Basic Photoshop Skills 

How to use Photoshop and example of using

Photoshop on an image

This is the image I am going to be using to edit, I am going to explain how this image (see left) is going to turn into this image (image on the right).

I have changed the colour of her eyes, made her skin smoother and put a layer of colour on her lips to look like she has used lip stick.

Edit and Enhance Image

I opened the image in Photoshop, then when it came up I duplicated my background layer so I can have a back up and see the before and after effect. Then (on the duplicated layer) I went to the spot healing brush.

Spot Healing Brush

When I clicked on the tool and the little circle comes up (you can make it as big or small as you want); this is the tool to work around your image removing any blemishes. The spot healing brush is to remove any blemishes or any defects from the image.

Gaussian Blur Tool

I have used a Gaussian blur because I need to blur the background and I need to make her skin blend it without open pores.

I went to ‘Filter’ and then chose ‘Gaussian Blur’.

Then this menu box appears and I choose how blurry I wanted the image to be (by changing the radius). It also shows a preview of how your image is going to look. I chose the radius of 1.7 pixels, this is because I don't want her skin to look too fake and make it look like I have done something to it because I want it to look natural.

My duplicated layer looks like this because I had to then erase parts (but make sure you are on the duplicated layer) which I want to stand out (the eyes to come back out, the mouth, the eyebrows, the hair, the nose piercing and the earring). I am only trying to heal the skin to make it look flawless, not her features.

AfterBefore

Change Eye ColourThen I wanted to change her eye colour to make her eyes stand out more but I used the colour yellow but looks more green. I made a new layer to work on the eyes, then I chose the brush tool so I can make her eyes change colour. Then I chose my colour which is yellow; then with the pain brush tool, I made two spots over her eyes (which looks like this). Then I rubbed out (using the eraser) to rub out any edges which is not in line with her eye. The I changed the layer style.

Layer StylesHere are examples of the different layers that I had to use to change my eye colour and lip colour

Layer Style for the Eye ColourBy changing the layer style, this makes the ‘eye layer’ blend in with the actual image rather than looking like she has two spots over her eyes; these are the different layer types. I went through all of them trying to make it look right and settled on ‘Overlay’ with the opacity on 100%.

Normal

Darken

Colour Dodge Overlay

Soft Light

Vivid Light

Hard Mix

Here are examples of the different layers but I think overlay looks like the best layer for this image because it blends in best.

Saturation

Change the Lip ColourTo change the lip colour, you do the same thing like you are doing the eyes but on the lips (same thing with the hair); I settled with red lip colour.

I drew over her lips with the brush tool but it looks weird if you leave it like this so I had to change the layer style and I used the eraser to go perfectly around her lips.

Layer Style for the Lip ColourBy changing the layer style, this makes the ‘lip layer’ blend in with the actual image rather than looking like she has smudged lip stick on her lips; these are the different layer types (look to the right). I went through all of them trying to make it look right and settled on ‘Overlay’ with the opacity on 25% to blend it in much better

Normal

Darken

Colour Dodge

Overlay

Vivid Light

Hard Mix

Here are examples of the different layers (100% opacity) but I think overlay looks like the best layer for this image because it blends in best to make it look real.

Saturation

Soft Light

Final ImageWhen I chose ‘overlay’, I changed the opacity to make it blend even better on the image. The opacity refers to the amount of transparency a layer has. For example, if a layer’s opacity is set to 100%, then that layer is completely opaque (in other words, you can’t see through it). If a layer’s opacity is set to 50%, then it is see-through, or moderately transparent, and layers behind it can show through. On the other end of the scale, if a layer’s opacity is set to 0%, then that layer is completely transparent (that is, invisible). Therefore I changed the opacity to 25% by adjusting the bar in the opacity menu. Overlay 100%

Overlay 25%Adjust the bar

Final

School Magazine Analysis

Comparing two magazines and analyzing the colour,

fonts and layout etc.

First Magazine

Photo/Image: The image is in Sepia, it works because if it was in colour it would clash with the front cover lines and title which means the whole magazine would have to change.

Layout: I would use the same layout as this newsletter as the front picture is on the left and the writing is on the left.

Colour: It uses two colours (white & sepia for the image)

Font: It uses one font but in different sizes (for the Masterhead). I would use at least two fonts for my front cover.

Contents: It doesn't show the contents but has cover lines and shows the magazine date.

Cover Lines: It shows what is going to be in the newsletter but has different stories for different genres which would appeal to teenagers? (Music, Religion)Masterhead: The Masterhead is big and bold but is put at the bottom rather at the top. I would put mine at the top rather than the bottom.

Photo/Image: this image is in colour which does compliment the title and the magazine. It shows what the school is like and gives an artistic feel to it.

Layout: I can tell that this is not a professional magazine as the image is in the middle rather than the left side. Normally they use the same layout throughout the newsletters/magazines (left: picture, right: cover lines) but this magazine is very different. Colour: It uses blue, white, red and

black.

Font: It uses around three fonts but it works as it is not all in one place on the newsletter but is space out around.

