questions and answers about
putting together a montage
How do I --- Scan
it?
Located in UN001, there are flatbed scanners
and a slide/film scanner with which to convert any image to a computer
file in Photoshop using a Mac. In the hallway are Windows stations
to do scanning of negatives or prints.
-
The scanners are listed in PhotoShop under File>Import.
On the PC (Windows) system there may be an icon on the screen for the
scanner.
-
Click on a the brand name of the scanner that you are planning to use.
-
Set resolution>Prescan, and then (after prescaning) set
the margins by draging the border line. Then active the Scan
button. More adjustments can be made later in Photoshop.
How do you know the resolution
you need? This depends on at least two issues.
a. How large is your original
compared to the size you want your final product to be?
When using a negative scanner keep in mind that the negative is small
so it needs to be scanned with a high resolution if you plan to make larger
photograph. I like to use one of the highest resolutions if I am
planning to print an 8 x 10 or larger from a negative or 35 mm slide.
When scanning prints from a flatbed scanner, less enlarging is needed.
If a 4 x 6 print is to printed as 4 x 6, scanning at around 250 or 300
pixels per inch would be good. If it is to be doubled in size to
8 x 10, I would double the scanning resolution. Remember, if you
crop, you are cutting off and pixels and often enlarging those that are
remaining. Start with extra high resolution if you anticipate cropping
the image.
b. Will the image be printed or
posted as a web page image?
Since computer monitors present web pages at 72 pixels per inch, higher
resolutions are not needed during scanning for web pages unless the image
size is to be increased. If I am planning to scan a 4 x 6 print and
present it on a web page at 6 x 9 inches, I would scan the print at a resolution
of at least 106 so that it still has integrity at 72 after increasing the
size to 150%.
-
Save it. After scanning, Save the file using the File>Save
command from the top menu bar in Photoshop. If you downloaded from a digital
camera, your images will already be saved files.
-
Where to save. The first time a file is saved, you get a dialog
box asking where you want to save it. Image files can be temporarily saved
in a folder you make on the computer desktop (the Mac screen is called
the desktop). Diskettes are too slow and may be too small for image files.
Save it temporarily on the Mac desktop so it responds faster while you
work. If you are more comfortable not using a Mac, Adobe Photoshop is also
on the PCs on campus.
-
File size. Large high-resolution image files can respond very slowly
in Photoshop. If this is a problem, you may want to scan at a lower resolution
next time. In some cases low resolution just isn't good enough. See B-5
for more information about file sizes and to make smaller files after they
are scanned.
-
Where to save when done working. Images that you want to keep should
be saved in your own drive, on a Zip disk, or on 3.5-inch diskettes, [or
directly to your webserver folder--see the GCWeb
publishers' manual]. Don't leave any personal files on an individual
computer unless it is your own computer.
-
Enhance and Correct It. Use Adobe Photoshop to check and make corrections
and enhancements. Here are several easy routines to help make an effective
photograph.
-
Use Full Range of Tone. Go to the top menu bar. Use Image>Adjust>Levels
to take out any unused latitude. If the histogram shows a flat area at
either end, use the sliders to eliminate the flat area. Almost every image
will be improved by this simple adjustment. Experiment with the center
slider, but most images do not need this adjustment. Select OK when
finished.
-
Color Correction. Often digital photos have a slightly magenta cast.
Others have the wrong color balance because of the light during photographing.
Correct color balance by using the Image>Adjust >Variations. By
experimentation the color can be made to look more natural. If we print
out the image on a color printer, we generally find that the printer produces
a different color balance than the monitor does. Artists who understand
color theory can generally get a good print after two or three printouts.
Some monitors can be "tuned" to match the printer, making it easier to
use Variations.
-
Crop. Cropping should be done before finalizing the image size.
Crop images to eliminate uninteresting, and/or distracting elements. The
crop tool allows you to draw a rectangle on your image. It has handles
on the corners and the sides which allow you to adjust the size of it.
When you get it positioned where you want it you double-click within the
area that will remain.
-
File Size.
[Paul suggests to web graphic designers that they do all resizing directly
in units of pixels].
-
Use Ruler. If you don't see a ruler at the top and left of the image,
press Ctrl +R. Use the ruler to help you visualize the size.
-
Image>Image Size from the top menu bar can be used to change
the image height and width.
The Image>Image Size dialog box also gives control of the file
size by stipulating the resolution after we have stipulated the height
or width of the image. Web page images can be set to a resolution of 72
after they are scaled to size. Lower than this will produce noticeable
deterioration of quality. More than 72 probably won't make them look better.
Images intended for printing will benefit from a resolution slightly better
than the maximum resolution of the printer used.
How do I ---
-- MAKE A SELECTION
in
order to clip out only part of a picture into my montage composite?
A. Try the Magic
Wand (near top right column of the tools icons).
