Hello internet. So recently I've gone to a WBL workshop. WBL stands for Work Based Learning. What WBL is supposed to do is provide students with work experience in real life. This is supposed to help students gain skill that will help them get their desired job/career. For my Web Design academy we will be very involved with WBL
So in my Web Design course we will be doing 54 units of WBL. Included is 30 hours of community sevice. We will be offered some community service opportunities throughout the year so I don't feel like I won't be able to complete my community service hours. We will also have to do internships throughout the years of being in the academy. I'm a sophmore right now but I may still be offered intership opportunities. We will also be going to career fairs. This will be a good opportunity for me to search all my options for a career.
Well anyway that was my experience at my first WBL workshop. Overall I learned many things I will have to do being a student in the Web Design academy. So I would say I had a good first experience.
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Sunday, September 24, 2017
300ppi vs 72ppi
Hello internet. PPI is a way of measuring pixel density. PPI stands for pixels per inch and refers to resolution. Resolution itself can determine what the physical size of the image will be as well as the amount of detail that will be displayed. There are two resolutions we will compare in this blog, 72 PPI and 300 PPI.
72 PPI is the lower of the two resolutions. 72 PPI only having 72 pixels per inch^2 will be less clear and crisp zooming into the image. In the 72 PPI resolution the pixels are spread thinly accross a screen, making a 1280x720 pixel image look larger. 72 PPI is a good resolution to display onto a computer monitor. This is because computer monitors, like iMac screens, are particularly large and it is more pleasant to have the image you want to veiw spread out on your large monitor screen than it to be squished in one spot.
300 PPI is on the higher resolution end. 300 PPI is more crisp and clear zooming into the fine details of the image. 300 PPI does not spread out an image, it does the opposite. 300 PPI concentrates the 1270x720 pixels in one specific focus area. This makes the image look smaller however. 300 PPI is good for printing images. Since these images will be smaller in physical size you can print it on paper, which is smaller than the 27 inch monitors of these days, and it will still look clear and crisp. A piece paper can be 8.5" by 11" (size varies a lot however) but it is not a big monitor that displays images spread out.
One last thing to mention with resolutions is image editors. And really resolution doesn't matter too much when it comes to editing images on image editing software. Resolution, as mentioned before, only determines physical size when it comes to image editing software. However, one thing that does matter in image editors is dimensions in pixels. 1280 pixels (length or width) is a good dimension since you have flexibility with it. It can be displayed and printed well. However if the dimension is something smaller like 288 pixels the image will be displayed properly, albiet probably small, but the image when printed will be too small to print.
72 PPI is the lower of the two resolutions. 72 PPI only having 72 pixels per inch^2 will be less clear and crisp zooming into the image. In the 72 PPI resolution the pixels are spread thinly accross a screen, making a 1280x720 pixel image look larger. 72 PPI is a good resolution to display onto a computer monitor. This is because computer monitors, like iMac screens, are particularly large and it is more pleasant to have the image you want to veiw spread out on your large monitor screen than it to be squished in one spot.
300 PPI is on the higher resolution end. 300 PPI is more crisp and clear zooming into the fine details of the image. 300 PPI does not spread out an image, it does the opposite. 300 PPI concentrates the 1270x720 pixels in one specific focus area. This makes the image look smaller however. 300 PPI is good for printing images. Since these images will be smaller in physical size you can print it on paper, which is smaller than the 27 inch monitors of these days, and it will still look clear and crisp. A piece paper can be 8.5" by 11" (size varies a lot however) but it is not a big monitor that displays images spread out.
One last thing to mention with resolutions is image editors. And really resolution doesn't matter too much when it comes to editing images on image editing software. Resolution, as mentioned before, only determines physical size when it comes to image editing software. However, one thing that does matter in image editors is dimensions in pixels. 1280 pixels (length or width) is a good dimension since you have flexibility with it. It can be displayed and printed well. However if the dimension is something smaller like 288 pixels the image will be displayed properly, albiet probably small, but the image when printed will be too small to print.
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
RAW, PNG, JPEG, GIF, and TIFF Files
Hello internet, welcome back to my blog. Images can be veiwed in the form of various types of files. Image files or formats are a standard way of organizing and storing digital images. There are various image formats but 4 are most prevalent.
The first of the formats we will talk about is the RAW format. RAW files are image files that contain data that has been minimally processed from a ditgital camera, scanner, or video film scanner. The reason why RAW files are called RAW is because, as mentioned before, they are files that have not been processed or have been minimally processed. RAWs often contain have a wide dynamic range of color, wider than the final image, and preserves a lot of the information of the captured image. RAWs are used to capture a scene as closely as possible. Everything down to color and light intensity. RAWs cannot be directly used as images, however. They must be converted to another format before becoming usable.
JPEGs are one the most used image formats. JPEG stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group, a group which created the standard. RAW files are often coverted to JPEG files for a multitude of reasons. One of the reasons is that JPEGs can support more than 16 million colors. For this reason JPEGs are also used by digital cameras. The format also supports compression, or making a file size smaller. This makes it ideal for web graphics. The lossy compression algorithm reduces the file size with very little to no degration of the image quality. Some image quality is lost during the process but these are things the human eye might miss anyways. Professionals still convert form RAW to JPEG to edit their photo in the highest quality possible. JPEGs also contain metadata. This describes content of the files such as dimensions and color.
GIFs, or Graphics Interchange Format, are images you can see moving. GIFs are often animations that loop. GIFs can support 256 colors. This means it is not very suitable for the reproduction of color images. GIFs are compressed using a lossless data compression method. This tequnique is used to reduce the file size without the degration of the image quality. This allows them to load quickly on the web. Graphical designers use the GIF format to create banners and simple logos/emblems.
PNGs, or Portable Network Graphics, is an image format that is expected to replace the GIF. Like a GIF, PNGs support a lossless compression. So like a GIF, PNGs can be compressed to small sizes without quality degration albiet it won't support a wide color range. Some features of PNGs are opacity control and tune control, opacity control meaning control of the degree of transparency and tune control meaning color brightness can be fixed.
TIFF files, or Tag Image File Format, is a format used to store raster graphic images. TIFF is popular with publishers, graphic artists, and photographers. TIFF is a loseless file format, the information being retained being saved in layers. Printers support this format as there is very little to no loss of quality when one prints out an image. Other things supporting TIFF are scanners, fax machines, and word processors. Various photo editing applications also support TIFF such as Photoshop and Illustrator.
The first of the formats we will talk about is the RAW format. RAW files are image files that contain data that has been minimally processed from a ditgital camera, scanner, or video film scanner. The reason why RAW files are called RAW is because, as mentioned before, they are files that have not been processed or have been minimally processed. RAWs often contain have a wide dynamic range of color, wider than the final image, and preserves a lot of the information of the captured image. RAWs are used to capture a scene as closely as possible. Everything down to color and light intensity. RAWs cannot be directly used as images, however. They must be converted to another format before becoming usable.
JPEGs are one the most used image formats. JPEG stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group, a group which created the standard. RAW files are often coverted to JPEG files for a multitude of reasons. One of the reasons is that JPEGs can support more than 16 million colors. For this reason JPEGs are also used by digital cameras. The format also supports compression, or making a file size smaller. This makes it ideal for web graphics. The lossy compression algorithm reduces the file size with very little to no degration of the image quality. Some image quality is lost during the process but these are things the human eye might miss anyways. Professionals still convert form RAW to JPEG to edit their photo in the highest quality possible. JPEGs also contain metadata. This describes content of the files such as dimensions and color.
GIFs, or Graphics Interchange Format, are images you can see moving. GIFs are often animations that loop. GIFs can support 256 colors. This means it is not very suitable for the reproduction of color images. GIFs are compressed using a lossless data compression method. This tequnique is used to reduce the file size without the degration of the image quality. This allows them to load quickly on the web. Graphical designers use the GIF format to create banners and simple logos/emblems.
PNGs, or Portable Network Graphics, is an image format that is expected to replace the GIF. Like a GIF, PNGs support a lossless compression. So like a GIF, PNGs can be compressed to small sizes without quality degration albiet it won't support a wide color range. Some features of PNGs are opacity control and tune control, opacity control meaning control of the degree of transparency and tune control meaning color brightness can be fixed.
