PAGE: http://www.gridinstitute.com/bc/mt35101/
COURSE: MT 35101 Discovering Computer Graphics
RESOURCES: Course Resources
PROF: Walsh, Aaron (bio) <walshag AT bc.edu>

MIDTERM

MIDTERMS: WHEN THE MIDTERMS ARE DUE POST YOUR MIDTERM LINKS TO OUR YAHOO GROUP AND EMAIL THEM TO ME AT THE ADDRESS PROVIDED BELOW. FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO SUBMIT YOUR MIDTERM. READ ALL OF THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR MIDTERMS TO ENSURE THAT YOU SUBMIT THEM PROPERLY.

WHAT'S DUE?

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WARNING: Midterm exercises are subject to change. Do not jump too far ahead.
LATE GRADE PENALTY: See the "Midterm and Final" notes file in the FILES area
of our Yahoo Group for details on assignments that are submitted after the deadline.
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********************* PREPARE YOUR ROLL CALL SCREENSHOTS ************
NOTE THAT FOR THE MIDTERM YOU NEED TO LINK (HYPERLINK) EACH OF YOUR
ROLL CALL IMAGES (i.e., your various roll call screenshots) TO THE FOLLOWING URL
ADDRESS AND ADD TEXT UNDER EACH SCREEN SHOT DESCRIBING WHAT YOU
DID IN THAT CLASS:
http://ImmersiveEducation.org
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THERE ARE 10 EXERCISES IN TOTAL REQUIRED FOR THE MIDTERM. WORK ON THEM NOW TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE READY IN TIME. The day the midterms are due you MIGHT alsohave a "live" (timed) midterm exercise to do (Midterm #11). Instructions for the "live" midterm exercise #11 will be provided through our Yahoo Group on the day midterms are due (assuming we have #11 due in class this semester).

To submit your midterms see the instructions on our course notes page. If your midterms are all organized on your blog (in order and easy to locate) you can simply provide me with a link to your blog.

If, however, you have your midterms intermingled with other blog posts (which is likely the case) you'll need to provide me with direct links to each midterm exercises. There are 2 ways to get a direct link to a blog entry (such as a specific midterm exercise):

1) Click on the subject (title) of the blog post. This assumes that you actually added a title (subject) for the post when you created it.

2) Click on the date/time stamp that appears under your blog post

If you do either of the above a page for just that blog post will be displayed, and you can copy the URL (the http:// web address) and submit it for that midterm exercise.

Alternately, you could upload all of your midterm exercises into a single blog entry but you must clearly label each exercise so that they're easy to identify and view.
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MIDTERM #1: B.7 GIMPshop Tutorial 1) remove red eye
SEE: Bitmap Graphics, Part III
EXAMPLES:

http://gcs-ebag3587.blogspot.com/2007/07/midterm-1.html
and
http://ryanmgraphics.blogspot.com/2007/07/midterm-1.html
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MIDTERM #2: B.7 GIMPshop Tutorial 2) adding a caption
SEE: Bitmap Graphics, Part III
EXAMPLES:

http://ryanmgraphics.blogspot.com/2007/07/midterm-2.html
and
http://cghenry.blogspot.com/2007/07/they-cat-doesnt-look-so-bad-but-its.html
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MIDTERM #3: B.7 GIMPshop Tutorial 3) saving in popular web formats
SEE: Bitmap Graphics, Part III
EXAMPLES:

http://discoveringcomputergraphics.blogspot.com/2007/07/midterm-3-balltif-posted-as-jpeg-gif.html
and
http://gcs-ebag3587.blogspot.com/2007/07/midterm-3.html
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MIDTERM #4: GREETING CARD OF YOUR AVATAR IN Rocket World
SEE: Bitmap Graphics, Part I

The easiest way to see your face (your avatar's face) is to SIT on something, then use
the arrow keys to move the camera around to view yourself from the front. To SIT on
something in Rocket World you must RIGHT-CLICK on an object that can be sat on,
then chose "Sit" from the options that appear.

