Objective

To be introduced to Photoshop's masking, blending and colorization tools. To create the following montage by example:

Discussion

Photoshop has the ability to collage images seamlessly. When creating montages, be sure that there is a great contrast in size to help the viewer enter the picture. In this example, the contrasting subjects also help communicate a concept: the merging of art and technology. This illustration was used in a brochure for printing inks, therefore saturated colors were chosen.

Procedure

masking mona

1. download starter files
2. open "mona.psd" in Photoshop
3. rename "background" layer "mona"
4. new layer "black"; fill with black (opt+DELETE)
5. restack layers
6. draw oval (w/ option key); select > transform selection, adjust
7. "mona" layer: layer > add layer mask > reveal selection
8. layer mask: filter > blur > gaussian blur (40)

making alberts

1. open "albert.psd"
2. move tool: drag image into main window; close "albert.psd"
3. rename layer "albert"; hide others
4. window > show channels
5. go to blue channel; image > adjust > invert (cmd+I); go back to "RGB"
6. window > show layers
7. dupe albert (move tool, add option to copy, add shift to constrain)
8. go to channels, invert red channel, go to RGB channel, return to layers
9. dupe albert again
10. go to channels, invert blue channel (again), go to RGB channel, return to layers
11. combine all 3 alberts: merge down (cmd+E), repeat
12. dupe again (option+shift+move); reposition, repeat
13. combine alberts: go to top layer, merge down (cmd+E), repeat
14. reveal "mona" and "background" layers

masking alberts

1. layer > add layer mask > reveal all (note icon in floating palette)
2. choose default colors
3. draw linear gradient (foreground to background)
4. new layer "corner"
5. draw linear gradient (foreground to transparent)
6. save, flatten image
7. image > mode > CMYK
8. save as "mona.jpg" (quality=maximum for print)

grading

1. print a proof with your name on it for grading
2. file your graded proof in your 3-ring binder for individual review