Note: You may choose to use Photoshop SHAPES in place of four of shapes below! They should be a solid, light color (no styles).

Be sure one of them is an outline (no inside fill) and one is a letter!.

Photoshop Exercise #3: Layer Styles & Effects

SET UP
Step 1. Launch Photoshop. Use the FILE: OPEN command, and navigate to Photos To Use. Select a photo from the folder with a lot of color and detail. Open the photo, and move it to the side so it's out of the way.
Step 2. Next, go to FILE: NEW and create a new file with a Resolution of 200, that is:
10"x8", if the photo you opened above was a horizontal photo
8" x 10", if you have chosen a vertical photo).

Step 3: Place the files side by side and use the Move tool to drag the photo into the new file. Scale the photo as large as possible without altering the proportions: Hold the shift key, and go to Edit:Transform:Scale. Drag from the corner until it fits. Be sure to keep holding the Shift key in order to keep it from warping. (It's OK if there is a little white space around the edges.)

2. SAVE your file as YLNI Ex3.

3. Next, use a Selection tool (lasso, circular, rectangular or polygonal lasso) to set up the rows of shapes as shown in the example at right.
FOLLOW DIRECTIONS BELOW:

Start by making a NEW LAYER (in the Layer Window).

Draw your shape, using the selection tool.

Next, use the STROKE command to outline the shapes shown at right (EDIT: STROKE). Use a 20 px stroke, using white, location: center.

DUPLICATE the layer (Layer: Duplicate) with the shape until you have five in a row, as shown at right. Use the Move Tool to move into place.

Repeat this process using the Circle, Rectangular, Lasso, Polygonal Lasso and Text tool to create the shapes as shown. After you make each shape, use the Layer Duplicate command to create 4 more. SAVE your work.

Your page should look like mine, with five rows of five shapes (shapes can vary a little bit!).

4. BEFORE YOU GO ANY FARTHER....Save your file four more times as
YLNI Ex3a, 3b, 3c, 3d & 3e. (use SAVE AS command). Be sure to save them in your DOCUMENTS folder. It might be a good idea to make a folder to
put them in, so you don't lose them!

5. BEGIN with file YLNIPhoto3a.
Select Layer 1 (or wherever the top left shape appears).

USING LAYER EFFECTS

By now, you should have 5 saved files. Each will be used for a different Layer Effects experiment. Each of the saved files will use a different layer Style, in a full range of ways. Experiment with colors, opacities, blend, spread size, etc.

File YLNI Ex3a: DROP SHADOW
File YLNI Ex3b: OUTER GLOW
File YLNI Ex3c: BEVEL & EMBOSS
File YLNI Ex3d: PATTERN OVERLAY
File YLNI Ex3e: YOUR CHOICE! Use any of the items in Layer Effects that you haven't used!

 

TO BEGIN:

1. Open your file. Select the first layer with a shape on it.
Set your Blend Mode to Normal. Check in your Layer Window to be sure that the Blending Mode is set to Normal.

2. Go to Layer: Layer Styles: Drop Shadow.
Use a different kind of drop shadow on every shape on your page. Make adjustments to the following areas to insure that each is vividly different!

Color (see color box at right)
Opacity
Angle (and Global Light)
Distance
Spread
Size
QUALITY: Try a variety of different Contours!
Noise

7. Continue until you have completed all 5 files. LEAVE YOURSELF A NOTE if you find an effect or combination of effects that you like!