INTRODUCTION

My name is Layan Alzumor, and I am an E-Marketing and Social Media student with a passion for creativity and digital design. I enjoy combining marketing concepts with visual communication to create engaging and impactful content. Through my work using Affinity and Adobe Photoshop, I have developed skills in graphic design, branding, and digital content creation. This portfolio showcases some of my projects, creative work, and growing experience in design and social media marketing.

MY WORK USING PHOTOSHOP

This before and after showcase highlights my work in typography and layout. I took the original file, added the word ‘sweet’, changed the font, and using a color specifically chosen to blend with the colors of the macaron to create the final version.

The task focused on experimenting with Photoshop selection and adjustment tools such as Quick Selection, Object Selection, Magic Wand, Crop Tool, Canvas Size, and Image Size. The most suitable tools were chosen based on each element’s needs.

The Elliptical Marquee Tool was used for the footballs due to its accuracy with circular shapes, while the Magnetic Lasso Tool was used for the stars to handle sharp edges. The Magic Wand Tool helped select and duplicate the blue background element.

Adjusting the canvas size created more space, improving the layout and balance. Overall, the task showed how different tools suit different shapes and how canvas adjustments enhance composition.

Lighting adjustments for these images were handled exclusively through Adjustment Layers to ensure a clean workflow. The first edit involved increasing the brightness of the flowers by around 15, effectively making the subject more prominent. For the landscape, a blue Photo Filter was applied to complement the natural lighting. Careful attention was paid to keeping the density low, allowing for a refined rather than over-processed look. This approach emphasizes the power of small, non-permanent adjustments in professional photo editing. 

This project involved constructing a creative face composition by meticulously isolating various fruits, vegetables, and pasta using a suite of specialized selection tools. I utilized the Elliptical Marquee Tool for circular items like blueberries and carrots, while the Magnetic Lasso and Quick Selection tools were essential for capturing more complex, organic shapes like parsley and kiwi. After refining the edges and maintaining an organized, labeled layer structure, I applied the Warp feature to realistically mold the grapefruit slices to the melon's curvature. Ultimately, combining these different techniques allowed me to improve my technical precision and transform individual food items into a cohesive, imaginative portrait.

I prioritized maintaining structural integrity by configuring the “Find Edges” boundaries, which ensured that the essential details surrounding the subject remained sharp and defined. From there, I transitioned to the Puppet Warp tool to refine the subject’s stance. By strategically placing pins across the body's primary joints, I was able to gently lower the hand and shift the foot forward, successfully altering the overall pose. 

I focused on isolating the circular region with a selection tool before utilizing a hard edged brush to uncover the forest imagery within that specific boundary. Given that the subject possessed distinct and sharp contours, opting for a hard brush was the most effective approach; it ensured the edges remained crisp and professional while preventing any unwanted soft or blurred gradients from spilling over. 

Applying the brush tool demanded a heightened level of focus and a steady hand, as the task required significant precision and a patient approach. I opted for a soft brush to facilitate a smooth, organic transition between the two layers, ensuring the images merged seamlessly without any jarring or abrupt edges.

I focused on the brush tool to unveil the stairs, integrating them into the boat environment to ensure the composite felt cohesive and authentic. By carefully managing the application, I achieved a fluid transition that avoided any visible seams, resulting in a much more believable and natural-looking final scene.

By applying a layer mask to the forest element, I was able to utilize a soft tipped brush to selectively conceal specific areas of the foliage. This technique allowed for a gentle fade that gradually unveiled the waterfall beneath, creating a seamless and integrated appearance between the two different environments.

I took the original cup design and carefully stripped away the existing text using Photoshop’s advanced retouching tools to create a seamless, unbranded surface. By leveraging features like the Spot Healing Brush or the Clone Stamp, I was able to lift the lettering while preserving the underlying texture and lighting of the object, ensuring the edit looks completely natural rather than digitally altered.

I successfully addressed the common photographic issue of flash-induced red-eye by utilizing specialized Photoshop features. To resolve this, I employed the Red Eye Tool located within the Spot Healing Brush Tool menu to target the red portions of the pupils. With a simple click, the software automatically swapped the red tones for natural black, effectively restoring a realistic look to the eyes.

