Layer Blend Assignment

Study the examples and techniques described here. Also watch for class demos and more examples.

Then, do a few quick experiments to get comfortable with blending and altering layers with different modes and transparencies, a useful technique in digital art.

Finally, produce two “Best” works, creative and carefully produced masterworks using these techniques.

Save all work in the folder AWT4/Blends, and source jpegs in AWT4/Blends/SourcePics

This is NOT a collage – you’re not placing objects in pictures, you’re altering pictures by skillfully blending layers.

Think BIG – all photos must be clear and high enough resolution to fill the height of the screen.

Create at least these 3 blends (feel free to do more in these categories or your own invention)

• BIOTECH: Start with a photograph that you take yourself of a piece of technology e.g. a car, a computer, an I-phone, an air conditioner. Bring it to life by subtly adding “living” textures to its various surfaces: skin, fur, hair, leaves, etc.
• FACETEXTURE adds interesting texture to a facial portrait you take this week (borrow my camera if needed). Texture at least 3 areas (e.g. skin of the face, lips, eyes, hair). Keep the jpegs of the original textures and face photos. Also texture the background separately from the face.
• ARTBLEND combines two (or more) subjects, like the pony-in-the-church-ruin example. At least one layer of this has to be a hi-res photo you have taken in the last 6 months. Again, this is NOT a collage – check the example.

Filenames & Formats

You should end up with BIOTECH.psd, FACETEXTURE.psd and ARTBLEND.psd. Save these also as jpegs (BIOTECH.jpg, FACETEXTURE.jpg and ARTBlend.jpg). Save all other works as jpegs only (delete the PSDs). Name them Experiment1.jpg, Experiment2.jpg, and so on. I will give you credit for trying several experiments.

Suggestions/Requirements

• If you use any image (textures and subjects) from any source other than yourself or my texture files (in I:/AWT4/PhotoShop Tutorial Files/Textures), you must keep a copy of it as a jpeg and record its URL. Do this in the folder AWT4/Blends/SourcePics
• Experiment with subtle vs. in-your-face blends. Subtle might be a discrete homogeneous texture added that doesn’t alter the main subject too much. Suggestions: sand, textured paper, any subtle pattern. The opposite might be to give someone’s face a floral or metallic texture.
• Play with the levels of all layers.
• Remember that you can reduce opacity of a layer in the layer menu.
• Don’t always texture or blend all parts of your works – limit the texture to an area, and smoothly transition to another texture. You could use more than two layers in parts or all of a work. Use your imagination and creativity!

What’s evaluated?

• 3+ works done and saved as jpegs and PSDs. Experiments are just checked for completion (do them quickly)
• All other files deleted/moved? Please follow the guidelines on space usage.
• Follows criteria? (size; formats; shot by you this week; original jpegs of your shots and Internet pics kept)
• Artful photography?
• Skill and degree of difficulty in blending and other techniques?
• Impact? – a subjective evaluation of its power as an artwork. Compare it to some of the best examples you’ll be shown.
• Creativity – imaginative choice of subject, textures, techniques.
• Quick “What I did” writeup for the “big three”. Save this in a Word doc named Blends.doc All you have to do is list each of the required 3 blends, and in point form state what you blended with what, using what mode, to achieve your results. Why? Because it’s not always easy to figure out what you did. For ARTBLEND – give it a title, and say what you trying to accomplish artistically. How did your choice of photos and techniques accomplish this? How did it work out? (It’s okay to admit it’s less than perfect – you can get a higher mark with a good critique than a bland statement that you’re happy with everything in it. I don’t mean you have to be harsh, just insightful and objective).

When is it due?

· Next Monday, April 20, start of the period. Work efficiently to get it done as well as other projects we’re doing such as Time Lapse and an Environmental Poster.

More?

If you want to get into digital art seriously, there’s a huge market, and a lot to learn. We’re just scratching the surface here! Check this artist’s description of creating a character in PhotoShop layers.