Pieces for Peace
This is one of my first projects of the year that's designed for Pieces for Peace, a non-profit organization. The goal of this project was to illustrate our own interpretations of peace. During this time, the weather was beginning to transition to fall, and so I decided to draw a collage of leaves, candles, and a pumpkin. I decided to draw these three things because fall is one of my favorite seasons and makes me feel calm. During fall, these three things help me to feel comfortable, cozy, and most importantly, at peace.
Retouch Editing
This is one of my retouch editing projects. The goal of this project was to enhance the image so that there would be no scratches, stains, or water spots. I used the Spot Healing Brush, the Patch tool, and the Healing Brush in order to do this. I used the Spot Healing Brush and the Patch tool to clean up minor parts of the image, such as the stains on the background, as well as the scratch on the girl's face. Lastly, I used the Healing Brush and the Patch tool to clean up the stains on the girl's dress. Throughout this project, the most important thing I learned was how to organize my layers through the formation of groups. This skill will certainly be applied to future projects.
Ray Ban Advertisement
This is one of my favorite projects; my advertisement for Ray Ban, a world renowned eyeglasses company. In this project, the most important skill being used was creating layer masks to organize my composition. Layer masks are used to hide or reveal specific selections of an image, and I used this for the Ray Ban logo, motto, as well as the model in my composition. After creating layer masks for all three of these parts, I put my composition together to form my advertisement. This project was very enjoyable because I was not only able to learn something new, but express my inner self through making a realistic advertisement.
Clone Stamp Tool Project
This is another one of my favorite projects, where I edited my sister-in-law out of my cousin's picture. In this project, the main tool I used was the Clone Stamp tool. The Clone Stamp tool is often used to remove part of an image or duplicate an object. In this case, I used the Clone Stamp Tool to remove my sister-in-law from the image. In order to make sure all my editing was non-destructive, I was sure to make all edits on a separate layer. I also made two groups to organize my before and after layers. Something that I struggled with during this project was deciding where to select my pixels to clone them onto another area in the image. I solved this problem by zooming in to the image, so that I could see which pixels were closet in tone. Overall, this was a project that I enjoyed working on and I was able to learn how to efficiently use the Clone Stamp tool.
Pattern Stamp Tool Project: The Spring Collection
This is a project that was largely dependent on my creativity. In this project, we learned how to use the Pattern Stamp Tool to create nail designs. I started off this project by creating thumbnail sketches to gather my ideas. Using this method, I was able to see which designs and color schemes I liked the most. After choosing my favorite designs, I recreated them with Photoshop's Paint Brush Tool. I used the Rectangular Marquee Tool to select my pattern and saved it so that it could be used. Next, I used the Pattern Stamp Tool to design the nails. Then, I cleaned up my nail patterns with the Eraser Tool. Lastly, I used the blending options in the layers panel to make my nail patterns look realistic. All in all, the most important thing I learned in this project was how to plan out my thoughts so that they can be executed successfully.
Spirit Animal/Super Fan Project
This is a project that I was able to learn a lot from, as well as apply the many tools of Photoshop that were taught in class. The goal of this project was for us students to independently blend an animal or sports team logo onto our faces. Native American tribes believed in the idea of spirit animals, or animals that match one's personality, and this is where the animal portion of this project was derived from. I chose to blend an animal onto my face, and so I began by taking a spirit animal quiz. After taking the quiz, my results had said that my personality is much like a wolf. Following this, I chose a selfie and a picture of a wolf that were both positioned in a similar manner. I also cropped the wolf image so that only the face was visible. Next, I used the Free Transform option in the Application Bar to warp the wolf onto my face. This was my first time using this tool and I struggled with it for some time, yet I quickly learned how to use it. I found it difficult to align my facial features with the wolf and to fix this, I decreased the opacity of the wolf to 50%. Then, I used a Layer Mask to hide certain selections of the wolf's face to match my facial structure. After this, I used a Black and White Adjustment layer to adjust the levels in my composition. This allowed me to improve the contrast between my skin and the animal mask. Lastly, I used the Blending Modes option to make my animal mask look more realistic.
Throughout this project, my favorite part was when I warped the wolf mask onto my face. It was fun playing around with this tool, and I was able to stretch the wolf's face so that it would fit my face. Something I struggled with during this project was simply decision-making. I had difficulty deciding where to begin the project and what to do. I realized that as much as I disliked planning, it was time to do it. I needed a plan so that my goals would be clear, and this would help me to decide how I will complete the project. As a result, I wrote down my ideas for the project and eventually chose one. I wrote down what tools I would use and how I would use them. to complete the task. This was a very efficient strategy for this project because I was able to identify my goals and outline the steps to accomplish them. Even though I'm not completely satisfied with the final product, I was able to learn a lot and will use what I learned in future projects.
Silhouette Project
This is a project dedicated to Cameron Boyce, a young actor who passed away at the age of twenty, four years after suffering from epilepsy. Cameron Boyce was known for his role on several Disney Channel shows such as Jessie and Bunk’d, and even took part in movies with famous actors and actresses. I felt that it was important to dedicate this project to him, considering how much he inspired me. I’ve been someone who has grown up watching Cameron Boyce, and I’ve always admired his sense of dedication and hard work at such a young age. He’s someone who has never failed to make me laugh and for him to pass away from epilepsy was extremely tragic. Dedicating this project to him allowed me to feel a sense of pride, and I was also able to learn a lot about him, things that I didn’t even know.
The first thing I did for this project was I made a layer mask of Cameron Boyces’ face, using a selection tool. After that, I used a Fill Layer to fill the selection of Cameron Boyces’ face with black. Then, I used the Horizontal Text Tool to fill Cameron Boyces’ face with words that describe him, as well as quotes from him. I played around with different typefaces and fonts to see which ones I liked the best, and this was how I organized my composition.
Layer Comps Project
This is probably my favorite Photoshop project of all time, in which I was able to create different versions of a dog adoption poster using layer comps. The first thing I did for this project was I created a layer mask for the brunette girl and dog in the poster. After that, I used the Gradient Tool to add different gradients to the background. I chose to use light colors for my background because I felt that it would attract my audience, and the audience may even think about going to this event. Next, I played around with different fonts and colors for my title, place, and time texts in this poster. Then, I created a layer comp for each one of my versions using the layer comps panel. Adding comments when I saved my layer comps allowed me to organize my workspace, so that I knew what changes I made in each version. I repeated this process four different times for each version of my poster.
Throughout this project, the most important thing I learned was how to create layer comps to organize the versions of my poster. Layer comps allow us to create, manage, and navigate between multiple versions of a layout, and they were helpful in that I didn’t have to save each version of the poster using different files. I was able to save and view all versions within one Photoshop Document, and this made using Photoshop much more efficient.
If I were to do this project again, something I would do differently is I would spend more time arranging my text in different ways that attract the eye of the audience. I had a difficult time finding areas of my poster where the text looked appealing, and I only used two types of text arrangements. I will do this by managing my time more efficiently next time, so that I have more time to play around with my text. Overall, this was a project that was really fun and I was able to learn a lot from it.
Vision Board Project
Throughout this project, I was able to learn a lot about myself. I was able to discover new interests and learn about my likes and dislikes. I was also given a chance to think about my future and look into my dream life.
I started this project by listing things that I want in my future. This list included my hobbies, future lifestyle, career, and more. After brainstorming, I found images that I felt a connection to and arranged them in a collage on Photoshop. I also included a quote about determination because it’s something that represents me and my mindset.
To complete this project, I used a layer mask to replace the image of the nurse and women working out with myself, as it’s something I see myself doing in the future. Overall, this was a fun project where I was able to envision myself in the future, and use prior Photoshop concepts that were taught.
Custom Cereal Box Project
This project was a project where planning and putting that plan into action was crucial, as there were several parts of the project as a whole. I started this project off by working on a project scope statement where I was able to decide on a product name, think about my target audience, and finalize my project's deliverables. My first thought on this project was to create a product that was both nutritious and something children enjoy. I decided that my goal at the end of this project was to create a product that was aimed towards children from the ages of 5-11, who struggle with eating nutritious foods. In this way, both children would be happy and parents would approve as well.
Throughout the week I worked on this project, I broke it up by working on a panel each day. I began working on the front and back panels in the beginning, and worked my way towards the top panel as well as the side panels. Then, I customized the logo and finally decided on a color scheme. I also drew the panda on the front panel using pencil and paper, and the panda on the back panel using Photoshop's brush tool. All in all, after completing this project, I felt extremely accomplished. I was able to customize my own cereal box and see inside the mind of an entrepreneur. Next time, my goal is to manage my time more wisely, as this is something I always struggle with. I will do this by creating a list of my goals for the day and working on projects during my lunch period if necessary.
Event Flier Postcard
This is a Photoshop project that I personally enjoyed, as I was able to get familiar and play around with the Brush Tool. To begin this project, we created guidelines so that we could place our trim marks on our postcards. We also learned about the bleed zone, safety zone, and trim zone in doing so. The Bleed Zone is the area of your poster outside the trim marks, and this is also the white space outside the design. The Safety Zone is where the actual design of the poster is contained. Lastly, the Trim Zone is where the design will be cut, or the border outside the design
My next step for this poster was to write down any event information that was relevant. I chose the "Festival of Colors" as a name for this event because that's what Holi is most known for. I also wrote the date and time above the name of the event. After that, I created a banner type shape using the Line Tool and wrote down some things that would be featured in the event, as well as the address. This was my tactic to draw my audience to the event, for they will know what will occur. Then, I found a picture of the colors used in Holi and put it behind the event's name. I did this because it made my project look much more appealing, and this was great for my target audience. In doing so, I lowered the opacity and changed the order of the layers. Lastly, I made two layer comps and created a different background using the brush tool for each one.
All in all, this project was a really fun project where I was able to explore new features of Photoshop and apply prior taught concepts as well. I especially had fun using the brush tool and I will certainly use it to create more designs in the future.
Children's Bookcover
In this project, the main deliverable was to design a book cover for children who hate eating their vegetables. I began this project by sketching a few thumbnail drawings and comparing them at the end to see which one would be most appealing to my target audience. I also tested a few color schemes to see which one would get my message across. After this, I began constructing my book cover in Photopea, as Photoshop was not working at the time. I started off by using a color fill layer for my background. Then, I used the shape tool to make a white rectangle. I placed the rectangle right on top of my background layer and decided that this would be where the title and art for the bookcover would be composed. Then, I used the pen tool to create two happy characters (located at the bottom of my composition). I used groups to organize all my drawings with the pen tool.
Next, I researched what vegetables children dislike the most and made a list. I decided to use my research to make my composition more meaningful and relatable for my target audience, as well as parents of young children. After conducting research, I found images of the four vegetables I wanted to use. I also used layer masks to make the vegetables stand out. Then, I added an extra layer in my layers panel for non-destructive editing with the brush tool. I used this layer to add movement marks on each of the vegetables and create an effect that made it seem like they were falling. Finally, I played around with different typefaces to see which one best fit my composition, and used it for both the title and author of the book cover.
Throught the course of this project, I was able to learn several things. I was able to use my skill of problem-solving to work with Photopea, instead of Photoshop. I was also able to apply my knowledge of the pen tool to create my own characters. Together, all of these things have enhanced my skills and work to make me a strong visual designer.
Informative Poster on Ghosting
While working on this project, I was able to learn the importance of communication, especially in professional life. I was also able to apply prior concepts that were learned in Photoshop to create an attractive, yet informative poster.
Before beginning this project, we were introduced to how ghosting in the workforce goes about and why people decide to ghost. Having this information in my mind allowed me to decide who my target audience would be, the colors I would use, and the format of my project. After constructing some thumbnail sketches, I decided I wanted to create a poster that would teach employees and employers about ghosting, and what effects it might have on both of them. This information would encourage them to communicate with each other and understand how one can be affected by ghosting.
My first step in the construction of my poster was to do research on how employees and employers are affected by ghosting, and choose the most relevant information to use. Next, I began the construction of my poster in Photoshop. I decided I wanted to use a dark color for my background color to associate with the negative feelings that come with ghosting. I used the rectangular shape tool to create a rectangle, as well as used a dark blue color as the fill. After this, I used the pen tool to make a stressed-out businessman sitting at his desk. This would connote feelings of stress between both the employee and employer, Then, I got an image off of the internet of a bubble-like figure, and used a layer mask to select the area I wanted. I used the horizontal text tool to write about the effects of ghosting on employees and employers and placed them inside the bubble-like figure. I also used the horizontal text tool to write out the title of my poster, and added some bevel and emboss effects to draw attention. Finally, I organized all my layers in groups to make my work more cohesive.
All in all, this was a fun project in which I learned about one of the most important soft skills, communication. Without communication, no one can understand or even predict how you feel. In many situations, lack of communication affects multiple groups of people, so it's crucial to develop the skill. Proper communication can prevent a number of problems in the near future and it's important that everyone is educated on it.
Concert Poster for Charity
In this project, I was not only able to create an event poster but research and analyze several social issues that impact our world today. The deliverable of this project was to design a charity concert poster where all concert proceeds would go to a specific charity foundation. After doing some research, I found that world hunger was one of the biggest social issues today, especially amongst those suffering from extreme poverty. I decided to use this social issue because it's something that resonates with me, and I also wanted to draw attention to it. After this, I researched the largest charity foundations around the world. I came to find that the World Hunger Foundation was amongst one of the biggest ones and decided to use this charity foundation in my poster. I also researched various poster designs and layouts, and used them to create thumbnail sketches. Lastly, I listed all information that I wanted to incorporate into my poster and began designing my poster in Photoshop.
Before I officially began composing my poster in Photoshop, I wanted to design something that would make my poster stand out. I decided to experiment with the brush tool on a separate layer and see the designs I could come up with. At one point, I realized I achieved a fluffy cloud shape sort of look and I thought this would help achieve a sense of comfort in my poster. I decided to keep this for my poster and added a gradient to the background layer, enhancing its look. Next, I found an image of The Weekend and used a layer mask to select the area I wanted to use. I positioned my selection towards the bottom left side of my poster, as it fit my goals and looked most appealing in this orientation. Then, I chose three different typefaces that I wanted to use for each of the three categories of information within my poster; the event information, the name of the charity foundation, and the name of the artist that was performing. I chose three different typefaces to make each category of information stand out to my target audience. I also chose the name of my charity foundation to be in the color red to match the color of The Weekend's clothes, This helped to establish a relationship between the two aspects of my poster. Then, I arranged my text layers in a logical manner that made all the information in my poster easy to read. Finally, I added a bevel and emboss effect to the text layer with the name of my artist and organized all my layers into groups for optimal organization.
All in all, during the course of this project, I was able to apply various Photoshop concepts to make a realistic concert poster. I was also able to learn more information about present-day society, and the effects it has on humans.