Photoshop Reflection

Overview

For this project, we were to use photoshop for various different designs. Some included deleting objects from a picture, and some included adding objects to a picture. We went through a series of tutorial videos and created several different designs. I learned how to navigate through the different layers, use the marquee and magic wand tool, and also use adjustment layers to edit the final photo.

What Did I Learn?

I learned that, by putting a certain layer on top of the others, it would show up on top of the final photo. Also, renaming the initial layer "Layer 0" changed its settings from a background layer to a normal layer where you could edit at will. This became very important later on in the design, as I would need to edit that exact layer. I also learned about the magic wand tool, which came in handy quite often. To use it, you would click on a certain object you wanted to select and it would "magically" select it based off the smart selection. At that point, I would be able to edit that object and move it around. Finally, I learned about the adjustment layers. You could change the color, brightness, saturation, etc. of the specific layer. This became important because it added contrast and made the photo better looking overall.

Favorite Tool

Magic wand. All the way. This tool pretty much does all the work for you! Let me explain why it will be useful later on: if I am working on a project that requires me to mask out the rest of the background but keep the center object, I will just select the object with the magic wand tool instead of selecting it by hand. It is that easy!

Strengths/Weaknesses

My strengths would include navigating through the layers and using the magic wand tool. However, I found it somewhat difficult to edit an individual layer as well as find everything Photoshop (tools, panels, etc.). I definitely think once I become more familiar with the program I will remember where everything is at.

Different/Same

One thing I would do differently is make the edge (above) cleaner where the sky meets the father's head because it looks a little dark compared to the rest of the sky. I would also make the blue shirt (above) cleaner because it still looks a little rough after removing the logo. Some things I could stand to keep the same are the removal of the logo on the surfboard, removal of dots on the white wall (with the man to the right of the picture) and removal of the flecks of mud on the kid's face (left above). The removals don't take away from the photo and actually add more to it in a sense. The photos look cleaner and more professional with the adjustments.

Summary

Overall, I think the course went pretty well, although I had a few problems with photoshop along the way. I think the designs could use some improvement but the general idea is there. We are also given the task to create a design using five or so images and this is what I came up with: