grotesque
noun
noun
- A very ugly or comically distorted figure, creature, or image : The rods are carved in the form of a series of gargoyle faces and grotesques.
- (the grotesque) that which is grotesque : Images of the macabre and the grotesque.
Due:
One week
Project Description:
Combine digital photographs of friends, animals, and natural objects into a “grotesque”
Objectives:
- Use the Liquify tool in Adobe Photoshop
- Master blending and layering using tools/techniques such as: color modes (multiply, etc.), opacity, soft-edged brushes and erasers
- Use exaggeration and odd combinations to add visual impact to an artwork
Materials:
Adobe Photoshop
Parameters:
Format as follows:
- Width: 7.5 inches (at least)
- Height: 10 inches (at least)
- Resolution: 300 pixels/inch
- Color Mode: RGB
Steps:
- Create a New (Letter-sized) Document , using the format above.
- Save it as "Morph yourlastname.psd"
- Take a series of digital photographs of friend(s), animals at home and/or in the Science Center, and other objects as needed.
- Open the photos in Photoshop.
- Copy and paste the first photo into your new Morph document and resize it to fill the picture plane.
- Combine photos with smooth, blending transitions. To do this, on one of your other photos, using the Lasso tool to select around a face, feature, or part; then Feather the selection by going to Select ( in the menu bar at top of screen) - Modify - Feather, and changing the number to 15, 20, or 30; then Copy your selection. You will see that when you Paste the selection onto the other photo, the feathering will make a soft/cloudy edge that smoothly transitions the combined photos.
- To help align one face with another, you can reduce the Opacity of the upper layer (in the Layers palette in the bottom right corner) so that it becomes slightly more transparent, then use the Move tool (arrowheads at top of Tools palette) to shift one photo over another.
- You can erase parts of photos using a softer edge. To do this, go the the options palette of the brush or eraser (the horizontal bar near the top of your screen) and change reduce the Hardness of the brush/eraser while increasing the Size.
- When you paint, to make the colors more transparent (For example, when adding something like eye shadow), reduce the Opacity of the layer in the Layers Palette, OR reduce the Opacity of the Brush using the options menu for the brush (horizontal bar near top of screen). You must first select the Brush tool in the Tool Box before you can see these options. You can also change the Color Mode (in either Layers or Brush Options) from Normal to something else (such as Multiply). Experiment to see what works best.
- To transform a selection or layer, click that layer in the Layers palette, then use Edit - Free Transform to rotate or resize the selections. Double click within the selection when you're happy with the changes.
- Use Filter - Liquify to push, pucker, and bloat parts of the image to exaggerate the features and/or to make the the layers better fit one another.
- Add additional textures by layering additional textured photos over the head photos.
(Be sure to include a background/environment.)
Grading Criteria:
- Inventiveness
- Cleanliness of selections / Convincing combination of objects (A viewer cannot tell that they've been combined from separate photos.)
- Smooth transitions between one object and another
- Design (Visual impact)
- Work habits
Tips to Get Started:
- Take photos using good natural light (i.e. go near a window, or even outside.).
- Turn off the flash of the camera.
- Take the photos close up, with a minimum of empty space above the head.
- Take photos from the same angle on all your subjects (For example, if you take it straight on for one friend, take it that way for all other subjects.).