PHOTOSHOP: The Lighthouse Experiment

SET UP INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP ONE: Run Photoshop by clicking on the
Photoshop Icon in the dock, or go to the
Applications folder>Adobe Photoshop.
Go to FILE> Open.
Next, navigate to the Shared folder and OPEN the file
called Lighthouse.pds . (Note: it will be locked!)
Immediately SAVE IT as: “ YLNI” LighthouseEX1,
using the Photoshop format. (Always use the
Photoshop format when you want to retain layers!)


STEP TWO: Go to the WINDOW MENU: Make sure the following items are
checked: NAVIGATOR, LAYERS, TOOLS, and OPTIONS.

 

USING THE TOOLS:
Following the steps below, using the tools and menu effects
as indicated. Refer to the numbered photo (right) to find out where
each item is located. Use your handout to find tools in the toolbar.


1) There are several scratches in the sky. Correct the scratches
by using the Healing Brush. Click on the healing brush in TOOLS.
Find the BRUSH MENU at the top of the screen and set the brush on 10 pt.
(size). Next, ZOOM in, so that the scratches fill your screen. Next, place your
cursor over the blue sky nearest the scratch you wish to correct. Hold the OPTION key and click one time to "sample" or define the source color. Let go of the Option key.
Carefully color over the scratch by clicking repeatedly. You may
need to redefine the color several times to get it right! Practice, until you can successfully match the color of the sky and cover the scratches without your work being visible.

 

2) Use your rubber stamp to create a second window on the
lighthouse tower. Choose the rubber stamp tool. Place your
mouse in the middle of the window. DO NOT MOVE THE MOUSE.. With your left hand, hold the Option key down. Click one time, to define the area you want to rubber stamp. Let go of the option key. Move the mouse to where you want to create a new window. Hold the mouse button down and “paint” the window in.


3) Use the rubber stamp to edit out the small shed to the right of the house, replacing it with more greenery. First, use the square selection tool to protect the house: Draw a rectangle around the entire area that you want to rubber stamp. Be sure it runs right along the side of the house. Next, click the rubber stamp tool and option-key click the area you want to rubber stamp. Move the mouse to the shed, and edit it out of thephoto.


4) Use the magic wand to select the sky. You will need to set the Tolerance (in the Menu
Bar at the top of the screen). Try starting with T=32. Larger numbers yield larger results...but a number that is too big will select too much! Experiment! Hold the shift key and continue selecting until all the sky is surrounded by "marching ants". You will need to adjust the T number up or down to get into the small spaces. Next, select the Gradient Tool. In the Menu Bar at the top of the screen, open the Gradient Editor and create a new gradient, and a shape for your gradient. Set opacity at 100% and drag a line across the selected area. Experiment! Try changing direction, short/long line, etc.


5) Use the rubber stamp to edit out the fence on the right side of the house. Fill the area with shrubbery. Also, remove the rail in the bottom right corner. Fill with “street” texture.


6) Zoom in on the far right window (check the diagram above!). Make it look like a “fun house” window by following this procedure! .First, use the Polygonal Lasso to select the window. Next, copy & Paste the window. This creates a new layer. Go to EDIT>TRANSFORM>DISTORT. When the handles appear, drag them to distort your window. Make a crazy looking window. When its a neat new shape, double click or click on the Move tool to make your new shape permanent. Now, use your magic wand to select different areas to recolor. Use crazy colors and gradients!


7) Create an archway on the second story like the ones on the ground floor. To do this, use the rectangle selection tool to select the archway. Now, copy and paste the left arch; then, use your Move Tool to move it into place on the upper story (where the window used to be). SCALE and ROTATE until the window until it looks correct.

8) Use the Magic Wand (T=45 or 50?) Select the upper roof area with the magic wand. (You may need to hold the shift key to gather all the roof...) Go to the Image Menu: Adjustments: Variations. Find a different color to tint the roof.


9) Select the glass cylinder on top of the lighthouse: Go to the Image Menu: Adjustment: Curves. Experiment with color changes. Make it look as if the light is on glowing in the lighthouse.


10) Select the left front window on the house with the Rectangle Marquee Selection tool. Now open ANY other file, (maybe a quad?) and select and copy a small part of it (Square Marquee Selection tool, copy). Go back to the lighthouse and use the PASTE INTO command (Edit Menu).


11) Go to the VIEW MENU> RULERS. Using the rectangular selection tools, carefully select a rectangle that is 2” wide horizontally, from the 2” mark to the 4” mark. Make your selection the height of the file. Watch the ruler guides on the top of your lighthouse file carefully to be sure the size is correct. Now, COPY and PASTE. Go to: FILTERS>STYLIZE>FIND EDGES. Deselect. Next, use your Magic wand to delete the sky within the filtered area.


12) Go to the Layer Menu and Duplicate the layer you just made and filtered above. Next, go to the Edit: Transform: Flip Horizontally. Next, Go to Transform and add Perspective to give the house a 3D look. Use your eraser to erase the top level of the house in this layer, revealing the sky/gradient behind it. Click on the Notes Tool and write a note about how this filtered area looks compared to the photo!


13) Go to the Layers window and reselect the Background layer, (or whatever layer the house appears on.) Select one of the archways on the lower level using the Magnetic Lasso. First, zoom up on the arches. Select the Magnetic Lasso and click just inside one of the arches, and drag slowly so that it traces the outline of the arch. Copy & Paste. Next, go to IMAGE>ADJUSTMENTS>CURVES. Use the pull down menu to select a color. Slowly, drag the diagonal line. Make it crazy!


14) Use the rectangle select tool to select the window on the upper righthand side of the building. Copy & Paste and set LAYER transparency to 50% opacity. Use the Move Tool to move it to the left of the lighthouse. Go to EDIT>TRANSFORM>ROTATE. Rotate into another position.


15) Reselect your layer with the house (zero or bg). Select the HORIZONTAL TEXT MASK TOOL. Click in the middle of the sky. At the top, set a font and size.Type your name. Next, Go to the Layer Window and click the New Layer button at the bottom. Select the Gradient Tool and fill the text with a radial Rainbow Gradient. DRAG across the letters to fill.


XTRA CREDIT: First, be sure your work above is saved. Minimize your Lighthouse file and open one of your Quad paintings in Photoshop that you have saved as a PICT file. Use the FILE: OPEN command to open your painting into Photoshop. Now Select All and Copy. Close the File. Reopen your Lighthouse. Use the Magic Wand to select all of the sky (like in step 4 above) Hold the shift key to “gather” all the color pieces. Now use the PASTE INTO command to paste your painting back of the Lighthouse!