Symbolic Silhouette Self-Portrait Day 5: Using a mask to fill in our background with an image

Today’s essential question: How can I create contrast between the inside of my silhouette and my background?

Today we will use the mask tool to fill in our background with an image.

Having trouble finding large enough images?

Sign up for a free account on the Pexels website and you’ll have access to thousands of great royalty-free photos.

Next class, we will critique our near-finished projects with a partner, and then spend the rest of the class period finishing our projects and making the changes suggested by the peer critique.

How to Use the Mask Tool

1. Open your project Photoshop file (the one that ends with .psd, NOT .png).
2. Open whatever image you would like to fill the negative space portion of your project.
3. Drag whatever image you would like to fill the negative space portion of your project into the project Photoshop file.
   
4. If it is the wrong orientation (such as my example where it is landscape instead of portrait), rotate the image.
   Edit -> Transform -> Rotate 90 CW (or CCW – your choice)
   
5. Scale it so it fills the screen (Edit -> Free Transform). Remember to hold down the shift key and scale from the corner so you do not distort the proportions of the image. Also, do not make an image much larger – it will pixelate and look blurry when printed.
   
6. In the layers palette on the bottom right side of the screen, click on the eye next to this layer to make it temporarily invisible.
   
7. Click on the layer titled “negative space.” It should turn blue to show it has been selected.
   
8. Your project should now look like this (you may have images inside your silhouette):
   
9. Select the magic wand tool form the toolbar on the left side of the screen.
10. Click on any part of the negative space layer that has been painted. It should now be outlined with dotted lines.
    
11. In the layers palette on the bottom right side of the screen, click on the eye next to this layer to make it invisible.
    Your project should now look like this:
    
12. Now click on the eye space next to the layer that contains the image you want to fill in your background. This will make the layer visible.
    
13. Click on the layer itself to select it. It should turn blue.
    
14. Click on the mask tool at the bottom of the layers palette.
15. This should hide everything but the background area:
    

Today we will:

• Learn how to use the mask tool to fill in our background with an image
• Continue working on our projects
• Save our projects as both as (Photoshop) .psd and .png, upload both files to our school Google Drives, and create a new blog post with the PNG of our progress

Symbolic Silhouette Self-Portrait Day 4: Unity of Color

Today’s essential question: How can I create unity throughout my piece with color?

An artwork has unity when its different parts go together. One way to create unity is to repeat the same colors throughout a piece.

How have your classmates created unity in their silhouettes so far?

Nicky

Daneisha

Alexis

Isaiah

Why does this piece not feel unified, even though all of the photos show food?

Need more images?

Create an account on the Pixabay website to get access to over a million free images.

Today we will:

• Continuing removing the background from each image using the eraser or magic wand and saving the individual files as .PSDs
• Continue dragging the images with the backgrounds removed into our silhouette file, making sure we are creating unity with common colors
• Save our file as both a Photoshop and PNG
• Upload both files to our Google Drive
• Create a new blog post with the following:
  • PNG of our silhouette progress (no one will finish today)
  • a few sentences describing what was easy and what was difficult

Symbolic Silhouette Self-Portrait Day 3: Combining Multiple Images into One Photoshop File

Today’s essential question: How can I create unity throughout my project?

Today we will add the images we have downloaded to the inside of our Photoshop silhouettes. We will need to remove the background from each image.

We will learn how to add images to the background next class. Do not worry about that today.

Make sure your save your project as both a Photoshop (.PSD) file (which you will upload to your Google Drive) and a PNG file (which you will post to your blog). You blog will not let you upload a Photoshop file, and you will not be able to further edit a PNG file, which is why you need to save both versions. No one will finish their project today, but you must post your progress in order to receive participation points. No blog post = 0 participation for the day.

