Digital Photography & Imaging - WEEK 4 (PRACTICAL : COLOR GRADING DIGITAL COLLAGE)

14.10.2024 - 20.10.2024 (Week 4)

Brenda Wynn (0372128)

Digital Photography and Imaging / Bachelors of Design (Hons) in Creative Media / Taylor's University

Practical : Color Grading Digital Collage



JUMP LINKS


LECTURE

During week 4, we continued to learn other tools and features in photoshop. We learned how to use the adjustment layer and filters.

Adjustment layer
  • adds color and tonal adjustments without changing the image pixels
  • able to edit or discard adjustments
  • able to restore original image
  • when an image is added, a new layer will also be added over the image
  • properties panel helps modify the adjustment layer, that will modify the image
Adjustment layer features
  • Brightness/Contrast
  • Level
  • Curves
  • Exposure
  • Selective color
Filters
= gives the ability to change colors, add blur, and add effects in an image.


PRACTICAL

We were shown on how to color grade our compositions this week. Mr. Fauzi has picked the best collage compositions we made last week, and this was the collage the picked out of the 3 digital collages I made.

FINAL DIGITAL COLLAGE COMPOSITION

Figure 1.1 final digital collage before color grading (16/10/2024, week 4)

For this collage, I used the pen tool, magic wand, and both the elliptical marquee tool and the rectangular marquee tool. I used the pen tool to select the elements I wanted to use by tracing the chosen elements, and for the magic wand tool, I utilized it in several elements that have a plain background so it can be easily selected. Lastly, I used the elliptical marquee tool and the rectangular marquee tool to add more color and variation to the piece. The story behind this piece is that the typewriter is creating art by typing it, so the art becomes alive as the typewriter is typing something. I also incorporated the rule of thirds to create this piece.

COLOR GRADING

To start, I learned from the tutorial Mr. Fauzi gave to get a clearer understanding first, before starting to color grade my work. Then, I proceeded to use the levels and hue/saturation option to color grade my work. First, I will need to select the element I wanted to color grade. Secondly, I will use the levels or the hue/saturation option to color grade my work. After making the adjustments, I will create a new clipping mask on the adjustments so it will only color grade that specific element.
Figure 1.2 steps for color grading (16/10/2024, week 4)

I tried to color grade the elements as similar as it can be to the original color. I also adjusted some textures to make the composition look much more nicely composed. This is my final digital collage work after color grading it.

FINAL DIGITAL COLLAGE AFTER COLOR GRADING

Figure 1.3 final digital collage after color grading (16/10/2024, week 4)

I changed some of the saturation and also the levels for the color grading. To start, I used the rule of thirds to guide and mark where the elements should be placed .Starting with the typewriter, I applied levels to make it look much brighter. I also changed the levels to make it darker for the blue building and the vine. The boy in the middle lighting was adjusted to be much brighter by using levels too. The texture that is located behind the machine is darkened using levels, however the texture at the very back was lightened using levels. The texture at the very back and the vine was also adjusted to make the composition look much more compact. One of the fish that is much smaller than the other was lightened using levels and had a change in color by using hue/saturation. For the lady at the back and also the beige building lighting was darkened using levels to create a visual that they are located at the very back. Lastly, the fish in the middle of the piece was lightened using levels and also had a change in color to make it pop out more by using hue/saturation.


REFLECTION

During the adjustments I was making using photoshop, it was very confusing at first. I didn't know how to make each elements have their own adjustments, lightings, etc. I was also a bit anxious on how I wanted to start this piece. But, I settled with the idea of giving the viewers a much clearer visual on which elements was located to make the center of the piece pop out more. I watched the tutorial given and also other tutorials I found to help me adjust the piece. In the end, I learned new features on photoshop that will be helpful in the near future.

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