ADV. STUDIO IN ART II: SHMERYKOWSKY
PROJECT #3: TYPE SELF PORTRAITS
“Visualization is daydreaming with a purpose.”
-Bo Bennett
AGENDA:
Artists use many vehicles in order to create expressive self-portraits.
Typography is the art and technique of arranging type and type design. In this
assignment:
You will create a self-portrait in
Adobe Photoshop using learned type
techniques. You will use:
1) Type paths
2) Brush settings with type
3) Adjusting font sizes and colors
to match your image
4) Adjusting opacity
You will begin by:
1) Taking a picture of yourself
and sending it to your email
2) Import into Adobe Photoshop
3) Use Pen and drawing tools to
trace the original image with
type
4) Use brush tools and type tools
in order to create an interesting
self portrait that shows values
and color
5) Add type
PROCEDURE:
1) TAKING THE PICTURE: STAY AWAY from frontal formal portraits: think of
expressive ways to portray yourself: lighting, facial expression, body language, props
or add ins. Consider cropping your face to include one part of it.
2) EMAIL the picture to yourself or save it on your FLASH DRIVE.
3) CREATE THE FILE in Adobe Photoshop
DIRECTIONS:
1) File>NEW
a. 11x14 inches
b. “your name typeportrait period letter”
c. resolution 300
2) SETTING UP THE FILE:
a) Once you create the file, COMMAND A (select all), then COMMAND C
(copy) then COMMAND V (to paste) the image in the document you just
made.
b) Choose the Move Tool and check your Show Transform Controls
c) Then, hold SHIFT to pull the image to the correct size of the page.
d) On this new copy of your photo, IMAGE> ADJUSTMENTS>
POSTERIZE> level 8 on the toggle.
e) Then, go back to IMAGE> ADJUSTMENT> BRIGHNESS AND
CONTRAST
f) Adjust the BRIGHTNESS to 30 and the CONTRAST to 60 (You can
adjust the numbers to whatever you want. The above is a suggestion.)
g) Then, go to your LAYERS and change the opacity to around 40 depending
on your image quality.
h) LOCK the image and take VISIBILITY OFF the original image.
3) WORKING ON THE FILE: Think of ONE WORD/ PHRASE that describes
you….You will use this word throughout the portrait. You also have the option of
using your name as well: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you
seem, and smarter than you think. ~AA.Milne
4) Then, you will use BOTH PATHS and the BRUSH PRESETS to create your
portrait. Below are instructions for both. Use whichever where appropriate.
For Pen Tool with Paths:
1) Choose to Pen Tool to create a Path.
2) Start to create a MAIN PATH where you need it to be for the word/phrase you chose.
(Add anchors if needed)
-Using paths are great ways to OUTLINE the form.
-Be careful, because sometimes you may have issues creating new paths near a
previous paths. Think to create them in new and separate areas.
3) Use the horizontal type tool and click on the left side of the path to type.
-ADJUST THE SIZE of the type in order to suite whatever you are tracing.
3) Use the eyedropper tool in order to select the color or value of the area you are typing
in. Highlight the type to add that color to the type. (foreground color)
*adjust OPACITY as well
For Brush Presets: CREATE A SCRAP DOCUMENT in PHOTOSHOP!
1) Create a NEW DOCUMENT and name the file “BrushText”
2) Use the type tool to create a type design. (It can be in different layers for each
letter, vary their size and overlap!)
3) To create multiple layers of a text design, click the TEXT LAYER you have just
created. This will allow you to start a new Text Layer.
4) Get rid of the visibility of all image layers you DO NOT NEED in your design
(take eyeball off) So all you will see will be the type design you created.
5) Use the TYPE tool and write words or phrases.
a. Choose a FONT and FONT FAMILY
b. Color and size are not important right now.
6) Next, use a Marquee Tool and select the area in which you want to define as a
brush
7) EDIT> DEFINE BRUSH PRESET> name the brush
8) Next, choose the Paintbrush tool
9) Make sure you have your BRUSH and BRUSH PRESET palettes open
10) In BRUSH, adjust the style of your Type Design, ESPECIALLY SIZE
11) After you have completed the defined brush preset, go back to your project.
12) Put visibility back on images you may have closed the eye on.
13) Use the EYEDROPPER TOOL to select the color or value of the area you will
put type
14) Then, go to the BRUSH TOOL> double click the brush options to find your
personal brush> adjust the diameter
15) Use the brush tool in the area you intended.
**FOR DARKER values and colors you will overlap more of the type from the brush to
cover the space!
**FOR LIGHTER areas you will put less type and adjust the OPACITY!
BACKGROUND:
Select a SOLID color for your background. Using the rectangle shape tool, select a
foreground color and drag the box over your image. This should go UNDERNEATH the
entire image.