Digital Media Daily Log 2026

DIGITAL MEDIA ARTS INTRO: STRANDS AND STANDARDS  Weebly Portfolio  Google Site Portfolio

Dec. 8, 2025

Creating Brushes

1. Open an image in Photoshop.

2. From the pulldown menu, Choose: Edit / Define Brush Preset…

(Anything in the image that is black will be solid, white is transparent.)

Dec. 4, 2025

Install Brush https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/photoshop-brushes.html

http://myphotoshopbrushes.com/

1. Select Brush tool.

2. In the status bar Select second pull down arrow.

3. In Brush menu click on the .

4. Choose Load Brush.

5. Locate and install your downloaded .abr file.

Your new brushes should appear at the bottom of all your other brushes.

Dec. 2, 2025

How do you use Layer Styles?

1. Select a layer.

2. Double click on the layer or click on the fx icon.

3. Choose a layer styles

Nov. 25, 2025

What's the difference between Kerning and Leading?

??

Nov. 21, 2025

What's the difference between San Serif and Serif fonts?

San Serif means without. Serif fonts have small decorative pieces at the ends.

Use serif for printed work

Serif fonts are usually easier to read in printed works than sans-serif fonts. This is because the serif make the individual letters more distinctive and easier for our brains to recognise quickly. Without the serif, the brain has to spend longer identifying the letter because the shape is less distinctive.                                         

The commonly used convention for printed work is to use a serif font for the body of the work. A sans-serif font is often used for headings, table text and captions.                                         

Use sans serif for online work

An important exception must be made for the web. Printed works generally have a resolution of at least 1,000 dots per inch; whereas, computer monitors are typically around 100 dots per inch. Even Apple's much vaunted retina display is only around 300 dots per inch — much lower than print.

Install Fonts:

1. Download font. (www.dafont.com)

2. Unzip download

3. Locate .ttf or .otf file. ( Double click to install)

4. Font will install through Font Book software.

Nov. 19, 2025

Downloading resolution size.

1.  Search for an image.

2. Click on the Thumbnail.

3. Download if the resolution is 500 x 500 or higher. (Look in the bottom right hand corner for size.)

Nov. 17, 2025

Using  Mask Layer

1.  Click on Add Layer Mask.

2. Select brush tool (B).

3. Resize brush size. ( -[ +] )

3. Apply black to hide, white to add back.

Nov. 15, 2025

Using  Selection Tools.

Deselecting  Command + D

Nov. 13, 2025

How do you use an adjustment layer?

1. Select an area on an image with a selection tool. (W)

2. Click on the adjustment layer icon. Choose from the list of options.

3. Use the properties window to make your changes.

Download: Fixit_

Nov. 11, 2025

How do you use blending styles.
-Create a New Layer. (Command + Shift + N)

-Add color with the brush tool.
-Choose a blending mode. Click on Normal and change it up.

Nov. 7, 2025

Select Clone Stamp Tool.  
-Target what you want to copy. Press alt & left mouse click.
-Let go and move the mouse over the damaged area.
-Click and drag to apply.

Nov. 5, 2025

.jpg vs. .psd

Nov. 3, 2025

Photoshop Hot Keys: What are the hotkeys for Rectangular Marquee, Deselect, Move, Transform, Erase.

W: Quick Selection

M: Rectangular Marquee  

[: Size down circle, ]:Size up circle

⌘ +  J : Duplicate on a new layer

⌘ +  D : Deselect

V: Move Tool

⌘ +  T : Transform (Scale & Rotate)

E: Eraser Tool

Oct. 30, 2025

Filters

1. Menu: Filter / Render / Clouds

Oct. 28, 2025

List three Careers in Digital Media.

1.

2.

3.

End of 1st Quarter

Oct. 21, 2025

What is vector art? 

Vector graphics allow creatives to build high-quality works of art, with clean lines and shapes that can be scaled to any size. Explore how this file format can offer creative opportunities for projects of every size.

• Vector graphic formats and their appropriate use (e.g., PDF, AI, EPS, SVG, WMF, etc.).

