Photoshop: Composites

We have been learning a lot about compositing and using layer masks. Understanding masks can be difficult, but it is integral to most photoshop work. This week we had to do another composite image. I used these photos I took in Forks and LaPush, Washington. Again, there is a lighting issue. I tweaked this picture so many times, trying to get the truck to look like it belongs on the beach, but I couldn't get it to do what I wanted. Part of it was the lighting, (bright sun on the truck, cloudy on the beach) and part of it was focus. The truck is too in focus for it's placement in the photo. But, as our teacher says, she isn't looking for perfection. These assignments are for us to practice and learn. She loves for us to come in with our problems so we can learn in class how to fix them. She showed me how to use gaussian blur to blur in the truck. But getting the light coming in from the same side as the tree, that will take a bit more work.

In this composite, I did a lot of work on color and brightness to get the truck to fit in better. I didn't think it would be this hard to make these two pictures go together. :)

Photoshop: Composites and Masks

Can I make a sidenote before I even start my post? I think I have the skills now to make a page topper for my blog. That should be my next project.

So, week 4. As I mentioned in the previous post, we worked on document size and also more on selections. This time I took photos specifically for the homework. We were at the farmers market and saw this train axle, I believe it is. So I took photos of it and the boys separately to then make this composite. I added lots of adjustment layers, using blend modes and painting on masks, and came up with an artsy image that I quite like. Again, it is only 72 ppi, but it printed out ok. For our midterm exam, we had to print out an image and I chose this, being my favorite thus far.

There is a bit of an issue with the direction of light on the boys and the barbell, but not enough to make me care for this project. This is one of my biggest issues, though, in my editing. I have to learn how to see the light and change the light in photoshop.

Photoshop: Selections and Composites

This week we learned about making selections and combining them into a composite photo. I bit off a little more than I could chew with this photo, because the strings were nigh unto impossible to select. So I did what I could and in the final product, he was not connected to his chute. But I still liked the idea of my project, to show us paragliding for real. When we took our class, we were led to believe we would make a jump. Turns out, it is a rare case that someone can make a jump after one class.  So, in the after photo, neither of us were actually on this mountain in Arches making a jump. But it sure sounded fun!

Determined to be successful in getting those strings, I went home from class and tried a new method. I believe I used the background eraser, and was much more successful in getting some of those strings in the picture. Not perfect, but a lot better.

I also decided to try my hands at a scrapbook page using the new and improved paragliding composite photo. Unfortunately, it isn't the best for printing. Our assignment for week 4 was to make a 72 ppi document, and so I started my page with that, forgetting that if I wanted to ever print it, I should have started with a 300 ppi document. Oh, well.  But, I made a page all on my own. I found a free kit (Fly Boy from www.freedigitalscrapbooking.com) for the background paper and clouds. The rest I did on my own.

Photoshop: Retouching and Adjustment Layers

For our next assignment, we were to practice adjustment layers and retouching. Retouching is removing blemishes and areas we don't like. I reduced my eye wrinkles and removed a few blemishes. This photo isn't super high quality, but it did the job for practicing these skills. I then added a black and white adjustment layer, a color balance layer to warm it up (the black and white gave it a greenish tint), and then messed with a curves layer to brighten it up.

I wanted to make the sky blue, but there was a tree on the right that looked funny and made it difficult for me with the skillset I had. Well, it wasn't just the tree that made that hard. I couldn't add color to a white sky and make it look good, so I cropped the photo and eliminated most of the tree and the sky.  This is a photo of me with my youngest in downtown Santa Fe. Looking back at this edit, I would work more on my face because it looks pretty splotchy still. But, if I change all my edits now, I won't see how I have improved. :)

Photoshop: Adjustment Layers

Our first assignment was to bring in a photo and add some adjustment layers to it.  This is me. In the original photo, I was a little red in the face.  I took out the redness and lightened up the photo a bit. I used hue/saturation, brightness, and curves. All on adjustment layers to make them non-destructive to the photo. That is one of the most important lessons in photoshop, I think. As much as possible, make all changes on their own layers. And use adjustment layers instead of doing an adjustment from the drop down menu. I love being able to remove adjustments or change the opacity of the adjustment. Did I mention I love non-destructive work on photoshop? Me and my fickle self love the option to change my mind. :)

Photoshop: Why?

WHY PHOTOSHOP?

When I decided to go back to school and take classes, I was really looking at the digital photography classes. But, to take the beginner's photography class, there was a prerequisite of Photoshop. I thought it was a little crazy (in my mind, photoshop was for digital scrapbooking, which I didn't care about at the time).  But, hello...Photoshop is first and foremost for fixing photos. Silly me.

So I signed up for the class. Kyle was extra excited because he has been using the simpler (and cheaper) Photoshop Elements program and now I was going to be able to teach him everything I learned in class AND get a huge discount on the program. Well, on the first day of class I fell in love with the program. I've been soaking it all in and now the teacher calls me her assistant because I help other students when they get stuck. Who knew?

RESOURCES:

In my college class at Santa Fe Community College, we are using two books.

They both include videos and have different explanations of how to use the software. I haven't decided yet which book I prefer, if I were to choose just one book. The blue book teaches you photoshop by walking you through projects that they show you in videos, using the sample photos included. The red book is more of a reference of how to use the software. We have been using both books this semester.

Another wonderful learning tool that Kyle and I have been enjoying is Photoshop Week on creativeLIVE.com. We received a discount by buying the videos the first week they were available. There are over 40 videos with accompanying PDFs. We really enjoyed all the instructors and felt these videos were well worth it. 

Back to school and back to me

In January I went back to school. With my kids gone all day and me trying to avoid housework, I finally got myself into some college classes. I'm not going for a degree or anything...I have a BS in Psychology and a Master of Social Work. What I really want is something to do to help me grow and not sit stagnating at home feeling like a really bad maid. It worked! My two classes have been just enough to help me feel excited again. What I have learned from my Yoga and Photoshop classes:

1. Yoga is not going to keep me fit. Relaxed, yes. Fit, not so much.

2. I am more flexible than I thought...and getting more so. Another benefit of yoga.

3. Photoshop is not the scary monster I thought it was.

4. I am actually pretty good at Photoshop and I am loving my class!!

5. Once again I must swallow my pride and rescind the statement that I could never be a digital scrapbooker. It only took several hundred dollars in software, books, and classes (online and in person) for me to figure that out. :)  That's ok. I have spent much more than that in paper supplies. If I eventually use up my stash I could transition even more to a digiscrapper. But the more likely scenario is that I will do a mix, including hybrid work.

So, I thought that while I am still excited about Photoshop, it would be a good idea to document what I am learning in my class to help me with my goal to make it a permanent part of my scrapbooking life. I still have a long way to go, but I feel like I can do pretty much anything I want to on there now!