Downloading LARGE Images to Use in Your Project

• Use the steps in this handout to download:
  • 15-20 images (that are larger than 4MP) you can use for the silhouette portion of our project
  • another 3-5 images (that are larger than 4MP) you might use for the background
• Place these images in their own folder in your 890 number
• Upload the folder to your Google Drive

Adding Images into your Silhouette

1. Open your silhouette PHOTOSHOP file (the one that ends in .psd). Your layers palette should look like this:
   
   (If you only have one layer named background, you have mistakenly opened the PNG file. If that is the case, close  that file and open the .psd file.)
2. Now open the first image you would like to drag into your silhouette in Photoshop.
   (File -> Open -> locate where you saved your image and select it)
   Go to the toolbar on the left side of the screen and select the move tool.
3. Now click on the image and “throw” it into your silhouette Photoshop file. Your layers palette should now look like this:
   
4. The image you just dragged should be below the negative space layer and on top of your silhouette layer. Eventually, it will look like the silhouette is filled with a collage of images:
   
5. Scale or rotate the image by going to the top of the screen and selecting “Edit -> free transform. Do not make the image larger, or it will pixelate like the example below:
   
6. Repeat steps until you have placed all your desired images into the silhouette photoshop file.
7. Select the eraser tool and erase the background from each image.  Make sure you are on the correct layer!
8. Save your photoshop file occasionally while you are working on it so you do not lose your work (File -> save)

Saving your file & Posting to your blog

1. Save your Photoshop File (File -> save)
2. Save a version as a PNG (File -> save as -> Select “PNG” as “file type”).
3. Upload the Photoshop file to your Google Drive
4. Create a new blog post with the following:
   1. a png image of your progress. (You will not finish your project today, so I am looking for progress rather than perfection).
   2. a few sentences describing what was easy and what was difficult

Today we will:

• Download 15-20 LARGE images we may want to use in our silhouettes
• Begin dragging the images we downloaded that represent us into our silhouette file
• Remove the background from each image using the eraser or magic wand
• Save our file as both a Photoshop and PNG
• Upload both files to our Google Drive
• Create a new blog post with the following:
  • PNG of our silhouette progress (no one will finish today)
  • a few sentences describing what was easy and what was difficult

Save

Save

Symbolic Silhouette Self-Portrait: Day 2

Today’s essential question: How can I trace over my photo to create a silhouette in Photoshop?

Today we will begin creating our symbolic silhouette self-portrait in Photoshop. At the end of today’s class, we will save our progress as both a Photoshop (.psd) file and as a .png. We will place both files in our Foundations 1 Google Drive folders, and post the .png to our blogs in order to receive participation points.

Part 1: Saving and Opening the File in Photoshop

1. Log into your school Gmail account. (Username: student # @rcsd121.org; Password: same password you use to log into the school computers.)
2. Click on the squares in the top right corner of the screen and select Drive
   
3. Right click your profile photo and select “Download”
4. Open Photoshop.
5. Open your photo on Photoshop. (File -> Open).

Part 2: Painting your silhouette

1. Create a new layer by clicking on the new layer button at the bottom of the layers palette.
   It is located on the bottom right side on the screen.
   Name this layer “silhouette.” Make sure the silhouette layer is selected. You can tell it is selected if it is blue. Make sure you do this step, or you will paint over your face and forever alter your source photo!
   Your layers palette should now look like this:
   
2. Select the brush tool from the toolbar on the left of the screen. Go to the top of the screen.
   Change the hardness to 100% by dragging the slider all the way to the right.
   
