August 15th, 2013
My first blog entry, the 2nd day of class, and I, the mighty Dragonborn, am on a roll. I added a few more things to my website, including three more pages and plenty of pictures taken during my adventures across Skyrim. (Speaking of Skyrim, I have absolutely no idea where I am or how I got here.) Okay. I should be honest. I got them off of Google and uploaded them from my computer's picture files. I resized them and fit them into the pages. I am steadily getting the hang of clicking a lot. I am surprised that my fingers are not raw and bleeding by this point. (I'm kidding. I, the Dragonborn, am much tougher than that.) It has been a good day.
My first blog entry, the 2nd day of class, and I, the mighty Dragonborn, am on a roll. I added a few more things to my website, including three more pages and plenty of pictures taken during my adventures across Skyrim. (Speaking of Skyrim, I have absolutely no idea where I am or how I got here.) Okay. I should be honest. I got them off of Google and uploaded them from my computer's picture files. I resized them and fit them into the pages. I am steadily getting the hang of clicking a lot. I am surprised that my fingers are not raw and bleeding by this point. (I'm kidding. I, the Dragonborn, am much tougher than that.) It has been a good day.
August 16th, 2013
Some things we learned today that could be useful in Photoshop:
Undo (Ctrl+Z)
Good Resolution (pixels/inch): 200
Top Bar + Side Bar
Brush Tool
Copy a Layer (Ctrl+J)
Zoom In (Ctrl +)
We also made a brush using our own signature.
Some things we learned today that could be useful in Photoshop:
Undo (Ctrl+Z)
Good Resolution (pixels/inch): 200
Top Bar + Side Bar
Brush Tool
Copy a Layer (Ctrl+J)
Zoom In (Ctrl +)
We also made a brush using our own signature.
August 19th, 2013 - FRANK STELLA
I resized an image that was originally a rectangle and made it a square. I painted the background black and then made a grid appear, using View > Show > Grid. We also learned about the Eyedropper function and how it duplicates colors.
Our project today was based on the works of Frank Stella. Using the grid, I used the Rectangular Marquee tool to arrange each layer on top of the other. I also used Layer > Layer Style > Stroke to make a white border around each of the rectangles. Go to the Projects page to see the finished work.
I resized an image that was originally a rectangle and made it a square. I painted the background black and then made a grid appear, using View > Show > Grid. We also learned about the Eyedropper function and how it duplicates colors.
Our project today was based on the works of Frank Stella. Using the grid, I used the Rectangular Marquee tool to arrange each layer on top of the other. I also used Layer > Layer Style > Stroke to make a white border around each of the rectangles. Go to the Projects page to see the finished work.
August 20th, 2013 - WASSILY KANDINSKY
For our Wassily Kandinsky project, I started out with a 12x9 canvas so I could evenly distribute the squares (with the View > Show > Grid as an indicator). I made each square a different color by using Ctrl + Backspace to fill them in. For the first circles, I used the Eliptical Marquee tool and Ctrl + Backspace to fill in another circle. I dragged the shape I had already made from circle to square because I found it difficult to resize the circle exactly how I wanted each time. For the next circle, 319 pixel brush to make a dot of a different color than the outside circle inside all of the circles. I removed the grid for the next round of circles because it squared out the inside cricles. I next used a smaller, 75 pixel brush to make irregular dots inside each of the circles. Go to the Projects page to see the finished work.
For our Wassily Kandinsky project, I started out with a 12x9 canvas so I could evenly distribute the squares (with the View > Show > Grid as an indicator). I made each square a different color by using Ctrl + Backspace to fill them in. For the first circles, I used the Eliptical Marquee tool and Ctrl + Backspace to fill in another circle. I dragged the shape I had already made from circle to square because I found it difficult to resize the circle exactly how I wanted each time. For the next circle, 319 pixel brush to make a dot of a different color than the outside circle inside all of the circles. I removed the grid for the next round of circles because it squared out the inside cricles. I next used a smaller, 75 pixel brush to make irregular dots inside each of the circles. Go to the Projects page to see the finished work.
August 21st, 2013
Today I finished and uploaded the Wassily Kandinsky work and wrote a short biography and summary of his works. I also started on a project, then deleted it because I don't know how to make a curved line. So productive.