TIFF files, or Tag Image File Format, is a format used to store raster graphic images. TIFF is popular with publishers, graphic artists, and photographers. TIFF is a loseless file format, the information being retained being saved in layers. Printers support this format as there is very little to no loss of quality when one prints out an image. Other things supporting TIFF are scanners, fax machines, and word processors. Various photo editing applications also support TIFF such as Photoshop and Illustrator.
Sunday, September 17, 2017
Windows vs Mac
Hello internet, Jawad here. I use an HP laptop at home that runs Windows 10 as its OS. However my high school has iMacs that run the latest version of MacOS, 10.12 Sierra. I've gotten used to using Windows 10 as my primary OS but it seems like I'll be using MacOS more along side Windows.
So one of the main differences between Windows OS and MacOS is that MacOS runs on computers manufactured by Apple while Windows OS is popularly run by many PCs. But something not many people may know is that MacOS runs on a UNIX base, making the OS very stable. Windows OS's design is based on IBM microprocessors. A notorious difference between the two is Macs cost more than PCs, with PCs running Windows costing 40% less on average. When using the actual operating systems there is a noticeable difference. From my own experience Windows 10 has some aspects of the user friendliness of the older Windows 7 OS and brings back touchscreen features from Windows 8. The current MacOS is less cluttery look to it. At the bottom is a dock. I can access all my frequently used and/or favorite application from there. There is also a task bar to the top making it easy to do things like quitting applications that might make your computer run slower. I found the GUI of the MacOS to be more user freindly despite Windows 10 having some aspects of the user freindliness of Windows 7.
There are more differences between MacOS and Windows OS but they don't concern me much since I'll be using MacOS at school for different things than I use Windows OS at home. But one difference that may concern others is that Macs can't run too many games since only a few are made for it. I won't be using the iMacs at school for gaming because that's not what I'm supposed to do but for the gamers out there Macs don't run many games. Windows is more gamer friendly and I use my laptop at home to play some PC games when I get the time. Macs have fewer software choices too but that shouldn't matter to me since my school has all the software I'll be needing for my course on the Macs already. I'm also not going download any additional software since students are not allowed to do that for obvious reasons. One last difference between the two OS is that Windows OS is more venurable to viruses. Yep, that's why I have cyber security software installed on my laptop.
Some more differences that do concern me are keyboard shortcuts. Macs and PCs have different shortcuts. I will be using shortcuts a lot in my Visual Design course so I thought I'd run down a list of a few key shortcut differences.
Control-Alt-Delete: On a PC ctrl-alt-delete brings up a security window. In this window you can do things like changing users or locking the computer. On a Mac you have various shortcuts that allow you to perform the same functions.
- Ctrl-Command-Eject to restart
- Ctrl-Option-Command-Eject for immediate shut down
- Shift-Command-Q to log out user
Control-Shift-Escape: On a PC Ctrl-Shift-Esc pulls out the task manger window. The Mac equivalent is the force quit menu and to access it you have to do Command-Option-Esc
Print Screen: On a PC you can take snapshots of your screen by using the Prt Sc button. Various shortcuts can do the same thing on a Mac.
- Shift-Command-3 takes a full snapshot
- Shift-Command-4 takes a screenshot of a selected area
- Shift-Command-4-Space takes s snapshot of a selected window
- Ctrl-O is Command-O to open a file
- Ctrl-N is Command-N to open a new document
- Crtl-A is Command-A to select all text on a document
- Ctrl-C is Command-C to copy
- Ctrl-X is Command-X to cut
- Ctrl-V is Command-V to paste
- Ctrl-P is Command-P to print
- Ctrl-S is Command-S to save
Well anyways those are the key differences between Windows OS and MacOS and I hope that was helpful to those wondering about the differences.
