Original Gondola image...............

This image shows the original photograph as we were given to work with. Note, no clouds, small boat in background, striped cover duller, orange tarp now green, and of course photo is angled. When you compare these 2 images it is quite apparent what has been changed.

Gondola (jpeg format for blog)

We began this exercise with a perfectly fine photo - to the untrained eye - and improved the quality of the image by resizing and retouching. For example,

• we removed another boat in the background, using the rubber stamp command
• we recoloured the green tarp using the 'replace colour' command, changing the hue and saturation
• we brightened the red on the striped cover (saturation & brightness sponge)
• we added clouds to the original grey sky

This photograph is intended to be used in print, on a brochure. The intended use of the image determines the methods used and the techniques utilised. ie. images for print are treated differently to images for screen.

This banner was created by placing numerous layers on top of each other and then 'flattening' the finished banner before converting it to a jpeg file. We also added a border and of course some text !

Banner for Web Page

This is a banner created for a web page. It has been made using several layers, starting with the background, then, using the wand tool I have selected the butterfly itself and resized, or 'transformed' it to sit on the page. The border was added to the backgroung layer, on the inside of the frame. The text has been added in 3 separate layers, to enabling ease of editing etc.

Layer Basics Z999

This excercise changed opacity (transparency) within layers to allow us, for example, to see through the clock to the background behind. We also used blending, with colours within layers, and learned how to link layers, which meant we could 'join' 2 layers together and reposition, scale and rotate them as 1.

'Gradient' was added by introducing a whole new transparent layer, and adding a special effect - in this case the purple colour that you see, graduated from right to left. This effect is applied to any layers below the new layer. We also added text, which is not nearly as simple as it sounds !!

Layer Basics Z999

These are the original photos we were given to work with for the 'Layer Basics Z999' Blog. (Above) I have created this image by layering the 3 photographs onto a banner. Doing it this way, it has allowed me to position the 3 images side by side across the page. If they were individual images, they would have to be positioned one above the other. We worked with these photos and layered them on top of each other. We also applied different modes to layers to vary the artwork effects, applied gradients, added texts and layer effects. Finally we saved the file with the layers flattened - this means the layers are merged into a single background layer, hence reducing the file size immensely. *Note, always save a file with the layers unflattened as well, in case you need to edit at a later stage.

Mr Potato Head

• Mr Potato Head was an exercise not only in 'layer creation and technique', using tools like

* the magnetic lasso

*the marquee tool - but also

*anger management, *self control, *practicing methods of stress relief !!

You can see from the clump of vegetables above that we were given to work with

that this was a lot more difficult than first meets the eye when you look at the

finished image..........................