Project 3: Layers, Cropping, Selections

This project was made using Layers. A real dollar was scanned and copied into Photoshop. I then made a copy of the dollar and turned off the visual eyeball in the Layers Pallete to hide it. A second photo, Joe, was opened in Photoshop. I used the Polygonal Lasso Tool to cut Joe’s head. I finished cutting his head using the Eraser Tool. I then used the Move Tool to move his head to the dollar, creating a new layer. The UAF Financial Services text was made using the Text Tool and applying the Layers Styles - Drop Shadow and Bevel and Emboss to the text. I replaced the L and B next to the numbers with Joe’s initials J and T. Joe’s signature replaces the Secretary of Treasury signature. Fairbanks, AK replaces Washington D.C. and This note is NOT legal tender replaces This note is LEGAL tender. Joe’s name and title replace the ONE DOLLAR. I had to Scale and Rotate Joe’s head to fit on Washington’s body. His photo was in color and the dollar was a money color. I cheated and used the Grey Scale to take out the color and blend together. The Eraser and Clone Stamp Tool were used for modifications. I then Flattened the layers and formatted the file into a jpg format. Joe was the Vice Chancellor for UAF Financial Services and is such a great guy, we voted him number one in our department, so it seemed appropriate to put him number one on the dollar bill.

Project 3: Selection Outline

1. After defining the document size, selection area, and background, I selected the Rulers option from the Window Menu Bar. I then went to Edit – Preferences to set the Ruler to Inches and Pixels. The next step was to create and place horizontal and vertical Guides to use as a basis for creating some sort of symmetry to the project
2. I saved the file and opened up the Layers palette to make sure I was not creating any layers.
3. I made 4 squares in each corner of the project using the Rectangular Marquee Tool, all the while keeping the shift key pressed. Then I drew the inside + using the Polygonal Lasso Tool. I used Right Click on the mouse to Fill the squares and + with the foreground color, a blue purple fill.
4. I made 4 triangles using the Polygonal Lasso Tool. I made the circle using the Elliptical Marquee Tool and centered as best as I could using the Spacebar trick, which is a cool trick I never knew about before. I used Right Click on the mouse to Fill the triangles and circle with the white background color.
5. I cleared the guides and saved my work in a Photoshop and jpg format.

A main obstacle I had with the project was how not to intentionally make layers. After I figured out how you can use the Marquee Selections and the Shift Key together to make it work, life was a little easier. The next issue was placement and symmetry. I’ve always liked using Guides and the Ruler was a big help. I stumbled a little in with the inside, the triangles and circle filling in with the background color until I chose Right click with the mouse. Right Click is another friend. The circle is almost a circle; it’s all how you look at it. I like my glass half full instead of half empty. Anyways, the placement of the circle in the pattern is enough to give one grief unless you press the Spacebar when making the circle and then you get movement to place the circle where you want it. Yeah for that! I thought this was a great assignment using selection tools on a single layer.

Project 2: Shadows, Midtones & Highlights - Color Photo

ORIGINAL PHOTO TO BE EDITED

MY EDITED PHOTO

INSTRUCTOR'S EDITED PHOTO

Steps recreated:
1. Duplicated the image
2. Adjustments Auto Levels, Contrast, and Color
3. Hue/Saturation – adjusted the reds-saturation, adjusted the yellows-lightness and saturation
4. Levels – raised the shadows levels in the Blues
5. Hue/Saturation – Edit Red – bumped up the Hue, decreased the Saturation, and bumped up the Lightness
6. Shadows/Highlights – Adjusted Shadows, Tonal Width and Radius for Shadows and Highlights.

I saved often as I made adjustments. I compared often between the original photo and the end result photo to see if I was making any headway or if I was totally blowing it. I focused in on the hue and shadows of the bedspread, the blue lighting from the window, the contrast of the light from the lamps and green hue from the lamp’s lighting on the walls. These areas were the most challenging.

One thing I am learning is to look at photos from a totally different point of perspective than before, paying attention to the shadows, highlights, and midtones, and seeing what is in contrast and in focus. Next thing to learn is how to use Photoshop more efficiently to achieve the results of what I am seeing.