PODCASTS

DOWNLOADS

Download Selection Images

SPECIFICATIONS

Image Dimensions: 5" x 7" at 150dpi
landscape or portrait
Colour Mode: RGB

TIMELINE

This Week: We'll review selection techniques; You'll create a montage with a message during class.
Next Week: Your first montage is due at the start of class.; You'll create a montage with your own photos which will be due at the end of class.; Bring your own images to class next week. You will create your montage during class. It will be due by the end of class.

Photo Montage

This is a two-part assignment which includes creating photo compositions — or a montage — using selecting tools and masking techniques.

Project Highlights

This project is worth 10% of your final grade.
It is due at the end of next class.
You will create a montage with provided photos as well as one with your own photos.

Ton's 'O Tutes

These tutorials will guide you in using the right selection tool for the right job. Use these images to do the following exercises.

Transform Selections: Photoshop gives you the ability to transform a selection. This allows you to initially select with less precision, then use the "Transform Selection" functionality to tweak your selection to get it just right. Use the stopwatch image. Select only the watch face and mask out the rest with a layer mask.
Polygon Lasso: The polygon lasso is especially useful to select straight-edge shapes. Use it to select only the star in the photo. Omit the cone-shaped base and the little loop on the tip of the star. After you have an accurate selection, type "CMD-j" to copy it to a new layer.
Magnetic Lasso: Use the magnetic lasso to select the axe. Mask it out accurately, after you have achieved an accurate selection with the magnetic lasso.
Magic Wand: Use the magic wand to select all the red in the photo of the girl. After it is all selected, create a "Hue/Saturation" Adjustment Layer to change the red content to another (appropriate) colour. Make it look as natural as possible.
Quick Mask Mode: Photoshop actually allows you to paint a selection onto an image. To do this, you use QuickMask Mode. Use this to make a selection of "tuque guy"'s clothes, including his tuque. Stay in QuickMask Mode. Save the image and close it. Re-open it to make sure all your work is still there.
Colour Range: The Colour Range function is optimal for selecting distinct colours throughout an image. In this case, we want to select all the cyan. Use Colour Range to do so. After you have an accurate selection, add an Adjustment Layer of your choice to change the cyan somehow. Make it look natural and appropriate to the photo.
Filter on a Mask: A mask is nothing but a stored selection. This means that you can actually run a filter on a selection! Make a selection around the "water lady's" head. Create a Layer Mask. Click on the mask icon in the Layers palette. Go to the Filter menu and run a "Distort>Ripple" filter on the mask. Neat, eh?
Quick Mask and Adjustment Layers: Use a selection in QuickMask Mode to create the effect shown in the podcast.
Quick Selection Tool: The quick selection tool is like the Magic Wand, but better.

Part One: Photo Montage

This montage is worth 5% of your final grade. It is due in the dropbox at the start of next class.

You will use at least five of the provided photos to create a photo montage. You need to use the skills tought in class to create a clear composition with a message. The message could be anything you choose, but it needs to say something. These are some examples. Come up with your own.

Protect our planet
Time flies
Dogs are man's best friend
Anti-war message

You are allowed to use a short title for your piece. This is optional. This doesn't excuse you from designing your piece with an easily discernible message. We should be able to discover your message without a title.

Part Two: Life Experience

This montage is worth 5% of your final grade. It is due at the end of the second class.

You will find a minimum of five of your own photos to work with for this assignment.

Life Experience is the theme for this piece. Depict a life-changing event they’ve experienced. It can be anything. If you traveled somewhere, experienced something or even learned a skill that changed your life, you want to use that.

The software goals are to work in a non-destructive manner with Masking and Selecting tools demonstrated above.

How to get an "A"

To earn an "A", you will:

Conform to the stated file specifications
Communicate a discernible message
Use non-destructive editing
Create accurate masks
Leave no un-intended white/grey areas on your mask
Isolate objects on separate layers
Used at least one Clipping Mask
Use only point type, not paragraphs of type

Semester I

Semester II

Semester III

Semester IV