By layering digital brushwork over the original image, I transformed a standard nature shot into a unique piece of digital art that emphasizes color and motion. This technique allowed me to experiment with non destructive editing while exploring the intersection of photography and digital illustration. 

In this retouching task, the primary objective was to eliminate the large fallen tree trunk and its root system from the left side of the path to open up the composition. I relied on Content Aware Fill to intelligently analyze the surrounding dirt, pebbles, and organic debris, allowing the software to automatically reconstruct the ground where the tree once sat. To ensure a seamless transition and a more realistic texture, I utilized the Clone Stamp Tool to manually sample specific patterns from the nearby trail and overlay them onto the filled area. Finally, I refined the environment using the Healing Brush and Patch Tools to smooth out any repetitive patterns, while carefully applying layer masks to maintain the structural integrity of the wooden fence posts along the trail's edge.

The focus of this project was to declutter the beach scene by removing various people and distracting objects from the shoreline to create a more serene, abandoned atmosphere. I primarily used the Object Selection Tool to quickly isolate the figures and beach gear, followed by Content-Aware Fill to replace those areas with natural sand and ocean textures. To clean up more intricate details—such as the shadows and footprints left behind—I employed the Clone Stamp Tool to manually sample and overlay consistent sand patterns. Finally, I used the Healing Brush Tool to blend any harsh edges and ensure the newly generated areas matched the lighting and grain of the original photograph seamlessly.

MY WORK USING AFFINITY

I explored the text tools in Affinity to master effect application and image integration, specifically focusing on the FX (Effects) tool and the technique of placing images inside text. Because the provided image featured flowing green patterns that evoked a sense of nature, I selected the word "TEXT" as my subject. I utilized the image as a fill for the letters, creating a direct visual link to the organic theme, and I specifically lightened the brightness of the image within these letters.

I replaced a blue daytime sky with a vibrant sunset and reflected those warm tones onto the building to create a cohesive scene. I utilized separate layers and employed the Polygonal Selection Tool to isolate and remove the original sky, which allowed me to precisely trace the building's angular edges. Once the sunset backdrop was positioned behind the structure, I introduced a Curves Adjustment Layer to modify the building's color profile to align with the evening light. By applying a layer mask and carefully tuning the individual RGB channels, I shifted the tones until the building appeared to realistically reflect the warm glow of the sunset.

I began the project with a transparent canvas and imported the various elements as distinct layers. To isolate the mountains, I utilized the Object Selection Tool and further refined the boundaries with the Freehand Selection Tool in "Add to Selection" mode to capture any omitted details. I then applied a layer mask to eliminate the original sky, substituting it with a starry nocturnal backdrop. To address the initial visual mismatch between the mountain and the new environment, I introduced a Recolor Adjustment Layer specifically for the mountain. By modifying the hue, saturation, and lightness, I shifted the peaks toward a darker, purple-influenced palette that aligned with the night sky. After testing several blend modes, I settled on Overlay, which facilitated a seamless transition and intensified the mountain's colors, resulting in a cohesive and atmospheric final composition.

To improve the visual focus, I utilized radial gradients to create a spotlight effect that separated the couple from a background they were originally blending into. I first applied a Curves Adjustment Layer with a radial mask to concentrate brightness on the subjects, followed by a second, inverted Curves layer to darken the edges and frame the scene with contrast. To finish the edit, I used an HSL Adjustment Layer with a localized radial mask to boost the couple's saturation, ensuring they remained the most vibrant element of the image without making the surrounding greenery distracting.

By utilizing layer masks, I was able to hide specific portions of the image non destructively, ensuring that any concealed pixels remain preserved and can be restored whenever necessary. Using a photo of a hand holding a piece of toast, I initiated the process by attaching a layer mask to the image. I then employed the Object Selection Tool to isolate the toast and the fingers, followed by refining the mask's edges to ensure the subjects were cleanly and accurately separated from the rest of the frame.

This retouching task focused on removing a central flower and smoothing blazer wrinkles using a combination of precision tools. I utilized the Inpainting Brush Tool to clean up minor details and soften transitions between skin and fabric for a natural finish. For areas requiring more control, I employed the Clone Brush Tool to manually sample clean textures, which prevented color bleeding while removing the flower and reducing deep creases. Finally, to fix distorted edges, I cloned sections of the blazer onto new layers and used the Mesh Warp tool to accurately align the fabric with the garment's shape.