Cover Lines/contents: it does not use any cover lines. I would use cover lines to attract my audience.

Masterhead: The masterhead is the schools name but uses a logo/crest. It is all in CAPITALS but the quote underneath is in a different font to split the title with the quote.

Second Magazine

Comparing and Contrasts

Comparing:

• Use different fonts• Use date• Uses a range of fonts• Uses a quote • Uses a range of

colours

Contrasts:

• No cover lines (S)• One uses a

logo/crest (S)• Layout is different• Different colour

images (front image)

My School Magazine Analysis

Print Screens of my school magazine developing,

changes and Feedback

Before

After: I had to flip over my image because their would be no room to put my kickers and it would overlap the main image.

I added a TITLE because the audience needs to know which magazine they are reading and if they wanted to buy it again they need to know what the name is.

Added a MAIN STORY to do with past exam stories. I chose to do this because I thought that the main thing sixth form is about is exams. I thought the audience would probably not be as focused on their exams because they would think it would be easy like GCSE but to be honest, hearing the stories from the above year it is very different and I think they should be aware of that.

TITLE

ANOTHER STORY: This story is a interview with a celebrity from outside school becoming a teacher for a few days and their experience in St Marylebone.

ANOTHER STORY: This story would help students in sixth form how to revise so when they go back to their notes, they would know where their notes are and would understand them. I think this story would help them a lot throughout their time in sixth form.

MAIN COVER STORY

DATE, ISSUE NO & SELL LINE: I have added a date and issue number so that it looks more skilled and looks like a real magazine. Also if I had made a few issues through out the school year, they would know which magazine was the first issue and so on.

TITLE

MAIN COVER STORY

ANOTHER STORY

ANOTHER STORY

DATE, ISSUE NO & SELL LINE

TITLE

MAIN COVER STORY

ANOTHER STORY

ANOTHER STORY

BARCODE: I have added a barcode to make it look more professional and make it look like a real magazine.

Feedback from Debbie

What I like• I really like the professionalism of the magazine. The barcode and

the issue number make it look authentic. The structure is very clear and everything is bold and readable.

Constructive Criticism

 • Maybe add a price for the magazine.• The first ‘e’ in ‘Level’ blends with the colour of the green folder • The ‘s’ in ‘experiences’ looks slightly bigger than the rest of the

letters in the word

Any feedback from Me

• The ‘S’ in experiences is like that because of the font I have chosen to use in my magazine.

NORMAL ‘S’ IN THIS FONT

CAPITAL ‘S’ IN THIS FONT

• I am going to add a price above my barcode and change the font of the explanatory text.

Changes

• Even though I can’t change the ‘S’ I have found a way how to by copying and pasting an ‘S’ in another word to make it look right.

I COPIED THE ‘S’

AND PASTED IT AT THE END OF ‘EXPERIENCES’

Before and After Magazine

ChoicesWHEN I CHANGED MADE A SHADOW FOR THE MAIN STORY LINE, I HAD TO MAKE A CHOICE WITHER I WANTED THE SHADOW TO BE GREEN AND THE MAIN TEXT TO BE WHITE OR THE OTHER WAY AROUND BUT I CHOSE A GREEN SHADOW AND WHITE TEXT BACUSE IT LOOKS MORE ENHANCED.

WHITE TEXT AND GREEN SHADOW

GREEN TEXT AND WHITE SHADOW

After MagazineI HAVE CHANGED THE EXPLANOTORY TEXT FONT TO ‘LineaEF’ BECAUSE THE KICKER’S FONT IS MENT TO BE DISSIMILAR

I HAVE CHANGED THE COLOUR BECAUSE FROM THE FEEDBACK, SHE SAID THAT THE ‘E’ IN ‘LEVEL’ BLENDS IN WITH THE GREEN FROM THE FOLDER SO I HAD TO BOLD THE WHOLE TEXT.

I HAVE ADDED A PRICE ABOVE THE BARCODE SO THE AUDIENCE KNOWS HOW MUCH THE MAGAZINE IS

Tools UsedTHIS ALLOWS YOU TO SELECT ANYTHING ON YOUR DOCUMENT AND ALLOWS YOU TO MOVE OBJECTS AROUND THE PAGE

I USED THIS TOOL AT THE BEGINNING TO REMOVE ANY DEFECTS (SPOTS) FROM MY IMAGE

I USED THIS TOOL TO ERASE MY DUPLICATE LAYER BECAUSE I MADE A ‘GAUSSIAN’ BLUR TO BLUR OUT THE BACKGROUND AND CLEAR MY MODELS FACE

I USED THIS TEXT TOOL BECAUSE I NEEDED TO ADD MY STORIES, TITLE, PRICE AND ANY OTHER TEXTS.

How I Made a Gaussian Blur: Example

To make a Gaussian blur, you have to go to ‘FILTER’ and choose the blur.

Then this box appears and you choose (change the radius) how blurry you would like it to be and it shows a preview of how your image is going to look.

Then you chose the rubber tool.

Continued

Make sure you are on the right layer and then rub to show what you want to appear on your document

FINISHED IMAGE