Today I finished and uploaded the Wassily Kandinsky work and wrote a short biography and summary of his works. I also started on a project, then deleted it because I don't know how to make a curved line. So productive.
August 22nd, 2013 - BLING
Today we started on the Bling project. Istarted by making a yellow 500x500 pixel canvas with black text using the Magneto font. I had to resize the text a couple of times in order to get my name to be large enough. I first put an Inner Glow on the text, going after that with Bevel and Emboss, using the Stroke Emboss style. I then put down a Pattern Overlay with a pattern that was supposed to resemble diamonds. I then put down a Stroke but, different from the last time, we used a gradient instead of a simple, one-color stroke.
Today we started on the Bling project. Istarted by making a yellow 500x500 pixel canvas with black text using the Magneto font. I had to resize the text a couple of times in order to get my name to be large enough. I first put an Inner Glow on the text, going after that with Bevel and Emboss, using the Stroke Emboss style. I then put down a Pattern Overlay with a pattern that was supposed to resemble diamonds. I then put down a Stroke but, different from the last time, we used a gradient instead of a simple, one-color stroke.
August 23rd, 2013
Today I re-created the Bling project not once but twice. The second (and better) attempt will be on the Projects page. I learned about the Rasterization and Skew tools today, along with the Blur tool.
Today I re-created the Bling project not once but twice. The second (and better) attempt will be on the Projects page. I learned about the Rasterization and Skew tools today, along with the Blur tool.
August 26th, 2013 - COLD
Today I started on our "Cold" project. We opened a new project that was 5x7 inches with a 100 pixel resolution. We saved a picture of water and opened it in Photoshop, then drew a text box with the word "cold" inside. I used the font Arial. We rotated the text 90 degrees clockwise and then used the "Wind" filter on it. This made it appear as if it had icicles dripping from it. The effect can be intensified by using Ctrl + F, and you can erase moves by going back into your History and clicking on the place you want to stop. We then rotated it counter clockwise so it was horizontal again. We then created a copy of that layer using Ctrl + J. Next, we flipped that layer upside down and aligned it with the first word. Using Edit > Transform > Distort, we made the word appear as if it was 3D and coming out from the first layer. We then used the Eraser tool to make the image appear as if it was fading away. I did the same thing to a picture of Justin Timberlake with the title of his song "Mirrors," because mirrors are reflective...and it's reflective...get it...anyway, go to the Projects page to see both.
Today I started on our "Cold" project. We opened a new project that was 5x7 inches with a 100 pixel resolution. We saved a picture of water and opened it in Photoshop, then drew a text box with the word "cold" inside. I used the font Arial. We rotated the text 90 degrees clockwise and then used the "Wind" filter on it. This made it appear as if it had icicles dripping from it. The effect can be intensified by using Ctrl + F, and you can erase moves by going back into your History and clicking on the place you want to stop. We then rotated it counter clockwise so it was horizontal again. We then created a copy of that layer using Ctrl + J. Next, we flipped that layer upside down and aligned it with the first word. Using Edit > Transform > Distort, we made the word appear as if it was 3D and coming out from the first layer. We then used the Eraser tool to make the image appear as if it was fading away. I did the same thing to a picture of Justin Timberlake with the title of his song "Mirrors," because mirrors are reflective...and it's reflective...get it...anyway, go to the Projects page to see both.
August 27, 2013 - RANDOM SHERLOCK
Today I made a simple text edit to an image of Sherlock from the BBC television show using the quote, "I'm not a psychopath, I'm a high-functioning sociopath." I used the Eraser tool again to darken the larger text in the background. We also learned about the beginnings of the "Fire" project, including the use of the Liquefy tool to create flames on text.
Today I made a simple text edit to an image of Sherlock from the BBC television show using the quote, "I'm not a psychopath, I'm a high-functioning sociopath." I used the Eraser tool again to darken the larger text in the background. We also learned about the beginnings of the "Fire" project, including the use of the Liquefy tool to create flames on text.
