Practising Photoshop

 

In order to get ready for editing our print productions, we were given a few tasks to do as to practice getting use to using Adobe Photoshop.

 

Firstly, I opened the CD template to ensure the right size and created a duplicate background copy to ensure I could freely adjust this layer, I then coloured the background with a mellow yellow by using the fill tool on the side panel. Secondly, I inserted the photograph of the band and resized them as to fit along the bottom of the template, using a magnetic lasso tool to select around them and inverting to allow myself to user the eraser tool to rub out the white background of the band without hindering the band themselves. Furthermore, I used the text tool to write the band's name and the album, using the line tool also to create underlines and over lines to the text. Finally, I inserted the decorative pattern, brought it to the top layer (so it could be the furthest forward on the cover) and rotated  it around as to get it the right way up. I then used the magic wand to select and erase the white parts of the pattern and changed the opacity to get a softer grade.

 

 

With this exercise, I again opened the CD template and created a duplicate layer from background, adding in an image of crumpled paper to fit over this and become the main background for print. In a separate panel I opened a pre-made Kabeedies poster and separately cropped each band member out, dragging them across to the template once finished. Moreover, adding pre-made photograph frames and fitting them over each image of the band member to ensure they fit nicely; rotating to give difference between the members. Much like the previous edit, I opened the text tool and write the band's name, also using lines as underlines and over-lines to the text. Again, I used the text tool and write "truth" over the centre of the image, bring it above the other layers as to have it on top and changed the opacity so that it wasn't blocking the band. Finally, I used an oval select tool to create a circle hitting each edge of the template, creating a curves adjustment layer and inverting selection in order to apply to the corners of the cover; I dragged the curves line down to allow for darker corners and added a Gaussian blur to make the darkness fade in naturally. As for uploading both these images to my blog, I saved each as a J-PEG after finishing under "Complete Productions" and uploaded these to the blog via my documents.