Intro to Photoshop:  Class 3

1.  Review
  • Continue with Rhino Exercise
  • Quick Selection Tool vs. Magic Wand
  • Bloat vs. Pucker
  • Healing Brush Tool
  • Hue/Saturation
2.  In-class exercises
  • Opening a new file
  • Brushes
  • Red Eye Removal
  • Vibrance
  • Levels Files / Color Balance
3.  Key terms/concepts
  • Vignette - a reduction of an image’s brightness or saturation at the periphery compared to the image center
VIGNETTING

In photography and optics, vignetting is a reduction of an image’s brightness or saturation at the periphery compared to the image center. The word came to be used for a photographic portrait which is clear in the center, and fades off at the edges.  Vignetting is often an unintended and undesired effect caused by camera settings or lens limitations. However, it is sometimes purposely introduced for creative effect, such as to draw attention to the center of the frame. A photographer may deliberately choose a lens which is known to produce vignetting to obtain the effect, or it may be introduced with the use of special filters or post-processing procedures.

Process
  1. Bring your image in to Photoshop.  Use your Ellipse Tool to draw your shape in Black over your image.  Use the Path Selection Tool and click on the edge of your shape.  Select (top left) the Path Operation and choose Subtract Front Shape.  
  2. Go to the Properties Palette (Window --> Properties), and adjust the Feathering.  Ajust the Opacity in the layer to soften everything.  Now, using your Selection Tool, you can actually move your vignette around on the screen for added flexibility.  At this point, you can even Transform it (command + t).  

NOTE:  There are other quick ways of creating a vignette for images, but this is the most powerful, because you don’t alter the original image and the vignette is in it’s own layer to be controlled.

SO...why add a vignette to a photograph?
  • It takes away the “blah” of a solid background in portrait photography and moves the focus onto the face.
  • Draws the eye toward the center of the image or wherever you choose to direct the attention
  • Helps frame a photo
TEXTBOOK
  • Is recommended, but not required
  • Available in college bookstore

SESSIONS
  • 4 sessions
  • Campus map can be found here.