How I used Photoshop for my A2 Media Coursework

Question 4. Explaining how I used Photoshop in the Production stage

The Photoshop Toolbar

Move toolSelect tool

Lasso Tool

I have labelled the tools that I used.

Crop

Healing/Patch tool (To remove spots)Eyedropper tool

Rubber ToolsFill Tool

Smudge/Blur tool, to blend the image into the background

Text

Opening Photoshop

When I open Photoshop and set it to A4 size, I get a blank canvas which I add things to. This is the background layer, so the first step I will take is to add the background to the magazine.

Adding Background

I retrieved an image of fog which I pasted onto the layer. It didn’t fit the size of the layer, so I went to edit, and then Free Transform, which allowed me to drag the size of the image to fit the layer.

Adding the Image

I retrieved the image from my digital camera and opened it in Photoshop. I then used the select tool, and copied the image into a new layer on the magazine

Resizing the Image

Once the image has copied, I then click on Free Transform, to resize it to fit the size of the layer. The image below shows me resizing the image. The next task is a very precise one, and that is to delete the background.

Delete the background

I clicked and held down on the rubber tool, to select the magic rubber tool. This deletes parts of the image that are different colours. Basically, clicking on the background to this image doesn’t remove the body of Jacob.

Deleting the background

I also selected the Magnetic Laso tool, which draws around Jacob’s body and allows for more precise deletion. After that, I cropped the bottom of the image and placed it in a position of the magazine that I am happy with.

Adding text

I selected the text tool and typed in the desired text, as well as specifying the size and colour. Exiting the text editor, if I double clicked on the layer in the menu, I could access the formatting area, where I could apply outlines, shadows and embossing.

Precise text placement

I added some text on the E of Ultimate, and I wanted the word Film to be centrally placed on the bottom of that E. Zoomed out however, I couldn’t get it where I wanted it. So by zooming right in, I could move the word without it jumping and missing out where I wanted to replace it.

Adding text

I have used those same techniques to add the rest of the text to the magazine front cover. Also, Free Transform can be used here to set the size of text exactly how I want it, rather than simply selecting a numerical font size.

Adding a shape

I drew a shape in Microsoft Word, which was to be placed at the bottom of the page. Once it was copied, I had to click on Free Transform to resize it, and then I dragged it to where it needed to be. I pasted it into a different layer.

Adding a shape

I added some other shapes to the front cover using the same procedure, and resized them. Then I added some text to finish off the magazine.

Overcoming ProblemsUsing Photoshop

Getting exactly the same colour To get exactly the

same colour red for everything, I used the eyedropper tool. It works by hovering over a desired colour, and stocking that colour. When the fill tool is clicked, it remembers the exact colour and shades a desired colour accordingly.

Magic Rubber tool wasn’t precise enough

By clicking on this tool, it recognises a difference in colour and draws around something to delete it. It is something automatic, all I have to do is move the mouse close to what I want it to select. I could override it by clicking, in case it tried to actually select some of Jacob and delete him.

Layers in the wrong order As the image shows, the

cover story is behind the image, which obviously means it cannot be seen and it needs reorganising. The image below shows that I clicked the layer of the cover story, and dragged it so that it is above the image layer. Additionally, the image layer is in front of the masthead layer to create the convention of the actor/actress slightly obscuring the masthead.

Layers in the wrong order: result The result is a

finished magazine with all the layers in the right order, and no layers being obstructed by another.

Actual Photo EditingMaking someones eyes redder

Problem…

The eyes in the image on my poster are not red enough, but there is a way in which I can change this.

Selecting the eyes

Using the magnetic lasso tool, I can draw around the eyes. To select more than one thing, I had to hold down shift when drawing around the second eye. I then clicked on image, adjustments and then Hue/Saturation

Changing the eye colour

A box comes up that allows me to move the sliders to enhance or change a colour. There is a drop down box above that allows me to preselect red, and then I moved the slider to boost the red.

Finished red eyes

The eyes are now the red colour that I wanted, which conveys the danger connotations and makes my decision to use Photoshop worthwhile.

So why did I use Photoshop?This presentation has shown that Photoshop has a wide range of features and a lot of professional tools that allow for highly accurate, advanced and precise editing of an image. The layers system was beneficial, because it made each individual element of the product independent of another, which meant I could, for example, move something, and it wouldn’t move another component of the product, as can sometimes happen on Microsoft Office. There was also no other tool at my disposal where I could actually boost the red eye effect of Jacob’s eyes. Photoshop made the construction of my ancillary products a breeze, with little or no hassle. I also have a lot of experience of using Photoshop, having used it for my AS coursework to make a music magazine, and also used it for my GCSE coursework to make print based advertisement products.