This class provides an introduction to Scientific Illustration. Instruction covers both classical techniques and new technologies and media. Students explore the history of Scientific Illustration, copyright, typography, resolution and scanning principles, drafting techniques, and the creation, publication and presentation of scientific artwork. Students completing this course will have the knowledge and skills to create scientific illustrations using a variety of techniques. Students will also learn how to prepare graphs for scientific publication. Successful scientific illustrators must work with deadlines, and on time completion of assignments is a requirement for this course.
In order to complete this course successfully, it is required that you have the following in place before the second week of class:
Students will be evaluated on the following:
Class materials will be posted in Blackboard each week.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has a policy about academic dishonesty, as indicated in the Student Code of Conduct (see Undergraduate Bulletin). As a student at UNL, you enjoy rights and protections under the code and are obligated to conduct yourself in compliance with the code. One area where students occasionally have some confusion regards plagiarism or misrepresenting the work of another as one's own.
As the Student Code of Conduct indicates, academic sanctions for misconduct subject to appeal are at the discretion of the instructor, and may include giving the student a failing grade for the course. In this course, the least penalty I will impose for misconduct is a one letter grade reduction in the course grade, but in most instances the penalty for cheating will be a failing grade in the course.
If you must take an incomplete for this course, you will have to RETAKE the entire course and resubmit any and all assignments to remove the incomplete from your record.
Microsoft PowerPoint will be used in this class to create presentations and graphs. It is available for purchase from UNL Computer Sales at: http://sales.unl.edu/licenses/microsoftcampusstudents.asp for around $10 for UNL students, faculty and staff.
For image editing, students may use the free program Irfanview (download from: http://www.irfanview.com/ ) or purchase Adobe Photoshop Elements ($62) or Adobe Photoshop ($276) from the UNL Computer Shop http://sales.unl.edu/.
RealPlayer and a current Internet browser are required to view video demonstrations and lectures. Both can be downloaded free of charge if they are not already installed on your computer.
Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed to access library materials.
A list of art supplies needed for this course are listed in Art Supplies.
Reading materials required for this course are accessible through the UNL Library Electronic Reserves and will be listed in weekly lessons.
There is no required textbook for this course. If you want to buy some books for your own reference, I would recommend the following:
For Scientific Illustration reference:
Hodges, Elaine R. S. GNSI Handbook of Scientific Illustration. Second Edition. 2003. Wiley Publishers.
(This book is considered the "bible" of Scientific Illustration and really the only book on this subject that you would "need". It is an expensive book but worth the investment if you continue drawing after this course.)
For PowerPoint reference:
Altman, Rick and Rebecca Altman. Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide). 2003. Peachpit Press, California.
Project due dates will be determined by the instructor and are rarely negotiable. Late projects will be graded and then 5 points will be deducted for each day (including the weekends) the project is late. Assignments are due by 10 PM on the day they are due. Rarely will there be exceptions to this. If you will be gone from class or if an emergency does occur, please contact me as soon as possible so arrangements can be made for the late assignment.
All work will be judged on the basis of improvement and not in direct competition with other students. Your enthusiasm, hard work, and interest will be used in my evaluation of your progress and your work. Neatness, accuracy, improvement, timeliness, time spent on the project, and following the instructions for each project will be the basis of your grade.
Plan on spending at least 7-10 hours per week on your drawings and homework for this class.
You will need a minimum of two specimens (you may have more if you choose) to draw from. These specimens must be pre-approved by the instructor prior to drawing them for projects. No grade will be given for a drawing if the specimen is not pre-approved.
Practice drawings (25 points)
Resolution quiz (50 points)
4-Object shadings (25 points)
Great equalizer (25 points)
Final pencil drawing of first specimen (50 points)
Final Pencil drawing of second specimen (50 points)
Nine-object pen and ink(50 points)
Specimen in pen and ink (50 points)
Line Graph for Journal publication (50 points)
Specimen in scratchboard (50 points)
Specimen in carbon dust (50 points)
Specimen in colored pencil (50 points)
Copyright Discussion (50 points)
One additional exercise (Choose one of the following) (50 points)a. Additional pen and ink illustration(s)
b. Additional scratchboard illustration(s)
c. Additional watercolor wash illustration(s)
d. Additional carbon dust illustration(s)
e. Pencil color illustration(s)
f. Transparent watercolor illustration(s)
g. Project of your own design AND approved by Instructor.Miscellaneous assignments (50 points)
Final Project (200 points)
Final Portfolio (50 points)
Total Points = 925
If you are taking this class pass/no credit, you must maintain a C average or better to get a pass credit for the class.
A+ 898 - 925 points
A 861 - 897 points
A- 833 - 860 points
B+ 805 - 832 points
B 768 - 804 points
B- 740 - 767 points
C+ 713 - 739 points
C 676 - 712 points
C- 648- 675 points
D+ 620 - 647 points
D 583 - 619 points
D- 555 - 582 points
F 0 - 554 points