Production Experiments

1. Production Experiments

2. Experiment 1: Photo glitch effect
For my experiments, I want to practice and learn different ways to edit and manipulate photos to look different or more artistic. This is
because I will have to edit images that I do not own to make them my own style so I would like to find different ways to do this.
For my first experiment, I learned to create a glitch effect on photos. I started with an image of a model that I found on
www.pexels.com/ and desaturated the image so it would be in black and white. To create the first glitch effect, I duplicated that layer
and opened the layer style menu. Then, I went to RGB in advanced blending and unticked the ‘R’ box. I then dragged this layer slightly
along to reveal some colours in a glitchy effect. I repeated this process on another layer except I also unchecked the ‘G’ box and
dragged the layer to the opposite side. To create the extra glitches on the image, I first duplicated the layers and merged the image so
I had a copy in case anything went wrong. Then using the rectangular marquee tool, I started selecting different areas of the image. I
then held ctrl on the keyboard and used the arrows to move the selected areas, this created the extra glitches in the image. To finish it
off, I added an image of a glitchy tv screen and changed the blending mode to overlay, this added the extra lines on top of the image.
I found this experiment quite easy and quick to do, I would be able to recreate this effect on other images after learning these steps.
The tutorial I followed on YouTube was: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57GQ1rS0yU0

3. Experiment 2: Neon light effect
For my second experiment, I wanted to experiment following a neon light effect tutorial. I wanted to do this as I didn’t have any
experience creating lighting effects in Photoshop, which I may need when working on my fanzine.
I started off with a photo of a model I found on www.pexels.com/ . I started off by using the crop tool to expand the image and then filled
in the background with the rectangular marquee tool and used content aware fill. This helped fill in and match most of the background,
however, I started to notice towards the end that there were some lines that made the background noticeable. However, I was able to go
back and fix this by selecting colour fill instead and matching it with the image background. The only noticeable line after that was where
it cuts off on the model's shoulder. Using the pen tool, I drew a triangle shape in front of and around the model and created a stroke path
in a new layer. Opening the layer style menu, I added a colour overlay, inner glow, outer glow and drop shadow effect and adjusted the
settings and colours until it created this bright neon blue effect on the triangle. After that, I used the brush tool with the same colour as
the triangle and painted over the triangle in a new layer, then I changed the blending mode to linear dodge and lowered the opacity. This
added even more glow on and around the triangle. Next, I created a layer mask and painted over part of the triangle in black to make it
look like the model is in the shape. I created a layer mask and painted over part of the triangle in black to make it look like the model is in the shape. I added a hue/saturation layer to adjust
the colour of the image to make it look as if the brightness of the shape is affecting the lighting of the room. Then, after installing some smoke brushes, I painted a smoke effect throughout
the image. I added a layer mask after and painted over in black to make sure there wasn’t too much happening that would overpower the subject. Finally, in a new layer I painted different
areas of the image in a contrasting colour pink, changed the blending mode to soft light and lowered the opacity. This added darker blue shades around the smoke in the image.
Overall, I enjoyed working on this experiment and found it very helpful. Using these techniques, I would now be able to create a neon glow effect on an object or create colourful lighting
which I can use in my magazine. The tutorial I followed on YouTube was: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JxCbwn-6bQ&t=381s

4. Experiment 3: Magazine Cover
For my third experiment, I wanted to make a magazine cover in a different style than I have done previously. This is because I
have been trying to find more creative ways to display images for my fanzine. I decided to try this style as I wasn't sure how to do
the square effect on the image.
I started off with saving all the images from Frank Ocean's GQ photoshoot. I chose a picture I would like for the cover and placed
it in the centre. Then, using the rectangle shape tool and holding shift, I created a square in the centre. After that I created
smaller squares on top of this, duplicating and changing the colours until the square was filled. This created the base layers for
me to place the imaged within. To add the images, I would place other photos from the photoshoot in between the squares, then
I selected create clipping mask and resized and moved the image to a spot that I liked. I repeated this process until all the squares
were filled. Next, I duplicated the layers and merged the group so I could resize it to how I would like. Now that the main square
effect was complete, I inserted the GQ logo and changed it to a grey shade using colour overlay. I also erased parts of it to make it
appear as if it was behind the model. Using the 'Gotham' font I added the cover lines around the outside in different sizes. To
finish it off, I merged the layers once again and added a noise filter for texture.
The tutorial I followed on YouTube was: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIvN6iiRRaE&list=WL&index=5&t=69s