August 28th, 2013 - FIRE
Today I started again on the Fire project. We started by making a text layer that said Fire. We then used the Smudge tool to create "flames" coming off of the words. I tried to keep them as sparse as I could without making them nonexistent. Some of the flames were the tiniest bit wonky, but it turned out okay. We then branched off on our own to create different effects for the fire image.First, I used color balance to bring out the reds and yellows in the image, with just a little bit of pink to prevent it from being blood-red. I then used Ctrl + J to make a copy of the text to avoid going about the trouble of resizing it exactly. I put on a Gradient Overlay to add alighter-to-darker effect. That was too dark, and I already liked my options for colors, so I added an Inner Glow to emphasize the words and lighten it a little bit. It was still too dark and didn't have the effect that I wanted, so I used an outer glow to bring more oranges into the color pallete and bring a glow around the words. It made the words almost look like they were burning, which was very cool.
Today I started again on the Fire project. We started by making a text layer that said Fire. We then used the Smudge tool to create "flames" coming off of the words. I tried to keep them as sparse as I could without making them nonexistent. Some of the flames were the tiniest bit wonky, but it turned out okay. We then branched off on our own to create different effects for the fire image.First, I used color balance to bring out the reds and yellows in the image, with just a little bit of pink to prevent it from being blood-red. I then used Ctrl + J to make a copy of the text to avoid going about the trouble of resizing it exactly. I put on a Gradient Overlay to add alighter-to-darker effect. That was too dark, and I already liked my options for colors, so I added an Inner Glow to emphasize the words and lighten it a little bit. It was still too dark and didn't have the effect that I wanted, so I used an outer glow to bring more oranges into the color pallete and bring a glow around the words. It made the words almost look like they were burning, which was very cool.
August 29th, 2013- FIRE GIF
Today I created my first animated gif. Yay. We filled the background with black using Ctrl + Back then filled a smaller space at the bottom with white and blurred it with Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. We then copied the layer three times. We deleted the black in the background of each layer (while hiding the layers we weren't working on) by using the Magic Eraser tool and, in succession, pulled up the white into the black using the Smudge tool. We then took it into an animation by clicking Window > Animation. After putting the layers into frams, we "tweened" the frames, which put more frames in between the originals to help it transition better.
Today I created my first animated gif. Yay. We filled the background with black using Ctrl + Back then filled a smaller space at the bottom with white and blurred it with Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. We then copied the layer three times. We deleted the black in the background of each layer (while hiding the layers we weren't working on) by using the Magic Eraser tool and, in succession, pulled up the white into the black using the Smudge tool. We then took it into an animation by clicking Window > Animation. After putting the layers into frams, we "tweened" the frames, which put more frames in between the originals to help it transition better.
August 30th, 2013
I added the Fire text to the new gif and recreated my Sherlock picture into a gif. Fascinating.
I added the Fire text to the new gif and recreated my Sherlock picture into a gif. Fascinating.
September 4th, 2013 - PATHS
Today I learned about paths and the Pen tool. We used both the normal Pen tool and the Freeform Pen tool. (The shortcut for the Pen tool is the letter P, without the Ctrl button.) We created abstract-looking art with our raw, untamed skill. We also put text along the paths, using different shapes and sizing. I discovered that if you make a shape out of different lines, the text will run off or disappear. Mystifying.
Today I learned about paths and the Pen tool. We used both the normal Pen tool and the Freeform Pen tool. (The shortcut for the Pen tool is the letter P, without the Ctrl button.) We created abstract-looking art with our raw, untamed skill. We also put text along the paths, using different shapes and sizing. I discovered that if you make a shape out of different lines, the text will run off or disappear. Mystifying.
September 5th, 2013 - STITCHES
Today we created a series of words with a stitches pattern embroidered around the edges. I made the background layer black and put down a text layer that said my name. I then curved the words and fitted it to the canvas. I right-clicked the border between the background layer and the text and clicked "Create Work Path", hiding the text layer afterwards. I downloaded a stitches brush and sized it to 10 pixels. I then clicked on the brushes icon in the side toolbar and made the stitches into a line. I created a new layer and named it "Stitches." I then switched to the Pen tool and right clicked on the text, selecting "Stroke Path." I went to the "Paths" tab and deleted the Work Path. Bomb diggity.
