5/10/2023 - 26/10/2023 | Week 2 - Week 5
Iman Mikudim | 0338004 | Section 2
Digital Photography and Imaging | Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Task 1: Exercise 1 (Digital Collage) & Exercise 2 (Digital Imaging)
SECTIONS
| Lectures
- Lecture 1: Introduction to Digital Photography and Imaging
- Lecture 2: Introduction to Photoshop
| Tutorials
| Instructions
| Feedback
| Reflections
LECTURES
Lecture 1 | Introduction to Digital Photography and Imaging
Lecture 2 | Introduction to Photoshop
TUTORIALS
Tutorial 1 | Graphic Design Artworks
For our first task, we are instructed to list down 3 graphic design works done by Photoshop from Pinterest and explain why we like the designs.
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| Fig 1.1 Artwork #1 (Link) | Week 2 (5/10/23) |
The bold orange circles stand out against the black and white tones, creating a striking contrast. The central alignment of the images gives a sense of balance, with text framing the margins. The text is bold but doesn't overshadow the main features, establishing a clear hierarchy of information.
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| Fig 1.2 Artwork #2 (Link) | Week 2 (5/10/23) |
The layout uses columns with different-sized text to establish hierarchy. The alignment of smaller characters adds graphic elements as the eye moves through the piece. Visual interest and hierarchy are created by repeating white type and the word "error". Font sizes and boldness establish hierarchy and balance text and image. The central model is clear and prominent, with bold words overlapping without overwhelming the design, creating a harmonious photo-text blend without competing elements.
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| Fig 1.3 Artwork #3 (Link) | Week 2 (5/10/23) |
By isolating various elements such as the model, sky, and flowers and using a monochromatic colour scheme with outlined text, the artwork forms an abstract composition. It then presents this composition in a skeuomorphic style, with analogue textures for a distinctive visual effect.
Tutorial 2 | Layer Masking Tools
In this tutorial, we learnt layer masking with different tools such as:
- Lasso Tool: Allows you to make freehand selections by drawing around the desired area. It's great for selecting irregularly shaped objects or regions in an image.
- Polygonal Lasso Tool: Used for creating selections with straight-edged segments. You click to set anchor points, creating a polygonal shape for more precise selections.
- Magic Wand: Selects areas with similar colors or tones in a single click. It's useful for selecting large, contiguous areas of an image based on color similarity.
- Object Selection Tool: Automatically detect and select objects or regions within an image. It's a time-saving feature for quick and accurate selections of objects in complex scenes.
- Pen Tool: Versatile tool for creating precise, customizable paths and selections. It's commonly used for creating vector shapes, clipping paths, and intricate selections.
- Quick Selection Tool: Makes selecting objects easier by automatically detecting and adding to a selection as you drag it across an image. It's particularly useful for selecting objects with well-defined edges.
We were told to experiment with the different masking tools and mask the various table images provided before placing them in the setting of a living room.
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| Fig 2.1 Images to Mask | Week 3 (12/10/23) |
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Fig 2.2 Masked Images | Week 3 (12/10/23)
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Tutorial 3 | Blending Modes
In this tutorial, we learnt different blending modes such as:
- Screen: Often used to lighten the image. It multiplies the inverse of the pixel values of the top layer with the pixel values of the layers below. It's especially effective for adding highlights and brightening an image. When you apply the Screen blending mode to a layer, it tends to make dark areas in the layer transparent, allowing the layers below to show through.
- Multiply: Typically used to darken the image. It multiplies the pixel values of the top layer with the pixel values of the layers below. This results in a darker, more intense image. Multiply is useful for adding shadows and deepening contrast in your compositions.
- Softlight: More subtle blending mode that is often used for adding contrast and enhancing the color of an image. It applies a combination of Screen and Multiply blending modes, depending on whether the blending colour is lighter or darker than 50% grey. If the blending colour is lighter than 50% grey, it lightens the image; if the blending colour is darker, it darkens the image. Soft Light is versatile and can be used for various creative effects.
