Digital Photography and Imaging - Project 1A - Physical and Digital Collage

If you work in a visual style, website design, or individual experience role, you have to be familiar with Photoshop. However, learning Photoshop is also essential for anyone working in direct marketing and advertising roles.

Importance of Photoshop to a Graphic Designer:

Express your creativity ; the more you discover Photoshop's functions, the more you will recognise your own capabilities.
Create graphic design
Restoration of old images ; using blending modes to give colour to black-and-white photos
Integrate graphics with text artistically
Make use of brushes
Adjust photo colour
Rectify mistakes in photography ; lighting issues can be fixed with filters in Photoshop.

Photography Manipulation

Since the 1850s, photographers have been fascinated by the idea of combining numerous pictures on a single negative, which piqued their interest and inventiveness.

To obtain desired effects, an image can be altered or transformed using a variety of ways and techniques. This process is known as photograph manipulation.

Fig 1.1.1 Example of photo manipulation using negative space.

Digital Imaging

Digital imaging uses a digital scanner or equivalent imaging device to transform printed text, artwork, and photos into digital images.

Fig 1.1.2 Different techniques of digital imaging and their purpose.

Tips of a Successful Graphic Designer:

Follow the tutorials
Experiment
Memorise all keyboard shortcuts
Try to replicate others' work
Participate in Design competitions
Subscribe to online galleries
Scaling Artworks and Proportions
Personalise your works
Organise files properly

Lecture 2: Introduction to Composition

Basic Composition

Important Keywords for Composition:

Focal Point ; aids in the viewers' attention naturally focusing on the most significant elements of your design first.
Scale & Hierarchy ; aids in conveying hierarchy by emphasizing and obscuring specific elements.
Balance ; symmetry and asymmetry. The key to mastering asymmetrical balance is to consider each component as having a specific "weight."
White Space ; can improve the clarity and overall appearance of your design by bringing out the more intricate and busy elements of your composition and allowing your design to breathe.

Fig. 1.1.3 An example of proper execution of white space in a composition.

Rule of Thirds

Fig. 1.1.4 Rule of Thirds frame

Rule of Thirds is a principle in design whereby one must imagine a 3-by-3 frame within an image. Within these nine boxes contain four intersection points. For a good composition to be achieved, the subject of the image should be within one to four intersection points.

Fig. 1.1.5 Rule of Thirds applied onto an image.

Rule of Thirds can be used to also:

Make use of compositional strategies that complement what the eye finds visually appealing
Make imaginative use of empty space
Give depth to the image

Golden Ratio

Golden Ratio is often referred to as a mathematical term, however, in design it is referred to a good tool to good composition. It is frequently seen in nature, and when used to design, it encourages the creation of visually appealing compositions that seem organic and natural.

Fig. 1.1.6 Golden Ratio frame

Fig. 1.1.7 A senior's work that properly uses the Golden Ratio rule.

Framing and Cropping

Sir Fauzi provided a YouTube video for us to watch, so I will provide video here:

Video 1.1.1 "Shot Framing: The Ultimate Guide" by Studio Binder

Lecture 3: Lasso Tool, Pen Tool and Layering

Photoshop comes with multiple tool sets in the Toolbox, which you may expand to see more options.

Fig 1.1.8 The many tools available in Photoshop.

Within these tools are the Lasso and Pen Tool; both of which are very important tools for a designer using Photoshop.

Lasso Tool

With the Lasso Tool, you can draw and identify particular regions within a document.

The Lasso Tool is great if you enjoy sketching with a pencil and paper or cutting and pasting items from pictures. The optimal way of using the Lasso Tool is by using a graphic tablet. When sketching and selecting, a graphic tablet can provide a better flow than a mouse or trackpad.

Within the toolbar, the Lasso Tool comes up with three options when clicked:

Lasso Tool (Default); flows like a pencil
Polygonal Lasso; creates straight-cut selections.
Magnetic Lasso; selection snaps in place with an object

Fig 1.1.9 Toolbar with Lasso Tool options.

