Blog
August 15, 2013
Today is the 2nd day of class. We began creating our first website. We all found a few pictures and uploaded them to our website. I created all my pages and decided on the picture to go at the top of every page. I am going to finish my website tomorrow.
August 16, 2013
First Photoshop tutorial:
Undo=Alt-Ctrl-Z
200 ppi is good resolution
Brush tool
Layer window
Layer styles and filters
Ctrl-J is how you copy a layer
We learned how to make a brush out of our signature
August 19, 2013
We recreated Frank Stella's works in Photoshop. We had to change the size of the image to a square.
View>Show>Grid to turn on the grid, this helps make the squares look even
Layer Style>Stroke to turn on stroke
We did one with semicircles and one with overlapping squares.
August 20, 2013
We recreated one more Frank Stella painting. I put my own creative spin on this one, and it involved overlapping circles of several contrasting colors.
We turned on the grid and the stroke again. I wonder if there is a way to turn the stroke on for every layer at once.
Edit>Liquify to open the Liquify filter. It's really cool and a good way to change an image.
We began recreating the works of Wassily Kandinsky.
August 21, 2013
We finished Wassily Kandinsky and I had time to begin my 9-Week Project. It is going to be a space scene with planets and stars.
August 22, 2013
We are making bling-ed text. We made a new document, 500x500 pixels, 72 ppi.
We added our name in black against mustard colored background. Font is Magneto.
We added various layer styles to the name layer to make it look like diamond with gold around the edge.
August 23, 2013
We had to replicate yesterday's bling-ed text from memory twice. I did it successfully both times.Then we added a shadow and some sparkles. Then we had some free-drawing time and I made my name as a rock carving.
August 26, 2013
We imported a picture of cold water from the Internet to Photoshop by doing Save As on the picture and then opening it in Photoshop. Then we added the word "COLD" and used the Wind filter to make it have icicles. We did it too many times, so we opened History by pressing the little button with the squares and the arrow and we went back to the right amount of icicles.
August 27, 2013
We continued our "COLD" assignment. We turned the words upside down and we made them into a reflection using the Skew tool and the Eraser tool. Next, we made a different reflecting word using a different background. After that I made a similar image of my name above a large salt flat. I chose it because it is the largest reflective surface in the world. I used layer styles to make it appear to have a light behind it.
August 28, 2013
We learned how to make fire. We wrote "FIRE" in big bold letters and then we rasterized the layer, smudged it into flames, added an adjustment layer to make it orange, and then added a reflection.
August 29, 2013
We learned how to make an animated gif. We copied and pasted layers with a blurred white rectangle on a black background. We then smudged them into fire, put them into a gif, and then tweened them with 5 images between. We saved it using Save for Web and Devices.
September 3, 2013
We used layer styles to create a grass effect. Then we got a few minutes to play around with the layer style effects.
Inner Shadow effect makes the layer look like it is a depression in the surface of the layer beneath. When Distance is increased, it changes from a depression to more of a cut-out look.
The different gloss contours of the bevel/emboss create different-looking reflective patterns, as well as the contour.
The texture effect adds a texture to the layer.
The inner and outer glow add a glow effect to the inside and outside of the layer, respectively.
September 4, 2013
We learned how to make a path. To make a path, we select the Pen tool and check the Paths option. Then we can put text on the path. We can use the Character button to change the width and height of the text.
September 5, 2013
We imported a stitches brush from the Internet and used it to make an embroidered look on our name. It looks like a jersey. We right click on our name with the text tool and the little A with an arrow under it selected. Then we create a path. We use the Stroke Path to put a brush on it. We create a stroke path by clicking on the pen tool and right clicking on a path.
September 16, 2013
We learned how to make a clipping mask. It is like a stencil. The layer with the shape of the stencil goes in the middle, the background layer goes in the bottom, and the layer that will go inside of the stencil goes on the top. (It's like an Oreo cookie.) With the top layer highlighted, you go to Layer>Create Clipping Mask. And voila, you have a clipping mask! It looks cool when you blur the shape of the stencil.
September 17, 2013
We learned how to make multiple clipping masks. It is simple. You put as many Oreo cookies on top of each other as you want to make each clipping masks, but you leave the background layer out of all but the bottom one. We used this to make a retro postcard-like design for a certain place. I did New Mexico.
