You know where you are with paint. It stays pretty much the same. If you buy paint it is a fairly safe bet that a couple of years down the line it will still be as functional as the latest version. It won’t have extra features added. It won’t suddenly be able to imitate a pencil - just when you thought that you knew all that it could do. Nor will you have to upgrade your paintbrush to use the latest version. Unlike traditional media, computer software keeps on getting bigger and better, with extra features constantly appearing. For example the ubiquitous Photoshop 6 has more functions than most of us will ever discover, let alone need.
Thankfully Adobe has recognised this and now offers Photoshop Elements, which is a trimmed down version of the original, retaining just about every feature that is needed by art departments, discarding much of the more daunting, highly technical stuff. Not surprisingly, along the way, they have managed to sneak in some new and very useful features, which don’t even appear in the fully fledged Photoshop. Elements is an excellent program at a competitive price.
As good, and equally popular among art teachers, is Paintshop Pro 7 which offers similar functions to Photoshop, presented in an equally user-friendly way. The 10th anniversary edition has the addition of some handy extras. A new book, Basic Paint Shop Pro, part of the Basic ICT Skills series by Payne-Gallway Publishers, may help you to get started. It deals with basic tools, masks, layers, filters, effects and preparing images for the Web.
Although these programs can be used with primary pupils, the plethora of menus can be intimidating and confusing, so a less complex programme may well be in order. A delightfully simple drawing package is Fresco. Although it doesn’t offer much image manipulation, there is still plenty of scope for creativity. It features “real media” drawing tools including airbrush, crayons, charcoal and watercolour. For image manipulation at primary level Image Blender is extremely easy to use, and very powerful. Colour Magic 2 is also an intuitive graphics and painting package. It includes features to help pupils create and edit images for the Internet.
Where do you go, beyond image manipulation? There is a whole extra dimension to explore in the area of multimedia. The combination of images, words, sound and movement opens up creative possibilities which most art departments have barely touched upon. Pupils are bombarded with images, movement and sound from TV, computer games and the Internet. It is a part of their culture. As the artists of the future they are bound to be inspired if they can harness this approach creatively.
Obviously we are rapidly getting into the realms of overwhelming complexity, however, there are several programs which demystify the process and offer easy access to simple, or even complex multimedia presentations. The starting point for any project must be the idea - no use having the multimedia equivalent of an empty box. Probably issue-based work is most effective. Hyperstudio provides a good introduction to the idea of linking pages of information in creative ways. Leonardo’s Multimedia Toolbox offers a user-friendly route to simple multimedia presentations. The teacher can set the desired level, which limits resources and tools to those considered appropriate. It is probably best for primary or early secondary use.
Opus Max, being launched at BETT, is another excellent program, and engages primary pupils with multimedia presentations. More comprehensive is Illuminatus Opus which facilitates the creation of full multimedia productions in an extremely intuitive way. Most suitable for secondary pupils, it allows highly professional presentations to be created. For older pupils and adults there is also Illuminatus Opus Pro which offers all the professional multimedia tools you need.
Web design is the next logical step and among the best and most intuitive programmes is Dreamweaver - now available as a part of Web Design Studio which includes Dreamweaver 4, Fireworks 4, Freehand 9 and Flash 5 at a bargain price (see below) for studentsteachers. During the exhibition Macromedia will also be launching a national Web design competition for schools. For a chance to display artwork on the Internet, or to see what is being exhibited by other schools visit www.walkersshowcase.co.uk.
So how will you manage the ICT? Becta is publishing a useful and well-researched publication which examines Effective Management of ICT in Art Departments. This is a fully comprehensive overview of all issues relating to the management of ICT in art. It will be available in the New Year. Not to be missed.
While at BETT make sure to visit Berol to check out the other art resources. The ones without version numbers!
Martin Child is a consultant and former art teacher