1. Blending Mode (Screen)
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Fig 3.1 Images | Week 4 (19/10/23)
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Fig 3.2 Result | Week 4 (19/10/23)
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2. Blending Mode (Multiply)
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Fig 3.3 Images | Week 4 (19/10/23)
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Fig 3.4 Result | Week 4 (19/10/23)
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3. Blending Mode (Softlight)
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Fig 3.5 Image | Week 4 (19/10/23)
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Fig 3.6 Result | Week 4 (19/10/23)
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INSTRUCTIONS
Task 1 | Exercise 1 (Digital Collage)
Our first exercise required us to create a digital collage using only a set of images provided to us.
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| Fig 4.1 Composition #1 | Week 4 (19/10/23) |
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| Fig 4.2 Composition #2 | Week 4 (19/10/23) |
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| Fig 4.3 Composition #3 | Week 4 (19/10/23) |
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In the class that followed, Mr. Martin commented that my compositions were overly simplistic. There wasn't sufficient negative space, as the images were too large, making it more challenging to incorporate additional images.
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| Fig 4.4 Composition #4 | Week 5 (26/10/23) |
I decided to incorporate some of my previous ideas from the old compositions into the new one. In this composition, I masked the textured background into a circle to represent the sun, while using the paper planes as the sunlight rays. The leaves represent underwater plants, with sharks emerging from them, patiently waiting for one of the fencers to be pushed off. I also masked the mountain from its original background and repositioned it to resemble a tsunami wave, as the shape and texture of the mountains bore a resemblance to such waves. As a consequence of the tsunami wave, the cars were scattered, and some ended up at the bottom of the ocean.
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Fig 4.5 Artwork inspiration | Week 5 (26/10/23)
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| Fig 4.6 Digital Collage Final Composition | Week 5 (26/10/23) |
The colour palette for my final composition consisted of vibrant colours that contrasted with each other. I wanted to evoke the look and feel of Japan at first glance, drawing inspiration from Katsushika Hokusai's "The Great Wave off Kanagawa."
Task 1 | Exercise 2 (Digital Imaging)
For this exercise, we are given the following two images to combine:
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Fig 5.1 Before | Week 4 (19/10/23)
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| Fig 5.2 After | Week 4 (19/10/23) |
We then had to recreate the same process but with an image of ourselves this time.
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Fig 5.3 Hearst Mansion Full Body Self-Portrait | Week 4 (19/10/23)
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Part 1 (Basic Colouring)
For part 1 in exercise 2, we are to recolour a black and white image following the tutorial given by Mr. Martin.
Fig 5.4 Before & After Recolouring | Week 6 (2/11/23)
Tutorial 2 (Advanced Colouring)
For part 2 of Exercise 2, we are to follow along with a demo of advanced recolouring.
Fig 5.5 Before & Colour Referencing | Week 6 (2/11/23)
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| Fig 5.6 Result | Week 6 (2/11/23) |
After completing the two demos, we had to select one black-and-white image from an album provided by Mr. Martin. I chose a portrait of Lalisa Manobal, aka "Lisa," who is a member of the South Korean girl group Blackpink.
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Fig 5.7 B&W Portrait | Week 6 (2/11/23)
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Fig 5.8 Colour Referencing | Week 6 (2/11/23)
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Fig 5.9 Layer Masks | Week 6 (2/11/23)
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| Fig 5.10 Final Recoloured Portrait | Week 6 (2/11/23) |
Fig. 5.11 Lalisa Manobal Portrait (before and after) | Week 6 (2/11/2023)
Task 1 | Exercise 1 (Digital Collage)
Week 4
All compositions were overly simplistic. There wasn't sufficient negative space, as the images were too large, making it more challenging to incorporate additional images.
Week 5
The composition was much better than the previous 3. Mr. Martin then guided me on how to add filters to make the collage more appealing.
REFLECTIONS
I really enjoyed and learned a lot from this task. I learned how to use the various layer masking tools, what makes a good composition, and how to recolor black and white images. I can confidently say that I am more skilled in using Adobe Photoshop than I was before and am eager to continue learning in what comes next.