Pen Tool

In terms of truly starting from scratch to create a path, the pen tool is the most popular choice. You add these points using the pen tool, and the way you drag the tool while creating the points affects how they turn out. (Reminder: A path will become much smoother with less anchor points)

Variations of the Pen Tool:

Straight Line paths
U-shaped curves
Simple S curves
Complex S curves

Fig 1.1.10 Visual execution of said variations from the lecture slides.

Layering

Several images layered on top of one another are called layers. To make changes, you can work with each layer independently of the others. They combine to create the final image.

In real life, it might appear something like this:

Fig. 1.1.11 Multiple layers seperated to see how layering works.

One benefit of using Layers is that all of the layers can be saved as a Photoshop file. It also means that non-destructive editing can be done with layers. The original image won't ever be destroyed by the Photoshop edits you make. All the additional data and/or pictures you wish to include in the original file are contained in the layers.

Supplementary video about Layering:

Video 1.1.2 "How to Open Images in Photoshop" by Photoshop Essentials.

Lecture 4: Adjustment Layers and Filters

Adjustment Layers

Photoshop's Adjustment Layers are a collection of incredibly helpful, non-destructive image editing tools that allow you to make colour and tone adjustments to your image without permanently altering its pixel composition. You can edit, remove, or restore your original image at any time using the adjustment layers.

Fig. 1.1.12 Hue/Saturation altered in a separate adjustment layer and not altering the original images.

Brightness and Contrast:

Brightness / Contrast makes adjustments to the tonal range of your image.

Brightness ; adjusts the highlights in an image.

Contrast ; adjusts the shadows of an image.

Fig. 1.1.13 Brightness / Contrast adjustment layer in action.

Levels:

Levels modify the tonal values in an image by adjusting the levels of the shadows, mid-tones, and highlights.

Fig. 1.1.14 Levels adjustment layer in action.

Curves:

Curves let you adjust as many points as you want throughout the entire tonal range of your image. It is considered to be the most powerful and useful tool for editing tones precisely in an image.

Fig. 1.1.15 Curves adjustment layer in action.

Exposure:

Exposure lets you adjust exposure levels with three sliders: Exposure, Offset and Gamma.

Exposure ; adjusts only the highlights of an image.

Offset ; adjusts the mid-tones of an image.

Gamma ; adjusts only the dark tones of an image.

Fig. 1.1.16 Exposure adjustment layer in action.

Selective Color:

Selective Color adjustment layers selectively modify the amount of a primary color without modifying the other primary colors in an image.

Fig. 1.1.17 Selective Colour adjustment layer in action.

Filters

Photoshop Filters are digital effects that are used to adjust selections and images in order to move pixels, fix images, and create effects. Photoshop offers a virtually unlimited variety of filters for this purpose.

Supplementary video about Layering:

Video 1.1.3 "Trick the Photo Filter to Add Drama & Color in Photoshop!" by PiXimperfect.

Lectures 5 and 6 will be included in Project 1B's post as they are more related to that part of the project.

1.2 Class Summaries

Week 1:

Since our first class was set on a public holiday (Prophet Muhammad's Birthday), we unfortunately did not have classes this week. However, Sir Fauzi made an announcement on TiMeS about the matter along with a link to our Google Classroom!

Week 2:

Since we missed last week's class, the module introduction was pushed to Week 2, meaning we were slightly behind schedule. We were first briefed on creating our E-Portfolio and also making sure our names in the Google Classroom were our full names in full-caps. We were also briefed about our first project: Project 1A Collage where he asked us to bring specific materials for next week's class activity.

After the briefing, we started our research on some graphic design works on Pinterest to give us a firm grip of analysing design principles that are applied to good designs.

Week 3:

Sir Fauzi unfortunately got sick with a sore throat so he was not able to have face-to-face classes with us. However, he did arrange a short online meeting for our class where he went through Week 3's lecture slides. After going through the slides, he asked us to continue cutting up our magazines for the physical collage that's been pushed to the next week.

Week 4:

We went to one of the Design Rooms at campus and I spent the whole class figuring out multiple compositions for my physical collage. Overall, this week was more of a Feedback session but it was very fun nonetheless! Everyone's collages were very lovely.

