View and/or download A map of our Curriculum [40K PDF].
Basic Skills
All our classes, including the ones below, require key computer skills.
Links to some tutorials on Windows and Mac basics: Windows | Mac
Click here to show a list of skills to make learning at Luminous Works easier.
- Locate and launch a software application when directed.
- In the Mac OS, use the Dock or the Applications folder to do so
- Quit/Exit programs.
- Work with document windows (minimizing, closing, and hiding them). Windows | Mac
- Switch between two or more open applications or between two or more documents open in the same application.
- Understand where Menu commands are and how they're referenced (e.g., the Save command is under the File menu. This might be written as "File>Save" or spoken like "File...Save"). Windows | Mac
- Use and access "context menus": the menus you get when you right-click (Windows) or control-click (Mac).
Note: Macs can also use a right-click when a multi-button mouse is attached or the Mouse System Preference settings for a Mac Mouse are configured to use a "secondary click".
- Create and Save new documents to any specified location on an internal or external hard drive.
- Locate and open documents from a specified location, such as an internal or external drive.
- Move or copy documents to a specified location, such as an internal or external drive.
- Create and rename folders and create folder hierarchies (folders inside folders...).
- Rename documents.
Prerequisite Classes
Our prerequisite classes cover key concepts and software skills required to do photography or print or web publishing. Look over the descriptions below.
If you are familiar with the concepts and have the skills these prerequisite classes provide, you should feel free to move directly to our Essentials courses.
If you live far from our Seattle classroom, but still need these preliminary skills and ideas, you should contact us to find out what you can do to prepare for our main curriculum.
Prerequisites and Basics—and related ones, too
$149 — Skill Level: Introductory — one–half day, 9:30am–12:30pm
Required knowledge for learning InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. Learn the terms and concepts required to build publications, edit images, and create logos and other graphics. We'll talk about and briefly explore each of these software applications as well as learn about color, file formats, resolution, and more. If you have some experience with these ideas and know the role each program plays, you may skip this class.
$275 — Skill Level: Introductory — one day, 9:30am–4:30pm
A discussion-driven class on design principles and fundamentals for those who would like a quick but solid overview of compositional rules and principles.
$199 — Skill Level: Introductory — one day, 9:30am–4:30pm
This class delivers the knowledge you need to begin building websites or to learn Dreamweaver. You'll get a hands-on introduction to HTML (including a bit of HTML5) and CSS and the terms and concepts required to do web design and development. If these are familiar, you may skip this class. If you're new to web publishing, start here.