3. Select a color to paint with by double-clicking on the color box on the bottom left side of the screen.
4. Select the magnifying glass from the tool bar and click on your image until you have zoomed in enough to be able to trace over your silhouette.
   If you accidentally zoom in too far, you can zoom back out by going to the menu at the top of the screen, and selecting (View -> Fit on screen).
5. Select the brush tool again. Begin tracing over your silhouette.
   Adjust the brush size as needed:
   Press the right bracket } key to make the brush larger
   Press the left bracket { key to make the brush smaller.
   Once your trace over your entire silhouette, your image should look like this:
   
6. Go to the menu at the top of the screen and press File -> Save to save your progress (or press control + S).

Part 3: Painting your background

1. When you are finished, click on the Background layer in your layer palette, then press the new layer button to create a new layer. Name this layer “negative space.” Make sure the “negative space” layer is selected. You can tell it is selected if it is blue. Make sure you do this step, or you will forever alter your source photo! Your layers palette should now look like this:
   
2. Select a color to paint with by double-clicking on the color box on the bottom left side of the screen. You should pick one that contrasts with your silhouette color.
3. Select the paint bucket tool from the  toolbar on the left side of the screen.
   Click anywhere on your image to paint the background.
   Your image should now look like this:
   
4. Go to the menu at the top of the screen and press File -> Save to save your progress (or press control + S).

Part 4: Cutting the silhouette out of the background

1. Click on the silhouette layer. Go to the menu at the top of the screen and select Layer -> Duplicate layer. Name this layer “silhouette copy.”
2. Click on the original silhouette layer in the layers palette so it turns blue.
   The layers palette should now look like this:
   
3. Go to the menu at the top of the screen and select Layer -> Merge down. This will merge one of the silhouette layers with your negative space layer. Click on this merged layer to select it. It should be blue.
   The layers palette should now look like this:
   
4. Click on the magic wand tool.
   It may be hidden under the quick selection tool. If that is the case, click and hold this quick selection tool until the magic wand tool appears, then select the magic wand tool.
   At the top of the screen, change the tolerance to 10.
   
5. Click the silhouette to select it. Then press control + x to remove the silhouette.
   It will not look like anything has happened. To test whether you have actually deleted the silhouette from the inside of the merged layer, go to the layers palette and click on the eye next to the silhouette layer. This will make the silhouette layer invisible, and you will be able to see what remains on the merged “negative space” layer:
   
   Your silhouette should be cut out of the background like this:
   
6. Go to the layers palette. Drag the “negative space layer” to the top of the screen, and click the eyeball next to the “silhouette copy” layer to make it visible again.
   Your layers palette should now look like this:
   

Part 5: Saving your file

1. Go to the menu at the top of the screen.
2. Select File -> Save to save your final Photoshop file (or press control + S).
3. Then select File -> Save as -> and save your file as a PNG.

Today we will:

• Trace over the photos to create silhouettes of ourselves. You can access this photo through your school Google Drive.
• Save our file as both a Photoshop (.psd) and .png.
• Upload both our .psd and .png files to our Google Drive accounts
• Create a new blog post with the following:
  • the png of our silhouette

New Project: Symbolic Silhouette Self-Portrait

Part 1: Sharing our favorite artwork with the class

Part 2: Starting our symbolic silhouette self-portrait

Today’s essential question: What are some images that might represent your interests or personality?

Today we will plan our silhouette self-portrait collage. We will create a new blog post with our concept and any images we may use, both for the inside of the silhouette and for the background.

Here are some examples of what I am looking for:

• Mercedes’s project proposal
• Aleesa’s project proposal

Here are some sample projects created by past 9th grade students:

Image Credit: Francheska

Image Credit: Avery

Image Credit: Darla

Image Credit: Natalya

Image Credit: Eh Tha

Image Credit: Ler Tha

Image Credit: La’ja

Image Credit: Razia

Image Credit: Bayleigh

Project Requirements:

• collage created in Photoshop from at least 10 different images (the more, the better)
• contrast between silhouette & background
• no copyrighted characters or trademarked logos
• unity throughout the piece
• mastery of layers, paintbrush, and eraser tool in Photoshop demonstrated through high quality craftsmanship