EXAMPLE:
http://mnmmt35101.blogspot.com/2008/07/midterm-4.html

NOTES:

Can't rotate the camera to see your own avatar? Meet a friend in the Rocket World
and have THEM take a screenshot of you (they can see you face-on). Here are the
steps to follow if you want to show that you've taken an avatar screenshot for
a fellow classmate:

1) TAKE A SCREENSHOT OF SOMEONE ELSE
2) RUN PAINT (START>PROGRAMS>ACCESSORIES)
3) TAKE SCREENSHOT (CTRL + Prnt Scrn)
4) PASTE INTO PAINT AND SAVE AS JPG
5) POST JPG TO YOUR BLOG
6) POST YOUR BLOG LINK TO YAHOO GROUP
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MIDTERM #5:

Place your name in a large font (so takes up most of the image) on the
"Monster.jpg" test image in our "Course Resources" area and save the resulting
image as both a progressive JPEG and an interlaced PNG image. The step-by-step
instructions on how to do this exercise using GIMPshop are available as Video
Tutorials in our online text book (see notes below). When done blog both the
JPEG and the PNG in a single blog entry (put both images in the same blog post)
and then test to see the interlacing and progressive effect by viewing your blog
using a slow Internet connection. In other words, test your blog while using a
dial-up modem or WHILE you are already downloading another large file to "fill
up" the network pipe so that you don't have much bandwidth left to download your
PNG & JPEG (this will let you see the progressive and interlaced effects). Use
the TIP below to force the images to load from the Web and not from the disk cache.

WARNING:
Only use the "Monster.jpg" image for this exercise! Do not use the progressive
or interlaced versions that are in our Course Resources folder (the Monster.jpg
image that you must use has no text on it, and is not progressive or interlaced).

VIDEO TUTORIALS (WATCH AND DO EACH) FROM THE BITMAP GRAPHICS BOOK:
B.11 GIMPshop Video Tutorial: Progressive and Interlaced [view video only]
B.12 GIMPshop Video Tutorial: Progressive JPEG [name the jpeg "midterm5A.jpg"]
B.13 GIMPshop Video Tutorial: Interlaced PNG [name the png "midterm5B.png"]

TIP:
Need to reload your blog and force the browser to re-download the images so that
you can see the progressive and interlaced effects? Bypass the browser cache and
force reload of your Web page manually (hold down SHIFT-CTRL-ALT and click on
the "reload" button at the same time), or clear your cache if needed to ensure
that the images are actually transmitted over the Web instead of being loaded
from the cache on the hard drive.

SEE:
Read the following section from our notes in Class 2 Bitmap Graphics, Part I:

Heading: The Need For Speed (or at least the perception of speed)
Section: Feature: Progressive and Interlacing

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MIDTERM #6: BITMAP GRAPHICS BOOK: B.7 GIMPshop Tutorial 6) animated GIFs

Remember to use your full name when creating this image. No credit is given to
midterm images submitted without names on them.

VIDEO TUTORIALS (WATCH AND DO EACH):
BITMAP GRAPHICS BOOK: B.7 GIMPshop Tutorial 4) understanding and using layers
BITMAP GRAPHICS BOOK: B.7 GIMPshop Tutorial 6) animated GIFs

EXAMPLES:
http://nickgraphics.blogspot.com/2007/07/midterm-6.html

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MIDTERM #7: EXERCISE A.2 FROM APPENDIX A IN OUR BITMAP GRAPHICS TEXTBOOK

SEE:

For Midterm #7 you can use ANY famous person except. Contrary to what the textbook says you
do NOT have to use a classic person --you can also use modern famous people (photos) if you'd
prefer.

EXAMPLES:
http://nickgraphics.blogspot.com/2007/07/midterm-7.html
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MIDTERM #8:

Note: For this midterm use a "headshot" photo of yourself
that is at least 400x400 so your face is clearly visible.

Take a photo of yourself and use the smudge and blur
tools to remove blemishes and any wrinkles (or smile
lines). Try to make yourself look different, but not
strange or odd (too much smudging or blurring can
make humans look very strange!).

Submit the original photo and your "touched up" rendition
for grading. I will compare the original and your edits to
see the types of touch-ups that you did.

Suggestions: Remove wrinkles, smile lines, blemishes,
lighten bags under eyes, etc.

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MIDTERM #9:

Create your own course diagram drawing in native Microsoft Word (MSWord) and
PLACE YOUR NAME in at least one of the shapes. Use a variety of shapes and
lines: Experiment with Word's drawing tools to create a unique look for your
drawing. Take a screenshot of your image and blog it (as usual) but for the
midterm SUBMIT THE WORD FILE (the .doc).

