Digital Repeating Patterns

Here's a fun project my computer graphics students completed! I learned the basic steps from a Skillshare class that was hand drawn repeating patterns. I let the students start drawing by hand but we finished on the computer. Here is a link to the handout I gave them with all the steps: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ChKRWFiFgo_rDOi1lhNMWZF8jWc1EAj8FEBXxgwHSIo/edit?usp=sharing 

 

I need to explore doing this project in Illustrator. I have only had access to an updated version of the software for about a year and am self taught so I'm not sure of the best way to do it, but I feel like it might work even better, or at least save some steps!

It was really fun to see what objects the students chose to work with.

I will admit that sometimes things don't match up perfectly when you repeat the tile, which doesn't make sense to me, but be prepared in case it happens. We were able to just make some small adjustments when zoomed in and complete a couple lines to fix things.

Photoshop Drawings Into Reality

If you're like me, you stop and look at EVERY picture in the collection when you see something like "Dad turns his 6-year old son's drawings into reality" pop up in your news feed. I started thinking that it could turn into an interesting assignment for my computer graphics class!

I started by asking the students to draw an animal from memory- NO LOOKING at a photograph. Next, I explained to the students that I wanted them to use Photoshop to make a picture of the real animal look like their drawing. 

Some needed to combine multiple parts of different photos to match their drawing and some were able to make changes with the liquify tool, clone stamp, or selecting and rearranging parts.

Here is my example including the (not very accurate) first drawing!

Some kept the background simple, some needed to replace it with a new photo to complete the scene.

I think this lesson will be a keeper for next year. It was fun for the students to do, they had to make appropriate choices from their arsenal of tools, and it only took a few class periods to complete.

Movie Poster Design

Usually summer break is when I can get caught up on blog posts from the previous school year but this summer has been a little different! We recently moved to a new house in the country with a bigger lot that will allow for the creation of an even bigger butterfly garden, space to grow some vegetables, lots of room to play outside, AND it has a building that was previously a potter's studio! Eventually, when we get all the boxes unpacked, that space will become my studio and will have room to host workshops and teach classes. We just got internet hooked up a few days ago and on top of moving, remodeling, unpacking, etc., I'm due with our 3rd baby, like 2 days ago.

So, without further ado, here is a lesson that I've used the last 2 years in my high school computer graphics class. 2 years ago, I had a student enrolled in the class who was planning to major in film at university and would talk about the scripts he'd written. I started thinking about how cool it would be to make a life size movie poster for one of his films, as well as how many of our CTE competencies could be hit with a movie poster design project. Movie posters have emphasis and heirarchy, they give you hints at the story without giving away EVERYTHING, and they use color as a design element. 

I first asked students to come up with a movie concept- this could pretty much be anything appropriate for school. Some did parodies or mash ups, some did spin offs of series they enjoyed, and some made completely new ideas. The students filled out a simple google form with questions about genre, a short synopsis, etc. just to help them think it through.

After planning the idea, the students created thumbnail sketches to help plan the composition. They were supposed to create 3 sketches and get feedback from classmates on which was the most effective.

Next, we watched a short video on how color is an important storytelling element in films. The students were asked to choose a screenshot or poster from a movie, tv show, or video game in the same genre as the poster they were planning and sample the colors. I later showed how they could use the hue and saturation and color balance tools in photoshop to adjust the colors of the photos they were using.

The students then gathered images- either creating their own (preferred method) or using images labeled for reuse. We had digital cameras, scanners, graphics tablets, and our software available for use. The posters were designed to either 24x36 inches or 16x20 inches. Our school has a large poster printer so it was really fun to print the poster from the furture film-creator student at 24x36 inches and display it at League Art. He was a student who didnt' see himself as an artist so it's always extra fun to see a look of satisfaction on a "non-artist's" face when they are proud of their work.

 I recently posted the lesson plan with links to the plan document, rubric, etc. on the smARTteacher so feel free to head over there and check it out!

Digital Op Art

I can't believe I haven't posted this project before! I tried it for the first time with my Computer Graphics class this year and it was a keeper. We covered art history, graphic design, and practiced some new skills in photoshop.
When I show the first slide without the Op Art title, I ask the students if they know what that style of artwork is called or if it reminds them of anything to gauge their prior knowledge. We talk about the "mother" and "father" of Op Art and what we can learn to apply to graphic design.


