From today and onwards I will be working on preliminary and my magazine using Photopea. Photopea is very similar to photoshop which means not only will I learning skills to create my magazine but I will also be learning skills that will later help me pursue my creative career.

Removing Background

October 3rd, 2023

When I was observing the images shown in magazines in my genre, I noticed how there would instances where only the beauty product was being shown without any background. Seeing how common this is, I would like to include such images into my magazine. In order for make images like this I need to develop the skill to edit out backgrounds.

Steps to Remove Background

Step 1: Choose Photo

Choose the photo you want and try to drag the image into PhotoPea. If for whatever reason you are unable to use the drag and drop method due to the type of file, screenshot it and then add/drop it in.

Step 2: Drag Photo

Once its in photo pea, adjust the image to whatever size that you need. Remove the background layer if necessary. The exception of removing the background layer is that of the photo is the background layer.

Step 3: Magic Wand

Now the magic wand needs to be selected. Once selected I will click on the image background and press the "Delete" button on my keyboard. If a message pops up that does not let you delete the background then click the icon that says "Rasterize" under "Layer" before using the magic wand.

Around the image you should see these little lines surrounding the main part of the image indicating that the magic wand is working and is now able to delete the background. You must be careful if the image you are using matches the color of the background since the magic wand may think that the main image is part of the background as well and may delete the parts that you do not want it to.

Step 4: Checkered Pattern

After you delete the background of an image, you should be able to see gray and white checkered pattern. Areas with the checkered parent will be transparent when moved to different documents.

Step 5: Save As PNG.

To save the document as a PNG first you select "File". You look for "Export as" and press on it and a few different file options are going to show up. You are then going to click the one that you need in which this case would be the PNG. After a small tab should pop up and you will need tro click save without changing anything else. After that your image should be saved into your computer or device as a PNG.

It is crucial for the document to be saved as a PNG since is it will allow for the checkered pattern to be preserved. Without the checkered pattern, the documents background will show up as a white rather than it being transparent.

Step 6: Final Product

This is pretty much how your final png image should look like. You can see that there are a few rough edges remaining next to the products shadow but its good enough for magazine use. Whether the rest of the surrounding area is now transparent allowing it to adapt to whatever background it gets placed into.

Take Away

This skill is really important to learn especially for my magazine since there may be times I will be required to use it in order to edit the photographs to place them into the designs i make. There may be moments where editing this may not be as easy but knowing the basics of how to remove a background is a good first step.

How to Install a Font

October 17th, 2023

Step 1: Choose the Font

Choose the font you want depending on the genre or style that you are going for. you can use any free font website but for the sake of this blog I will be using a websitte called "DaFont"

Step 2: Download the Font

After you choose the font you want then you should see a button that says "Download". Click it.

Step 3: File Extraction

Once the files have been downloaded, click on the arrow so that you can see the files and click on it to open it.

Step 4: Load Font into Photopea

Once the photo has been saved into the computer drag the file down into photo pea. it is recommended to already have the project already be open

Step 5: Use Font

Once you have dragged the file into photopea, search up the name of the font into the search bar. Then click on it and then start typing. Adjust the font as needed.

Take Away

This skill will be useful when i start editing my magazine since it is needed for the cover page and table of contents. Even implementing other fonts as smaller details as headings and captions will be crucial into making my magazine.

Common Photography Techniques

October 30th, 2023

Identified Techniques

During my research I was able to identify a few common techniques in photography for a beauty magazine:

Product Photography
Headshot Photography
Portrait Photography
Birds's Eye View
Odd Numbers
Framing
Floral/ Natural effects
Simplification
Use of Color

I will use this list to practice some of these techniques.

Photography Practice

Product used: Peach Slices Dark Spot MircoDarts

Products Used: Hero Comestics Original Mighty Patch; Hero Comestics Rescue Balm Post-Blemish Recovery Cream; Hero Comestics Rescue Balm Color-Correcting Apricot Cream

For the simplistic product photography, I had to use a solid-colored background. Based on my research the color of the background was usually white, so I used the back of a white box to place the products over and moved it to a place in my house with the most lighting. In my case this was next to the living room window. I took the photos using my camera (back camera) on my iPhone 13 Pro Max. I turned up the brightness on my phone to get a clear view of the color intensity. I positioned the camera so that it was above the set up and made sure it was centered. After taking the photo I noticed that these photos were still too dark for my liking, so I edited the photos to adjust the brightness, color intensity, and sharpness. I also noticed that other things were also showing so I went ahead and cropped the photo into a square format so only the product was showing.

Although both of these photos are quite fall into the simplistic category of photography, I also used a few other techniques. I used Bird's Eye View and Odd number(for the second photo)

This photo is also a product photograph. I used the same set as the last two photos but this time I changed up a few things. During my research I noticed that products sometimes will be shown off, advertised, or promoted with florals and with tiny details like the product itself being spread out. When I started to adjust the set up, I grabbed some fake flowers I had laying around my house and placed them around the product. I also took the liberty of using some of its products and spreading them around the box. This photo was also taken using an angle from above making this into another Bird's Eye View. This photo was also quite dark, so I once again adjusted its brightness, color intensity and sharpness.

Product Used: Stilla Glitter Lipgloss; Shade: Beauty Boss

So, this product photography is different. In my research i noticed that people also tend to be included in beauty magazines in both product photography and other types of photography wear the people are demonstrating an action or a trait that they have. I attempted to do a portrait photograph that is also in the product photography category. To do this I put on a robe and put on the headband I usually use to do my own skincare. I put some of the product's cream on my face to show I am using it as if it were an advertisement. I also wore a gold bracelet to help enhance the idea of this product working as if it were a luxury product. I held the product near my face and used the front camera of my iPhone 13 Pro Max. Since this photo once again turned dark I only adjusted the photo's brightness.

Product Used: La Roche Posay Lipikar AP+M Triple Repair Face and Body Moisturizing Cream for Dry Skin

For this photo I decided to do try to do 2 different techniques: Framing and Headshot. The set up for this photo was not too difficult to make. I used a large thin white sheet and had it placed over my head. I made sure that the sheet was thin so that light could still go through, and my face would still be visible. I also put on a white shirt so that it matched the white sheet. This was done so that it would help enhance the idea of the framing made by the sheet over me and to also make sure that my face is the make focus of the picture. In a headshot, the face must be the focus. I adjusted my camera settings to portrait mode to allow more focus onto my face. Once I took the photo I had to make some adjustments. Although the sheet allowed for some light to pass through, the photo still turned out quite dark. I edited the photo for it to be brighter by adjusting the brightness and adding the "Vivid" filter from the iPhone camera settings over it.

For this photo I did 3 main techniques: Portrait, Natural effect, and Bird's Eye View. I placed the same white sheet from the previous photo onto the floor and I put on my robe and headband to emulate a sort of spa day feel. Since I did not have a cucumber, I cut up a grapefruit and placed it under my eyes. Adding some fruit is supposed to give it a natural effect since spas are supposed to be seen as something good and as something to help improve someone's health. Fruit is also seen in the same way as something good and healthy. After I laid on the floor and placed the fruit on my face, I then put the camera above and facing me. Once I adjusted it into an angle I liked and then I closed my eyes and took the photo. This photo, just like the others, turned out a bit dark so I edited the exposure, the brightness, saturation, and the warmth.

Take Away

A lot of these photos are pretty simple to make and do not require a lot. Although they are easy to replicate it was good for me to practice how to take these photos so that when I start taking the actual photos for my magazine I will know what to do and I will not be having any difficulties.

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