September 18, 2013
No class today.
September 19, 2013
I did another postcard design, this time for Arizona. It had a nighttime background.
September 20, 2013
I made a third location postcard and then I used an object as a clipping mask to make a sunset scene with stars in place of the shadows.
September 23, 2013
We learned how to make a text portrait.
The steps are:
Ctrl-A
Ctrl-C
Layer mask (camera icon)
Alt-click on layer mask
Ctrl-V
Ctrl-D
September 24, 2013
We made 2 more text portraits. My theme was me in the outdoors.
September 25, 2013
We learned how to make Andy Warhol pop art portraits. We are going to make some tomorrow.
September 26, 2013
We made our Andy Warhol pop art portraits.
September 27, 2013
We didn't actually do anything today; we just made sure that everything was uploaded onto our website. Afterwards, I experimented with different blending modes of clipping masks. The effect looks cool (second image in Assignment 13)
September 30, 2013
We began an assignment. We will finish tomorrow.
October 1, 2013
We finished our assignment. It used layer masks to make a cool portrait. Layer masks are a lot like clipping masks. We also learned how to make brushes have cool effects. We are going to do more of this this week.
October 2, 2013
We did two more of the cool portraits. They are like text portraits, but with the words oriented in all different directions and with all different sizes.
October 3, 2013
We did the third "thousand-word" portrait. I chose presidents for my theme.
October 4, 2013
We worked on 9-week projects.
October 7, 2013
We worked on 9-week projects for a little and then started on our silhouettes. These are based on the iPod ad, using the Fill tool and the Quick Selection and the Pen tool.
October 8, 2013
We did 3 more silhouettes. I chose outdoor adventure for my theme. I did rock climbing, skydiving, and base jumping.
Nine Week Projects
October 15, 2013
We began our art history timeline. I created a cave painting using pattern overlay.
October 16, 2013
I created a pottery vase for the Neolithic era. I used the Bevel and Emboss.
October 17, 2013
I created a 'Stonehenge' type of thing using the Burn tool for shadows.
October 21, 2013
I began creating a carved bowl using the same techniques as my pottery vase.
October 22, 2013
I finished the carved bowl and used those same techniques to create a sandstone monument in Egypt. Then I began work on a hieroglyphic design.
October 23, 2013
I finished the hieroglyphic design. I began work on a New Kingdom Egypt sarcophagus!
October 24, 2013
I created a sarcophagus with my face on it.
October 25, 2013
I worked on my portfolio.
October 28, 2013
I turned my face into a zombie using levels, curves, and layer blending modes (Soft Light and Linear Light.) It looks very scary, just in time for Halloween.
October 29, 2013
I made my eyes really creepy. I used the Invert filter, the Selection Feather, the Color Dodge blend mode, the Hue/Saturation, the Outer Glow, the Unsharp Mask, and the Dodge Tool.
October 30, 2013
More halloween stuff, I made monsterized food.
October 31, 2013
Halloween! Fun. We finished our Halloween stuff.
November 1, 2013
Monsterized food
November 4, 2013
We began some Greek things. I made a Parthenon-style temple.
November 5, 2013
We learned how to make the 300 movie effect.
November 6, 2013
We finished doing some before-and-after using the 300 movie effect.
November 7, 2013
We began Roman artwork, and I made a depiction of a fleet of ships off the coast of some landmass embarking on a quest.
November 8, 2013
I made another quest. It shows ships going down a river in a land with cracks in it.
November 11, 2013
Indian Ganesha artwork
November 12, 2013
Indian Ganesha artwork, Henna tattoo
November 13, 2013
Henna tattoo
November 14, 2013
Hagan Army out of terra cotta warriors
November 15, 2013
Portfolio #2
November 17, 2013
Finishing Portfolio #2
November 18, 2013
Persian Rug
November 19, 2013
Persian Rug
November 20, 2013
Stained-Glass Window
November 21, 2013
Stained-Glass Window
Over the Fall Break: Portfolio #3
December 2, 2013
Comic Effect
December 3, 2013
Comic Strip
December 4, 2013
Portfolio
Today is the 2nd day of class. We began creating our first website. We all found a few pictures and uploaded them to our website. I created all my pages and decided on the picture to go at the top of every page. I am going to finish my website tomorrow.
