Evaluation

For my final image I have created a fantasy landscape. I have based my work on those of Seung Woo Back. To do this I have used a wide range of tools within photoshop. I used the lasso tool along with the quick mask mode to copy and paste items into my final image. I then used the transforming options to make these look like they where realistically placed there. I then used the blur tool to go around the items I had moved and changed the brightness and contrast of the image. I had problems with the lighting on each image I used whilst creating this as they where taken in different locations. I found it difficult to match them up to the final image. If I did this again I would take all my images at the same location. Overall I am pleased with my final image as it is hard to tell what shouldn't be there without looking at the original image and this I the effect I was trying to create.

Fantasy Landscape - final image

Before Image

Final Image

Duane Michaels

Duane Michaels was born in 1932 and is an American photographer. He places his images within a sequence and often incorporates text. At the age of 14, whilst attending Watercolour University Classes he started his artwork. Later in 1953 he received a B.A. from the University of Denver. In 1956 he studied at the Parsons School of Design to become a graphic designer, however he did not complete his studies. Michaels was a commercial photographer for several years, working for Esquire and Mademoiselle. He also covered the filming of The Great Gatsby for Vogue in 1974. In 1968 the Government of Mexico hired Michaels to photograph the Olympics. This work was then shown at The Museum of Modern Art in New York. Some of Michaels' photography addressed gay themes, although he has not been involved in gay civil rights.Michaels inspired my first final image which was a sequence of movement. I used several images placed within one page so that you could see the movement within the sequence.

Seung woo Back

Seung Woo Back was born in Korea in 1973. In 2004 he photographed a series 'Real World'. In this series famous landmarks have been copied and pasted to be in the incorrect setting, whilst still looking like they should be there. These were documentary photos of places that he visited whilst travelling then manipulated to be a fantasy image. I have used this series to base my fantasy landscape on. I intend to achieve the same effect by realistically placing items within my image that usually arent there.

photoshop workshop 1 - Copy and paste

To copy and paste an item onto an image you firstly need to have the image open you wish it to be placed upon.

Select the area you wish to copy from the other image.

Now in the top menu bar select Edit and then copy.

Select the final image you wish to use again and then select Edit, paste from the menu. this will place the item on the image.

You can now select the move tool to move this to the correct positioning for your image.

Now by selecting transform from the edit menu and using previous skills learnt you can manipulate this item to look like it has always been there.

by selecting the blur tool from the left hand menu you can also soften the edges of the pasted image so that it is not so harsh.

photoshop workshop 1 - Quick mask mode.

Quick mask mode is useful for checking the area you have selected on your image is exact. Firstly select the icon from the left hand menu.

This will then shade your whole image red apart from the area you have selected.

Now using the rubber tool you can ensure the area selected is exact. For this select a suitable brush size an a hard edge. You also need to zoom in on the image as much as possible.

Using the switch tool on the colour icon you can choose whether to add more mask to an area or take it away.

Go around the selected area until the outline is perfect.

Now you can switch off the mask and the area will be perfectly selected. This is good for lassoing an area before copy and pasting it.

photoshop workshop 1 - Lassoing and moving an image

To use the lasso tool you need to select it from the left hand menu. If you press and hold down you mouse it will open its options. - Lasso tool, - Polygonal Lasso tool, - Magnetic Lasso tool.

The Lasso tool allows you to draw free hand around the area you wish to select.

Polygonal Lasso tool allows you select an area using straight lines only.

Magnetic Lasso tool sticks to the points within the area you are selecting with the most contrast.

Once you have selected an area you can select the move tool from the left hand menu.

This enables you to move the area selected around your image or to a new image entirely.

photoshop workshop 1 - Clone tool

Firstly open the image you wish to use.

Select the clone tool from the left hand tool bar.

Pick the correct brush size you wish to use. A soft edge is also advisable for this.

Now hold the Alt key down and select the point on the image in which you wish to clone from. Now move you mouse to where you wish the cloning to be placed. Hold the mouse button down and start moving the mouse. The image will start to appear.

Do this until you have copied the whole part of the image you wish to clone.

photoshop workshop 1 - Transforming an image

To transform an image select edit in the top menu bar, then select transform. This will bring up another menu of all the different transforming options. If you are unable to do this on your image, double click on the layer and rename it.

Selecting scale enables you to resize the image you are working on.

Selecting rotate allows you to rotate the image within the page you are working on.

Selecting skew gives you a central marker on the image. This marker can be moved around the picture. This will then stretch or compress your image around this marker upon moving it.

Selecting distort gives you the ability to distort your image by bending and stretching the image.

Selecting perspective enables you to change the view point from which the image was taken.

Selecting warp attaches a grid to your image.

By clicking on the grid and moving it this will manipulate your image.

photoshop workshop 1 - Final Image

photoshop workshop 1 - Aligning images

To align your images accurately you should use the grid. To open this go to View in the top menu bar. Then select Show and Grid. This will then make the grid visible for you to use.

You can now manipulate your images to get them in the correct position.

Once placed you can remove the grid by going to View - Show - Grid.

photoshop workshop 1 - Adding borders and changing background colour

Open the image you wish to add a border to.

Then from the top menu bar select Edit.

Then select stroke.

This will open a new window where you can choose the thickness and the colour of your border. As a general rule if the picture is dark use a white border. If the picture is very bright a black border works best.

Once you have chosen these press ok and the border will appear around your image.

Then if you can change the background colour if you wish. To do this press the bottom right corner of the gradient tool to see the options and select the paint bucket tool.

Now you can select the colour you wish the background to be using the set foreground tool.

Click the mouse where you want to change the colour. You are now ready to save your image.

photoshop workshop 1 - Resize image

Once you have moved your image to the document you may need to resize it. For this you need to use the grid that surrounds the image.

Hover the cursor above the small squares on the corners of the image. The cursor then changes from the usual icon to a double ended arrow. If you now click on the small square and hold the mouse button down you can resize your image. Be sure to hold the SHIFT key down at the same time to stop the image being stretched or squashed.

When happy with the positioning of the image select the tick on the top menu bar to place the image.

Now your are ready to save your image.