Manipulations and Photoshop Effects

Objectives:

1. To go beyond the traditional straight photograph by manipulating images

in different ways.

2. To explore a concept and different ways to express it photographically.

Vignette: to underexpose the edges of a print

Vignette – to underexpose the edges of a print

• 1. Leave only the background copy layer visible. Make the original background

layer invisible by clicking the eye next to it.

• 2. Create a new layer and fill it with white. Position this layer below the

background copy layer.

• 3. Use the elliptical marquee tool to select the area you want. As you drag,

press the spacebar to reposition the selection.

• 4. Click on the background copy layer and click the Add a Layer Mask icon at

the bottom of the layers palette.

• 5. Click the Mask thumbnail on the layer and choose Filter > Blur > Gaussian

Blur. Change the radius to the setting you want.

• *Option: For more advanced effects see the vignette directions and examples

on the g:drive in the photo folder.  

Diffusion “filter”:to create extreme shallow depth of field by blurring most of the

picture and retaining sharpness in a small area

Diffusion “filter”- to create extreme shallow depth-of-field by blurring most of the picture and retaining

sharpness in only a distinct area.

• Click on the background copy layer. • Using any selection tool of your choice, select the

part of the image you want to blur OR select the part you want to remain sharp and then go to Select > Inverse.

• Go to Select > Feather to soften the edge of the selection. Experiment with 10 or higher.

• Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Watching the preview, blur the selection to obtain the desired effect.

Alternate method for diffusion “filter”

• Click on the background copy layer. • Select the part of the image you want to blur OR select

the part you want to remain sharp and then go to Select > Inverse.

• Click the Add a Layer Mask icon at the bottom of the layers palette.

• With the mask thumbnail selected, Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur to soften the edge of the selection.

• With the image thumbnail selected, go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and blur the background.  

Duotone: to add a color cast to an image (such as sepia toned)

Duotone – to add a color cast to an image (such as a sepia tone)

• Go to Image > Mode > Grayscale. • Don’t flatten it. • Go to Image > Mode > Duotone. • Under type select duotone. • Click on the box next to ink #2. Choose a

Pantone color or click on Picker and choose the color you want using the slider and dot within the color box. Give the color a name.

Solarization/Sabattier Effect: to create a partial reversal of tones

in an image

Solarization/Sabattier Effect – to create a partial reversal of tones (positive/negative

combination) in an image

• Make sure your background copy layer is the active layer.

• Go to Filter > Stylize > Solarize. • OR go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves,

and radically alter the curve to create a tonal reversal. • You may also want to add a layer mask on the layer

with the effect so that you can mask or hide the effect from certain areas. Use the paintbrush with black set as the foreground color to mask part of the layer.

Infrared: to create an other-worldly look, beyond what visible light shows us. This works best with landscape shots that have a lot of foliage.

Infrared – to create an other-worldly look, beyond what visible light shows us. This works best with

landscape shots that have a lot of foliage.

• Go to Layer > new adjustment layer > Channel Mixer • Check "Monochrome" at the bottom. • Set R = + 100%; G = + 200%; B = minus 200% ( -

200%); you may need to slightly adjust these settings, but they should add up to 100%

• Set constant as needed for the correct brightness, usually about minus 28%.

• Optional: *Add foggy blur: create and blur another duplicate layer and mix it to the percentage you prefer (Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur)

• *Add grain to taste (Filter > Noise > Add Noise)

Check out these sites for more ideas on altering photos:

• http://alltelleringet.com/ (especially good for surrealism)

• http://www.worth1000.com/

Student Work

1. Use old images to experiment with all of these techniques.

2. Decide which technique you’d like to use to a create a new

image. Shoot new photos and then create one final image using at least one of these techniques. You may add any other ideas of your choice. Experiment. Play.