Today we created a series of words with a stitches pattern embroidered around the edges. I made the background layer black and put down a text layer that said my name. I then curved the words and fitted it to the canvas. I right-clicked the border between the background layer and the text and clicked "Create Work Path", hiding the text layer afterwards. I downloaded a stitches brush and sized it to 10 pixels. I then clicked on the brushes icon in the side toolbar and made the stitches into a line. I created a new layer and named it "Stitches." I then switched to the Pen tool and right clicked on the text, selecting "Stroke Path." I went to the "Paths" tab and deleted the Work Path. Bomb diggity.
September 6th, 2013
I created a thing that said "Anime Kids. So hip." with a picture of Rin on it. Also a hand with stitches on it. Stitches all around.
I created a thing that said "Anime Kids. So hip." with a picture of Rin on it. Also a hand with stitches on it. Stitches all around.
OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK TRIP: NO BLOG FOR YOU
September 16th, 2013 - CLIPPING MASK
First day back from Olympic National Park. Everything is still humid. Today we learned out how to make a watermark-esque mark on a photo. First, we downloaded a picture of Olympic Park. We fit it to the screen, copied it, and created a new layer, which we filled in with white using Ctrl + Backspace, and put it in between the background and the copied layer. We then made a text layer that said "OPI" and ft it to the image. We then put the text layer between the white layer and the top layer. I then went to Layer > Create Clipping Mask (Alt + Ctrl + G) on the top layer. I then added an outer glow to the text layer and deleted the white layer and the background.
First day back from Olympic National Park. Everything is still humid. Today we learned out how to make a watermark-esque mark on a photo. First, we downloaded a picture of Olympic Park. We fit it to the screen, copied it, and created a new layer, which we filled in with white using Ctrl + Backspace, and put it in between the background and the copied layer. We then made a text layer that said "OPI" and ft it to the image. We then put the text layer between the white layer and the top layer. I then went to Layer > Create Clipping Mask (Alt + Ctrl + G) on the top layer. I then added an outer glow to the text layer and deleted the white layer and the background.
September 17th, 2013
Today we created another version of the OPI picture, instead using the name of a U.S. state or city. I used Texas and followed the same steps as above.
Today we created another version of the OPI picture, instead using the name of a U.S. state or city. I used Texas and followed the same steps as above.
September 19th, 2013 - LAYER MASK/TEXAS
I finished up the Texas image. My former problem was that I could not move all the letters, which I had done in separate documents, into a blank canvas. I solved this by rasterizing the clipping mask and the text layer and going to Layer > Merge Clipping Mask. I was then able to move the letters. I turned the background yellow using Ctrl + Backspace and made another clipping mask using a Texas flag and the words "The Lonestar State." After realizing that the letters didn't look very good against the background, I added a black stroke to all the text layer and resized the flag so that the parts I wanted appeared in the words.
I finished up the Texas image. My former problem was that I could not move all the letters, which I had done in separate documents, into a blank canvas. I solved this by rasterizing the clipping mask and the text layer and going to Layer > Merge Clipping Mask. I was then able to move the letters. I turned the background yellow using Ctrl + Backspace and made another clipping mask using a Texas flag and the words "The Lonestar State." After realizing that the letters didn't look very good against the background, I added a black stroke to all the text layer and resized the flag so that the parts I wanted appeared in the words.
September 20th, 2013
I made the word "Antarctica." I forgot the first c. I felt like an idiot. That is all.
I made the word "Antarctica." I forgot the first c. I felt like an idiot. That is all.
September 23rd, 2013
This will make no sense. Please disregard until I fix it.
control a select all
control c copy
layer mask rectangle in bottom window with a circle
press alt and click layer mask
control v paste
control d deselect and click on background layer
This will make no sense. Please disregard until I fix it.
control a select all
control c copy
layer mask rectangle in bottom window with a circle
press alt and click layer mask
control v paste
control d deselect and click on background layer
September 26th, 2013 - ANDY WARHOL
Today we made an Andy Warhol-esque piece. We found an image of ourselves of ourselves and cropped it so it was just our face. Then we went to Select > Color Range and selected "Shadows" from the drop-down menu. We clicked "OK" and then used Ctrl + J to copy it into a new layer. We did the same for "Midtones" and "Highlights." I selected Edit > Fill and filled the "Shadows" layer with red. I did the same for "Midtones" with orange and "Highlights" with yellow. I did this for three more copies of the original photo with different colors. When I finished all of them, I Layer > Merge Down 'ed the layers all into one and opened up a new canvas. I moved all the layers onto the canvas evenly using View > Show > Grid. Whoop bang. Done.