Week 5:

We showed Sir Fauzi our finalised physical collage for final check-ups. Sir Fauzi said my composition and colours were nice :D Then, we got started on our Digital Collages. At the end of the class, we actually got to take class pictures of everyone and their collages. I included these pictures in the Reflection section of the blog so feel free to jump straight there!

Week 6:

We finalised our Project 1A and started on our Project 1B.

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2. INSTRUCTIONS

File 2.1 Module Information Booklet

3. PHYSICAL COLLAGE

3.1 Research

I did a bit of research as instructed by Sir Fauzi on some collage and general design works on Pinterest. Hence, I won't include this in the Digital Collage section because this is general research on pleasing composition in collages/general designs.

Instructions: List down your 3 favourite graphic design work from Pinterest. Explain why you like the designs?

Design #1:

1 . Silicon Valley and Breadmaking by Andrea D’aquino

https://pin.it/3XlUX0P

Description: I was really grabbed by the pop of colours from the bright yellow and bright purple! The bread was also a nice contrast but maybe I’m just a bit hungry…

This Poster expressed :

This poster is a satirical piece aimed at the people of Silicon Valley (a “tech bro”’s haven in America)

The theme is “Disconnected from Reality”

It illustrates a person's breadmaking using multiple unnecessary high-tech devices and techniques. (“a person” refers to a tech bro)

The concept is to show how “out of touch” the people of Silicon Valley would be with something as simple and “down-to-earth” as bread making is.

Design #2:

2 . La Bohème Poster by Ricardo Guasco

https://pin.it/kdRoGzu

Description: The dynamic movement of the illustration and the cool colour palette intrigued me a lot!

This Poster expressed :

This poster is of an Italian-made opera act called “La Bohéme”.

The opera takes place in 1830 and is set in Paris, France.

The story revolves around a love story between a seamstress, Mimi, and a poet, Rodolfo; hence why they are the main characters in the poster.

The concept of the poster is to show, through simplistic silhouettes, of how their love story bloomed through the dynamic movement of smoke from a freshly extinguished candle.

Design #3:

3 . The Tokyoiter

https://pin.it/5VB8Qqp

Description: The way the three segments of the poster are composed made me really love it! The detailed artstyle also adds to my love for it

This Poster expressed :

This poster is of a faux magazine cover made by Japanese artists to pay homage to the iconic American “The New Yorker '' magazines; hence, the name “The Tokyoiter”.

The theme is “Life in Tokyo”.

It shows the three parts of life in Tokyo; the skyline, the public transport and the community, all perfectly segmented in the poster.

It includes children running around after school, people getting back from work and people hanging around a convenience store.

3.2 Ideation

I compiled many magazines that I thought had a lot of potential/materials that I could cut out and create a cohesive collage from. My main source of materials were from The Edge magazines, especially their piece around the local crafts and culture of Melaka.

Fig. 3.2.1 "Melaka" by Options, The Edge.

I wanted to go for a warm feeling colour theme so I picked out a lot of pinks, oranges and reds. I also picked out blue elements to give contrast to the warm theme yet still match with the overall collage.

Instructions: Choose and identify your collage's design elements to be cut out and compose it into your own concept & story.

1. PRE-COMPOSITION #1

For this first composition, I really liked the slight hint that the collage is bursting out of a container (bottom right). In a previous version thought, I had the lady's face not obscured by anything. However, after feedback from Sir Fauzi, he recommended I try covering up the lady's face to give better focus on the other elements.

Personally, I think that it's slightly too busy and random of a collage and doesn't really give out a story. But I realised that the theme of majority warm and minor cool elements worked in my favour :D

2. PRE-COMPOSITION #2

This composition is more simplistic than the first. I reused a few of the elements from the first composition into this one along with using a few scraps I got after cutting up the elements. Sir Fauzi commented that even scraps of paper can make really interesting elements to a collage.

I like this one but again, I didn't feel like it was telling much of a story and it was just random elements put together just because they looked nice together. So, back to the drawing board I go.

3. PRE-COMPOSITION #3

This features a different version of the same lady but now she's in full-body view wearing a blue outfit. The same goes for this one in the sense that I reused a few of the elements from previous compositions but I think I overall made their integration into the collage miles better.

