03.04.23 - 29.04.23
WEEK 1 - WEEK 4
✦Ariel Chin Bei Yi 0343651✦
Bachelor of Science (Hons) Food Science
Lecture Recap
Collage design:
Reflection
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✦LECTURE RECAP✦
Week 1
During week 1, our module lecturer, Mr.
Martin gave a short briefing regarding the content of the Digital Photography
and Imaging module. He introduced us the assignments that are required to be
completed throughout the semester as well as the mark distribution of each
assignment.
The lecture then began with the introduction
to composition in creating a collage. Composition is highly important in any design
as it allows the viewers to have a pleasing visual experience with a great
composition. Hence, our first task is to create 3 different compositions of a
physical collage using cut outs from magazines. We are also tasked to choose 3
design works created in photoshop from Pinterest and show the reason why we
like the design.
This piece utilized double exposure in which two images are overlapped, a portrait of a person in the summer breeze and the lively street under the summer sun. The face of the portrait is slightly blurred into the overlapping picture causing the main character of the piece to be unknown. Hence, I chose this design because it encourages imagination of the viewer. I interpreted this design as the far away memory of the summer fun of the unknown main character. The slight yellow hue of the photo allows the warm effect of summer as well as the feeling of a distant memory. Thus, a bittersweet emotion is felt from this design.
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| Figure 1.2: Design by Bored Panda on Pinterest |
This design shows a photographer that has been shrunk to be smaller than a fruit fly among a mushroom field. I like this design because it seemed like a simple idea, yet it is able to clearly show the spirit of the designer. The designer is shown to be a curious character with a sense of adventure in which he is keen to explore various aspects of the world. The shrunken character among a large environment also shows a sense of child spirit, giving a bright feeling to the overall image.
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| Figure 1.3: Design by Ronald Ong on Pinterest
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I like this design because it is rather simple yet it effectively shows the creativity of the designer. It is a comedic design in which the body of the duck is replaced with a peeled banana. Although the body of the creature is now a tropical fruit, the accurate proportions still remain. For example, the peels of the banana mimics the wings of a duck. This shows the creativity and skills of the designer in creating a successful hybrid between two different objects.
Week 2
As week 2 class began, we learnt about the
basics of photoshops. Mr. Martin gave us a few exercises to get use to the
tools and functions of photoshop. The most utilized tool of photoshop is the
select and mask tools, in which we are able to remove the backgrounds of
certain pictures and replace it with a different background. Selection of an
image is aided by various lasso tools, pen tool as well as the magic wand tool.
The practical session proceeded with our Project
1 in which we are required to create a digital collage as well as carry out a
photoshop exercise. This assignment requires us to use the select and mask
tools as well as composition techniques. By the end of the class, our lecturer
evaluated our collage compositions and gave us feedback before the finalization
and submission of our collages.
Week 3
During week 3, we were taught about recolouring in Adobe Photoshop. The transformation of a greyscale image to a coloured image can be done in a few simple steps. First, the area in which colour will be added should be selected and masked into a layer. This is followed by the addition of colour as well as changing the type of layer to a soft light or overlay to allow the blending of colour into the image. We were given some practice utilizing the tools provided by the lecturer.
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| Figure 1.4: Practice of recolour using a photograph provided by the lecturer. |
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✦INSTRUCTIONS✦
Figure 2.1: Assignment guidelines of Digital Photography and Imaging
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✦COLLAGE DESIGN✦
PHYSICAL COLLAGE
I have utilized the selected cut out materials into three different compositions for my physical collage. I mainly used organic elements such as leaves and plants in which the message I wanted to convey was the importance of plants in environmental sustainability.
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| Figure 3.1: Composition 1 |
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| Figure 3.2: Composition 2 |
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| Figure 3.3: Composition 3 |
During
the week 2 evaluation, Mr. Martin commented on my work in which there is good
composition sense throughout the collage. However, the plants can be arranged
upside down to showcase more creativity, as well as certain angled elements
look bulky and take away from the organic aesthetic shown. The bulky elements can
be cut into different shapes or remove to promote harmony of the entire composition.
Hence, I took some of the advice and improved
my collage. I went to gather more creative elements that may help me convey the
message of the collage with more clarity.
FINAL OUTCOME
This collage conveys the message that we are constantly blinded by the deterioration of the environment due to industrial advancements. Hence, what is most important is the organic plants that constantly provides us with oxygen to sustain life. I've added people in red in the background to represent the enraged people towards the lack of environmental sustainability in our current industrial era.
In conclusion, I am not completely satisfied with this artwork as I had limited materials to work with. I hope to advance my composition techniques towards the end of the semester as well as improve as a designer.
