DECEMBER 2015

Topics & Vocabulary to learn:

Bitmap or raster images, vector graphics (page 208 - Adobe Photoshop CS6 Classroom in a Book PDF on desktop), shape layer, smart objects (page 227), blend modes, color adjustment, advertisements, magazine covers, book covers (and their importance).

This month you will continue learning new techniques and tools in Adobe Photoshop. You will learn to create “Vector Masks” using different images, the Shape & Custom Shape Tools, Text, the Pen Tools (as Selection Tools) and the Path and Direct Selection Tools. You will also review the Photoshop tools already learned and learn others like the History Brush Tool, the Red Eye Tool, the Eyedropper Tool, the Healing Brush Tool and the Stamp Tool. You will also learn how to “enhance” photographs and images, how to use blend modes and adjust color, and how to create “frames” and brushes in Photoshop. 

You will create advertisements, magazine and book covers, and other exercises (“Like René Magritte,” “Like Penelope Dullaghan,” “Like Jim Bradshaw,” Nike Ad & Others).

Why is advertising important?

Advertising is the best way to communicate to customers. It helps inform customers (and potential customers) about available brands in the market and the variety of products and services useful to them.  We can advertise using different techniques and media types, through TV, Website, newspaper, magazine, radio and other ads (advertisements). Through advertising we communicate ideas and transmit messages ("our product is the best," "we have the best price," etc.)

You also learn about "new" products and services through advertising. Companies and other organizations depend on advertising to introduce or remind customers (and potential customers) of their products and services. To try to convince them (and you) to buy their products or pay for their services. It is an important marketing tool!

Many companies would fail (go bankrupt) if they didn't advertise their products. Advertising educates people about the many products and services available out there. The consumer becomes aware of the many choices he/she has.

Advertising is important for both new and existing businesses, as it helps to communicate important information to customers and is one of the first steps in building strong relationships. It raises awareness for different brands that are available in the market. Therefore, creating an effective advertising plan is essential in attaining objectives and goals.

You use advertisements to advertise. The goal is to grab the viewer's attention and try to convince him/her to buy the company's products, or to attend a certain school or college. Messages must be interesting and simple. The simpler the better! You want the ads to be memorable. Check these links for some examples of effective advertising: ADS1, ADS2, ADS3, ADS4 and ADS5. If these sites are blocked, you can check them out at home, or find other examples of good advertising. 

Thank you!

NOVEMBER 2015

November Topics and Vocabulary:

Creating your own patterns

Creating your own brushes

Replacing colors in an image

Enhancing images using Brightness and Contrast

Enhancing images using Levels and Auto Levels

Resolution & File Formats (including pixels, megapixels, multi-megapixels, pixelated, interpolation, photorealistic, compression - "lossy" and "lossless," file formats: JPEG, GIF, QuickTime, PNG, TIFF, BMP or DIB)

Crop Tool

Custom Shape Tool

Reviewing other Tools

Reviewing Blending Options (Layer Style)

RESOLUTION & FILE FORMATS

• The first step in retouching or editing a photograph in Photoshop is to make sure that the image has an appropriate resolution. The term resolution refers to the number of small squares, known as pixels, that describe an image and establish its detail. 
• Resolution is determined by pixel dimensions, or the number of pixels along the width and height of an image. In computer graphics, there are different types of resolution: but I just need you to focus on the number of pixels per unit of length in an image, which is called the image resolution, usually measured in pixels per inch (ppi). 
• An image with a high resolution has more pixels (and therefore a larger file size) than an image of the same dimensions with a low resolution. Images in Photoshop can vary from high resolution (300 ppi or higher) to low resolution (72 ppi or 96 ppi). The more pixels and image has, the better the resolution or quality of an image. 
• Image resolution describes the detail an image holds. The term applies equally to digital images, film images, and other types of images. 
• Sometimes the number of pixels is called the resolution, because a pixel count provides a guide to the resolution of the camera and the pictures it will produce.
• Resolution refers to the number of pixels in an image. Resolution 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 ad 1536 pixels high (2048 x 1536) contains (multiply) 3,145,728 pixels (or 3.1 Megapixels).

