Blog
8-13-14
We learned the description of class and the grading system. All can be found on <a href="keystoneschoolarthouse.weebly.com"> This some site </a>.
8-14-14
Hello all! Today in computer design we learned how to make a basic webpage using the Weebly site builder hence the reason why you are reading this page today. We learned how to put text, embed images, make new pages, and make titles. I'm personally really interested to read the HTML of this site to see how it is coded. I have tried Weebly before while trying to make a site using Domain.com. Soon we will be using Photoshop to create a Frank Stella inspired image using the rectangle. Being a giant After Effects guy, I struggle with Photoshop because the layout is very different and tools that do one thing in After Effects sometimes do something completely different. I'm almost sure that there is a tool in Photoshop that does the same thing and I'm really excited to finally learn where I can find it. -_-. ugh. It's frustrating having to edit pictures in After Effects because I can't find the right stuff in Photoshop...
8-15-14
Today we reviewed the basics of Photoshop. It's weird seeing everything where it is... So much different than AE. Also we discussed screencasting. I've never heard that term before. Until now I just called it "screencapping". Now to mess around in Photoshop.
8-18-14
We started making the square stuff. First thing we learned is that ctrl+BackSpace fills in a layer with the background color. CTRL+Z IS YOUR FRIEND!!!!! Also, when using the rectangle tool, instead of trying to delete an unwanted shape, simply click out of it. If not it will delete the part of the layer within the unwanted shape.
8-19-14
Today we worked on the first of out Frank Stella pieces. Frank Stella is just like the one we did yesterday, except with the stroke. It is in layer, layer style, stroke. Also we used the eyedropper tool as to make sure we are using the right color for the squares. We also used the grid to ensure that we were, in fact, making squares.
8-20-14
Today we made a brush. We used the magic eraser to remove the background, I personally added a shadow to make it a little more thick, then select the brush area and edit/define brush preset. Also View/Show/Grid.
8-21-14
We did a bling thing in which we created a text box, then added a pattern to it, then added a stroke, then a bevel, a shadow (by using skew and gaussian blur [didn't know PS had that...]) then added "sparkles" by using a brush. Personally, I made the brush white and then used outer glow to make it seem like the center was so bright that it was white but then as the edges dimmed the color became more clear. I can't believe I explained that in a single sentence. I win. All of the awards.
8-22-14
Today we're going to focus on cold and do another bling later... Don't know why... brbs... Ohkay... We saved and opened a picture from online in PS. We wrote the word "cold" in a text box and changed the font in a preview. We also used the wind filter (filter-stylize-wind) to make icicles. We transformed it using perspective and rotating it (CW and CCW), we flipped it vertically. We changed the opacity of the eraser tool to make it look like the image was fading. I learned how to use the pattern more practically
8-25-14
I'm going to change the layout of the blogs now...
First a text layer was created. Then the smudge tool was selected and the strength was changed. The tool was then used to create "flames". The quick selection tool was used to select a duplicated text in which the gradient tool was created and used to make look like fire. Afterwards color balance was used to make a then-white text look like fire with highlights and stuffs. I learned about the smudge tool.
First a text layer was created. Then the smudge tool was selected and the strength was changed. The tool was then used to create "flames". The quick selection tool was used to select a duplicated text in which the gradient tool was created and used to make look like fire. Afterwards color balance was used to make a then-white text look like fire with highlights and stuffs. I learned about the smudge tool.
8-26-14
Today a gif was created. First several (five) fire layers were created. A color balance was used to make it look as if were actually fire. Window/Time Frame made it into a movie. Then it was converted to frame animation and tween was used to make the frames blend together better. Also the frames were shortened to .1 seconds to increase the fps for a more moving image. The focus was making a .gif.
8-28-14
A grass-like image was created in PS today. First a text layer was created with a grass colored background. Then the filter gallery/sketch/reticulation to add a red and yellow grain to it. Blending options such as bevel and emboss, inner/outer glow was used to make the yellow into green with a little red leftover. More options were then messed around with to make the image look good.
8-29-14
First a picture of the Earth was found, saved and opened in Photoshop. The image size was adjusted (image/image size) to make the size 1-5M. An ellipse was then made to surround the Earth. The ellipse was then right clicked then made into work path. With text tool selected, the path was selected and a phrase was typed. The text was then made shorter and closer together with window/character. It was then transformed to orbit diagonally. The eraser tool was used to erase half of the orbit to seem as if it were going behind the Earth.
9-2-14
Today first "KEYSTONE" was typed into a text box. The text was then warped, by right clicking, into an arch. Then a path was created by right clicking and selecting the path. A brush was then downloaded and imported. With the brush tool selected, the path was right clicked with the pen tool selected then the brush was selected.
9-3-14
Today a contour image was selected to make into a brush. Also, window/brush opened up something similar to the character pallet that was used previously to adjust the setting of the brush. Future uses of the pen tool was also discussed. I think that the pen tool in PS is a lot different than the one in AE as far as mechanics go. Masking around round objects is a lot harder because the "curvy thing" (for lack of better word) is harder to use, or at least for me at least.
9-4-14
Today a Chinese soldier thing was masked out then made into a brush. We are currently trying to make it seem like there are rows of these soldier things.
9-15-14
Today clipping mask was made. A text layer was put under an image and on the top right of the layer thing on the right was clicked creating a drop down menu in which clipping mask was created.The image underneath an image, when a clipping mask is made, will be the shape. The image on top will be the pattern over the shape.
