The document details the author's experience editing images using Adobe Photoshop for an alternative music magazine. It highlights various techniques employed, such as desaturation, Gaussian blur, and the history tool, to create a vintage and professional aesthetic. The author discusses the impact of color choices and edits in conveying the artists' personalities and aligning with the magazine's genre.

1. As prior to his task I’ve never used Adobe Photoshop to edit images before, I began with simply experimenting with the basics – for example, here I simply desaturated my original photograph.

2. I then did the same here, but utilized the history tool to return colour to particular features – in this case the red lipstick. I find it creates a very dynamic and intriguing look, without being overwhelmingly alternative.

3. I did the same again here, and found that by desaturating an image it can help it look more professional – in this case, a mint green carpet doesn’t exactly give the impression Ava’s on stage, yet once it is grey, it could pass as just about any surface.

4. This is one of my original images. I find that as the colours have a reddish hue (due to red lights) no only does it imply passion and danger etc, but it also links to the fact that this image will be used in the Autumn issue of my magazine. Furthermore, by having my model avert their eyes from the camera I find it helps to make them appear less posed and more natural, and therefore more likeable for the audience!

5. I chose to edit this image on Adobe Photoshop in order to experiment and add elements of character to it that would help the audience gauge more of what the figure in it is actually about. First I blurred the image using the Gaussian Blur tool. I found this gave the image a slightly vintage feel. I also thought it drew in the connotation of Paparazzi. The blurred effect suggests that the musician featured isn’t striving for the limelight, thus increasing her “likeability”.

6. I then converted the image into black and white in order to give it a vintage feel – something a lot of Alternative musicians are attempting to do with their music nowadays. I feel this links to the iconic black and white photos taken in the middle of the 20 th century, when people were famous for talent, and not scandal!

7. I also experimented using the “ history ” options on Photoshop in order to clear some of the black and white, in order to create a patchy effect. I really like the result of it, the image has that vintage feel yet has maintained the effective autumnal colours. I also feel that having some areas in colour make it far easier to identify the artist, whereas the all black and white image may simply appear too vague!

8. I also edited this image on Adobe Photoshop to remove the background, I did so using the quick selection tool and a rubber for the detail. To smooth out the edges I used an over sized history brush to remove irregular edges left be jerky “rubbing out”. I furthered this by again again using the gaussion blur on the very edges of the image in order to prevent irregular and obviously photoshopped edges.

9. Another of my original images again appeared with an autumnal reddish hue due to red lighting used. The model’s direct look at the camera implies an edge of defiance and immediately connects with the audience, yet a soft expression with just a hint of a smile maintains an inviting appearance. Furthermore, I find that as it is a high-angle shot, it looks as though my artist is attempting to figure out something curious, or gazing off dreamily into the distance! Both of these things, I find, makes the artist appear intriguing.

10. To edit this image, I cropped it down to feature the torso, head and shoulders of my model. In order to create the feeling that it was a piece of art with a message, rather than just a plain image, I again applied the Gaussian Blur . Thus maintaining the autumnal colours, yet creating a more intriguing photo. I then used Photoshop to cut the figure away from the background, using the background as a base layer, place my magazine’s title over the top, and adding the figure back over as the top layer . The overall look is professional, yet abstract and intriguing.

11. However, upon second thoughts the earlier edit of this image was almost too abstract, so I tried an entirely new approach… I then edited this photo in many steps: I altered the hue of the entire image, upping the blues & brightness and reducing saturation to give a slightly rugged and moody vintage feel. I desaturated the entire image as the brightness had brought much of the background into view, giving it an unprofessional feel. I then used the history tool to restore colour to the areas I wished (The figure and the area of green light on the floor)

12. I selected a rectangle around Ava’s eyes and used a “ Pixellate ” tool, in the form of “ Crystallize ”. This looks interesting and I feel tells a story about Ava’s concern for any loss of identity etc – which links back strongly to the conventions of alternative music magazines I then used the history tool to return the areas to the far right and left of Ava’s head to normal as they too had been distorted by the pixellating. I used a blending tool to make sure all of the green light on the floor was of the same colour I selected Ava’s lips and upped the saturation – so that not all colour would be washed out and to bring an element of warmth and danger to the cover. I then used Photoshop to cut the figure away from the background, using the background as a base layer , place my magazine’s title over the top, and adding the figure back over as the top layer.

13. The final result was this image to the right. I will definitely be using it on the cover of my magazine as it is intriguing and abstract, yet fits comfortably within the genre of “alternative” by not appearing overly polished and therefore mainstream.

14. Another outcome of editing was this image created simply by overlaying a strong red hue to a black and white image of the photograph – which I find is exceedingly striking. Nevertheless I found that this overly pale figure with accentuated redness linked strongly vampirism and therefore the gothic music genre. Consequently I decided that this was the wrong route to go down, as I felt it would detract from my magazine’s standing as an Alternative Music magazine if it were used.

15. I wanted this figure to be alone with a transparent background, and so I used the quick selection tool, along with the occasional rubber use, to erase all the background so that Ezra was a lone figure. To smooth out the slightly jerky edges that were left, I used the lasso tool to draw around the very edges of the image and a bit of the now transparent background. I then applied the gaussion blur tool in order to give a smooth edge and professional finish.

16. Another of my original images has again got a coloured hue, only this time it is both red and green. The lone figure with his guitar gives the impression of a signer/songwriter, and the sultry lighting reflects the kind of alternative moody song they might be playing

17. In order to make sure there was a clear difference between my artists, I used Photoshop to replace the red lighting with a green hue . I also sharpened the image, as low lighting often leaves images looking of a poor quality. This photo will look very effective on my contents page, and could be used as an image representing a variety of articles.

18. This image, of my featured artist, I find is very effective as the light shining through and the silhouetted figure gives the impression that she is on stage. The dark lighting makes it look moody, but the bright light shining through prevents this image from becoming too gothic.

19. I again utilized the Gaussian Blur tool on Photoshop in order to blend the left hand side of this image into white. This way it can blend seamlessly into my double page spread. Furthermore, I feel it will create a more professional and convincing appearance.

20. I simply upped the contrast of this image once it was on publisher in order to give it a more striking look, and to strengthen the colours to make it look edgier and of a higher quality.

21. This image looks very convincing as an action shot of Ava performing on stage, however I felt it needed a certain polish! Furthermore, I wanted to manipulate it for effective use in my contents page, which involved a variety of editing skills!

22. I flipped the image horizontally so that Ava would be facing into the page (as this image is to be positioned to the right of the page) I used the quick selection tool, along with the rubber tool to smooth out the slightly jerky edges that were left, I then applied the gaussion blur tool in order to give a smooth edge and professional finish. I altered colour saturation of the iris’s in order to remove redness I then upped the contrast for a more striking, unique effect.