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
What a CTE Diploma Means to Me
Hello internet, it's Jawad again. When one graduates from high school in the United States they can recive either a Regents Diploma or an Advanced Regents Diploma. "What's the difference?" one might ask, "They both have Regents Diploma in their name." The difference comes down to the effort needed to achieve one of these diplomas. And Advanced Regents Diploma takes more effort to acheive than a normal Regents Diploma. That's why it's called an "Advanced" Regents Diploma. To get an Advanced Regents Diploma you must do more than the minimum to graduate high school, taking tougher courses and a bit more tests. The Advanced Regents Diploma is very helpful for those wanting to get into college out of high school which is also why you have to do more for an Advanced Regents Diploma. Comparing the requirements for both diplomas; in both you must earn 44 total credits, get 8 ELA credits, 6 math credits, 8 Social Studies credits, 2 art/music/dance credits, 1 health credit and 4 PE credits. In a normal Regents Diploma one must earn 2 LOTE credits but in an Advanced Regents Diploma one must earn 6 LOTE credits. In both you must get a 65+ on the ELA regents, any Social Studies Regents, any Science Regents and any other additional regents. In a normal Regents Diploma you need to get a 65+ in one math exam but in an Advanced Regents Diploma you must get a 65+ in ALL of them. In addition, For and Advanced Regents Diploma you must get a 65+ in a LOTE exam. As you can see more is required for an Advanced Regents Diploma.
In my high school I can also get another thing, a CTE endorsement. Getting a CTE endorsement on either one of the diplomas allows one to get a job in the feild the studied to get said CTE endorsement. Getting a CTE endorsement also allows one to get an Advanced Regents Diploma without having to get 6 LOTE credits and earn a 65+ on a LOTE exam. Having a CTE endorsement on a Advanced Regents Diploma means that not only you increase your chances of getting into college but you also get a well paying job too. There are requirements for a CTE endorsement too. A total of 54 units must be completed in WBL. You need to do internships, job shadowing, 50hrs of community service, 2 WBL workshops, 2-4 CTE trips, 3 CTE expos, 2 carrer fairs, 2 webinars/seminars, pass 7 CTE credits including VD DD and WCP, 2 AP CSP, 1 CFM and finally pass the big Indusrty Certification exam. So you're working hard for a CTE endorsement too. Some of the benefits of getting a CTE diploma through the Web Design Academy is along the way you get the learn things like building and maintaining websites, coding in various computer languages, and learning how to target certain groups of people. You also get to do things like use state of the art software, go on CTE trips, and earn up to 8 college credits. Achvieving a CTE endorsement will personally benefit me because I will be able to use that endorsement to get a well paying job fresh out of high school. I can use the money I make to help pay for my college funds and help my family with finance. I can also save the money I make long term to buy a car or house or better yet, invest in my software design and developing business/career. All in all, a Regents Diploma is good but an Advanced Regents Diploma is better and getting a CTE endorsement is great.
In my high school I can also get another thing, a CTE endorsement. Getting a CTE endorsement on either one of the diplomas allows one to get a job in the feild the studied to get said CTE endorsement. Getting a CTE endorsement also allows one to get an Advanced Regents Diploma without having to get 6 LOTE credits and earn a 65+ on a LOTE exam. Having a CTE endorsement on a Advanced Regents Diploma means that not only you increase your chances of getting into college but you also get a well paying job too. There are requirements for a CTE endorsement too. A total of 54 units must be completed in WBL. You need to do internships, job shadowing, 50hrs of community service, 2 WBL workshops, 2-4 CTE trips, 3 CTE expos, 2 carrer fairs, 2 webinars/seminars, pass 7 CTE credits including VD DD and WCP, 2 AP CSP, 1 CFM and finally pass the big Indusrty Certification exam. So you're working hard for a CTE endorsement too. Some of the benefits of getting a CTE diploma through the Web Design Academy is along the way you get the learn things like building and maintaining websites, coding in various computer languages, and learning how to target certain groups of people. You also get to do things like use state of the art software, go on CTE trips, and earn up to 8 college credits. Achvieving a CTE endorsement will personally benefit me because I will be able to use that endorsement to get a well paying job fresh out of high school. I can use the money I make to help pay for my college funds and help my family with finance. I can also save the money I make long term to buy a car or house or better yet, invest in my software design and developing business/career. All in all, a Regents Diploma is good but an Advanced Regents Diploma is better and getting a CTE endorsement is great.
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