August 16, 2013
First Photoshop tutorial:
Undo=Alt-Ctrl-Z
200 ppi is good resolution
Brush tool
Layer window
Layer styles and filters
Ctrl-J is how you copy a layer
We learned how to make a brush out of our signature
August 19, 2013
We recreated Frank Stella's works in Photoshop. We had to change the size of the image to a square.
View>Show>Grid to turn on the grid, this helps make the squares look even
Layer Style>Stroke to turn on stroke
We did one with semicircles and one with overlapping squares.
August 20, 2013
We recreated one more Frank Stella painting. I put my own creative spin on this one, and it involved overlapping circles of several contrasting colors.
We turned on the grid and the stroke again. I wonder if there is a way to turn the stroke on for every layer at once.
Edit>Liquify to open the Liquify filter. It's really cool and a good way to change an image.
We began recreating the works of Wassily Kandinsky.
August 21, 2013
We finished Wassily Kandinsky and I had time to begin my 9-Week Project. It is going to be a space scene with planets and stars.
August 22, 2013
We are making bling-ed text. We made a new document, 500x500 pixels, 72 ppi.
We added our name in black against mustard colored background. Font is Magneto.
We added various layer styles to the name layer to make it look like diamond with gold around the edge.
August 23, 2013
We had to replicate yesterday's bling-ed text from memory twice. I did it successfully both times.Then we added a shadow and some sparkles. Then we had some free-drawing time and I made my name as a rock carving.
August 26, 2013
We imported a picture of cold water from the Internet to Photoshop by doing Save As on the picture and then opening it in Photoshop. Then we added the word "COLD" and used the Wind filter to make it have icicles. We did it too many times, so we opened History by pressing the little button with the squares and the arrow and we went back to the right amount of icicles.
August 27, 2013
We continued our "COLD" assignment. We turned the words upside down and we made them into a reflection using the Skew tool and the Eraser tool. Next, we made a different reflecting word using a different background. After that I made a similar image of my name above a large salt flat. I chose it because it is the largest reflective surface in the world. I used layer styles to make it appear to have a light behind it.
August 28, 2013
We learned how to make fire. We wrote "FIRE" in big bold letters and then we rasterized the layer, smudged it into flames, added an adjustment layer to make it orange, and then added a reflection.
August 29, 2013
We learned how to make an animated gif. We copied and pasted layers with a blurred white rectangle on a black background. We then smudged them into fire, put them into a gif, and then tweened them with 5 images between. We saved it using Save for Web and Devices.
September 3, 2013
We used layer styles to create a grass effect. Then we got a few minutes to play around with the layer style effects.
Inner Shadow effect makes the layer look like it is a depression in the surface of the layer beneath. When Distance is increased, it changes from a depression to more of a cut-out look.
The different gloss contours of the bevel/emboss create different-looking reflective patterns, as well as the contour.
The texture effect adds a texture to the layer.
The inner and outer glow add a glow effect to the inside and outside of the layer, respectively.
September 4, 2013
We learned how to make a path. To make a path, we select the Pen tool and check the Paths option. Then we can put text on the path. We can use the Character button to change the width and height of the text.
September 5, 2013
We imported a stitches brush from the Internet and used it to make an embroidered look on our name. It looks like a jersey. We right click on our name with the text tool and the little A with an arrow under it selected. Then we create a path. We use the Stroke Path to put a brush on it. We create a stroke path by clicking on the pen tool and right clicking on a path.
September 16, 2013
We learned how to make a clipping mask. It is like a stencil. The layer with the shape of the stencil goes in the middle, the background layer goes in the bottom, and the layer that will go inside of the stencil goes on the top. (It's like an Oreo cookie.) With the top layer highlighted, you go to Layer>Create Clipping Mask. And voila, you have a clipping mask! It looks cool when you blur the shape of the stencil.
September 17, 2013
We learned how to make multiple clipping masks. It is simple. You put as many Oreo cookies on top of each other as you want to make each clipping masks, but you leave the background layer out of all but the bottom one. We used this to make a retro postcard-like design for a certain place. I did New Mexico.
