Personal Logo
PERSONAL LOGO Exercise
Using a portrait photo, create a "Looney Tunes" style graphic. This exercise will introduce you to some GREAT keyboard shortcuts and selection methods. You will need to read the information on the page titled "Background and Framing" and take a picture of yourself before beginning this exercise.
Original Instructions
Here's the STEP by STEP
A. RESIZE your Portrait Image
Use the cropping tool and create an appropriate cropped image 500 pixels in width and height
(You'll need to enter 500px for the width and height values at the top of the screen)(After the crop, double click the magnifying glass tool in the toolbar to zoom back in on the image)
B. SELECT your head
If you have a SIMPLE background, use the MAGIC WAND tool and make sure it's options are set to ANTI-ALIAS; CONTIGUOUS, but not SAMPLE ALL LAYERS. Select the background. SHIFT-Click to add more of the background if necessary.
CTRL-SHIFT-I to select the INVERSE
CTRL-J to "Jump-Copy" the selection to it's own layer
In the LAYERS PALETTE, double click the title 'Layer 1" and rename it as "HEAD"
If you've done things right, your Layers Palette should look like this
Note - the "HEAD" layer shows an icon with a checkerboard pattern around your face. That represents transparency
The "HEAD" layer currently "selected" - you often have to select a layer through this tutorial for
Keep an eye on your Layers Palette as this project develops - it's critical that you know which layer you're effecting
C. PAINT a new BACKGROUND
SELECT the BACKGROUND layer in the layers palette
Click on the "Create a New Layer" button at the bottom left of the LAYERS PALETTE
Name the new layer "NEW BACKGROUND"
Choose a new matching foreground and background colour and paint a gradient on the NEW BACKGROUND layer
If you've done things right, your Layers Palette should look like this
D. FEATHER the HEAD layer
Click on the HEAD layer
CTRL - CLICK the HEAD layer ICON to and you'll select it's opaque pixels
CTRL-SHIFT-I to invert the selection to the area AROUND the head
FEATHER the selection using the dropdown menu SELECT | FEATHER and choose a value of 1 pixel
Use CTRL-H to HIDE the selection border
ZOOM IN to 100% to see the edge pixels clearly
Hit the DELETE KEY once - the edges should get cleaner - repeat hitting the delete key as needed to clean up the edges
CTRL-H to unhide the selection - CTRL-D to DESELECT entirely
E. CREATE a RING around the HEAD
Click on the HEAD layer and
Create a NEW LAYER and name it "RING"
Use the ELLIPTICAL MARQUEE tool (it may be hidden under the rectangular marquee tool - click and hold to toggle), hold the SHIFT key, and draw a selection around the majority of the head. Try to move the selected circle so that covers from just inside the top left corner, to just inside the bottom left corner
Choose a new foreground colour, and click ALT - DELETE to fill the selection with that colour
Use the menu SELECT - MODIFY - CONTRACT and shrink the selection by 50 pixels
Smooth the circle using SELECT-MODIFY-SMOOTH by 50 pixels
Hit the DELETE key to punch a hole in the circle
Use CTRL-D to DESELECT
F. FIX the head
Go to the HEAD layer
Use a Rectangular Marquee tool to select the head from about the nose to just above the head
Use CTRL-J to copy this to a new layer - rename it HEAD FIX
In the LAYERS PALETTE, drag the HEAD FIX LAYER so that it is above the RING in the layer stack
If you've done things right, your Layers Palette should look like this
G. BEVEL the RING and ADD FX
Select the RING layer
Use the EFFECTS palette, Click the LAYER STYLES option, and drag one of the BEVEL effects onto the ring
Adjust the bevel - Use the dropdown menu LAYER - LAYER STYLE - STYLE SETTINGS
SHADOWS can be added to the "Face Layer" using that same LAYER STYLE menu - give it a try!
H. MASK OUT the outer background
Click on the HEAD layer
Create a new layer and rename it MASK
Click on the RING layer
Use the MAGIC WAND SELECT tool and click outside the ring
Click back on the MASK layer
Hit the D key to restore the DEFAULT colours of black and white
Use CTRL - DELETE to fill the mask with the FOREGROUND colour. Deselect when you're finished
The LAYERS PALETTE
By constructing your graphic using layers, you can be NON-DESTRUCTIVE
The original photo still exists in the BACKGROUND layer. If you wanted to try improving the graphic, you can HIDE a layer, and try replacing it with a new layer
I. SAVE your work
First, save your PSD file with a CTRL-S
Use FILE - SAVE FOR WEB to prepare to save a JPG copy
Make sure the TYPE is set to JPEG
Set a quality of 70-80%
Click OK and choose a meaningful filename and location on your P: drive
When you're DONE:
Install the new JPG graphic onto it's own page in your portfolio complete with anecdotes!
Time permitting - try REVISIONS
Alternate background shapes
Different Sizes of the main subject within the frame
Shortcuts and Tips
SELECTION TIPS - Keys
Add to Selection - SHIFT
Remove from Selection - ALT
Hide Selection Border - CTRL-H
Deselect - CTRL-D
Jump Copy - CTRL-J
Select Layer Pixels - CTRL-Click the Layer Panel Thumbnail
COLOUR & FILL
Default Colours - D
Fill with Foreground - ALT-DELETE
Fill with Background- CTRL-DELETE
RESIZING
Transform - CTRL-T