Today we made an Andy Warhol-esque piece. We found an image of ourselves of ourselves and cropped it so it was just our face. Then we went to Select > Color Range and selected "Shadows" from the drop-down menu. We clicked "OK" and then used Ctrl + J to copy it into a new layer. We did the same for "Midtones" and "Highlights." I selected Edit > Fill and filled the "Shadows" layer with red. I did the same for "Midtones" with orange and "Highlights" with yellow. I did this for three more copies of the original photo with different colors. When I finished all of them, I Layer > Merge Down 'ed the layers all into one and opened up a new canvas. I moved all the layers onto the canvas evenly using View > Show > Grid. Whoop bang. Done.
October 1, 2013 - TEXT PORTRAIT
Today we made something similar to a text portrait, except that we reserved it for our face only, and it was more to bring out the features of our face. We started with a photo of ourselves and cropped it very close. We selected the shadows and midtones of our face and filled them in with Black and 50% Grey, respectively. We then merged them into one layer. The order of our layers from top to bottom was: a white layer, the shadows/midtones layer, and the original photo. We then took a brush that we made (mine said creative) and covered a new transparent layer with that word. We then added a layer mask to it. We hid the original layer and went to the shadows/midtones layer, then used Ctrl + A to select it and Ctrl + C to copy it. We then pressed Alt and clicked on the white portion of the layer mask. We pasted it using Ctrl + V, then used Ctrl + D and pressed Ctrl + I to invert. I then clicked on the white layer. I filled in the layer because it did not have enough definition by pressing alt, clicking on the text portion of the layer mask and putting down more words.
Today we made something similar to a text portrait, except that we reserved it for our face only, and it was more to bring out the features of our face. We started with a photo of ourselves and cropped it very close. We selected the shadows and midtones of our face and filled them in with Black and 50% Grey, respectively. We then merged them into one layer. The order of our layers from top to bottom was: a white layer, the shadows/midtones layer, and the original photo. We then took a brush that we made (mine said creative) and covered a new transparent layer with that word. We then added a layer mask to it. We hid the original layer and went to the shadows/midtones layer, then used Ctrl + A to select it and Ctrl + C to copy it. We then pressed Alt and clicked on the white portion of the layer mask. We pasted it using Ctrl + V, then used Ctrl + D and pressed Ctrl + I to invert. I then clicked on the white layer. I filled in the layer because it did not have enough definition by pressing alt, clicking on the text portion of the layer mask and putting down more words.
October 29, 2013 - ZOMBIE
First, I opened up a picture of me and cropped it so you could just see my eyes. Then, I used the Pen Tool to select the Iris and Pupil of my eye.
First, I opened up a picture of me and cropped it so you could just see my eyes. Then, I used the Pen Tool to select the Iris and Pupil of my eye.
November 8th, 2013 - ROMAN
First, I found a picture of a forest scene and a faun, from Roman mythology. I opened them up in seperate files. Next, I used the Pen Tool (Ctrl + P) and cut the faun out of its background. I then dragged the layer, using the Move Tool, into the other image. I resized the faun to an appropriate size for the picture. I then went to Hue/Saturation in the adjustements layer and brought the Saturation down to 0 on both layers. I then merged each adjustment with its respective layer and merged the two layers together. I then went to Filter > Texturize > Mosaic Tiles and brought the cell size and border thickness down to 0. I left the light intensity where it was.
First, I found a picture of a forest scene and a faun, from Roman mythology. I opened them up in seperate files. Next, I used the Pen Tool (Ctrl + P) and cut the faun out of its background. I then dragged the layer, using the Move Tool, into the other image. I resized the faun to an appropriate size for the picture. I then went to Hue/Saturation in the adjustements layer and brought the Saturation down to 0 on both layers. I then merged each adjustment with its respective layer and merged the two layers together. I then went to Filter > Texturize > Mosaic Tiles and brought the cell size and border thickness down to 0. I left the light intensity where it was.