In Design First Attempt

This is my first attempt at creating a double page spread; it was also my first time using the In-Design software. Although at this point I had only used very simple and basic tools on the program I did like using it and I found it easier to use than Photoshop. For my first use of the program I created a masthead, added the main image along with two other images, added the article and used dropcap. To create the masthead I chose the rectangle tool and used it to create the shape to type my headline; when I had drawn the shape I then clicked on the type tool and wrote my headline. Once I had done this I clicked on window then colour to change the colour of the text and to add the stroke effect which changes the outline of the letters, I increased the weight and changed the colour. To add the images I chose the frame tool and created the shape I wanted; before this I had to save the images into a folder as you should never copy and paste using this program. To insert the picture I had to click file then place then browse to find the image I wanted and add it. When you add pictures on this program they are likely to be too large for the shape you choose; to alter this you need to right click on the picture then click fitting then fit proportionally. In this case I just needed to get used to the program so to add the article I used another piece of work and copied it; before this I used the rectangle tool to add the three columns. When I had done this I copied the text into the first column; when there is too much text for that particular column a red square should appear at the bottom of the text, you use this to click on it and then drag the rest of the text to another column. To make the dropcap I highlighted the first paragraph and went to the properties tool bar and clicked on the tool with a small A on to increased the number. The black arrow on the program is used to adjust the frame size and rectangle size, whereas the white arrow is used to adjust the picture size.

1st and 2nd Person Narratives - Alcohol - Related to Unit 3

One night I was on the streets with my friends for what was initially thought to be a fun night of drinking, yet it turned out to be a near disaster. One of my friends had too much to drink and collapsed. I and my friends all panicked not knowing what to do. He was admitted to hospital and that night he almost died. One careless night with my friends nearly turned into the worst night of my life.

The effect of this opening paragraph is that is gives it an emotional feel, someone’s actual experience and opens the eyes of the reader to the small anecdote which could easily happen to them if they are not careful. It is short which increases the read-speed and adds more energy. The shock/ horror introduction captures the reader’s attention; it draws them in and makes them want to continue reading.

You should be asking yourself these questions: are you an underage drinker? Are getting drunk to often? Do you not think about what you’re doing to yourself? Can you answer me these questions: are you concerned about the amount of alcohol consumption you have and where you future lies if you continue? Are you concerned about your personal well-being, your short-term health and long-term health, if you’re not then why not? You need to think to yourselves; could this affect my family? But most of all you need to ask yourselves; why do I drink?

The effect of this opening paragraph is that it hooks the reader; they find that they want to read on because the questions are making them want the answers. It has a medium speed; I think this makes the reader become lost in the paragraph and find themselves just continuing to read which means that the paragraph has done its job because it is meant to make the reader read on.

Healing tool - Photoshop

I have used the healing brush tool in Photoshop to clear the person's face. It is simple and easy to use: first paste a photograph into Photoshop, then alter the size of the tool next to where you are going to use it, it needs to be the same size as what you are clearing. Once you have chosen the size you need to hold down the Alt key on your keyboard and click your mouse next to where you are going to clear, and then click over the area you are clearing. You will need to repeat this process each time you want to clear something.

Vampire Photograph - Photoshop

I have used the burn tool around the eyes to darken their edges which makes them look scarier. Next I used the sponge tool all over the face to take the colour out; I set the tool to de-saturate. This makes the person look more like a vampire. After this I used the magnetic lasso tool; this tool allowed me to alter the teeth and to create the fangs. To use this tool effectively and accurately firstly you should zoom in to the teeth then click on the tool, then click around the tooth you choose, it should come up with a dotted shape around the tooth. When this appears you need to go to edit, transform and warp then alter the shape how you want. When you have finished altering the tooth click enter and control D, you should do this for two teeth. Lastly you need to create a new layer and choose the brush tool and the colour red; make sure you are on the new layer and colour the eyes red. Once you have coloured them in choose the darken effect from the drop-down menu and alter the opacity. Then you have finished.

Photoshop - Curves and Levels Photograph

The effect from the editing has made the photograph look older and vintage and it is easy to create this effect. To do this you need to first go onto Photoshop and add an image, then you need to go to adjustment layer, then choose curves and alter them. Once you have adjusted the curves you will need to create a new layer and fill it with a solid colour, after this all you need to do is alter the opacity then it is finished.

CD Cover - Photoshop

I have created my own CD cover in Photoshop. First I added the name of the song - Old School - and the name of the group - Nature's Hero's. I chose a font that was already on Photoshop rather than downloading my own, I chose to do this because I think it suits the name of the group and the name of the song. I made it green simply because the group is called 'Nature's' Hero's and the colour green is associated with nature. I added the stroke effect and drop shadow effect to the text; this makes it stand out more and adds energy to it because if these effects were not added the text would just look plain and boring.
For the background I used the gradient tool in every corner and added 3 different brushes that I downloaded from www.brusheazy.com. To download these brushes I searched the website until I found one that I wanted to use then I clicked on it, then clicked download, then I clicked on the file in the folder and chose to extract it and then I saved it in my brushes folder that I created. After this process I had to load it on Photoshop so I could use it; to do this I had to click on the Brush tool on Photoshop, then at the top of the program there was a drop down menu for the brush tool, I clicked this then on the drop down menu there was another drop down menu which I then clicked on, from this menu I clicked on load brushes and chose the brushes I had downloaded and from this I could use them on Photoshop. Once I had all the brushes I downloaded in Photoshop I freely used them trying to create something I found appealing; I think the cover I have created looks like tie-dye which I think looks good.

Photoshop Basics

This photograph has been vignetted this is where the outer edges are darkened to make the viewers eyes drawn to the centre. I have also used the dodge and burn tools; the dodge tool lightens the area that you click on whereas the burn tool darkens the area you click on.

To make the photograph vignetted on Photoshop you have to first go to the Elliptical Marquee tool and cover most of the image, but before this you must change the feathering to between 60 and 90; this will make it look more transitioned rather than having a clear line where the circle has been drawn. Next you need to go to select > inverse, then image > adjustments > brightness/ contrast; from here to can alter the brightness and contrast to what you want.

This photograph has only been slightly changed; I have used auto-colour, this just automatically makes Photoshop adjust the colour in the photograph. The colour has been slightly darkened and been made slightly 'fuller'.

To use auto-colour you need to go to image > auto-colour. There is also different things you can use after clicking on image such as auto-contrast and auto-tone.

This photograph has simply been de-saturated, this is where all the colour is taken out of the photograph and it becomes black and white. I also adjusted the brightness and contrast to make parts darker and parts lighter to shows a clearer difference.

To de-saturate a photograph on Photoshop you need to go to image > adjustments > de-saturate. To alter the brightness and contrast you need to go to image > adjustments > brightness/ contrast.