Face to face class is NOVEMBER 14 - Assignment 12 due November 20
Objectives:
- Let's learn about blending modes!
- Using the blending modes
- Using the blending modes in conjunction with masks
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Blending modes are one of the powerhouse functions of Photoshop! Blending modes control how pixels in the image are affected by a painting or editing tool, or by a layer. You'll find blend mode options for several tools, such as the brush tool shown in the image at the right. Layers can have blending modes, too, and you'll find a mode drop-down menu just to the left of the layer opacity slider.
Each mode uses an algorithm to mix pixels. For a detailed description of what each blending mode does, visit this page in the Adobe Help site. Notice that the blend modes are divided into groups. Each group has similar, but slightly different algorithms. For example, the group containing darken, multiply, color burn, linear burn, and darker color all use algorithms that darken pixels as they mix. The next group lightens. We'll go more into detail on this now. Please watch this great Photoshop Training Channel tutorial on blending modes for beginning Photoshop users. It's 41 minutes long. Take some notes - it covers about everything you need to know about blending modes, and it's so important to knowing how to use Photoshop! |
Iris Painting by Nathan Smith
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Video: Blending Modes Explained - Complete Guide to Photoshop Blend Modes (41:05)
Now we get to the fun part of the lesson. Now you understand what blending modes are, and are beginning to have a sense as to what they do - let's try some exercises together. Pick at least two of the exercises below to try out yourself!
Exercise: Learn to use the multiply blending mode to add a tattoo on skin. Click the images "Tattoo Designs" and "Untattooed" to download them. Can you add a tattoo to the girl's arm like I have in the picture at right? Hint: I followed the directions in the video at left. I also had to free transform the tattoo to make it look like it wraps around her arm (I used warp). Save your file as B12-Tattoo_Your_Name.PSD
I've added the video, "Photoshop: How to Camouflage a Face onto Gnarly, Tree Bark" just for your enjoyment - and to show you how you can use blending modes, adjustment layers, and some filters (which we'll learn more about in the next lesson) to do some amazing things.
I've added the video, "Photoshop: How to Camouflage a Face onto Gnarly, Tree Bark" just for your enjoyment - and to show you how you can use blending modes, adjustment layers, and some filters (which we'll learn more about in the next lesson) to do some amazing things.
Video: Tattoo Photoshop Tutorial - Photoshop CC, CS6, CS5, CS3 (2:15)
Tattoo Designs
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Untattooed
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Example
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Exercise: Old man in the tree. Watch the video below. Try it out for yourself with a picture of yours, or the one provided below. Save your file as B12-Treeman_Your_Name.PSD
Click image download photo.
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Click image download photo.
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Video: Photoshop: How to Camouflage a Face onto Gnarly, TREE Bark (4:49)
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Student submission - Charlotte Maynard
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Exercise: Create a sketch out of a photograph. Try it out for yourself with a picture of yours, or the one provided below. Save your file as B12-Sketch_Your_Name.PSD
This quick tutorial I made will allow you to turn a photo into a pencil drawing in Photoshop. Mac users: use Command-J and Command-I (instead of CTRL)
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Click image download photo.
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Example
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This tutorial takes some additional steps to turning a photo into a drawing.
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Example
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When you combine the blending modes with masks - you have a very powerful combination. For example, you can duplicate a layer and apply a blending mode to the duplicate. Adding a mask to the blend mode layer will allow you to determine exactly where (and how strong) the blending takes place. The following exercise will demonstrate this. At left is the file we will create. At the top-right is a link to the zip archive of images we will use to create it. At the bottom-right is a link to the tutorial video, where I show you the process I used to create it. Follow along, but you're welcome to redesign it to your own purposes (any of you have an anniversary coming up?)! Make it similar (so you use the same skills shown in the video). Please note: after I made the video, I decided to change the mask on the hands at the bottom. After walking away from it for a while (a good thing for designers to do!), I came back and noticed he was holding a chopped off hand! Had to fix that!!!
When you've completed this exercise, save your file as B12-Announcement_Your_Name.PSD
When you've completed this exercise, save your file as B12-Announcement_Your_Name.PSD
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Click image above to get the public domain files (zip archive)
Video: Creating an Anniversary Flyer in Photoshop CC (15:05)
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Lesson 12 Assigned Readings
- These will be in the lesson 12 module in Canvas
- Complete the following lesson 12 exercises
- Two of the part 2 exercises
- B12-Announcement_Your_Name.PSD
- Portfolio Exhibit - Real World Project
- Create an attention-getting digital display for Utah State University that will inform students of an upcoming deadline for next semester - Spring 2018. This will be due November 20st, so be sure to choose a deadline that falls after November 30th.
- It must be well designed, easy to read within 20 seconds of display time. Use principles you have learned about contrast, repetition, alignment, proximity, color, typography, message hierarchy, etc.
- It must be 1920 pixels wide by 1080 pixels tall at 72 dots per inch - any that are not this size will be rejected by the campus digital display managers.
- Save your file as a Photoshop file named B12-Your_Name_Digital_Display.PSD.
- Add your exhibit to your portfolio along with a description of your design thoughts and Photoshop skills used.
- Zip the exercise files and your digital display portfolio exhibit into a single zip archive named B12-Your_Name.zip, and submit it to me in Canvas.
- I will screen your display submissions and submit several of your displays to those who run the campus TVs. Your display may be chosen to use on Utah State University digital displays around campuses - so make it professional!
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One good exercise is to create your own blending modes chart - a visual guide to each of them. You're welcome to use mine as a reference.
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This tutorial uses blending modes in various ways to create backgrounds.
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This page last updated November 6, 2017. This lesson combines my own work (images, text, videos) which are ©2017 by Nathan Smith. All other images, videos, and cited text sources are curated from the internet, and are publicly available.
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