Digital Photography & Imaging - Task 1 Exercises

29/09/2023-27/10/23 (Week 1-Week 5)
Lizzie Tanaka (0362065)
Digital Photography & Imaging | BDCM | Taylor's University
Task 1 

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LECTURES

Week 1: Briefing and Introduction

In this week's lecture, we were briefed on what we will learn in this semester such as future projects and exercises. We were also assigned a task; digital collage.

Week 2: 

In week 2 lecture, we were introduced to the tools in Photoshop that we will use to cut out objects:

• Lasso tool
• Magnetic lasso tool
• Polygonal lasso tool
• Magic wand
• Masking
• Pen tool

Week 3

This week, we learned about blending modes in Photoshop and how to utilize them. There are 27 different blending modes, but we practiced on 3 which were screen, multiply, and soft light. 

• Screen: black will turn transparent, white will turn opaque.
• Multiply: white will turn transparent, black will turn opaque.
• Soft light: black will be darker, white will be lighter, gray will be transparent.

Week 4

For this week's lecture, we were taught how to recolor black and white pictures using different techniques. First we were taught how to recolor them using brush and blending modes. Another method is to select each part and mask them to a solid color and change the blending mode. 

Week 5

For week 5, we were taught how to do a double exposure image where we used selection tool, the masking tools, image adjustment tools such as curves to increase contrast and gradient maps to change colors as well as incorporate the use of blending modes. 

Week 6

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INSTRUCTIONS

In week 1, we were asked to fill in this Google docs where we choose our 3 favorite graphic design works done in Photoshop as well as our record in the Bezier game. Here is my submission: W1 Docs Submission

Exercise 1: Digital Collage

We were assigned to create a total of three collage digitally using Photoshop. 

1.1. Process Work: Digital Collages
For the digital collages, we were asked to create it with the elements we were provided. 

Fig 1.1 Elements provided (06/10/2023)

a. Digital Collage 1

Fig 1.2 Composition 1 (29/09/2023)

b. Digital Collage 2

Fig 1.2 Composition 2 (06/10/2023)

c. Digital Collage 3

Fig 1.2 Composition 3 (06/10/2023)

I decided to go with the second composition because I thought it had more impact, as if the shark is aiming for the people in the sky. We are also asked to submit all three compositions into this docs: Digital Collage Submission

Exercise 2: Digital Imaging

1. Digital Imaging (Hearst Mansion)

In class, we were given a demo on how to combine the Shazam poster into the Hearst Mansion realistically. Attached below is my work on this digital imaging. 

Fig 2.1 Digital Imaging Demo (Week 3 13/10/2023)

We were then tasked to do the same thing but using our own picture. We have to take our picture under natural sunlight from the eye level and it has to show our full body. 

2. Exercise

a. Process Work

With the powerpoint provided and the demo we did, I followed the steps. Attached below are several screenshots I made during the progress. 

Fig 2.2 Selecting the subject using 'select subject' (18/10/2023)

Fig 2.3 Masking the selection (18/10/2023)

Fig 2.3 Placing, resizing, flip the direction of the subject (18/10/2023)

After placing the subject and resizing it, I used the match color tool to modify the colors a little and then added noise to the subject. I also used the brush tool to draw shadow around the subject and then I added the gaussian blur to it and lowered the opacity to 20%. 

For the reflection, I use the rectangular marquee tool to copy the subject and then flipping it vertically. I then positioned it to match the subject. I used hue and saturation to lower the lightness of the image and added a ripple distort effect to it. 

Fig 2.4 Reflection (18/10/2023)

After a feedback in week 5, I adjusted my reflection since it looked crooked to the left. Mr Martin told me it should be straight. 

Fig 2.5 Reflection after adjusted (27/10/2023)

b. Final Result

Attached below is the final result. 

 

Fig 2.5 Final Result (W5 27/10/2023)

Fig 2.6 Final result in JPEG (27/10/2023)

Exercise 3: Recoloring Image

1. Recolor Demo (Week 4 20/10/2023)

In class, we were given a demo on how to recolor black and white pictures using two methods: using the brush and blending modes or masking each selected part of the image to a solid color layer and adjusting the blending mode. 

Fig 3.1 Recoloring using brush & blending mode (W4 20/10/2023)

Fig 3.2 Recoloring using masking (W4 20/10/2023)

2. Exercise 

a. Process

Our exercise 3, which is a part of our 1st assignment, is to choose 1 image amongst the 50 image provided to us and recolor them. We have to find our own reference for the hair and skin colors. Here are my references:

Fig 2.0 Reference and original picture (20/10/2023)

For the hair color, I ended up using a darker brown, almost black, that would blend nicer with the skin color to avoid the picture looking weird in the forehead part. 

Fig 2.1 Process

There are several detailed refinements I did. First refinement I did is because I noticed there is a part near the hair that is still gray. I went on to fix it by modifying in he select and mask options on the solid color for background layer. 

Fig 2.2 Hair refinement (20/10/2023)

On this refinement, I brushed over the lighter brown patch of hair using a black brush and changed the blending mode to soft light and then lowered the opacity to 88%.

Fig 2.3 Refining hair color (22/10/2023)

For the last refinement, I refined the inner eye area and the eyeballs where it was still looking blue-grayish, so I brushed over with black and changed the blending mode to soft light with 77% opacity. 

Fig 2.4 Refining eye color (23/10/2023)

b. Final result

 

Fig 2.5 Final Result (23/10/2023)

Exercise 4: Double Exposure Demo (W5 27/10/2023)

For this demo, we used these 5 pictures to create a double exposure image. We combined everything we have learned these past 5 weeks. 

Fig 3.1 Images used (27/10/2023)

Fig 3.2 Final result of demo (27/10/2023)

Submission Google Drive: DPI Submission W1-W4

Google Docs Project 1 Submission: Project 1 Docs

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FEEDBACKS

Week 1

General: No feedback yet since we were just assigned a task for W2.

Specific: - 

Week 2

General: -

Specific: Current digital collage (composition 1) is already okay, can continue to make the other 2 compositions. 

Week 3

General: -

Specific: I got feedback for the collage. It should be having more impact, so far mine looks flat and it has no impact. Use the golden ratio to focus on one element. 

Week 4

General: -

Specific: The result of the recoloring image demo is good

Week 5

General: Remember to update e-blog

Specific: The recoloring image is already great, for the self reflection in hearst mansion, make the shadow straight, not crooked. 

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REFLECTIONS

Experience

For 5 weeks of learning about photoshop, I quite enjoyed the process. Despite facing some difficulties, it was fun to explore the features of Photoshop. I experienced Photoshop in a fun way and I learned many new things I could do in Photoshop. I have used Photoshop before this but many of the process I learned throughout these 5 weeks were new to me. 

Observation

I observed that attention to detail is very important in creating artworks in Photoshop, especially when masking or when selecting a subject. If it looks messy then the final result won't be as good. 

Findings

I find that learning something new shouldn't be pressuring to people, it should be a fun process so that we could learn while also having fun. I find that learning photoshop isn't as intimidating as it sounded to me before I began in week 1.