Equipment

What equipment will you need during your studies at CATC?

You will be required to have particular materials to complete your assessments and session exercises. You will also need to purchase additional items throughout your studies as you make use of the materials.

Students studying on campus are able to buy a specially organised CATC art kit through our art partner: Eckersleys. This kit is heavily discounted and contains all the equipment you'll need to get started. Of course if you already own a lot of art equipment you can view the art kit list and purchase what you haven't already got. It's important you have the same or similar equipment to the art kit list as it's what we use to teach you the core skills.

Distance learning students get a special kit as part of their studies along with their prescribed text books.

If you're studying photography, you'll need a digital SLR camera with manual settings and general photographic accessories such as card readers, standard lens, tripod, memory cards, battery charger etc.

Computers and software

All students wishing to study on campus will require a laptop during their studies at CATC.

CATC has negotiated significant student discounts with our IT supplier including laptop, hardware and design software discounts. Please refer to a sub-section below for more information.

For students studying Graphic Design or Interior Design at CATC (full time, part time or online) are required to have a computer throughout their studies.  On-campus students are required to have a laptop, and online students a laptop or desktop computer as well as a printer, scanner and phone.  Minimum recommended hardware specifications are:

• Intel Core™2 Duo Processor 2GHz or higher (15" or 17" highly recommended)
• PC's | Windows XP or higher (Windows 7 highly recommended)
• Mac's | Lion OSX or higher
  
• 13"screen or larger or a minimum resolution of 1400 x 900 pixels
• Memory | 4GB or higher
• Video card | 256MB
• Hard Drive | 320GB
• Adobe Creative Suite CS6 or higher
• Access to high speed internet
• Built in or external video camera
• Built in or external speakers
• Built in or external microphone
• Keyboard and mouse (optional for laptops)

Students studying Online via Distance Learning can replace the laptop need with a desktop computer (or be equipped with both). Minimum recommended hardware specifications for desktops are:

• Intel Core™ quad-core Processor 2GHz or higher
• PC's | Windows XP up (Windows 7 highly recommended) OR
• Mac's | Lion OSX or higher
  
• Memory | 4GB Dual Channel 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM (2 x 2GB)
• Video card | 256MB external or combined memory
• Hard Drive | 500GB | 5200rpm or 7200rpm
• Access to high speed internet
• Built in or external video camera
• Built in or external speakers
• Built in or external microphone
• Keyboard and mouse (optional for laptops)

For students studying Photography you'll need a digital SLR camera with manual settings and general photographic accessories such as hard drives for image asset storage, card readers, standard lens, memory cards, battery charger etc. Equipment specifics are outlined below.

Students will need the following equipment and materials to be able to complete the Diploma of Photo Imaging:

• DSLR Camera body: preferably Canon or Nikon
• Short zoom lens, such as:
  • For full frame sensor cameras: Canon 24 -70mm f2.8 USM lens or Nikkor AF-S 24-70mm f2.8 ED lens
  • For reduced frame sensor cameras: Canon  17-55mm f2.8 IS USM lens or Nikon AF17-55mm f2.8 ED-IF AF-S lens Nikon AF17
• Tripod such as Manfrotto 190 XB
• Camera Flash, such as Canon 430EX/580EX or Nikon SB700/SB900
• 2GB – 8GB Flash Card
• Card reader
• Light/flash meter, such as Sekonic L308 S
• Grey card
• 5 Way collapsible reflector (5 Way – 105cm approx.)
• Polariser filter
• Shutter release cable
• Padded camera + lens  bag
• Lens cleaning brush
• Lens cleaning tissue
• Premium Artist Visual Diaries A4 x 3 (and as required)
• CD-RW Discs - as required
• Photographic printing – as required
• A3 professional quality folio prints  - as required
• Adobe Photoshop + Lightroom Version 6 (plus sufficient memory)

CATC/THINK highly recommends that all students prepare to commence their course equipped with a laptop computer loaded with Adobe Creative Suite CS6 version (plus sufficient memory). Students who currently have CS5 or CS5.5 will need to upgrade CS6. Creative Suite is essential for all students studying Graphic Design, Communication Design, or Photography. Again, this applies whether you are studying on campus or online via distance learning.

Interior Design Diploma students will also need ArchiCAD software (free student version available via ArchiCAD)

CATC (and Billy Blue) students are eligible for substantial student discounts for laptops, hardware and design software through THINK: Education Groups preferred supplier Power Media. To enquire or order, contact Power Media directly at sales@powermedia.com.au or click here for details.

Please consult our friendly Course and Careers Advisers for more information on specific course and entry requirements.

What Art Kit equipment will you need during your studies with CATC?

You will be required to have particular materials to complete your projects whilst studying the Interior Design and Graphic Design courses. You may also need to purchase additional materials throughout your studies.

Students studying on campus are able to buy a CATC endorsed Art Kit, from a range of preferred suppliers, containing the key equipment you'll need to get started. For CATC Sydney and CATC Melbourne Eckersleys Art & Craft are the preferred supplier, for CATC Brisbane Discount Art Warehouse are the preferred supplier, and for CATC Gold Coast Musgraves Art are the preferred supplier. Each of these suppliers can offer specially arranged student discounts on Art Kit equipment.

Distance Learning students receive a CATC provisioned Art Kit with their initial delivery of course materials upon commencement of their course (excluding the Diploma of Photo Imaging).

Students are able view the contents of the Interiors & Graphics Art Kits here. You'll receive further information on suppliers and sourcing/purchasing equipment at offer/orientation stage and some of this equipment will be required for Day 1 of your course.

If you're studying Photography, you'll need a digital SLR camera with manual settings and general photographic accessories such as card readers, standard lens, memory cards, battery charger etc. You do not require an Art Kit to commence or complete the Diploma of Photo Imaging.

What should you expect to pay for materials during your studies?

All students will require an Art Kit, comprising a range of art materials, tools and equipment. Students will be provided with details of required materials, tools, and equipment at offer stage and will be required to have them at time of commencement. Please consult our Course and Careers Advisors for more information on specific course and entry requirements.

In addition to the details above and below, you should allow for additional course costs of approximately $350 - $750 per year.

Other expenses may include excursions and attending industry events.

CATC Art Kit costs and options include:

• Interior Design art kits are $500 (inc GST)
• Graphic Design art kits are $300 (inc GST).

The following costs are a guide only and will vary with each student.

• Printing costs $20 - $50 per trimester
• Replenishing art kit/additional items
• $10 - $30 per trimester
• Photography students require a Digital SLR camera with full manual settings. We suggest that between $1,500 - $2,600 should be budgeted for a new camera and lens kit. Advice about which camera might be the most appropriate can be found by talking to the Photography Program Manager during the first week of study.

Additional photography costs might include:

• Card Reader - $40
• Stationery items - $60
• Printing - $60-$80 per trimester.