1. ARCH1291 - Visual Studies II
FALL 2013
Assignment 3: Layered Drawings
ASSIGNMENT INTRODUCTION
This assignment will build off of the work done with vector drawings in Assignment 2 by adding additional layers of information
beneath the line drawing using Photoshop. Color, shade, and shadow will help to emphasize the three-dimensional depth of the
drawings which is already beginning to be conveyed via line weight.
Assignment 3 asks that students add color (via Photoshop) and shade and shadow (via Rhino Render) to the series of drawings
they have produced to illustrate their most successful cube iteration from Assignment 1.
Visual Studies I Adobe Photoshop skills for review:
• Layers
• Color
• Paint Bucket
• Eye Dropper
• Magic Wand
• Image Edits and Transformations
New Adobe Photoshop skills introduced:
• Layer and Vector Masks
• Fill and Adjustment Layers
• Layer Blending Modes
• Selection <> Work Path Workflows
• Free Transform
• Color Inversion
ASSIGNMENT RESOURCES
Photoshop Primers
• http://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/12101291coordination/photoshop-primers/
Video Tutorial(s) for Assignment 3
• http://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/12101291coordination/assignment-3-layered-drawings/
INSTRUCTIONS
1. As opposed to exporting your Illustrator Artboards as JPG files as you did for Assignment 2, export them as PNG files with
transparent backgrounds for Assignment 3.
2. Open the PNG files in Photoshop and save each document as a PSD (Photoshop) file.
3. Using the Magic Wand tool, select the areas of the drawing that represent the remaining portions of the original six (un-
carved) cube faces (or cube exterior), then create a new layer and use the Paint Bucket tool to drop a color into the
selection.
a. You will almost immediately find that selection is made difficult due to the complex nature of the line drawings,
so you will need to return to Illustrator and export certain layers individually as additional PNG files for the
Photoshop files which will be used exclusively to assist with ease-of-selection. These are called “dummy” layers
as they have no representation role in the drawing and will be hidden prior to the final image export.

2. 4. Repeat step 3, but this time color the areas of the drawing that represent the interior surfaces of the cube. Make sure that
the color areas are below the line work layers in your Layers Palette to assure you have the correct draw order.
5. Render the cubes using Rhino Render, Rhino’s default rendering engine.
a. In the Rhino Options set Resolution to 3200 x 2400 pixels at 300 DPI.
b. Turn Anti-Aliasing up to 10X.
c. Select Solid color for Background and check the box that says Transparent background.
d. Save the renders as PNG files.
e.
6. Import the rendered images into the appropriate Photoshop files and size them to fit the rest of the artwork using the Free
Transform (Ctrl+T) tool.
7. Use Layer Blending Modes to combine the color values of the color layer with the brightness values provided by the
underlying rendered images.
8. Use Layer Blending Modes and other tools to see how you can invert the light/dark relationship between particular
elements of the line drawing and the raster layers of the Photoshop document.
a.
GRADING

3. To receive a grade, your Photoshop files must be submitted to your Dropbox folder and your printed drawings pinned up in the
hallway by the beginning of the next class.
Assignment 3 will be graded as follows:
1. Followed file naming convention 10%
2. All layers in Photoshop document have transparent backgrounds (PNG) 10%
3. Photoshop document exhibits proper layer management and order 10%
4. Dummy layers have been utilized for ease-of-selection 10%
5. Achieved heightened differentiation of inside/outside relationship through color 20%
6. Achieved heightened sense of three dimensional depth through rendered shade and shadow 20%
7. Rendered images at proper resolution 10%
8. Printed drawings pinned up prior to start of class 10%
9. EXTRA CREDIT: At least one layer/vector mask and one fill/adjustment layer utilized 15% EC