DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY AND IMAGING — Week 03

05.05.2025  (Week 03)

Lee Xiang Ling / 0384095

Digital Photography and Imaging / Bachelor of Design in Creative Media / Taylors University

Week 3 — Pratical (Compositing Collage) & Introduction To Photoshop

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Lecture

Introduction To Photoshop

• Selection, Layering

Fig. 1.1 - Layer Interface

• Tool Box
  Photoshop's toolbox contains multiple tool sets that can be expanded to show more tools.

Fig. 1.2 - Tools Box in Photoshop

• Marquee Selection Tool
  

Fig. 1.3 - Select & Mask

Lasso Tool

• The Lasso Tool lets you freely draw selections to isolate specific parts of an image, especially useful for those who enjoy drawing with pencil and paper or editing photos.

Fig. 2.1 - The icon of the Lasso Tool

• When you click on the Lasso Tool from the Toolbar, you will see three different tool options:
• Lasso
• Polygonal Lasso 
• Magnetic Lasso

Fig. 2.2 - The type of Lasso Tool

• The Lasso Tool works well with a graphic tablet, offering smoother and more natural selection control than a mouse or trackpad.
  
  
• The video about: How to use Lasso Tool:

Pen Tool

The Pen Tool is commonly used to create paths from scratch by placing and dragging points, and fewer points result in a smoother path.

Fig. 3.1 - How to Use the Pen Tool

Fig. 3.2 - Variation of Pen Tool

• We can use this website for practice: https://bezier.method.ac     
    
  

  

  https://bezier.method.ac

  
  

  
  
• The videos about: How to use Pen Tool:

• "Lasso Tool vs Pen Tool"
  The Pen Tool in Photoshop is versatile for creating precise shapes and paths using anchor points. While often used for selections, it wasn't originally designed as a "selection tool."

    

The left image shows a sample selected with the Lasso Tool, while the right image shows a sample created with the Pen Tool.

Layering

• Layers are individual images stacked to form a final composition, allowing you to edit each one independently.
  
  
• Layers allow non-destructive editing in Photoshop, preserving the original image while storing all adjustments and additions separately.

Fig. 4.1 - How to Use Layer in Photoshop

• The video about: How to Open Images as Layers in Photoshop

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Exercise

1. Download all of the images here to your computer:
   https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1cGcbENrjSksAaMQK9np2jb6ZaM7Y-81l?usp=sharing
   
   
2. Follow this tutorial demo as reference to create your digital collage:
   https://youtu.be/BlW7F-fTsbE
   
   
3. Create 3 different composition digital collages from the images that you’ve downloaded. 
   
   
4. Create A4 canvas size (vertical) on Photoshop and start to do the compositions.
   
   
5. Take 3 photo of your digital collage compositions and insert it on the section below
   
   
6. Submit (Turn In) this file in Google Classroom

COMPOSITION #1

I used the contrast and fusion of black-and-white with color, combined with the interplay of betta fish and plants, to create a meditative atmosphere rooted in nature. To prevent the composition from feeling monotonous, I incorporated circular elements to evoke the sensation of floating bubbles, adding depth and visual interest to the overall piece.

COMPOSITION #2

This piece is inspired by the intersection of history and reality, showcasing the contrast and fusion between vintage machinery and typewriters, and modern architecture and transportation. The constant movement of people conveys a sense of bustling activity, as if the entire scene is engaged in an ongoing process of “recording” and “narrating” — telling a story where the past and present intertwine.

COMPOSITION #3

I aim to evoke the feeling of "the interweaving of fantasy and reality" during the creative process through a striking contrast and mirrored composition. The vintage typewriter at the center symbolizes memory and the act of creation; the outward-flowing river represents the continuous stream of inspiration; the modern buildings in the background embody the intersection of reality and fiction; and the betta fish drifting in the sky resemble thoughts and consciousness swimming through the cracks of space.

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Instruction

<iframe allow="autoplay" height="480" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DsERWuF4d2YDYxX0lRiZOdmNqf8wk4FU/preview" width="640"></iframe>

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Reflections

Through this class, I learned how to use Photoshop. Although I had heard of Photoshop before, I had only used apps like Meitu and CapCut in the past. However, each of those tools has its limitations, and I often had to switch between different programs just to complete a single editing task. 

While working on this assignment in Photoshop, I spent a long time thinking about how to create a meaningful collage using only a limited set of images. Initially, I found myself creatively stuck. But during a casual conversation with friends, I realized I had been over-restricting my ideas. I decided to trust my instincts and create more freely. 

The biggest challenge I faced during the project was that my computer kept freezing. Eventually, I discovered that it was due to a full disk. After consulting some friends who are knowledgeable about computers, I managed to fix the issue and complete the assignment successfully.