Photoshop Workshop

Cleaning up images

The first thing we were shown was how to clean up images using photo shop. This was achieved by using the levels options to select the tonal ranges we wanted to keep so as to leave the basic out line of the images. We could then further clean are images up by using both the healing brush tool as well as adding a vector mask to the layer containing line work and apply the brush tool in black to remove any imperfections in a non destructive manner.

Adding block colour

The ability to clean up line work was a really useful as it allows for a way in which to add colour and texture digitally. The first thing I experimented with was adding block colours to my images. This was achieved in a variety of different ways all of which revolved around the use of multiple layers which serve as the fundamental way to alter images in Photoshop. 

The first method involved adding layers on top of the line work using the screen and multiply blending options to retain the original line work. The second was much more basic and involved simply adding layers below the line work.

Colour could be built up in a variety of ways such as the use of the polygon lasso tool, quick selection or path pen to create areas in which to add colour using the paint brush and paint bucket tools. 

The way in which I chose to apply colour created flat bold imagery which potentially could work well for the creation of screen prints. However I also realise there is a lot of potentially to use Photoshop to create more in depth images through use of brush tools and adding texture.

 

I briefly experimented with using the brush tools and saw the potential to create more abstract imagery as well as how, given more time you could use them to create more realistic/analogue looking paint textures. The creation of custom brush tools in particular could be used to further this effect.

However, out of all the things we were shown it was the adding of texture that interested me the most. This was achieve by importing images of textures, ie charcoal, in the layer above our line work. A invert vector mask was then added and the areas within our image we wanted to to show the texture were then revealed using the white brush tool. Further more overlay could also be used within the blending option so as to add the texture on top of any line work, shapes or colour work we had created.

The reason this interested me the most was the way in which it can be used to add an element of warmth and interest to our images by burring the lines between digital and analogue methods of image making.