Photographers use masks in photoshop many different ways. As an introduction to masks you will make a cut out of a photograph you have taken. Photographers also use their work to express emotion. We will fill the cut out with an image that expresses what the subject is thinking or feeling.
use a stable camera to take a silhouette with interesting negative space.
use layer masks to cut out a complex shape in Photoshop.
appropriately use stock images.
Decide on a pose, and take a silhouette photograph of yourself.
Make sure there is interesting negative space.
Use a timer and a tripod to take the photo.
Open the photo in Photoshop. Complete basic digital workflow:
Optional Crop.
White Balance
Levels
Sharpening
Put your background image on a layer below your silhouette.
Select your silhouette with the appropriate selection tools.
Click the layer mask button to cut out the silhouette.
Challenge Yourself:
Make a blended layer mask. Like in this photo.
____ 5pts Composition-Balanced and uses composition techniques. Put the number of the photo next to the techniques you used below. Explain how you did this in the “Analyze” section on the left.
_____Radial Balance
_____Asymmetrical Balance
_____ Rule of thirds
_____ Leading Lines
_____ Framing--Hard? or Soft? (circle one)
_____ Vantage Point--High? Low? Oblique? (circle one)
_____Symmetrical Balance
_____ Large Size
_____ Living Thing
_____ Complex Shape
_____ Direct Lighting
_____ Warm Bright Color
_____ Isolation
_____ 3pts Exposure/Clarity--Direct lighting helps emphasize the photograph. Flash was not used. The photograph is in focus.
_____ 3pts Digital Workflow—Contrast (Levels), sharpness, white balance (Curves) and optionally cropping are used to enhance the photo.
_____ 4pts Presentation-Background enhances the subject and does not have distracting/unrelated items. No mergers, creepers, amputations, or crooked horizontals/verticals.
_____ 3 pts Camera Skil The camera timer was used and the camera was stabilized.
_____ 4 pts Negative Space The silhouette was created using complex negative space so that the subject is “visibly legible” as a cut out.
_____ 4 pts Selection The selection is accurate, a layer mask was used. No parts of the object have been left out, or other items included in the spot color.
_____ 4 pts Concept The idea behind the fill image has been explained to the left. A stock image or image taken by the artist is used and the source is cited to the left.
_______ 30 Points Total