Class Info

  • Date: Tuesday, 3/31
  • Meeting Info: In-Person, Pearl 124

Topics & Objectives

  • Learning the Adobe Photoshop Workspace (cont.)
    • Selection and Brushes
      • Value of Working Non-Destructively
      • Straightening and Cropping Images
        • Rule of Thirds
      • Making Selections
        • Geometric Selections
        • Freehand Selections
        • Color Based Selections
      • Transformation of Selections
      • Creating an Adjustment Layer
        • Adjusting the color and tone
      • Brushes
        • Brush Panel and Presets
        • Loading New Brushes
        • Soft Brush vs. Hard Brush
        • Changing Brush Size
      • Retouching
        • Content-Aware
        • Patch Tool
        • Clone Stamp Tool
        • Spot Healing Brush
        • Healing Brush
        • Remove Tool
      • Ethics of Image Editing
  • Vocabulary words/tools (working non-destructively, Rule of Thirds, Marquee Tools, Lasso Tools, Magic Wand Tool, Histogram, Levels, Curves, Soft Brush vs Hard Brush, Content Aware Fill, Patch Tool, Clone Stamp Tool, Spot Healing Brush, Healing Brush, Remove Tool).

Lecture

Selection and Brushes

  • Value of Working Non-Destructively (method of working that doesn’t permanently change the original image).
    • Work using layers (including duplicating your original image layer).
    • Save your work as a layered file (PSD or TIFF).
    • Use Adjustment Layers to adjust color and exposure.
    • Use Layer Masks to show/hide Layers and adjustments.
  • Straightening and Cropping Images
    • Rule of Thirds:  composition guideline that places your subject in the left or right third of an image, leaving the other two thirds more open. Generally leads to compelling and well-composed shots.
  • Making Selections (Cmd + D to Deselect)
    • Geometric Selections
      • Marquee Tools – Elliptical; Single Row and Single Column
        • Single Row and Single Column each select a 1-pixel row or column within you image. Not used often, but there incase you need to create elements including lines and manual gradients.
        • Options:
          • (Left to Right: New, Add To, Subtract From, Intersect With)
    • Freehand Selections
      • Lasso Tools – Polygonal, Magnetic
        • Polygonal Lasso tool: selects anchor points in straight-line segments.
        • Magnetic Lasso tool: is a combination of other lasso tools. The border snaps to the edges of defined areas in the image.
          • Works best when there is good contrast between item and background.
      • Color Based Selections
        • Magic Wand tool: selects parts of an image based on similarity in color of adjacent pixels.
          • To add to a selection hold down the shift key. To subtract from a selection hold down the option key.
        • Tolerance: sets the sensitivity of the Magic Wand tool. (A tolerance of 32 for example, picks 32 lighter and 32 darker tones of the color).
  • Transformation of Selections
    • Rotating, Duplicating, Moving and changing Pixels
      • To move your selection AFTER you place it, make sure the Marquee Tool is still selected.
      • To move your selection BEFORE you place it, make sure the Marquee Tool is still selected AND hold down the Spacebar.
      • To move what you selected, make sure the Move Tool is selected.
    • Select Inverse (Image > Inverse)
  • Creating an Adjustment Layer
    • Adjusting the color and tone
      • Histogram: a graphical representation of the light and color in an image, displaying the tonal information for every pixel. Histograms display info from left to right.
      • Levels: also used to correct the tonal range and color balance of an image by adjusting intensity levels of image shadows, midtones, and highlights.
        • Choose the darkest dark for your dark point, lightest light for you light point , and the most neutral gray for you mid point.
        • Just exposure correcting.
      • Curves: used to correct the tonal range and color balance of an image by adjusting intensity levels of image shadows, midtones, and highlights.
        • The steeper sections of the curve represent areas of higher contrast while flatter sections represent areas of lower contrast.
  • Brushes
    • Brush Panel and Presets
    • Loading New Brushes
    • Soft Brush vs. Hard Brush
    • Changing Brush Size
  • Retouching
    • Content-Aware: used to fill selected portions of an image with content sampled from other parts of the image (Edit > Content Aware Fill
    • Patch Tool: used to remove unwanted image elements. 
    • Clone Stamp Tool: copies pixels from one part of an image to another.
    • Spot Healing Brush: used to quickly remove blemishes and imperfections from photos.
    • Healing Brush: used to quickly remove blemishes and imperfections from photos. (Requires source point)
    • Remove Tool: Same purpose as Content Aware Fill except utilizes a different code on the backend.
  • Ethics of Image Editing

Lab

Assignment: Food Face

  • Find and download stock photos of food on white backgrounds from Unsplash. (Download only FREE versions).
    • Create ONE composition of a face (with 2 eyes, 1 nose, 1 mouth, etc)
    • 1080 x 1080 pixels
    • Needs to be detailed (minimum of 10 layers)
    •  Export Layered PSD and save as Lastname_Firstname_Class9_FoodFace.PSD
    • Save into Dropbox by class end.

To-Do After Class

Project #2 Check-In

  • Share a JPG of a work in progress of your portrait. (Dropbox link will be shared closer to the deadline)
  • Check In Due 11 PM • Sunday, 4/19

Surrealism Lite

  • Using at LEAST two photos from Unsplash, Photoshop a composition that looks like it was photographed together.
    • 8″ x 10″
    • Color
    • Don’t forget color, scale, etc.
    •  Export Layered PSD and save as Lastname_Firstname_Class9_SurrealismLite.psd and place into Dropbox.
    • Due 11PM • Sunday, 4/5

Lab Critique

  • Go into the Dropbox of today’s Lab assignment and select ONE classmate’s work to critique.
  • Due 11PM • Sunday, 4/6

Discussion

  • AI and its capabilities are becoming more and more of a hot topic, especially as it relates to creatives. In 150-300 words, state why you’re either for OR against the use of AI in graphic design. Regardless of what side you choose, you need to state 3 reasons that support your stance.
  • Due 11 PM • Sunday, 4/5

Resources

Below is a video that you should watch to educate yourself in the topic area described above. Please note that some of the descriptions in the videos may not perfectly align with what’s discussed in class. If you have a question, ask me for clarification