NOTES:
Blogger only supports bitmap graphics, so you can't post .doc files (Word files)
on blogger. You'll need to upload the .doc file to your Web site (such as the
free Geocities Web site that every Yahoo user has) or to you MyFiles area at
Boston College. If you can't put your .doc file on the Web or MyFiles you can
email it to me, but notice that there is a GRADE PENALTY for emailing files to
me (this graphics course is focused on Web graphics, and if you can't put the
files on the Web there is a grade penalty). If you don't know how to create a
Web page or use MyFiles read our course notes (for help on GeoCities) or post a
message to our Yahoo Group asking for a TUTOR. If you can help out your fellow
student please offer to tutor them. SEE MORE DETAILS ABOUT THIS BELOW.

MIDTERM SUBMISSION (LINKS TO BOTH THE SCREENSHOT AND THE .DOC FILE):
The screenshot of the Word drawing that you create goes in your blog (as usual),
and the .doc file (the actual Word document file) goes on a Web site such as
Yahoo Geocities or MyFiles at BC. When you submit this for grading you'll post
links to both the screenshot in your blog AND a link to the .doc file that's
online (in other words, you'll submit two links for this midterm).

VIDEO TUTORIALS (WATCH AND DO EACH):
VECTOR GRAPHICS BOOK: B.4 Video Tutorial: Word Drawing Introduction
VECTOR GRAPHICS BOOK: B.5 Video Tutorial: Word Drawing Course Diagram

BLOGGER AND .DOC AND .SWF FILES:

You'll recall from past lectures that blogger does not allow you
to upload .doc files -- it only allows you to upload PNG, GIF, and
JPEG graphics (basic bitmap graphics). For the Microsoft .doc file you
must take a screenshot of that, and post that screenshot to your blog
(in PNG, GIF, and JPEG) but to submit the .doc file itself (for
grading) you must put it on a Web site such as GeoCities or MyFiles
(every Boston College student has a MyFiles account, and GeoCities is
free to every Yahoo user -- see our course notes for details on
GeoCities).

The same is true for .swf (Flash) files -- Blogger doesn't allow them,
so you must take a screenshot of these graphics and put that
screenshot on blogger and then put your .swf file on a Web site such
as GeoCities or MyFiles. Ditto for any other non-bitmap graphic
format (the same is true for .x3D, .wrl, and any other graphic that's
not a bitmap graphic: blogger won't allow them!).

If you can't get your .doc or .swf files onto a Web site you can
submit it for grading (when Midterms are due) via email, as detailed
in the Midterm instructions on our course notes home page. But there's
a small grade penalty for not having your .doc file on the Web.

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MIDTERM #10: EXERCISE A.1 FROM APPENDIX A IN OUR VECTOR GRAPHICS TEXTBOOK.

In this midterm you will create your own vector graphics house. Follow the video tutorials for details.

VIDEO TUTORIALS (WATCH AND DO EACH):
VECTOR GRAPHICS BOOK: B.4 Video Tutorial: Word Drawing Introduction
VECTOR GRAPHICS BOOK B.6 Video Tutorial: Word Drawing House

SEE: Class 5 Vector Graphics, Part II

BLOGGER AND .DOC AND .SWF FILES:

HOW TO SUBMIT MITERMS

MIDTERMS: WHEN THE MIDTERMS ARE DUE POST YOUR MIDTERM LINKS TO OUR YAHOO GROUP AND EMAIL THEM TO ME AT THE ADDRESS PROVIDED BELOW. FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO SUBMIT YOUR MIDTERM. READ ALL OF THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR MIDTERMS TO ENSURE THAT YOU SUBMIT THEM PROPERLY.

WHAT IS DUE: 1) A link to your blog, 2) All "midterm" exercises listed in the section above, 3)"Extra credit" exercises are optional, and so are all other "exercises" not explicitly labeled as "midterm", 4) Tutoring details if you were a tutor, or have been tutored.

HOW TO SUBMIT: Follow the steps below to submit your midterm. Post your midterm links (see below) to our Yahoo Group AND email them to me at walshag AT bc.edu. If you are not able to upload your midterm exercises (files) to the Web or your blog (as required in the instructions below) you can EMAIL THEM TO ME at walshag AT bc.edu (in this case post a message to our group stating that you submitted your work to me via email, and be sure that I respond with a confirmation otherwise there's no guarantee that I received your midterm exercises). Note that if you can't provide your midterms online, through a blog or Web site, and instead email them to me there is a grade penalty for not providing them on a Web site or blog.

Submit your midterms following these steps.

