Manipulations/Technical Tutorials

In this task, I will be doing some computer image manipulation. I will be using Photoshop to do these manipulations via various number of techniques. I've also made tutorials that I will be including in my blog. Here are my images:

This first image is from my baubles task. I used the liquify tool and my aim was to make it look like it's melting. As a first attempt, I thought it wasn't too bad but it was tough making it look realistic. I think the red bauble is quite a good attempt whereas the green bauble went pear shaped. Perhaps because it was also shiny, it just looked like it was glowing as I drag it.

This next image is the snowflake. As you may remember, this snowflake was made out of little balls. I used the liquify tool and dragged it all across so it's sharp and edgy. I also kept the shape the same so I had to stay within the snowflake. I quite like this because it reminds me of an icicle. I also considered to manipulate it like an icicle as it fits the glass theme.

This was a random manipulation I created using the glass filter. So I actually cut out the bauble and kept the bauble the same. Then I selected the background and added a frosted glass filter. This gives it a nice manipulation twist like the bauble is a cut out on the glass and it's popping out, it also makes the focus strong on the bauble. I think the technique was fun to experiment with the glass filter. I accidently saved the original as this manipulated version on Photoshop so I couldn't include the original version in this case.

Here is my most favourite manipulation from my baubles task images. I've used this image and used the liquify tool to melt one half of the bauble. I really liked how this turned out because it looks quite surreal. The gold lines on the baubles actually make the liquify tool more effective because it's all distorted and it's almost pouring downwards. If you compare it to the first image I've tried, I think the drips weren't too ideal so I think this melted look works better. The half and half idea came from my secondary research with the photographer who captured half glass and half real.

Using more imagery I've taken during this unit, here are more manipulations. This example I've done is an image of the Superdry glass jar lights. I've used the liquify tool not to melt the image, but to distort the shapes and make it look all odd. I think this technique makes the glass look quirky and vintage. Like if you look at the lid, it's all distorted from a round shape so it looks older than it is. I've also done it on some of the back ones that aren't really in focus just to keep it consistent. I like how realistic this actually looks besides when the rope actually decided to bend too.

This image is from my B&W negatives that were scanned. I used the liquify tool here to distort the light shade. I also kept the manipulating within the shape so it's still round. I just made the shapes all swirly and messy.

This is another image from my B&W film shoot. I used the liquify tool but used a smaller brush than usual. This enabled me to drag smaller sections and create this melted look. I think there's potential and I like how it's all grey tones when it's liquified. But the direction and dynamics could have been better if we leaded where the melting 'liquid' was heading. It's not a bad image I think, and it looks like the bottle is glued on the table and it's being pulled apart.

Finally, this is an image from my first colour film shoot in the digital version. I selected this glass bauble as the subject and liquified it. I like the outcome because of the colours and it's eye-catching. I used a small brush which took some time to edit, because it's working on the details. I completely got rid of what's inside the bauble and just focused on the colours that was behind the bauble. These warm colours are very festive and gives the image a warm aesthetic.




'Person in a Glass Bottle'

In this next manipulation task that I put here, we had to put a person in a bottle. In order to do so, We needed a transparent glass against a white background and a full length photo of someone. Preferably, it's ideal they're against a white backdrop because it's easier to cut out on Photoshop. I will also be considering about the pose I want my model to be constructing because it can make the image very effective. For example, if they are trying to escape or if they look stuck.

Here are the contact prints of the images I will be using. Most of these images were taken by me and a friend during a studio workshop.

Here are my manipulations:

This is my first image that I've created. I created two versions as one includes a shadow. I think it adds a bit more to the image. Looking at this image, I've selected this long neck bottle and used this image. I like how her body position is fixed like she's bending her back. Her hands look like it's placed on the glass as if she's pushing it. I changed the fill instead of the opacity because I wanted it to match the bottle dark tones on the bottom but quite flat with the contrast to make it look like she's inside the bottle.

I've created this because I liked the shine on the glass. I didn't change the opacity or fill because I thought it worked with the glass. I also like how the shin is going over the arms so it looks like she's inside the bottle. The position worked really well and I managed to fit the model in that small circle base. Her position is great because she looks frustrated that she's stuck.

This is the same image of the model, but in my own creative way. I decided to manipulate her into this packaging. Looking at the technical side of the image, I had to change the perception and transform her so it aligns with the package. I then changed the opacity and fill till it looked like she's inside. I quite like how it looks because when I changed the perception, it made her look flat. This way there's not much depth and it looks like its worked because she's inside that small width of the package.

Here is my favourite manipulation image in this task. I like how this worked out the way I imagined it. I used this jar because I like the closed lid. Then I used this image of the model and considered the pose so she looks like she's trying to escape. Having put these together, it looks well considered and eye-catching. I like how she's reaching out and it looks like she's trying to touch the 'ceiling' of the glass. I adjusted the opacity and the fill to make it look like she's inside the glass. I also created one with a shadow which I will print at ProAm as an additional print.

This was an edit I created using a VOSS bottle. I knew it's quite a cylinder shame so I picked an image where the model was stood fairly straight. I put them together hoping that the voss logo will be visible on the model to make it look like she's inside it and it has appeared over her. I like the position of her hand because it does look like her elbows and arms is touching the end of the glass bottle inside.  

This is my final manipulation for a person in a 'glass'. I like how the model is stood and her body language makes it look like her hand is leaning on the edge of this bottle. This bottle is actually suppose to be a perfume bottle but it looks like a small nail polish bottle. Either way, I like how it came together and how she looks like she's inside the bottle.

Additional Manipulations:

Here are some additional manipulations I done during my spare time using Photoshop. I used the internet which gave me the idea and a basic tutorial which I've developed into my own. I've used this colour film image that I've scanned and made this shattered glass effect. I like how it's all leading outwards from the shop window and there's pieces of glass around. I think this effect worked really well with the colour film because of the purplish tones. I really like how this turned out. 

This is another additional manipulation that I was experimenting with. I used my B&W image of this bulb and made it look like there was water inside. It worked fairly well and I kept the shape of the bulb consistent. I also got some bubbles in there for the water. I've experimented with the water by desaturating it as it's a black and white shot of the bulb, but it just looked better when it's colour. This way, it looks like it's been colour popped.

Finally, this is my final image where I've done the same shattered glass effect on one of my black and white film images. This time, I focused on making a hole right where my subject is. This way, it looks effective and draws your attention to the middle. This effect on a black and white image makes it look very vintage because the glass effect also has a glass texture over it which makes it look grainy. Overall I am happy with my manipulations and it was great fun exploring different techniques on Photoshop.

Technical Tutorials: