It is important for photographers to be skilled with the camera and with image editing. This activity will help you understand important Photoshop skills that every photographer should know.
Instructions
Preparation/Resources
1. Free CG Textures Account: You will need a texture image for #4 skill below. Set up a free account with CG Textures and enjoy an amazing deal! You can download up to 15mb of high res. images every day. This website is not like normal stock image websites. You may use the CG images in your printed and web work, for free, even for professional use! As long as you do not try to resell their actual images. Read FAQ on their website for more details.
Six Important Photoshop Skills
1. ADJUSTMENT LAYERS: Download this Beach Sunset image, follow the tutorial: Adjustment Layers and Mask in Photoshop, to darken the sky and lighten the foreground. Save as a high-quality JPEG (keep original size) with this code and your own name. Example: 9C_1JakeSpencer.jpg
2. SUPER SHARPENING: Use tutorial Sharpening in Photoshop
Download this Flower image, follow the tutorial to sharpen only the center area of the flower. Save as a high-quality JPEG (keep original size) with this code and your own name. Example: 9C_2JakeSpencer.jpg
3. PHOTO FINISHING: Use tutorial Photo Finishing Tips Download this Buoys image, follow all six steps of this tutorial and save as a high-quality JPEG (keep original size) with this code and your own name. Example: 9C_3JakeSpencer.jpg
4. BLENDING TIPS: Use tutorial Blending Texture and Images in Photoshop. Open your CG Textures free account (see Resources above) and locate a texture image (at least 1024 wide) to blend with this Keys image or this Bread image. Use the crop tool to size your texture image to match the background image (1024 x 684). Follow the bottom part of Blending Tips tutorial: “Use Blending Modes and Mask.” Notice: the beautiful textures blended into the image below. Sometimes it helps to desaturate the image a bit, reduce contrast and add burned edges too. Save as a high-quality JPEG (keep original size) with this code and your own name. Example: 9C_4JakeSpencer.jpg
5. NON-DESTRUCTIVE DODGE & BURN: Use tutorial Photoshop Dodge & Burn
Download this Southern Gentleman image, follow the tutorial to lighten and darken select ares of this image. Save as a high-quality JPEG (keep original size) with this code and your own name. Example: 9C_5JakeSpencer.jpg
6. CUTOUTS: Use tutorial Cutout in Photoshop (for CS6 users: Cutout). Download this Leprechan image, follow the tutorial to smoothly remove this man from the background. Save as a high-quality JPEG (keep original size) with this code and your own name. Example: 9C_6JakeSpencer.jpg
SUBMISSION: Go to 9C Submission and upload all six images. Be sure you named them properly. Example: 9C_5JakeSpencer.jpg .. but change the number each time to correspond with the tutorial number above.
Note: All images in this activity are for practice with this educational activity only. Please do not use copyrighted images for any other purpose.
Fair Use Guidelines: Also, according to the Fair Use Guidelines, students may use may use up to five images from a photographer or artist to practice with for educational purposes, as long as they are not used for resell or professional use.
