vcc.ca
DCOM 1100: Advanced Image Practices
Effective date
May 2026
Department
Visual Comm Design Diploma
School
Trades, Technology and Design
Description
This course focuses on professional image manipulation and advanced processing techniques essential for modern digital design workflows. Students will learn industry-standard features of Adobe Photoshop, including advanced compositing, non-destructive editing, and digital asset management. The curriculum emphasizes copyright compliance, ethical considerations in image manipulation, and cross-media output optimization. Through applied projects, students will explore advanced colour theory, develop culturally sensitive designs, and create sophisticated multi-layered compositions that adhere to industry best practices.
Credits
3.0
Year of study
1st Year Post-secondary
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Analyze the impact of copyright and intellectual property laws on branding strategies and design decisions.
- Design brand visuals using design principles and colour management techniques across multiple platforms.
- Develop complex image compositions using advanced software techniques.
- Evaluate ethical implications of image manipulation in professional contexts.
- Apply advanced digital asset management techniques to organize and optimize design workflows.
Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
None
Hours
Lecture, Online, Seminar, Tutorial: 42
Practicum, Self-Paced, Individual Learning: 12
Total Hours: 54
Practicum, Self-Paced, Individual Learning: 12
Total Hours: 54
Instructional Strategies
A combination of lecture, demonstration, production simulations, problem solving, practical labs and reflective discussion will be used throughout this course.
Grading System
Letter Grade (A-F)
Passing grade
C
Evaluation Plan
|
Type |
Percentage |
Assessment activity |
|
Participation |
10 |
|
|
Lab Work |
30 |
May include in-class exercises, assignments, quizzes/tests, and work-in progress |
|
Project |
30 |
|
|
Assignments |
30 |
|
Course topics
- International copyright laws and Creative Commons licensing
- Digital asset and rights management workflows
- Advanced vector and raster integration
- High-end retouching and compositing workflows
- Non-destructive editing practices
- Advanced colour theory and colour space optimization
- Output profiling and cross-media colour consistency
- Advanced compression and resolution management
- Complex selections, masks, and layer management
- Ethical considerations in design practices
Notes:
- Course contents and descriptions, offerings and schedules are subject to change without notice.
- Students are required to follow all College policies including ones that govern their educational experience at VCC. Policies are available on the VCC website at:
https://www.vcc.ca/about/governance--policies/policies/. - To find out if there are existing transfer agreements for this course, visit the BC Transfer Guide at https://www.bctransferguide.ca.