WEEK 3

 PRACTICAL 

BLENDING MODE EXERCISE

This week we were instructed by Mr. Chong to experiment with blending modes on Photoshop. Shown below are the exercises that we did in class.

Figure 1.0: Sunset with Birds

For this particular picture, we were told to put in a picture of a flock of birds into a sunset picture, the blending mode that we used was "screen" and we experimented on "levels" too.

Figure 1.1: Girl Drinking Coffee

For this picture, we were told to put in a picture of steam on top of the cup of coffee by using the "multiply" blending mode option. Apart from that, we were told to soften the look of the photo by adding white radial gradient to it.

Figure 1.2: Extra Light Source

In this picture, we were told to make the light source brighter by using the gradient tool and "multiply" from the blending mode options.

Figure 1.3: Darkened Effect

In this picture, we were told to make the darken the inner part of the Hearst Mansion by using the gradient tool and "screen" from the blending mode options.

Figure 1.4: Vignette Effect

In this picture, we were taught to add a vignette effect by using the radial gradient tool and "Screen" from the blending mode options.

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 Ghost House (Part 1) 

This week we were tasked to create a haunted house with a ghost bride. Through this task, I have learned to use Blending Mode (screen, multiply, softlight), I find this tool very helpful. Apart from that, we were tasked to use the Polygonal Lasso Tool too, which is another helpful tool to mask out objects with straight lines. Below are the pictures we were given to work on the Ghost House:

Figure 2.0: A House

Figure 2.1: Dark Clouds

Figure 2.3: Ghost Bride

Step 1: Masking The House
The first step of this process is to mask out the old house. We were told to use the quick selection tool first followed by the polygonal lasso tool to distinguish the difference between the two tools with the same outcome.

Figure 2.4: Masking Process

Step 2: Resizing & Colour Matching The House
The second step requires us to move the house to the "dark clouds" photo as it is used as a background. After resizing the house, I used 'colour match" to make sure the colours of the two photos match.

Figure 2.5: Resizing & Colour Matching The House

Step 3: Blending The Ghost Bride
The third step is proceeded with putting in the ghost bride photo. After that, using "screen" from the blending mode option, the black background of the ghost bride is removed.

Figure 2.6: Blending The Ghost Bride

Step 4: Resizing, Masking and Adding Glow The Ghost Bride
For the final step, I resized the ghost bride to be put in the window of the house. Apart from that, I masked out her legs to fit in the house. Finally, I added glow using the gradient tool and blending mode, and as a final touch, the opacity of the glow was reduced to soften the glow.

Figure 2.7:Resizing, Masking and Adding Glow

Final Outcome of The Ghost House

Figure 2.8: Final Outcome of The Ghost House

 Sunset Cowboy (Part 2) 

For the second part of this week's exercise, we were instructed to apply the same process of making the Ghost House to edit a cowboy and his house with a sunset background. Shown below are the pictures used for this part of the exercise.

Figure 2.9: Sunset

Figure 2.10: Cowboy

Figure 2.11: House

My process of editing the Sunset Cowboy:

1. Mask out the house and drag it to the sunset image

2. Resize both pictures

3. Do colour-matching and adjust levels

4. Drag cowboy into the workspace

5. Use "Multiply" on cowboy, adjust the opacity

Final Touches:

To make the edit more believable, I tweaked the colours of the green hill located at the far left of the picture and added a vignette effect in the picture using the gradient tool and "multiply" from blending mode options, this is to create a subtle dramatic effect. Take a look below of the before and after. 

Figure 2.12: Before and After of Colour-Matching

Figure 2.13: Before and After of Vignette Effect

Final Outcome of The Sunset Cowboy 

Figure 2.14: Final Outcome of Sunset Cowboy

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 LECTURE 

This week we were taught about blending modes and double exposure effects on Photoshop.

Double exposure photography refers to merging multiple images. The goal is to make them surreal, emotional, or humorous. They usually feature silhouettes. Shown below is the gist of what we were taught about blending modes.

Figure 3.0: Blending Modes

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 TUTORIAL 

Task:

This week we were instructed by Mr. Fauzi to make collage designs as well, but this time we were instructed to do it on Photoshop. In addition, we were advised to play around with blending modes to create the artworks. Mr. Fauzi has given us specific pictures to use for our collages.

Progress:

For the first attempt of my producing the collages, I honestly didn't really have a thought process, I just put in stuff that I think were nice, and I focused on the colours and visual, it was all just random placements.

Figure 4.0: 1st Attempt of Digital Collages

Composition #1:

For the first composition, I was playing around with the lines of the buildings and the contrasting colours using blending modes. I put the fish there randomly, because at the time I thought, "this artwork doesn't look dynamic enough", and I put the beige background there just so it doesn't look to bland with the plain white background. For this composition, Mr. Fauzi advised me to apply the rule of thirds for the building and make use of the negative space around it.

Composition #2:

For the second composition, I utilized the cat and the fish because they're like opposites, prey and predator. As for the background I was struggling to put in what I really like so there wasn't any thought process to it, I just wanted the triangular shapes to mirror each other. In Mr. Fauzi's opinion, he thought the background looks kind of awkward, which I agree with him and he advised me to put the background all black.

Composition #3:

As for my third composition, this is my favourite one to be frank, due to the fact that it's simple enough to tell a story. It looks like humans on another planet, or like a far dystopian future. Mr. Fauzi didn't really comment much on this.

After getting advice from Mr. Fauzi, I recreated my first and second composition. Shown below are my final collages.

FINAL DIGITAL COLLAGE #1

Figure 4.1: Final Digital Composition #1

FINAL DIGITAL COLLAGE #2

Figure 4.2: Final Digital Collage #2

FINAL DIGITAL COLLAGE #3

Figure 4.3: Final Digital Composition #3