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| Figure 3.3: Final outcome of physical collage - JPEG. |
Figure 3.4: Final outcome of physical collage - PDF.
DIGITAL COLLAGE
During week 2, one of the exercises that was tasked is the creation of a digital collage. We were provided with a variety of pictures in which we are allow to use to make a digital collage using Adobe Photoshop. We were also allowed to use our creativity to the fullest to practice the functions of Photoshop.
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| Figure 4.1: Work process of the digital collage during class. |
I did mask selection for the image I wanted to use and transfer them to an A4 size canvas. I utilized my creativity and create something interesting and fun through a digital medium.
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| Figure 4.2: Final outcome of digital collage. |
✦DIGITAL IMAGING✦
EXERCISE 1: HEARST MANSION
Project 1 Exercise 1 of Digital Photography and Imaging requires us to take a full body image of ourselves and photoshop it into a background of the Hearst Mansion provided by the lecturer. We are recommended to take a picture against a white background to allow easy removal of the background by masking.
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| Figure 5.1: Full body photograph of myself using a white backdrop from my balcony. |
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| Figure 5.2: Removal of background using selection and mask function while utilizing the magnetic lasso tool. |
After the removal of the background, I transport ourselves into the Hearst Mansion. Mr. Martin guide us in how to blend ourselves into the background using the various functions of photoshop.
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| Figure 5.3: Colour correction of character. |
First, I added myself into the Heartz Mansion and flipped myself horizontally which made me look like I am daydreaming while sitting on the floor. I also did some colour correction in which I used a blue shading on multiply layer which is clipped mask onto the image of myself. This is to match the natural lighting coming from the giant window on the left side of the background.
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| Figure 5.4: Addition of reflection. |
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| Figure 5.5: Colour correction of reflection. |
Then, I have added a reflection myself onto the mirror-like floor of the Hearst Mansion. I flipped my original image vertically and use the colour adjustment function of Photoshop to make it blend into the floor. I lowered the saturation, brightness and the hue of the image. I also added a blue hue onto the reflection. It is then finished off with a ripple effect which is due to the unevenness of the floor.
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| Figure 5.6: Addition of shadow. |
Lastly, I added a shadow in accordance to the light emitting from the large windows. The shadow is created by adding a black spot using an airbrush. Then, it is further blurred using the Gaussian Blur function which is then followed by a lower opacity.
FINAL OUTCOME
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| Figure 5.5: Final Outcome of Hearst Mansion Photoshop Project - JPEG. |
Figure 5.6: Final Outcome of Hearst Mansion Photoshop Project - PDF.
EXERCISE 2: RECOLOURING
Project 1 Exercise 2 of Digital Photography and Imaging requires us to recolour a greyscale photograph from the selection given by Mr. Martin.
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| Figure 6.1: Greyscale photograph of a Japanese women. |
First, I have selected the area I want to add colour to which is the skin using the Quick Selection Tool. Then I went to select and mask to further refine my selection utilizing the Refine Edge Brush Tool.
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| Figure 6.2: Selection of layer to be coloured. |
After the selection, I export the selection to a layer mask and added a skin colour onto an overlay layer. The colours used are selected using the Eyedropper Tool from references found online to avoid any unrealistic colours.
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| Figure 6.3: Addition of colour by colour dropping from references. |
These two steps are repeated for all the other parts of the photograph, such as the hair, the clothes, the hairpiece and such. Hence, a full coloured image is produced from a greyscale photograph.
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| Figure 6.4: Addition of colour to the entire image. |
FINAL OUTCOME
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| Figure 6.5: Recolour of photograph of a Japanese women. |
Figure 6.6: Recolour of photograph of a Japanese women.
✦REFLECTION✦
The first
assignment of the module, Digital Photography and Imaging was carried out from
Week 1 to Week 4 in which we are to complete 3 exercises, including a physical
collage and two digital imaging exercises. Adobe Photoshop was not a foreign
software to me; however, my experience is very limited so I was very excited to
learn more about this application.
During the first
three weeks, the lecturer mainly covered about the basics of photoshop. The
most important tool in Photoshop is the selection and mask tool which is
utilized in almost all the photoshopped work. In the beginning, it was a little
difficult to navigate the workspace and the various tools available in
Photoshop. We were given a lot of exercises throughout these 4 weeks to practice
the selection and mask tool. Hence, I have became accustomed to the tools and
customized the workspace according to my own workstyle. This allowed me to be
efficient in completing the assignment towards the deadline.
The first few
weeks of the semester have given me so much knowledge and new insights in the
concept of designing. Thus, I am excited to learn more in the following weeks
of the semester.
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