Photoshop Basics

Dec 11, 2012

Clipping Masks and Captions

DIM Students

You will be utilizing clipping masks and clipped adjustments to create a single-page publication to advertise tourism in a European nation. However, you have certain restrictions. Your choice of country cannot be among the following:

• France
• United Kingdom/England/Great Britain/Wales
• Ireland
• Scotland
• Germany
• Spain
• Portugal
• Italy
• Greece
• For a list of countries in Europe, visit this link

After determining your country, you must have it approved by me before you begin work on your project. Next, you will begin to find information about your country. Your publication needs to include information that will attract visitors based on historical attractions, as well as scenic landmarks that are not made by man. Include some information about the history of that country as well, such as its type of government. Mention any famous foods you come across, as well as any historical significance it may have. You can add this in a bulleted list or any other format you choose, but not just a huge paragraph of information. You must document the source/sources you pulled this information from in a Word document saved in your project folder. Name this file "country publication information."

Your publication will be an 8.5 by 11 inch (portrait or landscape; either way is your choice) CMYK file with a resolution of 300 pixels per inch. Your publication will need to include AT LEAST three photos clipped in to three different shapes, and will need to have captions placed on semi-transparent shapes that are also clipped into the main shape. For an example, see the image below. The source images need to be saved in your project folder, and must be named after the location or landmarks seen in the photo, such as Prague, Eiffel Tower, etc.

The shapes you clip your images into must have some kind of layer styles added to them, such as a drop shadow or stroke; they should not just be simple outlines/featureless frames for your pictures.

NOTE: All of the layers used to create your shape/picture/text items should be placed in their own, named folder. You will lose points for any layers AND folders not given a relevant name.

IN ORDER TO BE DONE, you need to meet the above listed criteria, as well as have the following in a project folder in your Photoshop folder:

• Completed .psd file named 'Tourism Project'
• Word Document with sources/information used in project
• source images you retrieved from google images/other sources (at least three)

Dec 10, 2012

Text and Clipping Masks

Graphic Design Students

You will use your knowledge of clipping masks to fill 1-2 words with a collage of images related to the word. To complete the assignment:

• Create a new, blank Photoshop document that is 1440 pixels wide by 850 pixels tall, and save it as Clipping Mask Project.psd
• Add a new layer just above the background layer (to serve as your new background color) and fill it with a color of your choice other than black, white, or grey. It also must have a reduced value (lightness/darkness) and/or saturation. In other words, you can't pick a hue using the hue slider, and then place the color picker in the top right corner of the box.
• Add text using a font that is at least 275 pt in size, and is not made of thin strokes (good ones including, but not limited to, the following examples: Impact, Magneto, Matura MT Script Capitals, Poplar STD)
  • Use the character panel to create a Drop Cap with either the first letter of the word, or the first AND last letters of the word.
• Save and open in Photoshop at least three relevant images from the Web or your own stash that you wish to clip inside of the words.
  • Copy and paste the entire photo into the work document (Clipping mask project), and then use the quick select tool and Layer Masks to hide what you don't want to see (including square edges of the source image).
    • Use feathering under 'Refine Edge' to give at least one of your selected images a 'faded' look.
• Clip the images into the text using the 'make clipping mask' command.
• Add layer styles (fx) to the text. You must use at least two different layer styles, and they must include an outer glow.
• Add the element of line to your design by doing one of the following:
  • Using the brush tool to stroke a custom path you created with the pen tool
  • Using the brush tool to hand-draw a line/path (remember: if you want it perfectly straight, use the SHIFT key!)
    • EITHER WAY, you need to make changes to a brush using the Brush panel, and not just painting with a brush as-is).
• Add a second line of "descriptive text." This may include a short descriptive phrase as seen in the example below. If you use any layer styles on this layer, keep them at a bare minimum, such as a light stroke or drop shadow.

Dec 6, 2012

Clipped Adjustments

DIM Students

Using the treystory.psd on my USB drives, you will apply the following clipped adjustments:

• Hue/Saturation applied to the layer that contains the letter 'E' in TREY, in which the saturation is turned all the way down (they become black and white)
• Brightness/contrast applied to the layer containing Trey (the little boy), in which the contrast is turned all the way up.

