Project 2 - Letter PhotocollageExpect to spend up to FOUR classes on this project.
Class 1 - Shooting
Class 2 - Re-shooting, editing individual photos
Class 3 - Creating letter document, importing photos, beginning masking
Class 4 - Mask all images, final edits, finalize letter shape, add layer styles, hand in!
Class 1 - Shooting
Class 2 - Re-shooting, editing individual photos
Class 3 - Creating letter document, importing photos, beginning masking
Class 4 - Mask all images, final edits, finalize letter shape, add layer styles, hand in!
Letter Photo Collage Project
Choose a letter from LAURENT. You will then "fill" that letter with between 15 and 30 images.
Your theme for the project should reflect an element of the school. Suggestions include:
- Fashion of Louis
- Flora of Louis (plants and trees in and around the school)
- A particular subject area or department
- A day in the life of a student at Louis (an overview of the major areas of the school)
The most difficult part of this project will be masking your photos together in such a way that they're not just crudely pasted on top of or next to each other.
The example above is a very simple example. Yours should be much more comprehensive.
STEPS (IN PHOTOSHOP) TO CREATING YOUR LETTER PHOTOCOLLAGE
1) Create a new document. Make it square, 24 inches x 24 inches. Set the resolution to 300 dpi (not 72).
2) Create two guides (one vertical and one horizontal) at 50%.
3) Using the Type tool, type in your letter. Choose ARIAL BOLD font, 600 point size.
4) Reposition your letter (Ctrl - T) so that it's centered.
5) Get rid of your guides by pressing Ctrl-H to hide them.
6) Make a copy of your letter (Ctrl-J after selecting it). Change the opacity of the top letter layer to something low (20-50%)
7) Insert your images one by one but ensure that they are placed under the top letter layer (this lets you see the faint outline of the letter).
8) Create layer masks on each photo layer so that you can adjust where the overlap takes place. Mask carefully! Your goal is to avoid straight lines at the edge of every single shot. You don't need to include all of each photo (hence needing such a large amount). NOTE: You don't have to perfectly mask the contours of your letter shape. The letter gets "stamped" out automatically.
9) When finished, select all individual photo layers and press Ctrl-Alt-Shift-E. This merges them all onto a new layer but preserves the originals.
10) Turn off all of your individual image layers. Turn off the top letter layer too.
12) Ctrl-left-click on the "thumbnail" (mini) image next to your original letter layer. This should create a selection (marching ants) around the letter shape.
13) Activate (select) the new layer that has the combined images on it. Press Ctrl-J. This new layer should now only be the letter shape full of photos (no background included).
14) Turn off all other layers except this new one and the white background (if you don't have a white background, create a new layer, fill it with white, and drag it under your letter layer.
15) Now to add layer styles. Double-click on the "blue paint" next to the next on your letter layer to open the options box.
16) Add the following layer styles (so our letters all match):
Bevel/Emboss:
- Depth 500%
- Size 100 px
- Soften 0 px
Outer Glow:
- Blend mode: NORMAL
- Opacity: 50%
- Spread: 15%
- Size: 250 px
Choose a letter from LAURENT. You will then "fill" that letter with between 15 and 30 images.
Your theme for the project should reflect an element of the school. Suggestions include:
- Fashion of Louis
- Flora of Louis (plants and trees in and around the school)
- A particular subject area or department
- A day in the life of a student at Louis (an overview of the major areas of the school)
The most difficult part of this project will be masking your photos together in such a way that they're not just crudely pasted on top of or next to each other.
The example above is a very simple example. Yours should be much more comprehensive.
STEPS (IN PHOTOSHOP) TO CREATING YOUR LETTER PHOTOCOLLAGE
1) Create a new document. Make it square, 24 inches x 24 inches. Set the resolution to 300 dpi (not 72).
2) Create two guides (one vertical and one horizontal) at 50%.
3) Using the Type tool, type in your letter. Choose ARIAL BOLD font, 600 point size.
4) Reposition your letter (Ctrl - T) so that it's centered.
5) Get rid of your guides by pressing Ctrl-H to hide them.
6) Make a copy of your letter (Ctrl-J after selecting it). Change the opacity of the top letter layer to something low (20-50%)
7) Insert your images one by one but ensure that they are placed under the top letter layer (this lets you see the faint outline of the letter).
8) Create layer masks on each photo layer so that you can adjust where the overlap takes place. Mask carefully! Your goal is to avoid straight lines at the edge of every single shot. You don't need to include all of each photo (hence needing such a large amount). NOTE: You don't have to perfectly mask the contours of your letter shape. The letter gets "stamped" out automatically.
9) When finished, select all individual photo layers and press Ctrl-Alt-Shift-E. This merges them all onto a new layer but preserves the originals.
10) Turn off all of your individual image layers. Turn off the top letter layer too.
12) Ctrl-left-click on the "thumbnail" (mini) image next to your original letter layer. This should create a selection (marching ants) around the letter shape.
13) Activate (select) the new layer that has the combined images on it. Press Ctrl-J. This new layer should now only be the letter shape full of photos (no background included).
14) Turn off all other layers except this new one and the white background (if you don't have a white background, create a new layer, fill it with white, and drag it under your letter layer.
15) Now to add layer styles. Double-click on the "blue paint" next to the next on your letter layer to open the options box.
16) Add the following layer styles (so our letters all match):
Bevel/Emboss:
- Depth 500%
- Size 100 px
- Soften 0 px
Outer Glow:
- Blend mode: NORMAL
- Opacity: 50%
- Spread: 15%
- Size: 250 px