Oct. 17, 2025

Distorting Text

1. Select text. Right mouse click “Convert to Outlines”

2. Free Transform tool (E)

3. Choose “Free Distort” Click and drag on a corner to distort.

October 15, 2025

Activate the Perspective Grid tool?

1. Click on the icon:  or press: Shift + P.

2. Click on the Cube icon  to change perspective you want to draw on.

Exit out of the perspective grid click on the Cube icon  , than click on the x on the cube icon.

October 13, 2025

How do you Show and hide your Contextual Task Bar?

October 9, 2025

How do you switch workspaces?

1. In the top right corner of Illustrator select the Switch Workspace icon.

2. Choose a “Essentials Classic” or a different workspace.

October 7, 2025

Live Trace?

1. Copy image to Illustrator.

2. Select image.

October 3, 2025

List 3 vector file formats?

.ai, .eps, svg

October 1, 2025

How do you create artboards?

1. Select the artboard tool.  (Shift + O)

2. Click and drag to create a new artboard.

Edit Artboard.

1. Select the artboard tool.  (Shift + O)

2. Select a corner and drag.

September 25, 2025

How do you show and hide your Contextual Task Bar?

September 23, 2025

How do you switch workspaces?

1. In the top right corner of Illustrator select the Switch Workspace icon.

2. Choose a “Essentials Classic” or a different workspace.

September 19, 2025

Change colors on a Gradient? 

1. Select an object.

2. Select gradient picker

3. Change color: Select gradient.

4. Double click on a Gradient Slider.

5. Click on the pull down menu and choose RGB

September 17, 2025

Creating Outlines on Text 

1. Create text (Use Text tool)

2. Select Text ( Use Select Tool)

3. Type Menu / Create outlines, 3. Hot key shift+Command+O, 3. Right mouse / Create Outlines

September 15, 2025

Install Fonts. 

1. Download font. (www.dafont.com)

2. Unzip download

3. Locate .ttf or .otf file. ( Double click to install)

4. Font will install through Font Book software.

Sept. 11, 2025

Join SkillsUSA

2025 Fall Leadership Conference

Conference Details

Conference Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2025

Address: Utah Valley University Student Center, 800 W University Pkwy, Orem, UT 84097 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Regular Registration: Monday, September 8th through Friday, October 3rd, 2025

Sept. 9, 2025

How do you change the color and thickness of the stroke? 

In the Controls bar you can change the color and thickness of the stroke

September 5, 2025

Pen Tool

Details: Download the Pen Tool test and practice manipulating curves.

Download: Pen Test

September 3, 2025

Set up a Portfolio 

Details: Choose one style of portfolio. For Weebly use a personal email, NOT CSD Email.

Screenshot

1. Shift + Command + 4.

2. Left mouse click hold and drag to select an area.

Aug. 29, 2025

How to open and use Layers? 

Window / Layers.

Hide, Lock, Create a New Layer.

Aug. 27, 2025

How many handles does a point have? 

2

Aug. 25, 2025

What are the hotkeys for the Undo and constraining? 

1. Undo: Command + Z

2. Constrain: SHIFT

Aug. 22, 2025

How do you export to a .png image? 

1. File / Export / Export As...

2. Save As: nameplate.png. ( Choose PNG from the Format options). Check the Use Artboards box.

3. Resolution: Medium (150 ppi). Click OK.

Aug. 20, 2025

How do you create a perfect ring with color? 

1. Create two Ellipses  . Hold down down SHIFT to constrain.

2. Block select both Ellipses.

3. Choose: Window / Align.

4. Select Center Vertical and Center Horizontal .

5. Choose: Window / Pathfinder.

6. Select Minus Front .

Aug. 18, 2025

What are the hotkeys for the Selection, Rectangle, Ellipse Fill Color & Zoom Tools? 

1.  Selection (V)

2.  Rectangle (M)

3.  Ellipse (L)

4.  Fill Color (X)

5.  Zoom (Z) (Alt+Scroll Wheel) (Command + or Command -)

Command + G: Group

Arrange: Right Mouse Click and choose: Send to back.

Download the adobe program for free at : https://www.adobe.com/

To use it at home download then use your csddocs email at home.