When you have finished that, Make a blank Photoshop Document that is 1,300 pixels wide by 850 pixels tall, and then complete the following:

• Save this document in your Photoshop folder as 'copy-paste-layer-styles.psd'
• Type a 3-4 word, school-appropriate phrase with each word in its own text layer. Use relatively short words that are, for instance 3-8 letters long. Make the font size large enough that these words come close to filling up the canvas.
• Use layer styles to add some life to the letters of one word in one layer.
• Copy and paste that layer style to the other word/layers; to complete the assignment, you must have me watch you copy and paste the style to at least one letter.

Dec 4, 2012

Pen tool Tracing/Layer Mask Project

DIM Students

You will be using layer masks to create a transition between two shots of a famous places. The specifics are in the Word Document at the bottom of the page named Fade Effects Skyline.

Graphic Design Students

Your assignment consists of taking a photo/photos of at least 3 different complex objects (for example, a chess piece is not a complex object, but a person's face/saxophone will do) and then opening one of the three in Photoshop. From there, you will grab your pen tool and use (your preference) either the Shape Layer (first) or Path Only (second) pen tool option to trace the photo.

• You must trace and complete at least SIX separate paths on said object; for example, you could trace the whole body outline, head, shirt, shorts, and each eye.
• If using the Shape layers option, you can simply start another path after completing each one.
• If using the Paths Only option, you must go to the Paths panel upon completing the path, and then use the Add New Path Button (in the same place as the Add New Layer button) to start a new path).

Nov 27, 2012

Pen Tool Instructional Video

Graphic Design Students: Here is a link to the Youtube video we watched regarding the Pen Tool in Photoshop CS5.

Nov 26, 2012

Paths and Brushes Tutorial

Graphic Design, Your walkthrough is here:

http://www.photoshopessentials.com/photoshop-text/text-effects/text-path-brush/

DIM, Your walkthrough is here:

The link for using brushes and paths together may be found here:

http://www.iceflowstudios.com/2012/tutorials/photoshop-snow-heart/

(the snow photo can be found at the bottom of this page.)

NOTE: I strongly recommend doing the tutorial by reading step-by-step; the video will take an eternity to load if you are in class with a number of people trying to access it.

A FEW HELPFUL HINTS:

• When you first draw the shape, make sure the first of the three drawing options is selected on the shape tools -->
• You will likely have to reset your brushes to find the necessary brush. With the brush tool active, hit the drop-down to access the brush libraries (as if you are looking to load the calligraphy brush library), and then pick 'reset brushes' - it's about 1/3 of the way down the first column in the list.
• When you use the 'stroke path' feature, make sure your brush color is black.

Nov 1, 2012

Photoshop Basics Mini-Project

For some quick reference/reminders about getting around Photoshop, check out the images at the bottom of this entry.

NOTE: There are two different versions of the project: One is for the Graphic Design Classes, and the other is for students in DIM (scroll farther down).

Graphic Design Version: Halloweenification

Your project will require the Halloweenification of a photograph. In other words, you need just one good photo, not 35. To begin, you will need to actually take a photo. It can be of a person screaming, cowering in fear, or anything else you might be able to use in a "Halloween" design in some creative way. It needs to be a photo taken with our cameras, and not one found on the Web. Taking the photo should require no more than 5 to 10 minutes. People may share the same photo, but everyone does their own, unique design in Photoshop. Once you pull it off of the camera, you will need to be sure you include the following Photoshop features in your design:

• A filter applied that makes a noticeable change to the photograph (apply the filter BEFORE you apply adjustment layers).
• A gradient map adjustment layer to re-color the photo in some darker, scarier fashion (think black to orange, black to red, black to grey, etc...)
• Text used in an out-of-the-ordinary manner that is clear and readble (such as oversized, semi-transparent text, or even vertical text)
  • Steer clear of script-y and silly fonts such as (but not limited to) Algerian, Curlz MT, Chiller, Viner Hand ITC
  • Steer clear of commonly overused fonts. These include Arial, Times New Roman, Myriad Pro, Calibri, and all of their variants).
• Something else brought in from another image file and transformed (resized, rotated, etc); be sure that if you resize it larger, it's only slightly larger; pixelated image elements will cost you BIGTIME! If you want to take only part of an image and bring it in, ask a classmate who has taken DIM for some quick help with the Quick Select tool. There are PLENTY of people in both classes that know how to use it.
• Relevant use of lines and/or rectangular shapes drawn using the shape tool. In case you didn't realize, you can use the shape tool to make a small, very thin rectangle that serves as a line. Incorporate rounded or other shapes as well, but they must result in a quality, professional look.
• An adjustment to the opacity of at least one layer in your composition that is actually relevant/meaningful to the overall composition.
• At least one layer style (the stuff on the FX button at the bottom of the layers panel) applied to your text that makes a noticeable change.
• All image layers must be renamed to something relevant to what is in them. Text and adjustment layers are automatically renamed.
• SAVE YOUR WORK BOTH AS A JPEG AND A PSD in a project folder in your Graphic Design/GDI folder on your USB drive. All image files you used as source materials (the original camera photo and original images containing anything you copied/pasted in to the design) must be saved in there, too.
• Don't waste the days! You will receive a test grade for your finished product and a daily grade for your diligence in completing the project. This includes anything the sub tells me about your work ethic while you're gone. "Not knowing how to do something" is not an excuse; you have plenty of people who can help you in these classes, as well as the images below.

Digital and Interactive Media Version: Happiness Is...

DIM students, your project is a little lighter in nature. You simply need to find a photograph from the Web or your personal stash, making sure it is at least 800 pixels wide by 800 pixels tall (remember: the Large size google images filter will ensure this). It needs to be a real-world photograph, and not a drawing/design/logo etc. The photograph should be a visual example of something that brings you happiness. It may be a sport, it may be an object, it may be a place... that is for you to decide. Once you have done this, your project needs to include the following:

• For an example of the finished project, see the second photo below.
• At least two adjustment layers that alter the brightness/contrast/color of the photo in a meaningful, professional way (don't simply pick random settings on an adjustment). You will have to explain to me why you picked these adjustments and set them as you did as part of your grade.
• Two text items in separate text layers: one heading text item (that says exactly "Happiness Is..."), and one supporting text that tells us what happiness is to you.
• If it is on top of "stuff" in the photograph (such as people, trees, or anything that is not a relatively solid/single color), be sure the text added to your design is readable. To improve readability of the text,
  • Select the text layer by left-clicking on it in the Layers panel.
  • Click on the Fx button at the bottom edge of the Layers panel.
  • Select either 'Drop Shadow' or 'Stroke' to bring up the Layer Styles menu.
  • Use a drop shadow or stroke to help the text stand out from the photograph's background.To change settings for a given layer effect,
    • click the check box next to that layer effect to turn it on
    • click on the actual name of the effect to bring up its options.
    • For Drop Shadows, don't mess with anything besides the
      • shadow color (the black or other colored square)
      • Spread
      • Size
      • Distance
    • For Stroke, both the stroke color and size are useful. Generally use just a very small, thin stroke of a contrasting color (black around white letters, dark blue around light blue letters, light green around dark red letters, etc) to help improve readability.
• (optional) Use a filter on the image layer to add a meaningful artistic effect to your design.
• Keep in mind that I'm looking at your work here with a real-world mindset; adding absurd and silly design elements to this will cost you points. Professionalism is key in your finished projects.
• SAVE YOUR WORK WITH THE FILE NAME "HAPPINESS IS" BOTH AS A JPEG AND A PSD in a project folder in your Graphic Design/GDI folder on your USB drive. All image files you used as source materials (the original camera photo and original images containing anything you copied/pasted in to the design) must be saved in there, too.
• Don't waste the day! You will receive a test grade for your finished product and a daily grade for your diligence in completing the project. This includes anything the sub tells me about your work ethic while you're gone. "Not knowing how to do something" is not an excuse; you have plenty of people who can help you in these classes, as well as the images below.

Example using Poster edges filter and brightness/contrast adjustment. Be sure your work is actually 800x800 pixels!