Design Ideas & Process
Editing images is a huge field in photoshop as it is basically the whole concept of the software. I explored different ways to edit and change pictures using the most tools in the least amount of time. I chose to enhance my images with adding colors and changing all types of tones. I started my photoshop task aiming to develop my skills on working with color and I set out a plan to be able to change the color of all images using blending modes
Design 1
I wanted my first edit to be believable and admirable. It was basically a deformed picture, as if on purpose, of a young boy in black and white (Figure 1). I tried to achieve a clean picture that would be realistic. At first, I got rid of the big white gaps on the left side of the picture (Figure 2). I tried using the spot healing brush tool but I didn’t succeed with big gaps. I used this tool with small gaps only it went perfectly well after changing the scale of the tool (Figure 3). For the big gaps however, I used the stamp tool (Figure 4). I took the color nearest to the white gaps and tried to fix it slowly so the image wouldn’t look deformed. After healing all the white gaps in the image (Figure 5), I decided to enhance my image with colors. I colored the boy’s face with a brownish color based on what I thought he would look like (Figure 6). After trying different modes, I settled on the color blending mode for his face. Then, I colored his mouth and teeth. I used the soft light mode for these features because they looked more natural (Figure 7). Finally, I colored his eyes also using soft light mode, and his shirt using color blending mode. I felt that his eyes were kind of dark brown and his shirt had a light color which I assumed was bluish (Figure 8)
Figure 1 (Black and White Image)
Figure 2 ( Removing the big gaps)
Figure 3 (Using the spot healing brush tool on small gaps)
Figure 4 (Removing the big gap with the stamp tool)
Figure 5 (Image healed)
Figure 6 (Using color blend mode for the boy’s face)
Figure 7 (Using Soft light blend mode on teeth and mouth)
Figure 8 (Final)
Design 2
I wanted to learn everything new for my second edit. I searched for what I can do with photoshop and I saw the auto blend tool and wanted to know what that is. At first I took a random image of a guy with headphones on. I decided to take a selfie and replace this guy’s face with mine (Figure 1). I regret not taking a better image but the important thing is that I know how to use the tool. At first, I self selected my self on photoshop (Figure 2), and I cropped my face. Then, I placed my face on top of the guy’s face on photoshop (Figure 3). After that, I used the match color tool, which is new for me, and I changed my colors to match the guy’s colors (Figure 4). Then, I decreased the luminance and changed the color intensity (Figure 5). I contracted the face’s selection so it wouldn’t take the darker tone of my face (Figure 6), and I changed the levels of color for the image (Figure 8). I used the auto blend tool (Figure 9), and viola. Photoshop did it’s job well in my opinion (Figure 10). I decided to change the beard because it looked fake (Figure 11), and I tried removing the glasses from my face. Unfortunately, the eyebrows got in the way so I took the guy’s eyebrows which doesn’t suit me well.
Figure 1 (Taking a selfie)
Figure 2 (Self selecting)
Figure 3 (Adding my face to the image)
Figure 4 (Placing my features on the guy’s)
Figure 5 (Using match colors)
Figure 6 (Decreasing the luminance)
Figure 7 (Contract the selection)
Figure 8 (Changing the colors of the image)
Figure 9 (Auto blend the image)
Figure 10 (Looking good)
Figure 11 (Changing the beard)
Design 3
For my final Design, I wanted to experiment with colors to the maximum. At first, I got a black and white image (Figure 1) that felt so real. I was shocked and amazed by the guy’s ability to show me emotion without motion. Then, I painted his skin color and tried moving around with blend modes to see what suits him best (Figure 2). I used specific brushes to color the skin part that was narrower and had hair in (Figure 3). After that, I painted the mouth with the color that suited an old man’s mouth (Figure 4). I didn’t like his skin tone so I changed it several times so it would suit him (Figure 5). I decided to color the eyes, which was the hardest part, and I wanted to go with an unrealistic eye color (Figure 6). I used several modes and layers for the eye to make it pop and speak up (Figure 7). I added layers of blue and used the overlay blending mode to make it less attractive (Figure 8). Then, I painted the shirt with blue because it suited the level of grayness in the picture (Figure 9). I decided to decrease the level of blue because it looked odd after many trials of blending modes (Figure 10). I colored the suit with a reddish color because I wanted to make a diversity in colors (Figure 11). After that, I added a layer of light on top of everything because I saw light coming from the right side (Figure 12). I used the divide blending mode and added more light to the right side (Figure 13). Finally, I used the burn tool to add some dark layers on the left side and make it more realistic (Figure 14).
Figure 1 (Black and white image)
Figure 2 (Using color blending mode)
Figure 3 (Using different brushes)
Figure 4 (Painting the mouth)
Figure 5 (Experimenting with colors)
Figure 6 (Coloring the eyes)
Figure 7 (Using color blending mode for some layers)
Figure 8 (Using overlay mode for blue layer)
Figure 9 (Coloring the shirt)
Figure 10 (Trying a lighter blue)
Figure 11 (Coloring the suit)
Figure 12 (Adding shades of light)
Figure 13 (Using divide blending mode)
Figure 14 (Adding some burn for contrast)
Software Tutorials
Because I had basic knowledge using the selection tool and cropping out stuff in photoshop, I decided to try new tools and experiment with everything. I lacked skills with coloring before, so I searched for tutorials that provided that. I wanted to show a level of professionalism in coloring.
For the first design, my purpose was to only remove the gaps at first. It was so much harder than I thought it would be. I used this Tutorial on how to use the stamp tool. Before starting, I was under the impression that the stamp tool was the only tool to use for this process but I was wrong. For that, I searched on how to remove the small gaps in a faster way. I found out that I should use the spot healing brush tool for the small stuff. It worked very well and I understood how both tools work properly and how they compliment each other in an indirect way. For the second design, I used this Tutorial to do the whole thing. I tried to move on step by step and I succeeded. My main problem was that I used a bad selfie image for my design. I tried to make the best of it and it turned out fine but it seemed fake. I was so proud of myself for using the auto blend tool and making all the image colors look alike. The coloring and editing wasn’t the problem and that was my main goal.
For my final design, my purpose was to color the whole image and make it look very realistic. I used this Tutorial mainly and tried to follow it even though I had a different picture. I wanted to become good in blending modes and I think I did. The tutorial helped me understand adjustment layers and how I can change the details of every picture with a tiny little adjustment. I was able to use different brushes and I focused on the details of the image. I colored it with more layers that my first design. I can say I’m proud of myself for achieving the goal I had in mind.
Design resources and articles
Inspiration 1
Inspiration 2
Inspiration 3
My inspiration for my designs were these 3 main images. In the first image, I was amazed by the level of precision in colors. The image was very suited to be colored and I can feel like a grain effect coming out of it. The designer wanted to show that the picture was old. The second image however, I was amazed by the shades and the lights. The designer was able to portray a good and believable level of brightness. He also added shades to show contrast and the girl’s skin tone was on point. The third image speaks for itself. The designer was able to swap faces of two random girls while keeping the same level of color. Although the girl’s chin was way wider because of her expression, the designer was able to perfect it and it didn’t look deformed at all.
Reflection
By doing this task, I was able to understand colors on a different level. I can see now how people convert old movies into colors. The best thing about this task is that everything was fun in it. Time passed by so quickly and I enjoyed the whole process. I feel like my photoshop skills developed in the kind of way I want them to.
Now that I look at all the designs that I did, I can safely say that I can do much better in all of them. I will definitely work more on my photoshop skills and I’m relieved that I learned many tools and improved a lot in this module.