JRN 440 Adv. Online Journalism Destructive, masks, blend modes Wednesday, 1/25/2012

Class Objectives Lecture Layers, Destructive and non-destructive editing Masks, blend modes Homework Ex. 2, 3, due Monday, 1/30 by 2:05pm

Photoshop and Layers You have the ability to work in a layered fashion (<Windows <Layers) Why is this good to do? Easier to change your image Think of your image as a painting… when all the paint is on top of each other, it is harder to make changes Can also view/hide certain layers Note: your background layer is locked (you either need to unlock it or duplicate it to have full ability to make changes)

Photoshop and Layers Ultimately, if you save your file as a non- native format (other than TIF), your file will flatten So it’s always a good idea to save A native file (.psd) A non-native file (.jpg,.pdf,.eps,.png)

Destructive editing in Photoshop Permanently changes your pixels We’re not talking about going back in your history or reverting a file Think of it this way, you’re permanently changing your pixels (finger painting directly onto artwork) Examples: Adjustments of brightness, contrast, tools, color changes, filters

Non-destructive editing in PS Background image/layer is not changed until you flatten your image (finger painting above artwork) Easiest way to do this is duplicate your background image onto a new layer Adjustment layers Smart Objects Use smart filters  highed.atomiclearning.com  Photoshop CS4 (Mac)  Using smart filters

Non-destructive editing in PS Cropping nondestructively (on unlocked layer) After you create a cropping rectangle with the Crop tool, select Hide from the options bar to preserve the cropped area in a layer. Restore the cropped area anytime by choosing < Image < Reveal All

Masks (different kinds of…) What if you want to block of part of your image but still want to keep the pixels? You can create a mask Masks let you isolate and protect areas of an image as you apply color changes, filters, or other effects to the rest of the image Default color is red due to traditional printing mask technique involving “rubyliths”

Temporary Masks Quick Mask- used for precision Make your selection (using selection tools) Click on button called “Quick Mask” Everything masked off is red Can add to mask with pencil or paint brush and black foreground color Can delete from mask with eraser and white color (or switch colors and keep same brush) If you do not like the red- double click on the Quick Mask button and change colors/ opacity of color

Tutorial on Quick Masks First off, open up an image (any landscape image will do) 1fI&feature=related (2 minutes) 1fI&feature=related You can also “paint” on a mask Highed.atomiclearning.com Photoshop 4, Using Quick Mask Mode Tip: although you may “clean” at above 100% viewing size, your image will only print at what is seen and not seen at 100%

Saving Quick Masks Need to save mask to make it permanent, otherwise, if you click off of it (or deselect), all you will have is marching ants < Select <Save Selection (which becomes an alpha channel) To load selection at a later time <Select <Load Selection

Layer Masks Is also non-destructive way to edit parts of a layer Go to your Layers palette Background layer, by default is locked, double click it to unlock it Better yet, create a duplicate layer (non-destructive editing) Make your selection Click on the “Add Layer Mask” button Need to have the layer mask selected to work on it Any tool you use that has white reveals layer Any tool you used that has black hides/masks layer X on the keyboard is shortcut for switching colors

Layer Masks Open up 2 different images Copy and paste one image into another Open Apple A, Open Apple C, go to second image, Open Apple V Go to your layers palette Select the second layer, click on “Add Layer Mask” button Erase the elements you want. Or, instead of this, apply a gradient to masks to blend two photographs together

Anti-Aliasing with Selections Used when you want to partially select pixels in between fully selected ones Photoshop default is to check anti-alias box Need to do this because of stair-stepping that occurs when making curves or diagonals out of square pixels NOT for rectangular or single row selections YES for ovals or nonregular shapes Will not see difference if box is checked or not checked on your monitor May see it in pieces that you print!

Blending Modes Another non-destructive way to blend 2 layers together (as long as you leave file unflattened) Can always set blending mode of layer back to being “normal” Will most commonly use normal and change opacity to help “see thru” a layer Web page explaining each blending mode me=blendmodes Lots of online tutorials including vst (8 minutes) vst

On your own: Tutorial on Masks First things Download the image suspension bridge uY&feature=related (4 minutes) – nice way to make a grayscale image uY&feature=related Can compare this technique – using the blue in the channel – to <image <mode <grayscale and you’ll see that this technique lends to richer looking blacks.

On your own: Tutorial on Masks First things Download Earth and open mouth images off of website images page Need to know how to proportionately scale things (< Edit <Transform < Scale) and use Shift key W8 (8 minutes)- trick about selecting and space bar, changing brush sizes with bracket keys, x key foreground and background colors W8

On your own: Tutorial on Layer Masks First things, have 3 images open in Photoshop V8&feature=related (start at 1:20, 6 minutes) V8&feature=related Create a layer mask filled with black, hold down Alt key when clicking “Add layer mask” button