For this week, you will work with an assigned partner on a 3 step version of Photoshop Tennis: each of you will situate the Sketchup sculpture into a new place through photocollage.  1) use Photoshop to collage your Sketchup rendering into a place. 2) work on your partner's image. 3) work on what your partner returns to you.  4) Finally post your original with both your partner's variation and your own stage 3 variation on your blog, with a link to your partner's blog.

Finish Stage 1 by Thursday night and Stage 2 by Saturday night to give your partners time to work.

0. Practice (in class)

Download sample files from the Andreomeda course folder. Try correcting a dark photo or a scanned drawing. Or cut and paste in perspective using the vanishing point filter - our video shows it with the example files.

1. Give Feedback

Take a look at your partner's submission for Assignment 1 on their blog.  Considering the Quality Criteria, post a comment of ~200 words that highlights strengths and suggests remedies or additions for weaknesses.  Include at least one question for the designer.

2. Create a Context

Start the context environment by creating a perspective image from Sketchup that reveals the spatial configuration, shadow patterns and material construction of your sculpture. [File menu > Export 2D Graphic > Export type JPG.  Options button pops up an Export JPG dialog: 

• Image Size:   1200 pixels wide x 900 pixels tall
• Rendering: check Anti-Alias on (unless it is a pure line drawing)
• JPEG Compression: better quality

In Photoshop, add a new background and foreground entourage (i.e. people, vehicles and vegetation) from your own digital photos or from public domain images. Makes sure the images have compatible lighting and viewpoints.  Use Edit menu > Free Transform or Filter menu > Vanishing point to adjust perspective lines.  Add shadows to ground new objects into the environment.  As you work, develop a story and title for the image.

Save the large image as a Photoshop PSD (with layers), then resize to 400 x 300 and "Save for Web" as a "very high" quality JPG file that you can post to your blog.

3. Trade

Trade layered Photoshop files with your partner and generate a variations of your partner's work.  Consider how to extend your partner's original vision or how to subvert it.  Try turning off layers, making areas transparent or semi-opaque, experimenting with layer Blending modes.  Again, imagine a narrative for the work

4.  Trade Back

Give your partner both your layered PSD file and a 400 x 300 pixel JPG.  Develop a third version from what you receive.

5.  Blog it

Post the three images along with titles and brief narratives onto your blog.  Refer to your inspiration sources, and write about the challenges and rewards of this collaboration.  (~400 words).

6.  Print it in Color

Combine the three images onto one file.  Enlarge one of the images with Image menu > Canvas size : Width 1200, Height 2800 pixels, 16.5” tall, 170 dpi), then paste the other two onto the same file. After saving the 3 image file in Adobe Photoshop PSD format, save a copy as Photoshop PDF, with Preserve Photoshop Editing Capabilities UNchecked and without Layers. Set up your computer to print on the AAA output room's printer called "Foster". Use Adobe Acrobat's Page Setup to choose 11" x 17" portrait format paper and print it on Foster.

Bring your print to class on Tuesday Oct. 17.

For the Advanced

• Keep exchanging files to develop a narrative through a sequence of Photoshop tennis volleys (more than 3 phases). Include your critiques of what worked and didn't when you post the images.
• Explore layer blending and layer masks to create more interesting relationships between the images.

Quality Criteria

Concept

• Image strikingly transforms the previous version
• Image creates a story line

Design Quality

• Components contribute to a unified, hierarchical expression
• Image sustains interest, i.e. through mystery or density of information
• Image has a harmonious color palette

Technical Competence

• Component viewpoint and lighting match
• Collages seamless with Feathering for soft edges
• Uses layer transparency, blends, filters, etc. artistically

Completeness:

• Meets deadlines for 3 steps
• Creates Web and print images in required formats
• Writing clarifies design thinking and collaboration process

References:
Lynda.com video tutorials
Univ. of Washington Landscape Architecture Basic Photoshop Tutorials
Adobe Photoshop online tips
AAA Output Guide.
UO Computing Center Documents Room - Adobe Classroom in a Book, Illustrator Wow book
Photoshop notes prepared by Phil Jones