1) The document describes the steps taken to create a double page spread in Photoshop, including setting up an A3 landscape document, adding a black background, and inserting a background image. 2) Layers were used to add lighting effects and draw swirling shapes, which were manipulated using various tools. 3) The final double page spread incorporated the background image, swirling shapes, and text to establish a consistent magazine theme and house style.

1. Creating Double Page Spread
ouble Page Spread
By Lydia Hughes

2. Initially, I had to create a new A3 document,
that was landscape. Since my double page
spread will cover two A4 pages I decided to
size my document at A3 as I wanted my
background image (main feature image) to
cover my entire double page spread. On that
account, I named my document ‘Double Page
Spread’, preset it as ‘International Paper’,
which as a result converted my document into
an A3 portrait. For that reason, I had to
convert my document into landscape. I did this
by selecting ‘File’ in my toolbar, than ‘Page
Setup’ and then Landscape. Furthermore,
using ‘Image’ in my toolbar, I then selected
‘Rotate Canvas’, ‘90 CW ‘. As a result of this
action, my document changed into an A3
Landscape page.

3. Once I had created a new document on Photoshop,
I filled my background layer using the colour black.
To do this, I simply clicked on ‘Edit’ in my toolbar
and then chose Black as my Background Fill.

4. As shown in the print screen below, my actions resulted in a black background colour:

5. I added a new layer and then changed the background layer to white:

6. As shown in the print screen below, my actions resulted in a white background colour:

7. Using my toolbar, I went to Filter, Render and then
to Lighting Effects (as shown in the print screens
below):

8. Here, I made a generalized lighting effect by using
the colour blue (as displayed in the print screen
below):

9. As shown in the print screen below, my actions resulted in a blue lighting effect on layer 1 :

10. I then created a new layer.

11. On my new blank layer, I set the
mode to Screen, whilst also
ensuring that my lighting effect
(Layer 1) was on Normal.

12. Using the Elliptical Marquee Tool, I drew
a circle.

13. As you can see in the print screen below, I drew a circle:

14. Using the toolbar, I clicked on Select, Modify and
then Feather.

15. I chose to feather my circle about 20 pixels.

16. I then used the gradient tool.

17. I chose to have a gradient that consisted of three colours, including white, light blue and dark blue.

18. I then used the Radial Gradient.

19. Using the Radial Gradient, I drew a line from the inside to the outside of the circle.

20. Apple d to d select.

21. Result of apple d to d select.

22. I then used the arrow and the Free Transform Controls to squish and manipulate.

23. Result of squishing and manipulating:

24. I applied my transformation by clicking ‘Apply’:

25. For the fun part, I went to Filter, Distort, Twirl.

26. The twirl tool allowed me to manipulate the object any way that I desired.

27. Result of manipulating:

28. Result of manipulating:

29. I applied my transformation by clicking ‘Apply’:

30. Using Edit, Transform and Perspective, I gave my swirls a 3D quality.

31. Result of giving my swirls a 3D quality:

32. Result of giving my swirls a 3D quality:

33. Result of giving my swirls a 3D quality:

34. I applied my transformation by clicking ‘Apply’:

35. I then opened up a new document on Photoshop. As shown on the first slide, I named my document
‘Double Page Spread’, preset it as ‘International Paper’, which as a result converted my document into an
A3 portrait. For that reason, I had to convert my document into landscape. I did this by selecting ‘File’ in my
toolbar, than ‘Page Setup’ and then Landscape. Furthermore, using ‘Image’ in my toolbar, I then selected
‘Rotate Canvas’, ‘90 CW’.

36. As a result of my actions on the previous slide, my document changed into an A3 Landscape page.

37. I then opened up the image chosen for my double page spread.

38. Result of opening up my image. Double Page Spread document one was now present (lights swirls), Double
Page Spread document two was now present (plain white document), as well as my image that I will
incorporate onto my final Double Page Spread.

39. I transferred my double page spread image onto my new document in Photoshop.

40. I also dragged my newly made swirls onto my image.

41. Second Draft: I changed the colours of my swirls into a rainbow swirl and a lilac/white swirl. I did this
because I believed the variation of colours links to youth (my target audience).

42. However, I did not believe the rainbow and lilac swirls corresponded well with the magazine colour theme.
For that reason, I changed the colour of my swirls to red/white so that I retained my house style.

43. I changed the outline colour of my swirls to red.

44. I changed the inside colouring of my swirls to white (fill), creating a distinct feature on my double page
spread (also links to the colour theme used on my masthead on the front cover and headline on my Table of
Contents).

45. The result of changing the outline colour of my swirls to red and the inside colour of my swirls to white.

46. I then added the same headline font and colour onto my double page spread, to ensure that my magazine
retained a consistent theme, generating a visible house style.

47. Finally, I added text onto my double page spread. As shown in the print screen below, I chose white as my
colour font since this colour clearly stands out on my black background.