Next, I demonstrate some techniques in photoshop that the students can try out but ultimately they choose what style of Op Art they want to use. We talk about color combinations, grid/ruler tools, gradient tools, distortion filters, etc.
The technique that the most students want to use is to put text into their Op Art. I recorded a quick video this afternoon of the steps we use. I obviously need to practice screen recording since I flubbed the beginning and end, but at least it will be handy to direct students to that video when they've forgotten a step!


Here are some of the student examples!

Digital Found Object Faces

Here's a fun lesson I did with my Computer Graphics class at the beginning of the semester. In first semester we focused on a lot of different tools in Photoshop but for this first project of the new semester I wanted students to practice different ways of obtaining images. This time they were not allowed to use any images they found online, but instead could use the scanner and digital camera.

The full lesson plan can be read here as a Google Doc and the Slides presentation I showed to kick it off can be viewed here. You can also "keep" the lesson and resources on the smARTteacher.

We looked at illustrations made by Hanoch Piven, one of my favorite illustrators, and watched a chunk of his TEDx Jerusalem talk. We discussed composition and how the objects he chooses to make the facial features of his subjects often relate to their personality or life. Here are the requirements and suggestions given to the class:

• Create a self portrait using found objects for facial features. Consider using objects that represent you.
• Pay close attention to the composition- how things are arranged. Not only should the objects be composed into a face, the whole portrait should fill the space of the page so that it is interesting and eye-catching. Will you use just head and shoulders or a big head on a little body?
• Use a combination of techniques to digitize your objects- digital camera and/or scanner
• You may paint the background of the head and digitally place the objects on top
• Image size should be a minimum of 8x10 inches, 300 ppi

The students seemed to really enjoy this lesson so it will be brought back again next year. I had used Piven for inspiration at the elementary level but this was my first time introducing him to high schoolers. Click here for a mixed media Piven-inspired elementary lesson and here for a fun activity tub, the Piven box.

Digital Hand Coloring

Digital Hand Coloring

Before color photography, photos were sometimes colored by hand. It is easy to create the look of hand-colored photographs using Photoshop or Photoshop Elements. You will learn to use different selection tools- magic wand, magnetic or polygonal lasso, selection brush, etc. based on whichever is most appropriate fro the section of the photo you are working on, and how to adjust color with the hue and saturation tool. The benefit of using the hue and saturation tool is that it maintains the value changes within your selection, allowing you to keep the details.

To see the lesson plan and download a handout, check out the resource I created on the smARTteacher.

Supplies needed

Old black and white photos

Scanner

Student computers

Photoshop (we started the year with Adobe Photoshop 3.0 and it worked as well as updated versions for this task.)

1.    Scan a black and white photo with a resolution of 300 ppi or higher. (300 will allow you to print at the actual size, 600 will allow you to double the print size.) *If you do not have a black and white photo, you can start with a colored photo and then convert it to black and white.

2.    Open your scanned photo in Photoshop. Decide which area you’d like to start with. If I’m working on a portrait, I usually start with the skin.

3.    Use the most appropriate selection tool to select all of one section- all of the skin, all of a piece of clothing, etc. My students were usually the most comfortable with the selection brush. If the object you are selecting has clear edges and a lot of contrast with the adjacent areas, you may be able to use the magic wand tool, or the magnetic lasso tool. If the area you are selecting has straight edges, you can use the polygonal lasso tool.

4.    Open the Hue and Saturation menu. Shortcut= Command+U or Ctrl+U.

5.    Click the “colorize” box.

6.    Drag the arrow for the hue to change the color, for the saturation to change the intensity of the color, and lightness to change the value. When you are satisfied, click ok and then deselect the area. (Command+D or Ctrl+D).

7.    Repeat the steps until finished.  You may color the entire photo or just select areas. It is helpful to zoom in closely to make sure you didn’t miss any edges.

Here is a photo I digitally hand colored as a Christmas gift when I was in college. The photo is of my great grandma, my grandpa (oldest child), and his brother. Grandma Pat said she thought the dress in the picture really was green so I guessed correctly!