To learn how to replace the color of one item in an image, go to page 53 in the Adobe Photoshop CS6 Book. Practice doing this with a picture of your liking. You can change the color of an outfit, a hat, eyes, etc. Go to Google Images and find images with good resolution, then use the Color Replacement Tool in Photoshop (you can find this tool with the Brush Tool) and follow the instructions.

You can use the Crop tool to trim, scale, or straighten an image. You can enhance images by using the Brightness & Contrast option (under Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast).

Review: Free-Transform (Command-T), Move Tool, Rectangular and Elliptical Marquee Tools, Eraser Tool, Brush Tool, Magnetic Lasso Tool, Magic Wand Tool, Paint Bucket Tool, Gradient Tool, Custom Shape Tool and Type/Text Tool. (Check Tools Panel Overview pages 39-42)

Selection Tools: Rectangular and Elliptical Marquee Tools, Lasso Tools, Magic Want Tool and Quick Selection Tool. (Check page 68)

Also review: how to duplicate layers, how to deselect selections, how to merge layers, how to create a frame on a Photoshop document (two ways, one on page 117), how to open the Layer Style window (for Blending Options) – two ways, how to convert psd. documents into jpegs, how to change the opacity of an image and how to flatten images (.psd remains but layers are merged, page 118).

What are pixels, megapixels, multi-megapixels, and file formats (per PowerPoint)? Check the PowerPoint in Google Classroom.

1. Pixel – in digital imaging it means “picture element” (pix for picture – the smallest dot or square in a digital image). A pixel is generally thought of as the smallest single component of a digital image.
2. A Megapixel – a million pixels. The term is used not only for the number of pixels in an image, but also to express the number of image sensor elements of digital cameras.
3. Multi-megapixels – more than a million pixels.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me. You will have a test at the end of this month before Thanksgiving. Thank you!

MOVING ALONG...

Everyone is doing really well with Photoshop, and I believe everyone is enjoying it! Please remember to ask me questions if you're not sure how to do something in Photoshop. You have all being very patient and I appreciate this! Continue reviewing/studying the Photoshop Commands (especially if you don't remember some of them, please!).

So, moving along, you are already working on (or soon will be working on) creating your own digital painting in Photoshop using the Brush Tool. Experiment with different brushes, and use different "transparent" layers to make it easier to create your digital artwork. Please check the latest exercises in your Google Classroom.

You will have a Quiz on Tuesday, October 27, 2015. You need to know: 1) What are copyrights? 2) Why are they important? 3) What symbol represents a copyright? 4) Which is the government's Website - the U.S. Copyright Office's site (to get information on copyrights)? (check thee PowerPoint in Google Classroom) 5) What are trademarks? 6) What is "fair use"? 7) What are patents? 8) What is typography? 9) What is leading? 10) What is tracking? 11) What is kerning? 12) Know the difference between tracking and kerning (it is not the same!).

Take some time making sure you understand these terns and questions. Take notes in your notebooks. Do some research online. Check these sites: Site 1 and Site 2 and others. Also, look for examples of bad "kerning" - very interesting!

I will count a Photoshop Exercise as part of the Quiz. I will give you written instructions that day. You need to know (without my help): how to create a New Document in Photoshop, how to create a Transparent Layer, how to duplicate the Background Layer and other layers, how to add images to your "canvas" (like when you created a collage), how to shrink and enlarge images, how to add a "Style" to your background, how to add text and how to add "Blending Options" (like Bevel Emboss, Stroke, Inner Glow, Outer Glow, Drop Shadow, Pattern Overlay, etc.) to images and text.

So start practicing all this and ask me for assistance if you need it. Thank you!

Photoshop - An Introduction

To date you have already learned a lot about the image-editing application, Adobe Photoshop CS6. Congratulations! You have done a great job! You have learned the importance of working with layers in Photoshop. With Photoshop you can create original digital artwork, or edit existing images, adding filters, changing colors, adding images or shapes, retouching photographs, etc. You also learned to use "Blending Options" by going to the "Layer Style" window, double-clicking the right side of your layers. You can use Drop Shadow, Inner Glow, Outer Glow, Bevel/Emboss, etc.

