UNIT 31 CTM Callum Monro: Edit Photographic Images P4

Basic Photoshop Tools

For editing my images I have used a wide range of Adobe Photoshops tools to digitally enhance my original images.

Fitness for Purpose

For all my images I have created a template to keep for consistency, this is to do this brand recognition so consumers can remember the brand/game I'm advertising. The style of the images are also very important as and match the product I'm advertising. As I'm advertising a WW2 movie I have made images darker and desaturated colours which give the images a cold feeling this was enforced by the blue tint. I also applied a slight grain on the images as this relates to the period in which the film is set.

1. To create the cinematic effect I have replicated the 16:9 aspect ratio with a 1080p resolution to do this I have compiled my entire composition into one folder inside Photoshop, then added a vector mask to the folder.

2. To remove the areas that I didn't want I selected the rectangular mask tool and made a selection across the top of the image, measuring the size of the rectangle with photoshops guidelines (cmd+H)

3. I then filled this area with black (on the vector mask) revealing the alpha layer behind, this allowed me to crop the image without actually deleting the cropped area allowing for more flexibility when framing characters, this is called a non-destructive mask. To create the same effect at the bottom of the image I dragged the selection down and repeated the process.

4. To create the black layer, I created a new layer using the paint bucket tool (g) to fill it with black. I then moved it below the main composition folder.

Masking

Before inserting the images of each character into the main composition I had to mask them out of their original scene.

1. First I selected the Pen tool

2. Secondly I masked around the character I wanted from the scene then right clicked and selected ‘make selection’

3. This made a selection around the area I masked. To copy this area I used the shortcut cmd+c then pasted the image with cmd+v creating a new layer.

Compositing my main poster

This video demonstrates how I constructed my main poster through the use of layers.

Creating the text

The look of the text went through 3 stages of development all these included choosing the typeface, size, colour and design of the title.

Prototype 1:

This was the first design I used for my main poster and was made up of two texture layers and a text layer. [1]

I have used blending options to create the bevel effect on the texture and the drop shadow on the text.[2]

However due to the background texture this design gave me very little flexibility when placing it on the poster leading me to remove it and leave just the text.

Prototype 2:

My next design was inspired by the poster of ‘fury’ with the bright yellow text which contrasted brilliantly against the dark saturated image behind. After looking at more similar themed posters I decided to apply a grunge layer over the text to make it look ‘dirty’ fitting with the theme of the film/poster.

To overlay the grunge image over the text I changed the textures blending mode to ‘overlay’ then duplicated the layer to emphasise the effect .

This led me on the experimenting with letters to make a unique logo (brand recognition) resulting me replacing the X in Axis with a Swastika, which was suitable as it relates to the WW2 theme and lets the audience understand who the bad guys are.

Prototype 3:

However after applying the text over my image I found the text contrasted too much from the actual image causing it to become too much of a distraction. To adjust this I used a gradient overlay on the blending options to to darken the text, also by making the the word ‘Axis’ red it conveys the message of the ‘axis’ as being evil making it fit for purpose.

Leading to the final result:

Grunge Effect:

To create the effect I wanted on my images I have used a grunge texture to give the rough/dirty style of the image.

To apply this effect I have imported the texture from finder:

Once importing the image into my document I have placed the layer above my image

and then applied the 'overlay' blending mode which both multiplies dark areas and screens light areas at the same time, so dark areas become darker and light areas become lighter. Anything on the layer that is 50% gray completely disappears from view, this has the effect of boosting image contrast.

Without:

With:

Colour Correction

To fit the themes and genre of the poster I needed to tone down the saturation and vibrance of my images but also increase contrast and sometimes lightness.

To do this I have created adjustment layers that affect these factors individually.

To allow an effect to affect a layer I have placed it above the layers I want it to affect.

To have an effect make changes to the image I have used the effects properties tab to change its values e.g I have reduced the vibrance and slightly increased saturation.