Downloading LARGE Images to Use in Your Project

• Download:
  • 15-20 images (that are larger than 1200 x 1500 pixels) you can use for the silhouette portion of our project
  • another 3-5 images (that are larger than 2400 x 3000 pixels) you might use for the background
• Need help finding large enough photos?
  Try any of these free stock photography websites:
  • Pexels
  • Unsplash
  • Pixabay
  • FreePhotos
  • StockSnap
• Place these images in their own folder on your desktop
• Upload the folder to your Google Drive
• Create a new blog post with the following:
  • any LARGE images you may use in your project (download at least 20)
  • a few sentences describing the types of images you plan to use, and why each of these images is significant or meaningful to you
  • follow the format of the students examples listed at the top of this blog post

Today we will:

• Download LARGE images to be used in our project.
• Upload all the images to our Foundations 1 Google Drive folders. Create a new subfolder within this folder called “Symbolic Silhouette Self-Portrait” and store the images in this new folder.
• Create a new blog post with the following:
  • any LARGE images you may use in your project (download at least 20)
  • a few sentences describing the types of images you plan to use, and why each of these images is significant or meaningful to you
• Finish any missing/incomplete assignments and post them to our blogs

Save

Dress Up Kitten Tutorial

Today’s essential question: How can I create a collage in Adobe Photoshop?

Today we will learn how to create a collage in Photoshop by completing a tutorial. We will upload both Photoshop (.psd)  and .PNG versions of our file to our Google Drives, and post a PNG (.png) of the completed tutorial to our class blogs.

If you feel like you understand Photoshop well, consider becoming a student leader and help teach your classmates how to do the mini lesson. (Notice that I said teach, not do their projects for them!)

Once you finish the kitten tutorial, you may go back and finish the veggie photoshop project if you did not finish it last class.

Dress Up Kitten Tutorial

Kitten Dress Up Tutorial (teaches us how to combine multiple images into one Photoshop file, and how to use the transform tool to scale and rotate objects)

• Click here to view the step-by-step-instructions for the kitten dress up Photoshop tutorial. (If you do not have this file open and cannot tell me what step you need help with, I will not help you.)
• Click here to download the kitten dress up Photoshop file.
• Once you get comfortable with Photoshop, feel free to download extra accessories from Google images and customize your fashionable kitten! See if you can figure out how to add a background. Here are some examples of students who have gone above and beyond with the dress up kitten assignment:
  

  

  

Today we will:

• Complete the kitten dress up tutorial
• Upload both our finished Photoshop and PNG files to our Google Drives
• Post a PNG of the completed tutorial to our class blog. You must post your work to your blog in order to receive participation points for today’s class.
• Finish the veggie tutorial and post it to our blogs (if you have not done so already)

Removing Backgrounds in Photoshop

Today’s essential questions: How can I use Photoshop to remove the background of an image?

Today we will learn how to remove the background of an image in Photoshop by completing a tutorial.

If you feel like you understand Photoshop well, consider becoming a student leader and help teach your classmates how to do the tutorial. (Notice that I said teach, not do their projects for them!)

We will save a Photoshop (.psd) version of our file to our 890# AND our Google Drives, and post a PNG (.png) of each completed tutorial to our class blogs.

What is the difference between a .psd and .png?

A Photoshop (.psd) file contains layers and can be edited. You need Photoshop to be able to open it, so you cannot upload this format to your blog.

A PNG (.png) file has been flattened into one layer. It can no longer be edited because of this, but can be viewed without Photoshop, so you can upload this format to your blog.

Why is it important to save your image as both file types?

Veggie Tutorial

Veggie Tutorial (teaches us how to use a variety of tools to remove the background from an image)

In order for it to be considered complete, it must meet the following requirements:

• the background needs to be removed from the tomato, broccoli, onion, and mushroom
• you must have duplicated at least one of the vegetables
• you must have transformed the copy of the vegetable you duplicated by scaling and rotating it
• you must add a shadow to at least one of the vegetables

Click here to view the step-by-step instructions for the veggie Photoshop tutorial. (If you do not have this file open and cannot tell me what step you need help with, I will not help you.)

Click here to download the veggie Photoshop starter file.