I made sure to balance out the colours by creating a sort of line for the warm colours to appear and where the cool colours parallel those lines. This time, I think I managed to convey the text "Time Goes By" by including the going-ons of the lady in a day:

driving around in her Vespa during the day
going out for drinks at a bar in the evening

I created slight motion with the blue rectangles near the lady's legs as if her footsteps are slowly fading as she moves forward into the day.

Evidently, I really loved this composition and so, I chose this composition to be my final.

3.3 Final Outcome

Fig. 3.3.1 Final Physical Collage

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4. DIGITAL COLLAGE

4.1 Research

Research was done in the Physical Collage section on the post :D

4.2 Ideation

Composition Ideas

We were given 14 pictures to cut and paste from for our digital collage.

Fig 4.2.1 The images provided for our digital collages.

Instructions: Create 3 different composition digital collages from the images that you’ve downloaded.

1. COMPOSITION #1

Pictures used:

typewritter.jpg
rubber_plant.jpg
building.jpg
people_walking.jpg
texture.jpg
texture_2.jpg
texture_grunge.jpg

DESCRIPTION:

I really liked this composition because of how it clearly leads the viewer’s eyes from one subject to another. For example, the glaring red circle grabs attention and through the use of correlation of colours and shapes, the viewer’s eyes are drawn slowly towards the people.

2. COMPOSITION #2

Pictures used:

old_projector.jpg
fish_2.jpg
building_2.jpg
texture_grunge.jpg

DESCRIPTION:
This one really stuck to the composition Sir Fauzi initially asked us to follow. I like the small surrealist feeling I get from looking at it; the projector is projecting a movie where the fish is a monster coming out from behind the building accompanied by a blood red moon. However, I feel like the composition is slightly too stiff despite the cool small story it has.

3. COMPOSITION #3

Pictures used:

typewritter.jpg
fish.jpg
building.jpg
texture_2.jpg

DESCRIPTION:
I decided to go for a cool colour theme for this one. I experimented a bit with the pen tool here where I made a larger blob shape for the background and I think it helps add a bit of flow to the collage. However, I will say that the balance of the composition could be improved slightly since it's a bit TOO blue.

Adjusting Colours

After a bit of feedback from Sir Fauzi, I decided to got for Composition #1 to experiment on with adjustment layers and filters.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

DESCRIPTION:

The 4 main things I adjusted were the red circle, building, leaves and people:

For the red circle, I really wanted to make it stand out so I adjusted the saturation and a slight bit of the hue.
For the building, I adjusted the hue to slightly match the typewriter to help with the flow of viewing.
The leaves in the previous collage were slightly too dark to my taste so I adjusted the brightness and saturation to match the tone of the collage.
As for the people, I wanted there to be sort of a connecting piece so I adjusted the reds and saturation just so there would be another warm element in the collage to connect to the red circle.

4.3 Final Outcome

Fig. 4.3.1 Final Digital Collage

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5. REFLECTION

Class picture after finishing our Collages (I'm the one in pink :D)

5.1 Experience

Up until before I started this module, I'd only seen people on YouTube using Photoshop for art speedpaintings. Of course, I'd also heard of people using Photoshop for editing pictures and what not. But, this module is the first time I'd ever try for myself Photoshop; and the experience was interesting.

I actually couldn't get my Photoshop to work on my computer much so I resorted to using the mobile version on iPad and also the online version; both of which were a bit limited with what they could do so that was a problem I experienced :'] Second, But overall, working in Photoshop was really fun!

5.2 Observations

The class ambience was really nice in that every class was very chill thanks to Sir Fauzi. Once we finished our lectures, he'd always put on nice background music while we went with our individual tutorial and practical tasks. Everyone also seemed friendly (though I didn't really get to talk to any of them) but again, the vibe of the class was really nice!!

5.3 Findings

I found that I actually really enjoyed making collages! If I found more time outside of my degree, I think you'd probably find me making a lot of silly collages - especially physical collages. And in terms of digital, I think I found myself loving the cutting out process of the collage. Plus being able to adjust the colours AFTER making the composition was really convenient and definitely a pro if you're comparing Digital Collage vs Physical Collage.

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🌊

Qistina Nuralya Maria Binti Azly (0354180)

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