If the background is fairly monotone, clicking on it might select the background
with out picking the foreground. To add to the selection, hold down
the shift while selecting. To take away from the selection hold down
the alt key while selecting. If you are able to select enough background,
you can change the selection to include only your foreground by picking
Select and Inverse from the top main menu. Then Copy the Selected part
of you photo and Paste it in you Montage.
HINT - The Magic Wand has a tolerance setting. A smaller
number will select less. Larger numbers select more. I use
it between 10 and 40 in most cases.
B. If the background
can not be selected with Magic Wand, first
enlargethe part you want to select by using the Zoom
tool that looks like a magnifying glass (lower right).
Use the Lasso
(near
top left column of the tools icons). I like to use the Polygonal one.
Hold the mouse button on it until the icon options pop out and pick Polygonal.
With the Polygonal Lasso you click a path all the way around whatever you
want to select. When you get back to where you started, the selection
with have the "marching ants" outlining it.
HINT - Pay attention to the "feather" setting above your image
to make a soft (2 to 10 pixels) or hard (0) edge when making a selection.
How do I ---
-- CUT AND PASTE
my photo from my image file to my background montage file?
-
Open both the image file for your background and the image file you are
wanting to copy (be sure you are working in Photoshop and not some other
image program).
-
Click any place on the image you want to Copy to be sure you have the correct
image active. There are several ways to Select it (see above).
The simple way is to go to the top menu and pick Select, All.
(marching ants will go around the edges).
-
Then pick Edit, Copy.
-
Then click anyplace on the background file image to make it the active
file active and click Edit, Paste. The use the Move
tool (top right on the vertical tool menu) to place the pasted file.
How do I ---
-- place one photo BEHIND
another photo (for depth illusion or to make it appear flat)?
This is done in the Layers Dialogue
Box. If you cannot see it, go to the top menu to
Windows,
Show Layers. With the mouse you can click and drag the up and
down in the Layers Dialogue Box. The layer that is high in
the dialogue box is the one closest to the viewer.
How do I ---
-- make something LARGER
or smaller (for depth illusion or to make it appear flat)?
When you do this, one layer is effected, select a layer in the layer
dialogue box. The go to Edit and Transform,
Scale. Move the gripers to change the layer size.
Enter.
How do I ---
-- make some parts SHARPER?
Click Filters, Sharpen, Unsharp Mask,
and slide the adjuster while deciding what looks best.
How do I ---
-- make some parts BLURRY
(for depth illusion)?
Filters, Blur, Gaussian Blur, and slide
the adjuster while deciding what looks best.
How do I ---
-- make some parts TRANSPARENT?
At the top of Layers Dialogue Box Click the Opacity
button and slide the adjuster while deciding what looks best.
How do I ---
-- add WORDS
to my composite?
Pick the big T tool. Place the cursor
about where you want to type, but before typing, check over the options
along the top for size, font style, color, etc.
After typing use the Move tool (top right of tools) to place the text where
you want it. Note: It just made a new Layer.
How do I ---
-- make it DARKER
or lighter?
Pick Image, Adjust, Levels. Slide
the right and left sliders to to where the black histogram starts.
Fine tune the center.
How do I ---
-- make it have more VALUE
contrast?
Pick Image, Adjust, Brightness/Contrast.
Slide the sliders to to where things look good to you.
How do I ---
-- make the COLORS
BRIGHTER or less bright (for depth illusion)?
Pick Image, Adjust, Hue/Saturation.
Slide the sliders to to where things look good to you.
Also try Photoshop "Help" from
the top menu bar.
Students in Art
for Children class are asked to e-mail me if you find errors if you have
any questions as you work.
WARNING Copyright law prohibits
the publication of images on a web page without permission. Posting web
pages and photocopying are forms of publishing. An image does not need
to display ã in
order to have legal protection. When you create an original image, whether
with a camera or otherwise, it has U.S. copyright protection. If you made
it or if you have permission from the owner, you can publish it.
Google and other search engines can find materials that are posted very
quickly, whether or not you advertize it. Stay honest. Stay
legal. Make your own images. How hard could that be?
select it
scan it size it
overlap it see
thur it sharpen it blur
it
lighten it
brighten
it add contrast
To
Montage Lesson Back
to Art for Children Page
Postscript:
Goshen students are invited to send the instructor ideas, suggestions,
concerns, and questions about this lesson and anything else about this
course. e-mail to: marvinpb@goshen.edu
All rights reserved. Goshen
College students may print a copy for their own use. Teachers may
make copies for classroom use if the author and web site are credited.
Others must e-mail marvinpb@goshen.edu
for permission to reproduce or publish. Photos, layout, and text ©
Marvin Bartel 1999, 2002
® Photoshop is a trademark of the
Adobe software company.
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Updated Sept. 9, 2002
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