GDT 141&142: Photoshop

Assignments

GDT 141 Project #1

Objective: Create a photo collage with at least three scanned images of your choosing.

Skills: Use selection techniques to combine several images on separate layers into one image. Use a different blending mode with one of the layers. You may also use any drawing technique that we have covered, such as paintbrush, gradient, fill, etc. to color or add to the image. You may also add a title or other text with the text tool, if you wish.

Timeline: This project should take about one and a half class sessions. If you wish to work on it outside of class as well, feel free to do so.

Due: Tuesday, Sept 26

GDT 141 Project #2

Starting with images that you have chosen, edit them to create a mood. Use color balance, contrast, lights and darks, etc. to create the mood and to correct or adust the coloring of your image. Use one of the advanced selection techniques that we’ve learned to isolate at least one element from its surroundings and edit it or the areas around it. Experiment using layers and adjustment layers, and use any of the skills and techniques that we have learned so far to create an image that tranforms your starting image into something new and original.

Due: Tuesday, Oct 10

GDT 142 Project #1: Transformation (Generation/Mutation)

Due: Tuesday, November 14

We are going to participate in the ongoing web-based project Generation/Mutation developed by h-ray heine. I expect you to reinterpret the photo that has been posted to the site using all of the skills that you have learned in GDT 141 and 142. These include layer techniques, blending modes, drawing tools, selection and masking techniques, effects, filters, etc. You can draw on the image, paste new images into the image, or manipulate it in any way that you see fit. Be creative and have fun. Push the image as far as you can, without losing some tie to the start image.

To start:

Point your browser to Mutation/Generation. If you want to start with an image that has already been modified, go to this page. Remember that the point of this project is to transform an image through multiple generations, and that it is perfectly acceptable to start with someone else’s image.
Download the image that you choose by right-clicking on it and choosing “Save image as..” from the context menu. Save it to the desktop.
Start Photoshop if you haven’t already and open the image, called “dv01.gif”
Convert the mode from indexed color to RGB.
Start editing.

You don’t have to submit your image to the site if you’re not comfortable doing so, but I would encourage you to. If you do want to submit it, save the image as a GIF or a JPEG, and follow the instructions on the site.

Hand in a layered photoshop file so that I can see what you’ve done.

GDT 142 Project #2: CD Cover

Choose a CD by your favorite artist and design a new cover for that album. Start with scanned photos, photo-CD images, or images that you’ve downloaded from the internet, or just start within Photoshop and use graphical elements and type to compose your image. Use any technique that you have learned to say something about the tone or mood of the album. If appropriate, make sure that the title of the album and the artist’s name are on the cover.

The image should be 4.75 x 4.75” with a resolution of 133 ppi. The image should be ready to go to press-i.e. in CMYK mode, or grayscale with spot color channels. Hand in a flattened .psd file with a caption stating the album name and artist, and your name added to the copyright field in the file information. Also, hand in the printed-out color separations.