Need help? Please follow the following process:

1. Check the blog
2. Ask two classmates
3. Still stuck? Raise your hand and Ms. Lawson will help you as soon as she is available.

Today we will:

• Learn how to remove the background of an image in Photoshop by completing the veggie tutorial
• Create a new blog post with an image of the completed veggie tutorial
• Upload both the .PSD and .PNG files of our completed veggie tutorials to our shared Foundations 1 Google Drive folders

Welcome to the Media Component of Foundations 1!

Welcome to the Media component of Foundations 1. In this class, we will explore a range of digital art techniques and become experts at using Photoshop.

Today we will look at some of Ms. Lawson’s artwork, preview some of the projects we will work on in this class, and set up our class blogs.

Homework (due next class):

• Bring in an artwork you are proud of and would like to share with the class

Ms. Lawson’s Artwork

Computer Art

Drawing

Ceramics

Animation

snore animation

Why is it important to be skilled with a variety of art materials and styles?

Ms. Manhardt’s Artwork

Click here to view Ms. Manhardt’s portfolio site.

Foundations 1 Media Project Overview

Here are some examples of the types of projects we will create in this class.

First blog post requirements:

• A picture that is meaningful to you.
• The answers to the following questions:
  • Describe your previous experience with computer art.
  • Whose is responsible if the computer crashes and your project disappears? What will happen?
  • How will you back up your work? (hint: Google Drive, USB Drive)
  • Why is it important to post your work to your blog every class?

You must email Ms. Lawson the link to your blog and publish a blog post today in order to receive participation points.

Part 1: Setting up a WordPress account

1. Click here to set up a WordPress account. (This will be your Foundations 1 class blog.) You may choose any free template you like, but keep in mind that you will need to post both text and images, so you should pick a template that supports both of these requirements well. Use your school Gmail address (890….@rcsd121.org) – you will have to verify your email in order to publish blog posts.
2. Log into your school email account, open the email from WordPress, and click on the link to verify your email address.

Part 2: Logging into your district Gmail account

1. Click here to log into your district Gmail account. Your username will be your student ID # @rcsd121.org.) Ex. 8123456@rcsd121.org, and your password is your district computer password. (Your district gmail account has unlimited storage space and will give you access to DropBox, which is a great free way to back up your files.)
2. Click on the email from WordPress to verify your class blog.
3. Email Ms. Lawson (2013045 at rcsd121.org) from your district Gmail account. You will not receive credit if you email me from another email client. Your email should include:
   1. Your first and last name
   2. A link to your WordPress blog. For example, “Stephanie Lawson – My blog URL is SOTAfoundations1.wordpress.com.”

Part 3: Publishing your first blog post

Publish your first post by clicking on this icon at the top of your WordPress screen
Include the following:

1. Post an image by following these steps:
   1. Go to images.google.com
   2. type in what you are looking for (ex. “cutest kitten in the world”)
   3. click on the image you want to download
   4. control +click -> save images as
   5. save the image to your desktop
   6. Click on the “add media” button
   7. Click on “upload files”
   8. Click on “select file”
   9. Select the image you want to insert
2. Copy and paste the following questions and answer them:
   1. Describe your previous experience with computer art.
   2. Whose is responsible if the computer crashes and your project disappears? What will happen?
   3. How will you back up your work? (hint: blog, Google Drive)
   4. Why is it important to post your work to your blog every class?
3. Click “publish” at the bottom of the screen to publish your post.

Need help? Please follow the following process:

1. Check the blog
2. Ask two classmates
3. Still stuck? Raise your hand and Ms. Lawson will help you as soon as she is available.

If you finish early, help your classmates set up their blogs or set up the About page on your blog.

Today we will:

• Look at some of Ms. Lawson’s and Ms. Manhardt’s artwork
• Preview some of the projects we will work on in this class
• Set up our class blogs, email Ms. Lawson the link to our class blogs, and publish our first blog post