Basics Of Photoshop

Basics Of Photoshop

For this task I will be using Photoshop regularly, so I have had to practice using it and designing a practice magazine cover. To make this cover I used Adobe Photoshop CS6. On this cover I have tried to use as many different conventions as I could. I have also taken some feature story ideas from my actual magazine cover as I ran out of ideas to use. I didn't want to use too many techniques as I didn't want my practice cover to end up looking better than my actual cover.

Firstly, When I opened up Photoshop I had to add an image and to do this I had to click on 'File' then 'Open' and finally 'Image'. This then took me to all my computer documents and I then had to find the image I wanted to put on the cover of the magazine. When I had finished that, this then appeared on my screen;

Secondly, I then wanted to remove the background from the image and to do this I had to select the fourth icon down on the tool bar on the left hand side and then I had to select which parts I wanted to remove. When all the parts were removed I then made a duplicate of the new image just in case I made any mistakes When I had finished that, my image looked like this;

Next, I then wanted to create a background (originally I was going to put an image in the background but then changed my mind and wanted to just put a coloured background) and to put colour on the background, I had to click on the background layer, then click on the colour box on the toolbar on the left hand side and then selected a colour and then click on the background and it turned the  colour I chose. The colour I chose was blue. Here is what it looked like; 

Furthermore, I then wanted to add a mast head that read 'Study World'. To do this I had to click on the text tool on the tool bar on the left hand side and then I had to draw a text box and then I was able to add the text I wanted into it. I was able to change the size of the text and also the font that it was. I also wanted to move the text layer underneath by moving the text layer box underneath the main image layer box on the right hand side. Here is what it looked like when I had added it;

Moreover, I also wanted to add a strapline which I wanted to be the date and an issue number. Again, to do this I had to click on the text tool on the tool bar on the left hand side, I then had to draw a text box and then I was able to write the date and issue number in it. Again, I was able to change the size of the text and the font of the text. Here is what it looked like when I had done that;

After that I then wanted to make a skyline which would say 'THE UK'S NO.1 COLLEGE MAGAZINE'. To do this I had to click on the text tool on the tool bar on the left hand side and draw a text box and again I added the text I wanted into it. This is what my cover looked like after I had done that;

On top of that, I also wanted to add a website address onto the strapline and again to do this I had to go onto the text tool and write out the website address that I wanted and then I was able to change it to be the same size and colour as the date and issue number. This is what it looked like when I had done that;

When most of the top half of the cover had been made I wanted to add some feature stories. Some of the feature stories I used will have the same title as my actual cover because I had ran out of ideas and couldn't think of anymore feature stories. To create feature stories I had to click on the text tool on the tool bar on the left hand side and had to draw a text box and then write the stories. I gave the titles of the stories a different font, size and colour to the rest of the text on the feature story. This because it would allow the reader to see the title as it would stand out and then they would want to read on. Here is what my cover looked like when I had done this;

After that I then wanted to add a footer that would say 'INCLUDES A FREE PENCIL CASE'. To do this I had to click on the text tool on the tool bar on the left hand side and then draw a text box which allowed me to add text to. I was then able to make the colour the same as the text in the skyline and I was able to change the font so that it looked different from all the other pieces of text. Here is what my cover looked like when I had put the footer on; 

Next, to make this magazine actually look like a magazine I had to add a barcode. To do this I had to find an image of a barcode online and I then I had to save it, I then clicked on 'File' then 'Insert' and I was then able to insert an image of a barcode which I could place anywhere. When I had put the barcode on this is what my cover looked like;

As my cover is now beginning to look more like a magazine cover, I wanted to add a plug. To do this I had to click on the shapes on the tool bar on the left hand side and I selected the 'circle' shape and I then drew the circle and made it the size I wanted it to be. I then wanted to add some text into it (I also wanted to involve a tag) and to do this I again clicked on the text tool on the tool bar on the left hand side, then drew a text box and wrote the text I wanted inside of it. I wanted the tag to be in a bigger font than the rest of the text so that it would stand out. Here is what it looked like when I had done that;

I then had to put the price of the magazine onto the cover and again to do this I had to click on the text tool on the tool bar and then I was able to write the text and also change the size, font and colour. I also changed the mast head a bit and I did this by clicking on the 'layers box' then 'layer style' and then I changed the shadow on the mast head by selecting 'Inner Shadow' and 'Inner Glow'. This is what my magazine looked like when I had added the price to it;

Lastly, when I had finished my magazine I then saved it as a JPEG so that I would be able to post it on my blog and here it finally is;

While creating this practice magazine I have learnt how different layers work and how you can change texts to make them have a shadow or to make them fade a bit. This practice has been very helpful and I find that it is going to make it easier for me to create my real magazine front cover.