Digital Photography and Imaging Project 01

7/4/2023 - 7/7/2023 Week 1 - Week 16

Wong Kai Xin / 0353027

Digital Photography and Imaging / Bachelor of Design in Creative Media / The Design School

Project 01- Physical collage & Digital Imaging

LECTURES

Week 1 : For the first class we went through the module information booklet for the class.

Week 2 : We were taught step by step on how to use the lasso tool on Adobe Photoshop. It is used when you want to cut and paste specific objects. There are 3 different lasso tools: 

•  normal lasso tool ( used for free hand shapes )
• polygonal ( used for mainly angular shapes like rectangles, squares )
• magnetic ( used for accurate tracing for shapes like circle, curved areas ) 

Using the experience we had while playing The Bezier Game during our tutorial last week, we tried using it in Adobe today 

Comparing both, the pen tool wouldn't be as efficient as the lasso tool however it is very versatile. We were also taught about adding layers to our work to prevent damaging the original file and with this, we can edit the layers separately, without damaging other layers. 

removing background using polygonal lasso tool as it will be more accurate for sharp edges

removing background using magnetic lasso tool as it will be more accurate for curved edges

resizing the tables we have cut earlier using free transform into a new file 

Week 3 :

During this class, we were taught on how to color black and white images step by step

Steps summary: 

1. marquee tool to make a selection of hair 
2. press copy
3. use eyedropper tool (change to 5 by 5 average, not point sample so u are not selecting only one pixel)
4. use brush tool (30 px)
5. swatch colour on the side for hair and skin using eyedropper tool
6. use quick selection tool to roughly select hair area
7. press select and mask
8. use refine edge tool
9. draw around hair area that wasn’t selected
10. output to layer mask
11. add new layer

INSTRUCTIONS

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EXERCISES

Week 1 : We tried to play The Bezier Game to familiarize ourselves with the pen tool

Fig 1.1 bezier game score

Week 2 : Digital collage using photoshop. magic wand and quick selection tool

Fig 1.2 using quick selection tool to cut the car from the background

Fig 1.3 after layer mask

Fig 1.4 first try on digital collage 

Week 3 :  Class activity on recoloring black and white pictures

Fig 1.5 recoloring exercise

PROJECT 01

Task 1 - Physical collage design 

For this exercise, I just used magazines I could find from home since I had a lot of them. Initially, I went with a barbie theme which is normally not my style, but I figured that it would turn out cute and fun. However, I was not satisfied with the outcome

Fig 2.1 physical collage drafts

Feedback: For physical collage, there was no focal point, resulting in not knowing where to look when first seen but there was a good sense of construction.  

After the feedback session, I immediately started a new concept that was more toned down giving it the classy look. I went through the old magazines I had with pictures of my favorite idols. Overall, I was really satisfied with the final theme as there is a clear direction and the composition was perfect. 

Fig 2.2 second version first draft

Fig 2.3 second version first draft second draft

Fig 2.4 final physical collage

Task 2 - Digital Imaging

Exercise 1 :

We were required to edit ourselves into the image of Hearst Mansion. We were given a whole tutorial of how to do it and the key steps taken were: 

1. using the quick selection tool to remove the background from original picture

Fig 3.1 original picture before background removal

Fig 3.2 After removing background using the quick selection tool

2. add layer mask

3. matching the colors

4. creating a shadow and reflection with the help of photoshop tools

Fig 3.3  Digital Imaging Exercise 01 before feedback

Feedback: For the Hearst Mansion exercise, the subject matter is too big and the quality of my picture and the background is different, so it is advised for me to use noise to reduce the quality of my picture. 

For the reflection, the legs are not in the right position so it needs to be readjusted.

Fig 3.4  Digital Imaging Exercise 01 after feedback 

Exercise 2 :

For this exercise, we were to choose one of the black and white pictures provided, and recolor it using photoshop.  

Fig 4.1 recolor exercise before feedback

Feedback : Overall shadows are good, just need to insert a background colour

Fig 4.2 recolor exercise after feedback

Submission :

Physical collage

Fig 5.1 physical collage

Digital imaging exercise 1

Fig 5.2 Digital Imaging exercise 1 (PDF)

Digital imaging exercise 2

Fig 5.3 Digital Imaging exercise 2 (PDF)

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REFLECTION

As my very first assignment in this module, I found Photoshop slightly easier to use compared to Illustrator. Although there were still some bumpy parts, I think it was a very interesting lesson which taught me on more in-depth photoshopping skills and how to make your edits more natural looking. Not only that, but I also learned that color matching is important as well and the shade of it determines if it will be natural looking. In addition, I also figured that the composition of elements are crucial in collages and that we should always have only one focal point in things.