module 4 – Design Studio @PennState

Working with Graphics: Adobe Photoshop

The fourth module challenged me to first create a photo collage and then apply core concepts to create a second image with Adobe Photoshop. Please click on the hyperlinks below to view project-specific elements.

Part 1: Use the images you gathered in Activity 5 to create a photo collage that describes yourself. Your image should be 1024×768 pixels in dimension and optimized to reduce file size in Photoshop as a jpeg or gif. Incorporate pixel selection, layer creation, merging layers, and cropping.

Part 2: Create a second image of your choosing that incorporates several of the techniques that we’ve covered, or new techniques that you’ve discovered on your own.

Photoshop Composite Image

The second portion of the Photoshop module was a free-for-all, and I must admit, I am quite proud of the finished product. Building off of concepts from the photo collage, I decide to insert myself into the magical world of Harry Potter!

Similar to the previous project, I took a picture of myself – this time, wearing my Gryffindor Quidditch t-shirt. Eliminating the background once again proved challenging. In hindsight, this would have been a lot easier if I used more consistent lighting, or employed a chroma key.

While prep for the above photo took some time, the real challenge was making it blend into the 100% digital landscape of Hogwarts attached below. Lacking natural light in the selfie, I found it easier to darken the landscape for a more fluid feel.

Merging both layers, I was able to adjust the lighting and add a lens flare effect off in the horizon. Simulating a setting sun to the right of the canvas, I was able to work within a darker region to the left – avoiding the need to apply additional effects to the selfie. Applying drop shadows to both layers, helped to increase the detail of the backdrop, and provide a more dramatic feel to overly saturated selfie.

Finally, I went to DaFont.com and found a Harry P font. Matching the text with the logo color of the shirt helped not only bring these elements into the top of the canvas, but also further solidified the Hogwarts theme for those who may not be immediately familiar with the house of Gryffindor.

Photoshop Collage

The first portion of the Photoshop module was to create a photo collage that describes myself. Adding several images from my time at Penn State, I was able to put together a fairly comprehensive mosaic of 36 memories.

My first attempt was admittedly bland. While guides helped to create a very clean image, it lacked a certain personality, and did not incorporate several of the skills covered over the course of the training.

Thinking of ways to take my collage to the next level, I decided to break the fourth wall, and insert myself into the act of creating the collage. Photographing myself from the back with my hands outstretched, I wanted to replicate the process of curation that went into choosing and ordering my photos.

By removing myself from the above photo, I combined this shot with two tiles from the collage in order to create the finished product below.

Though combining and blending the separate layers, I still feel that my image stands out slightly – which may be able to be remedied with some better lighting. Despite this fact, I was especially pleased with the feel of this, considering that there was nothing in my hands when I photographed myself.