9-19-14
Today the first of the iPod commercials were created. The pen tool was used to mask around a person and, personally, I used levels to make it black. Objects within the silhouette were masked out and made a different color for contrast.
9-23-14
Work on iPod commercials was continued. The iCube picture was created. The hands were masked out first then levels was used to make them black. In order to emphasize that it was a Rubik's cube, I kept the color in the cube. This was don my creating a separate mask for the cube. For the thumb outline I just used a brush and followed the thumb as closely as possible with the mouse. Because the cube was colorful, I decided to use a purple background, as cubes only have white, yellow, blue, green, red, and orange. The purple makes the cube pop out more and, being a light color, allows the black silhouette to pop out as well.
9-24-14
Today the last of the iPod commercials was completed. For the Elucidator, the same technique for the fire at the beginning of the class was used to make the fire. To ensure that it was all relatively the same shade, the monochrome part in the color balance was selected then messed around with to get the desired image. For the Tardis, filter/render/lens flare was used to create the lens flare. One flare had to be put on the background and one flare had to be put on the Tardis as when a flare was put onto the Tardis it would follow the outline of the Tardis. Creating a new layer didn't help, as PS needs non-transparent pixels to render on.
9-25-14
Stuff is being worked on. First an image of a face was made black and white through Image/Adjustments/Desaturate. Image/Adjustment/[First 4] can be used to change the brightness/contrast of pictures. Then the midtones, highlights, and shadows were individually selected through Select/Color Range. Afterwards, Edit/Fill was used to make a selected layer a certain color. The box "Preserve Transparency" was selected in order to ensure that the background was still transparent. Each layer was then filled in individually so it was different colors.
9-26-14
Same as yesterday, the shadow layer was created. Stuff from the shadow layer was added with the brush and taken away by the eraser to make it look better and keep the things wanted while taking the things not wanted out. The pen tool was then used to remove the background. Feathering the mask was not recommended but personally i like a 1 px feather to let things blend without being noticeable. Afterward the shadow layer was placed on top and layers below were colored to make the image colorful. The shadow layer keeps things defined while the stuff below colors things in in between the line.
9-29-14
Today posterization was used. First the image was desaturized. The image was then posterized, (Image/Adjustments/Posterize). The number was first set to 2 but then was messed around with. The more numbers there were the more colors could be added. Colors were selected as before, Select/Color Range. Layers were duplicated and copied as before.
9-30-14
Today filter galleries were used. It can be accessed through Filter/Filter Gallery. Cutout was used and the different options were messed around with to get the desired options. It can mess with the edges, deciding to blur them or have the more smooth, etc. Also threshold could be used to simultaneously make it black and white while simultaneously messing with the levels.
10-1-14
Today the liquefy tool was used. It can be found at Filter/Liquefy. Within this tool there are many types of things that can be used. The pucker tool makes things within the circle cursor to shrink toward the middle. The blow tool makes things expand away from the middle. The Push left tool, when left click is held down and moved to the left, the image moves down, but when it is moved to the right the image moves up.
10-2-14
The work on the vector portrait begun. It is made by using the pen tool to select a desired area then filling it in with a paint bucket tool.
10-10-14
The websites of classmates was assessed today. I believe that the projects done by Adithya were the best of the class. This is not because some projects were outstanding but because a basic level of detail was maintained. This caused all of his images to abide by a certain standard that I enjoy, as it does not seem he picked and chose what to work hard on.
3rd Nine Weeks
1-5-15
Today more pages were added to the website. Titles were made by adding them normally. The new page that was added in the pages tab. It is also now required to have two portfolio projects and ten nine week projects.
1-6-15
More planets were made today. The ground was blended with the smudge, blur, and sharpen tools and water was blended by copying non separated water. Sky was altered with color and if that did not work Osu! spinners with the smudge tool made the seam look like clouds.
1-7-15
First an image of a skyline was opened in PS. An image of a person doing an action was optimal but it was not available. Filter/ Pixelate/ Color Halftone makes the image into a bunch of dots that made the photo appear. The radius in the menu decides the size of the dots.
1-12-15
An alternative to color halftone was discussed. Filter/Filter Gallery/Sketch/Halftone is used to produce a similar effect. The colors this filter will use are determined by the foreground and background colors in the color palette. There are different options in the menu used to determine size and contrast. Dots, Line, and Circle are used to determine the patter arrangement. To create the Lichtenstein pictures the same method to create the vector portraits was used and half tone patterns were used on different areas depending on the intended use.
1-20-15
Today photos were created to emulate Shepard Fairey. Posterization was used same as above.
1-22-15
A Shepard Fairey pattern was made. It was done by taking an actual pattern made by Shepard Fairey, posturizing it to two levels, cleaning up and noise, then adding one's own color scheme.
1-28-15
The following will be notes from a video:
After creating text: 3d/new 3d extrusion of selected layer
Top panel has the move tools; make sure scene is selected so camera moves
Properties/Cube thing allow the viewing of coordinates
To scale whole click and drag center
Different properties do different things
Pre render in PS is definately a lot faster than Blender, but I do not like how when the perspective wants to be changed, the actual camera has to be moved. As of now, Blender is preferred.
After creating text: 3d/new 3d extrusion of selected layer
Top panel has the move tools; make sure scene is selected so camera moves
Properties/Cube thing allow the viewing of coordinates
To scale whole click and drag center
Different properties do different things
Pre render in PS is definately a lot faster than Blender, but I do not like how when the perspective wants to be changed, the actual camera has to be moved. As of now, Blender is preferred.