1) SUBMIT TO OUR GROUP: Post a message to our Yahoo Group with the subject "MIDTERM COMPLETE" followed by your FULL NAME. For example:

subject: MIDTERM COMPLETE AARON WALSH

2) PROVIDE LINKS TO YOUR MIDTERM MATERIALS: In the body of your message provide either the individual links to each midterm exercise or submit a link to the a main Web page that in turn links to each of your midterms (assuming you have a main page). In other words, point me to your midterm page that links to all of your midterm exercises or give me direct links to each exercise; either way is fine. WARNING: Don't simply point me to your blog! You blog should be full of a variety of material, not just midterms, so you must provide a direct link to each midterm exercise (each file) in addition to your blog. Label each midterm exercise, as shown below, so that I know which is which. Below, for example, is the message I would post if I didn't create a main Web page:

subject: MIDTERM COMPLETE AARON WALSH
message:

My midterm is complete. Following are direct links to my
blog and also a link to each of the 10 midterm exercises 
since I wasn't able to create a main index Web page 
with all of these links on them:

MY BLOG: http://www.blogspot.com/blah/blah/blah/blah
MIDTERM 1: http://www.anywhere.com/blah/blah/blah/blah 
MIDTERM 2: http://www.anywhere.com/blah/blah/blah/blah 
MIDTERM 3: http://www.anywhere.com/blah/blah/blah/blah 
MIDTERM 4: http://www.anywhere.com/blah/blah/blah/blah 
MIDTERM 5: http://www.anywhere.com/blah/blah/blah/blah 
MIDTERM 6: http://www.anywhere.com/blah/blah/blah/blah 
MIDTERM 7: http://www.anywhere.com/blah/blah/blah/blah 
MIDTERM 8: http://www.anywhere.com/blah/blah/blah/blah 
MIDTERM 9: http://www.anywhere.com/blah/blah/blah/blah 
MIDTERM 10: http://www.anywhere.com/blah/blah/blah/blah

3) EXTRA CREDIT AND TUTORING: If you did extra credit exercises or tutoring add that information to the END of your message. In the case of extra credit list the exercise #s, and in the case of tutoring provide details about WHO you tutored, HOW MUCH time you spent in total, and WHAT you did as a tutor.

COMPLETE EXAMPLE: FOLLOWING IS A COMPLETE EXAMPLE MESSAGE THAT I WOULD POST IF I DID ALL THE MIDTERM EXERCISES, A FEW EXTRA EXTRA CREDIT EXERCISES, AND SOME TUTORING:

subject: MIDTERM COMPLETE AARON WALSH
message:

My midterm is complete. Following are direct links to my
blog and also a link to each of the 10 midterm exercises 
since I wasn't able to create a main index Web page 
with all of these links on them:

MY BLOG: http://www.blogspot.com/blah/blah/blah/blah
MIDTERM 1: http://www.anywhere.com/blah/blah/blah/blah 
MIDTERM 2: http://www.anywhere.com/blah/blah/blah/blah 
MIDTERM 3: http://www.anywhere.com/blah/blah/blah/blah 
MIDTERM 4: http://www.anywhere.com/blah/blah/blah/blah 
MIDTERM 5: http://www.anywhere.com/blah/blah/blah/blah 
MIDTERM 6: http://www.anywhere.com/blah/blah/blah/blah 
MIDTERM 7: http://www.anywhere.com/blah/blah/blah/blah 
MIDTERM 8: http://www.anywhere.com/blah/blah/blah/blah 
MIDTERM 9: http://www.anywhere.com/blah/blah/blah/blah 
MIDTERM 10: http://www.anywhere.com/blah/blah/blah/blah

EXTRA CREDIT #1: http://www.anywhere.com/blah/blah 
EXTRA CREDIT #3: http://www.anywhere.com/blah/blah

TUTORING: I tutored Jane Doe for a total of 2 hours on Monday, July 21st. In
that time time I helped her create an animated GIF, and I also helped her create
progressive JPEG & PNG images.

4) CHECK YOUR SUBMISSION POST: Be sure to visit our course Yahoo Group and check to ensure that your midterm submission actually posted (allow up to 1 hour for it to post, as there are often delays when posting). Click on each link that you submitted to ensure that you can actually see each midterm exercise.

5) COPY THE TEXT (MESSAGE BODY) OF YOUR YAHOO POST AND EMAIL IT TO ME AT walshag AT bc.edu (THIS ENSURES THAT YOUR LINKS ARE EMAILED TO ME AS WELL AS POSTED TO OUR YAHOO GROUP). When you email me your midterm links use the SAME SUBJECT as you did when posting to our Yahoo Group.

-- END OF INSTRUCTIONS ---