PhotoSkillsB: Photoshop Skills

Session 1 - Introduction to the Graphics Tablet

Within this exercise our aim was to colour in as many squares as accurate as possible using the graphics tablet within a set time. This exercise was in order to improve our hand-eye coordination skills. As this was my first time of using a graphics tablet I am pleased with the results.

Session 2 - Graphics Tablet

At the beginning of this session we were given a typography exercise in order to re-familiarise ourselves with the graphics tablet and also further our hand-eye coordination skills.

This was a similar task to that of the typography exercise above. Within this exercise I created the below image by using the eyedropper tool in order to capture the correct colour from the above photo, then using the paint brush to trace the shapes and shading to the best of my ability on a blank layer.

Session 3 - Selections

For this task I used the lasso tool in order to select the birds individually and then fill them in with different colours.

By using the quick selection tool I have quick selected the dart to the left of the image and duplicated the dart. With the duplicated dart I have copied it and also free transformed it in order to alter its size.

The images below were created by using paste into and the marquee tool. By firstly using the marquee tool I selected the windows all the windows from the image above. On the landscape photographs I then selected all of image, copied the photograph and pasted into the window photograph. This then gives the effect of the trees creating the background.

Session 4 -

Session 5 - Painting Tools

Within this images I have tried o give the effect of haze within the background of the photograph. This was created by using the gradient tool. To do this I used the eyedropper tool and selected a light colour of the sky and then use the gradient tool in order to create this haze.

By using the smudge tool, dragging areas of the clock face downwards I have given the effect of the clock melting.

From the original on the left I have created a short depth of field within the computer create imaged by using the blur tool.

For the above task I have retouched the dull countryside photograph (on the left) by using only the burn, dodge and sponge tool in order to make the photograph a more flattering area of the countryside (on the right).

For this exercise I have used the clone tool in order to remove the penguins from the beach. After completing that I have also used the blur tool to blends the tone differentiation of the sand to look more natural.

By using the vanuishing tool on photoshop I have been able to take the brush and rope within the orignal photograph. I find this tool to be very useful to know about.

I have used the spot healing tool in order to remove as many blemishes and spots within the original photograph. I am pleased with my end result however I do believe there is room for improvement.

To create the photograph on the right I have reduced the patch tool in order to reduce the amount of wrinkles on the actresses' face and neck, however, still leaving some in order to keep a more natural looking effect.

To remove the creases and blemishes from this old photograph I have used the clone, patch and healing tools within photoshop. I found this task quite hard, however I am pleased with my final result.

Session 6 - Adjustments

For the exercise above I have used the levels. The larger photograph is the original image and the three smaller images are the edited ones I have done. The first of the smaller image I have used the auto level, the second image I have used the eyedropper, highlighting the shadows highlights and mid tones. The final image I have used the self adjustment on the levels tool. In my personal opinion I find that the self adjustment works better within this image, however I believe that the eyedropper tool may become useful within certain images.

Within this exercise by using the curves tool I have increased the contrast leaving two results, the bottom left photo just a normal adjustment and the bottom right one having an extreme adjustment.

I have also used the curves tool within this exercise, again adjusting the contrast of the bottom left image normally and the bottom right to an extreme adjustemnet. However, on the extreme adjustment I have used one of the presets on curves.

Within this exercise I have used colour balance to correct the cyan colour cast within the image to give a natural look about it.

For this photograph I have the eyedroppers in curves to select the highlights, midtone and shadow. Within curves however, all three don't have to be selected in order to allow the colour cast to dissapear.

I found this photograph very hard to correct the colour cast as there were many different ones. For this image I also used the eyedroppers in curves in order to correct the colour cast.

For these two images (above and below) I have used the colour balance and also the eyedroppers within curves to remove the colour cast from both to see which I find to be easier. Within my personal opinion I find that the eyedroppers within curves to be an easier method.

To remove red eye on photoshop I have used the replace colour. To achieve this I made selections around the red eye then going onto the replace colour tool, clicking on the red area and turning down the saturation. If any parts were out of the selection made, just add by using the eyedropper and lowering the saturation again.

For this exercise I have changed the colour of the car from red to a vibrant pink using the replace colour tool.

For the above set of images and two below I have used the match colour in order to create the ending results (those to the right). In order to create the ending result I have used theses two images (on the left). For the two images above I have used the photo on the bottom left as the source image and the left image as the target image. By doing this it has created the end result (top right).

To create the below end result I have basically alternated the source image and target image. So the source image would be the above left photo and the target image would be the beloew left photograph.

For this exercise I have desaturated the image, however leaving a little bit of colour remaining. I have done this by using the Hue/Saturation tool.

For the above exercise I have used the black and white in order to create the three final results (the smaller images). The top right image I have created a natural looking adjustment for the final result, the bottom left I have allowed for an extreme adjustment within the black and white tool. For the bottom right image I have included a blue tint within the image.

For this exercise I have changed the colour image into a black and white photograph (see left). The photo on the right I have altered the contrast a lot by using the individual colour sliders.

On the bottom left image I have altered it by changing it to black and white and then applying a sepia tint onto the image. For the bottom right photo I have used a filter preset to give a very cold look.

To remove as many of the scratches within this image I have used the filter Dust and Scratches. I find this to be a very useful tool as it still allows there to be quite a vintage look about an old photo however it removes areas which can be or are distracting the the viewers eye.

For the above results I have used the lighting effects filter. Within these three smaller images I have experimented with the different types of lighting effects available.

For the image above and the image below I have used the Unsharp mask. I like the subtlety that this causes as it just slightly sharpens the image depending on how much you increase it to.

Session 7 - Layers

In this exercise I have re-sized the hat and rotated it in order for it to fit on Mikey's head and I have also put Mickey behind the car. To do this I have played around with the layers by putting the layer Mickey is on underneath the car layer. In order to re-size the hat I have used the free transform tool.

Within this exercise I have individually selected the vegetables and copy and pasted onto the chopping board. With some of the objects I have free transformed them in order to look realistic.

For the above exercise I have used smart filters. In order to do this i have selected the background with the quick selection tool and used the motion blur tool, for the bottom left and bottom right image. I like the effect that this creates within the images and how the effect is changed vastly by altering the angle of the motion.

To create this ending image i have used areas from the above three photographs. I have used the sky as the background layer. I have then selected the tree using the quick selection tool, copy and pasted it onto my image. I did this as well with the man. If I wanted this scene to look more realistic I would have then used the free transform tool in order to make the size of the man more realistic.

With the photograph above I have used a layer mask in order to create a gaussian blur on the woman's skin to give it a smoother look. I have then rubbed the gaussian blur out from her main features, such as, eyes, mouth, teeth, nose.

By using the layer mask on photoshop I have removed the blur from everything but the pigeon in motion. I like the effect that this gives and also how easy this effect is to do.

For this image I have added a tint to the photo by using the blending modes. To do this I have added a new layer of solid colour, that being a purple and then changing the blending mode to colour. I then reduced the opacity down in order to give the effect above.

For this exercise I have again used the blending modes. In order to create the end result I made a new black and white adjustment layer, and increased the red and magenta values. I have then chosen the overlay blending mode.

To create the image below I have used the two photos above. In order to get the end result I first copied the texture layer on a new layer in the car image. I have then chosen the blending mode darken and kept the opacity to 100%.