Using Photoshop.

As well as editing our preliminary task we have also been looking into production techniques for ancillary tasks. Both the webpage and digipack will require photo editing techniques, for this we have chosen to use Adobe Photoshop. We have explored some of the numerous functions of Photoshop by testing it out on a few generic images such as a picture of the earth.

Today we have learn how to use functions such as the various different methods of selecting part of an image the simplest of these is the option allowing you to select a specific shape, the different presets include the simple box and oval shapes. For more specific selections the magic wand tool can be used this selects an area of an image of a similar colour to the chosen pixel. A good feature of this is the ability to change the threshold level which effectively changes the sensitivity of the selection. For example if it is high only pixels exactly the same would be added to the selection and if it is low a great deal of the image is likely to be added.

Another selection tool is the “Lasso” which allows you to select part of an image freehand; this is likely to come in useful in situations where the colour of an image does not change sufficiently. The downside to this function is the fact that it requires a very steady hand to select the edges of even fairly simple shapes and it is easy to slip.

When part of an image is selected it is possible to perform a variety of transformations such as distortions and rotations these can be found in the “Edit” menu. So far we have mainly used these for selections although they can also be used for changing the apparent orientation of a selection; however we have found that using this can cause parts of an image to pixelate so we will have to be careful about not applying distortion type effects too vigorously.

Additionally a selected image can have various effects applied to it, many of these involve editing the RGB balance or the saturation, for example turning the saturation down to its lowest value will make an image appear in its “greyscale” black and white form. Another useful feature is the fact that Photoshop works in layers meaning that a given transformation or effect can be applied to only a single layer of an image, this allows the editor to have much more control over the image being produced. The layers can be toggled between and also viewed as a single image, if the overall image is then saved and re-imported it can even be used as another layer of an even more complex image.

So far we have only scratched the surface when it comes to all the features of Photoshop; however I am sure that once we have a little more experience it will allow us to create some very effective imagery for our digipack and webpage.