What is Photoshop? It is and extremely powerful application (with a wealth of tools and commands) used to enhance and manipulate photos and create original digital art work. It is also used to touch-up photos and create high quality graphics. You can use it for almost any kind of image editing. Many professional photographers and designers use Photoshop. Watch: Video (click link). Find more information online and add it in your notebooks.

Remember: It is essential to have your Tools and Layers showing in Photoshop. If you do not see these, please go to Window (on the Menu Bar) > Workspace and click "Reset Essentials."

Layers:

Layers in Photoshop are like individual sheets of clear plastic that are in a stack. When you select a layer in the Layers Palette (or Panel), that layer is "active." Only one layer can be active at a time. The name of the active layer appears in the title bar of the image window. Changes affect only the "active layer" even though you view the whole image in the image window. You may find it useful to hide layers while working in Photoshop. All you have to do is click on the "Visibility Icon" or eye on the left side of the layer. You can also rearrange your layers and change their names. You can also create folders to add groups of layers and organize the Layers Panel better. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR LAYERS AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE SELECTING THE RIGHT ONE.

Pixels: 
Pixel is short for “picture element.” A pixel is the smallest element in a bitmap image such as a scan. If you zoom in on an image in Photoshop, you will start to see the individual pixels that make up the image. When working in Photoshop, you are editing pixels, changing their color, shade and brightness.

Bitmaps:

Digital images. An object in a bitmap images consists of a rectangular grid or raster of pixels – like a mosaic. When editing a bitmap image, it is the color values of individual pixels or groups of pixels that are modified.

Filters (in the Menu Bar):

Filters provide a quick and easy way to change the overall appearance of your image.

First tools to learn in Photoshop:

Move Tool - The Move tool is used to move selections, layers and guides.
Magnetic Lasso Tool - Used to select images.

Crop Tool - Used to crop/trim images. 

Brush Tool - Paints brushstrokes.

Paint Bucket Tool - Fills areas with the Foreground Color. 

Rectangular/Elliptical Marquee Tools -  To make rectangular or elliptical selections.

Eraser Tool - Erases pixels and restores parts of an image to its previously saved state. 

Eye Dropper Tool - Samples colors in an image.  
Text or Type Tool - To insert text (create "type" on an image).
Custom Shape Tool - Makes customizes shapes selected from a custom shape list.

Find other tools here: Photoshop Tools and Photoshop Tools 2 (click links) 

Design Tools video: Video (you may not be able to see this video in school, so please 
check it at home).

First Keyboard-Shortcuts to learn:

Command-O (open a document)
Command-A (to select ALL, if you need to quickly select an entire image)
Command-C (to copy something in Photoshop and other applications)

Command-V (to paste something in Photoshop and other applications)

Command-J (create a layer)
Command-N (to create a new Photoshop document)

Command-S (save)

Command-Z (undo)

Command-T (called "Free-Transform," to resize objects - enlarge or shrink images, press the Shift Key so you don't change the proportions of an image)

Command-D (deselect - after making a selection with the magnetic lasso tool, get rid of selection, the small intermittent lines surrounding the image)

Command-U (Hue/Saturation window, to change colors, saturation and lightness)
Command-R (to view the ruler)

Command-Shift-U (desaturate - to change a picture or layer to black and white)
Command-Plus (+) (to enlarge an entire image/picture without adding pixels)
Command-Minus (-) (to minimize an image/picture without deleting pixels) 

Also remember:

[  Open Bracket (to decrease Brush or Eraser size) — Quickly decrease your brush size (or the eraser size) to get into those tighter spots, when working with the Brush or Eraser Tools.

]  Close Bracket (to increase Brush or Eraser size) — Quickly increase your brush size (or the eraser size) for the larger areas, when working with the Brush or Eraser Tools.

Please write this information in your notebooks. The Commands will be included on the test you will have on Tuesday, October 6, 2015. You must also know how to define Photoshop, what are layers and why they're important in Photoshop, and the terms mentioned here (bitmaps, pixels, filters, etc.) and on the previous blog entry (discussed in class). The PowerPoint on Graphic Design will also be included. Any questions, please ask Mrs. Feld.