September 18, 2013
No class today.
September 19, 2013
I did another postcard design, this time for Arizona. It had a nighttime background.
September 20, 2013
I made a third location postcard and then I used an object as a clipping mask to make a sunset scene with stars in place of the shadows.
September 23, 2013
We learned how to make a text portrait.
The steps are:
Ctrl-A
Ctrl-C
Layer mask (camera icon)
Alt-click on layer mask
Ctrl-V
Ctrl-D
September 24, 2013
We made 2 more text portraits. My theme was me in the outdoors.
September 25, 2013
We learned how to make Andy Warhol pop art portraits. We are going to make some tomorrow.
September 26, 2013
We made our Andy Warhol pop art portraits.
September 27, 2013
We didn't actually do anything today; we just made sure that everything was uploaded onto our website. Afterwards, I experimented with different blending modes of clipping masks. The effect looks cool (second image in Assignment 13)
September 30, 2013
We began an assignment. We will finish tomorrow.
October 1, 2013
We finished our assignment. It used layer masks to make a cool portrait. Layer masks are a lot like clipping masks. We also learned how to make brushes have cool effects. We are going to do more of this this week.
October 2, 2013
We did two more of the cool portraits. They are like text portraits, but with the words oriented in all different directions and with all different sizes.
October 3, 2013
We did the third "thousand-word" portrait. I chose presidents for my theme.
October 4, 2013
We worked on 9-week projects.
October 7, 2013
We worked on 9-week projects for a little and then started on our silhouettes. These are based on the iPod ad, using the Fill tool and the Quick Selection and the Pen tool.
October 8, 2013
We did 3 more silhouettes. I chose outdoor adventure for my theme. I did rock climbing, skydiving, and base jumping.
Nine Week Projects
October 15, 2013
We began our art history timeline. I created a cave painting using pattern overlay.
October 16, 2013
I created a pottery vase for the Neolithic era. I used the Bevel and Emboss.
October 17, 2013
I created a 'Stonehenge' type of thing using the Burn tool for shadows.
October 21, 2013
I began creating a carved bowl using the same techniques as my pottery vase.
October 22, 2013
I finished the carved bowl and used those same techniques to create a sandstone monument in Egypt. Then I began work on a hieroglyphic design.
October 23, 2013
I finished the hieroglyphic design. I began work on a New Kingdom Egypt sarcophagus!
October 24, 2013
I created a sarcophagus with my face on it.
October 25, 2013
I worked on my portfolio.
October 28, 2013
I turned my face into a zombie using levels, curves, and layer blending modes (Soft Light and Linear Light.) It looks very scary, just in time for Halloween.
October 29, 2013
I made my eyes really creepy. I used the Invert filter, the Selection Feather, the Color Dodge blend mode, the Hue/Saturation, the Outer Glow, the Unsharp Mask, and the Dodge Tool.
October 30, 2013
More halloween stuff, I made monsterized food.
October 31, 2013
Halloween! Fun. We finished our Halloween stuff.
November 1, 2013
Monsterized food
November 4, 2013
We began some Greek things. I made a Parthenon-style temple.
November 5, 2013
We learned how to make the 300 movie effect.
November 6, 2013
We finished doing some before-and-after using the 300 movie effect.
November 7, 2013
We began Roman artwork, and I made a depiction of a fleet of ships off the coast of some landmass embarking on a quest.
November 8, 2013
I made another quest. It shows ships going down a river in a land with cracks in it.
November 11, 2013
Indian Ganesha artwork
November 12, 2013
Indian Ganesha artwork, Henna tattoo
November 13, 2013
Henna tattoo
November 14, 2013
Hagan Army out of terra cotta warriors
November 15, 2013
Portfolio #2
November 17, 2013
Finishing Portfolio #2
November 18, 2013
Persian Rug
November 19, 2013
Persian Rug
November 20, 2013
Stained-Glass Window
November 21, 2013
Stained-Glass Window
Over the Fall Break: Portfolio #3
December 2, 2013
Comic Effect
December 3, 2013
Comic Strip
December 4, 2013
Portfolio