Transforming An Image

Transforming a photo can help to straighten or tilt photos. Firstly, I opened the photo I wanted to use and then created a duplicate layer.

Then I went to 'Edit', 'Transform', and then selected 'Warp' tool.

Which then brings a grid up on your photo like this...

You can then grab the picture, and shift parts of it in an other direction to straighten or twist the photo as you prefer. This bends the graph to skew the image into the position you wish for it to be.

This gave me a final image as pictured below....

Adding Text

Firstly, I opened the picture I wanted to work with and selected the 'Text' tool on the tool bar on the left hand side of the screen (highlighted below)

I then clicked onto the part of the photo where I wanted my text to start and typed. I edited the size and the font of the text using the tool bar located above the photo.

When I had finished my writing, I clicked off onto the 'Move' tool again on the left hand side tool bar, and used this to position my writing exactly where it would fit.

And I ended up with my final image as shown below!

Adding Colour

To insert some colour into a photo, firstly I open the photo I am going to use and create a new layer.

I then used the colour selection tool at the bottom of the toolbar on the left hand side of the screen.

I then selected the brush tool, and again edited the thickness and size of the brush I wanted to use.

I then zoomed in on the photo so as to be accurate, and drew over the area I wanted to add the colour in to.

I then changed the effect on the layer in the layer box on the right hand side of the screen to 'Overlay'

I then changed the opacity of the effect to experiment with how I wanted my final image.

I experimented until I was happy with my final image, as shown below!

Adding A Splash Of Colour Into A Black & White Photo

I have learned how to changed a photo to black and white, and then input a splash of the original colour back into the picture. Firstly, I opened the image I wanted to work with and made a duplicate layer.

I then converted the top duplicate layer to black and white.

I then selected the 'Eraser' tool from the tool bar on the left hand side of the screen, and adjusted the brush size and made it a soft edged brush.

I then used the eraser brush to erase the top black and white layer over the subjects blue jeans and college card, letting the original colour underneath penetrate through.

Until I was left with this final image....

Vignetting

In this lesson we learned how to add borders or vignettes to photos. Firstly, we opened the photo we wished to use, and created a new layer on the top of the original picture.

I then selected the brush tool, then changed the size and the texture of the brush we wanted to use (one with a soft edge was used for this task).

Next, we selected the colour we wished the border to be using the colour select tool on the bottom of the tool bar on the left of the screen...

Then we painted on a border around the edge of the photo, to keep the thickness of the lines steady I held down the shift key whist drawing.

I then selected a filter for the border so as to blur the edges into the photo, by selecting the Gassian Blur filter in the 'Filter' menu.

This then gives you the option to choose how much you would like to blur the border, so you can experiment with rather stiff borders or fade them into the photos, as below.

And then you end up with a finished project as below!

Brightness & Contrast / Levels

This week we have looked at how to edit photographs, either merging two together or using Fashion editing tools.

Firstly we learnt how to adjust the brightness and contrast of a photo using two different methods. Firstly, using the 'Levls' option in the 'Image' menu.

This then opens a histogram, as shown below. In essence, the first arrow should be positioned where the peak starts to rise, the third where the peak falls, and the second should be in the middle of the two to produce a perfect picture.

We then also used the 'Brightness and Contrast' option from the 'Image' -> 'Adjustments' menu as shown below.

This will then open a box where it shows the brightness and contrast options as percentages on a sliding scale for you to adjust accordingly.

Presenting Sequential Images

This week we have looked at appropriate formats in which to present sequential images using the photos we took last week. First of all, I opened a new file in Photoshop, an A4 size blank canvas.

I then changed the page to landscape so as to fit on my pictures.

Once I was happy with the layout, I opened the photos I wished to use and dragged and dropped them onto the blank canvas I had created. I then resized them using the move tool, whilst holding down the shift key so they kept their shape. I then positioned them using the grid tool to ensure they were all in the right places.

Once they were aligned properly, I discarded the grid and saved my final piece.

Resolution

Another thing to check when saving or printing images in the resolution at which the image is set to. Resolution refers to the number of pixels in an image, this is sometimes identified by the width and height of the image as well as the total number of pixels in the image. For example, an image that is 2048 pixels wide and 1536 pixels high (2048X1536) contains (multiply) 3,145,728 pixels (3.1 megapixels).   You can edit the resolution by going into the 'Image' tab on the menu bar, and selecting 'Image Size'.

You will then be presented with another option box allowing you to adjust the resolution (by changing the number highlighted in blue on the picture below). Here the resolution is measured in pixels per inch, 72 or 150 pixels per inch is a decent enough quality for printing test shots, any final images being printed should be done at 300 pixels/inch. 

Saving As...

In order to save an edited photo in PhotoShop, you must go to the 'File' tab on the menu bar, and select 'Save As' as pictured below:

After selecting this option, a box will appear which allows you to rename the image if needed, where on the computer you wish to save the image to, and also in which format to save the image, as below.

During the course, I will be using both JPEG, and TIFF formats. JPEG is most useful for saving test shots and experimental shots, as it keeps the physical size of the image but compresses it down so it is smaller and easier to store. The reason I will only be using this format for test shots is due to the fact that in compressing the files, it also reduces the quality of them, which is undesirable for final images or printed pieces. For these I will be using the TIFF format, as this format does not shrink or flatten the images, allowing them to retain any detailing and the sharpness of the image itself. The more detailed the picture, the greater the space it takes up, so only my very final pieces shall be saved as TIFFs. I may use PSD format whilst still in the editing stages of my final pieces, as PSD format allows images to remain detailed but are take up slightly less space as TIFFs. PSD is a useful format, but usually can only be opened within Photoshop itself.

After selecting the format in which you choose to save your work, you are then usually given the option to chose the quality of the file, You should always save to the highest quality possible so as to not lose any detail in the save. On the slider tool you are given this is usually represented by 'large file' and the numeric value should be '12' as below.

Renaming Images

In order to rename saved images, simply double click on the text under the picture (which will be the current file name). The file name should now be highlighted blue, and this should allow you to type over the current text with the new file name. Please see the screen grab below:

Creating A Contact Sheet