media Lab Coordinator, and Julie Tumblety-UCLA Extension Graphic Arts Dept. check a print emerging from an HP Designjet 5500ps inkjet printer. The Classroom and Equipment 27x 1.8 dual gig G5s with 1 gig of RAM running OS 10.3.5 all workstations with 20-inch Apple Cinema Displays Overhead Projection of Instructor's Computer Scanners: Epson 1680 Expression, Nikon Super Coolscan 4000, Epson 3200 Photo Printers: HP DesignJet 5500ps 42" (two right now) A Final Word Says Behla, "I'm really excited about how the UCLA Extension program at the 1010 Westwood Building has been developing. We have been successful in getting a large format HP inkjet printer and scanners in the lab, and it's starting to feel like a print studio. The enthusiasm of the students has been great, and I feel like the classes and the print lab are gaining momentum." About the Instructor: Andrew Behla is an educator and color management consultant in Los Angeles, California. His website is at www.behladesign.com. Andrew Behla can be reached at andrew@behladesign.com. To sign up for the UCLA Extension courses listed above, click here. 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