Student Work: Animated GIFs

by Jason Southall

by Eric Enriquez

Week 8, May 23rd: Actions, Restoration and Patterns

Class Outline:

Talk about Final Project Proposals
Retouching old or damaged Photos
Making Patterns
Creating Shadows/Reflections
Raw Plug-ins/Presets/Actions for Effects
Writing Actions and Recording Presets

HW Due Next Week on May 30th:
Choose one:
Restore an old/damaged photo, Create a pattern (see below) or Create a collage using blending modes


Creating Actions for Creative Filter Effects:

Actions are recorded steps done in Photoshop that save us lots of time! You can record your own actions (series of steps) or you can download them. Here are links to download actions that add effects to your images like the vintage look above.

Action Set 1
Action Set 2

Free Plug-ins for more effects:

http://www.lightstalking.com/free-photoshop-plugins

Camera Raw Presets are like actions for RAW files. Download some presets here or record your own by going to the Presets tab in Camera Raw:
http://www.ononesoftware.com/products/perfect-presets-camera-raw/

Pattern Making with Photoshop:
Great for printing on fabric and textile design


1.) Start with an image you'd like to repeat. this can be a sketch, a photo, or several different items scanned in and overlapped to make a shape, like the one I did below.

2.) Select the entire image (use marquee tool, or command A). Edit > DEFINE PATTERN.

3.) Make a new document that is larger than the image you want to repeat. Do the math to make sure your image fits. For example, the image above that i want to repeat is 2 inches by 2 inches. So I made a new document that is 12 inches by 12 inches. This means my image will repeat exactly 6 times across and 6 times down.

4.) On the new larger document, fill the background with whatever color you want (EDIT> FILL). Then to repeat the pattern go to EDIT > FILL>Fill with pattern. Make sure you select your image from the "custom pattern" drop down menu.

5.) Voila! You have a pattern that you can now use in the backdrop of a digital illustration, in the clothing of a fashion illustration, to make wall paper, to print on fabric, etc....

Adding a Shadow/Reflection:

To create the look above, follow these steps:

1. Make a selection of your accessory using any selection method you choose (Pen Tool, Color Range, Magic Wand, etc… Magic Wand is probably the easiest if your background is white. Don’t forget to Select > Inverse)

2. When the selection is live, Copy (command C) and Paste (Command V). It will automatically be pasted into a new layer. Name this layer “REFLECTION”

3. With the new “reflection” layer highlighted, go to EDIT > TRANSFORM > FLIP VERTICAL. Use the MOVE TOOL (V) to drag the reflection down below the accessory.

4. If your canvas is not tall enough, go to IMAGE > CANVAS SIZE to add more white at the bottom.

5. Change the Opacity of the “reflection” layer to about 35%

6. Make a Layer Mask on the “reflection” layer. Using the GRADIENT TOOL on the mask and black paint, drag from the bottom center of your canvas to create a “fall off” of the reflection.

7. On the “reflection” layer, go to EDIT > FREE TRANSFORM if you’d like to rotate the reflection. Additionally, use MOVE TOOL to move it around.

Stellar Student Work

by Brad Andres

by Charlie Aczon

by Eric Enriquez

by Marlena Jennings

I was super impressed by the digital illustrations that came out of the Week 6 Homework. The assignment was to start with a line drawing and using the pen tool and magic wand tools to add color and texture using Edit > Paste Special > Paste Into. Nice work!

Repairing Damaged Photos

Repairing Old or Damaged Photos:


Using a combination of clone stamp, fill with content aware, healing with content aware, healing brush and patch tool, you can repair old or damaged photos.