Using Photoshop to manipulate images

You've got a good working understanding of Photoshop by now, so it's time to show you how to do some FUN things with it! There are all sorts of ways to play with photoshop to create visual interest and mimic another look. Today, you will be going through two tutorials that will show you how to get two different effects.

Retro colors

Sometimes old photographs can have some strange color-shift going on. Back in the old days, people thought of this as a mistake, but nowadays, it's considered "retro" and very trendy! In this tutorial, you'll learn how to shift the color of your photograph to give it a nostalgic look.

• Find a photograph on the internet. Choose something with people.

• Follow the instructions in the tutorial: Retro Colors

• End up with a cool, retro image!

Tilt Shift

Landscape photography has used tilt-shift lenses for years. But recently, people have started using them to create a miniature world out of an everyday scene. Tilt-shift lenses are VERY expensive to buy, so these photoshop wizards will teach you how to do with without spending a penny!

• Find a photograph on the internet. Choose a landscape with people, cars, buildings, etc.

• Follow the instructions in the tutorial: Tilt-Shift Photography

• End up with a fun photograph that looks like a miniature model!

HOMEWORK:

• Use class time to complete these but if you need more, finish them for homework.

• Bring these to class on Monday to turn in!

• Flatten your final images and save as: lastname_retro.jpg and lastname_tiltshift.jpg

Album cover project

Continue working on your album cover project during class. These will be due at the beginning of class on Wednesday!

If you think you're already finished your cover design, you're NOT. There is always room for improvement! Ask myself or your classmates what they think of your design and use the feedback you get to improve it!

HOMEWORK:

• Finish this project

• Flatten your files and save as: lastname_album.jpg

• Be prepared to turn this in on Wednesday!

Album cover project

By now, you should have at least four images picked out to use for your next project. Problem is, you don't know what that project is. Until now.

We're going to make a random album/cd cover! This was an idea that went around on facebook a couple of years ago and I thought it was fun! So you're going to try it!

Here are the rules:

1 - Go to Wikipedia. Hit "random... Read more"
or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
The first random Wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2 - Go to Quotations Page and select "random quotations"
or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3 Once on this page, hit the "more random quotations" link at the left side of the page. Hit it only once! The last four or five words of the very last quote on the page is the title of your first album.

3 - Go to Flickr and click on "explore" then click "Interesting photos from the last seven days"

(or use this link: Interesting photos from the last 7 days)
Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4 - Use Photoshop to put it all together with two additional images you brought with you.

5- You MUST cut-out at least one of the images using the pen tool in photoshop!

6- Be creative with your coloring and placement!

We will work on these tonight during class and Monday during class as well. These will be due on Wednesday.

Self Portrait Project: Critique

Today we will be critiquing your self portrait projects. We will show them on screen and have you talk about what techniques you used while creating them. Part of being an artist is being able to listen to what others have to say about your work. It's an important step to learning.

Come to class with your .psd and .jpg files to turn in!

HOMEWORK:

• Find FOUR (or more) different digital images that you like (can be found or taken by you)

• At least two of these images must be "cut-out" (using the pen tool) in Photoshop.

• You must have enough (or large enough) images to FILL THE ENTIRE PAGE

• Be thinking of how you can incorporate these images into a design

• Sketch some ideas of how you will design this collage

• Your design may have some sort of significance - or - it can just be a free-form design.

• Bring your sketches and digital images to class on Monday to begin work on them.

• These designs will be created in Adobe Photoshop and will be 8x10 and 150 ppi.

Self Portrait project (final day)

You will have tonight's class period to work on your self portrait project. Please finish them up tonight and have them ready to turn in during Wednesday's class. Please be sure your project meets all the requirements listed in the previous blog post!

HOMEWORK:

• Finish your self portrait projects!

• Save them using this naming structure: lastname_self_port.psd

• Also FLATTEN your layers and save me a .jpg as well ( lastname_self_port.jpg)

Self Portrait project

You've spent so much time working through tutorials on how to use Photoshop and Illustrator, now it's time to actually use them! Your next assignment will be to create a digital self portrait of yourself! You will be using Adobe Photoshop exclusively. We will have a camera available in class to use to take your photograph, or you may use an existing photograph if it is high-resolution.

Your self portrait project document must have:

• a minimum of FIVE different layers with graphic content

• a minimum of TWO different layer masks

• a minimum of TWO different layer blending modes

• a minimum of TWO different graphic elements in addition to your photo.

• some sort of typography

This assignment can have whatever "feeling" you would like. It can be funny, scary, happy, "normal" or anything else your mind can imagine. It's up to you! Use your knowledge of Photoshop to create a stunning self-portrait!

Most importantly: Have fun! You have all week to work on these. If you need more time by the end of class on Wednesday, you'll get it. I'm not going to rush this assignment. I want you to have enough time to make these great!

HOMEWORK:

• Start creating your digital self portrait!

Non-destructive editing

And finally, we will work on the exercises from Chapter 11: Non-Destructive Editing. You touched on some of these principles in the last chapter. Now you will get a chance to see what they can really do! After all, what can be more fun than Photoshopping a handlebar moustache on a cat?!?!

Work on Chapter 11's exercises in class and show me before you leave.

NO HOMEWORK!