Compositing Using Layers

1. Compositing Using Layers Photoshop I

2. Unit Question What is compositing and how are layers used to create compositions?

3. Essential Question #1 What is compositing as defined in art and graphic design?

4. Compositing • Combining two or more images or portions thereof, to create a new image that didn’t exist in that form previously. David D. Busch from Digital retouching and Compositing : Photographer’s Guide • Refers to the aesthetic arrangement of elements within a work of art. Lois Fichner-Rathus from Understanding Art, Seventh Edition

5. Examples of Compositing

6. Examples of Compositing

7. Examples of Compositing

8. Examples of Compositing

9. Key Question • What is a Photoshop composition? • A combination of one or more photos and graphical elements which creates a new image; the result of compositing.

10. Key Question What are five elements of composition in photography that can be used to create interesting Photoshop compositions?

11. Element #1: Pattern • Patterns are all around us if we only learn to see them. • Emphasizing or highlighting patterns can lead to striking compositions. • Filling your frame with a repetitive pattern can give the impression of size and large numbers • Breaking a pattern can be easily accomplished using Photoshop for an interesting effect.

12. Examples of Patterns as an element in Compositions

13. More Patterns

14. Breaking a Pattern

15. Element #2: Symmetry • Occurs when one side of something balances out or mirrors the other. • Also know as symmetrical balance or formal balance. • A symmetrical shot with strong composition and a good point of interest can lead to a striking image. • At times asymmetry may be desired which is the absence of balance.

16. Symmetry

17. Symmetry

18. Symmetry

19. Element #3: Texture • Images are two dimensional yet with the clever use of ‘texture’ they can come alive and become almost three dimensional. • Texture particularly comes into play when light hits objects at interesting angles. • The right surface with the proper lighting angle can have a striking effect.

20. Texture

21. Texture and Light

22. Texture and Light

23. Texture and Light

24. Texture and Light

25. Element #4: Depth of Field • The portion of an image which is in focus. • Depth of field is the amount of sharp detail between the foreground and background parts of a picture. The most important part of the image should be in sharp focus in order to direct the eye to that object. • In landscapes, a large depth of field is often desired so that the entire scene appears to be in focus. • In portraits a small depth of field is often used to blur the background and reduce distractions from the main subject of the image.

26. Depth of Field

27. Depth of Field

28. Depth of Field

29. Depth of Field Shallow depth of field

30. Depth of Field Large depth of field

31. Element #5: Lines • Can be powerful elements in an image • Lines have the power to draw the eye to key focal points in a shot and to impact the ‘feel’ of an image greatly. • Lines are a great way to lead your viewers eyes in a composition. • Diagonal, Horizontal, Vertical and Converging lines all impact images differently .

32. Lines

33. Lines

34. Lines Horizontal Lines

35. Lines Diagonal Lines

36. Lines Vertical Lines

37. Lines Converging Lines

38. Lines Converging Lines

39. Lines Converging Lines

40. Essential Question #2 What are layers in Photoshop and how are they used to create compositions?

41. KQ: What is a layer in Photoshop? • Layers are the single most important aspect of Photoshop. Nothing worth doing in Photoshop can or should be done without the use of layers.Layers are the heart and soul of Photoshop. • a section within an image on which objects can be stored or objects or effects overlaid on top of one another. • Allows for the creation of sophisticated images because you can create multiple layers. (8000 layers are possible in a single document.)

42. KQ: What are the advantages and disadvantages of using layers? • Advantages: • Each object exists on its own individual layer which makes it easy to control the position and quality of each layer in the stack. • Using layers allows for the modification of images, effects, type and styles affecting other layers. • Makes possible the manipulation of the tiniest detail within your document which allows for flexibility when making changes.

43. KQ: What are the advantages and disadvantages of using layers? • Disadvantages: • When sending a Photoshop image with layers the receiver must have Photoshop. Otherwise the files must be “flattened” and saved in a different file format such as a JPEG of GIF file. • Many layers means that file size becomes very large. To reduce the file size the Photoshop file should be “flattened.” • After a file is flattened, it cannot be edited.

44. Layering

45. KQ: What is the background layer? • A special type of layer • Set when a new document is created and is located at the “bottom” of the layer stack. • A background layer has limitations placed on it which normal layers do not have. • Background layers cannot be transparent and cannot contain transparent areas. • Also, background layers cannot be deleted to the trash can, and you cannot delete any part of them • The default background color is white. • Others colors can be selected by changing the background color in the toolbox. • Background layers can be converted to a normal layer for editing purpose. • Setting the background to transparent does NOT preserve the special background properties

46. The Background Layer: Why is it Special? • Background layers cannot be transparent and cannot contain transparent areas. They serve as the background for documents and therefore must be seen. • A photo is placed on the background layer as a new document when Photoshop opens. • The background layer is special in order to protect the photo while Photoshop is working its magic. • We do not want the ability to accidentally delete a section of the original photo leaving a big transparent hole and ruining the original photo.

47. KQ: How are layers created and organized? • New layers are created automatically when an element is moved into the composition. • Adding text to a document automatically creates a new layer. • News layers can be created by selecting the new layer icon in the layers panel. • Layers can be moved and organized by changing the stacking order of the layers.

48. The Layer’s Panel

49. KQ: How are layers named, duplicated, and deleted? • All layers should be renamed to represent the contents of the layers—this is good Photoshop technique. • Layers are renamed by double-clicking on the layer name in the layer’s panel. • Any layer can be duplicated by right-clicking on the layer to be duplicated. • Layers can be deleted by dragging the layer to trash can icon at the bottom of the layer’s panel.

50. The Layer’s Panel