D
ESIGN AND LAYOUT FOR ELECTRONIC MEDIAThe format of this session will be as follows:
Practical Work
For the purposes of the practical exercise we'll be using Adobe Photoshop 6.0 to:
To start Photoshop click on the icon in the 'Launcher' window.
Before starting the exercise make sure you are familiar with the functions of Photoshop 6.0 discussed below:
Viewing, resizing and cropping photographs and images
Viewing
From the
File menu choose Open then choose a file from a drive. N.B the photographs that we're using for this exercise can be found on Shared on 'pollux' (S:) > thurman > minimata > photos. Each time you use the iMacs in room A131 you'll need to map your network drive. Instructions about how to do this will be given during the session.When a file has been opened (Photoshop can display and save a large range of file types including BMP, DCS, Photoshop EPS, GIF, IFF, JPEG, PCX, PDF, PICT, PIXAR, PNG, Raw, Scitex CT, Targa & TIFF) it appears in a window. The grey bar at the top of the window shows the file name & format as well as the magnification of the image (in %). It is important to remember that it is only when this figure is 100% are you seeing the image at the size it will actually appear on screen as part of a website.
To change the magnification use the Zoom Tool (represented by a magnifying glass) on the Tools Palette. Select the Zoom Tool then click on the image to zoom in. Hold the 'Alt' key down while clicking to zoom out.
Resizing
To resize an image click on the
Image menu and choose Image Size... Type in the required Width: and Height: (make sure you're working in pixels). Normally you'll want the Constrain Proportions box to be ticked. If not your resized image may be distorted.Cropping
To crop an image use the Crop Tool on the Tools Palette. Once the Crop Tool has been selected click, hold and drag to define the area you want to crop to. Any parts of the image outside the selected area will not appear in the cropped image. Press enter to affect the crop.
Adding text
To add text use the Type Tool on the Tools Palette. Select the Type Tool and click in the image where you want the text to start from. The Type Tool bar along the top of the screen allows you to alter the characteristics of the text in various ways. Starting from the left the Type Tool bar allows changes to be made to: font-family, font-style, font-size, the type of anti-aliasing (none, crisp, strong, smooth), the justification, font colour and other characteristics.
When you're happy with the text you've inputting click the tick icon (far right).
After using the Type Tool you can adjust the precise position of each block of text using the Move Tool (top right of the Tools Palette). Select it and point, click and drag the text to the required position or use the cursor arrows.
Layers
Each new portion of text that you insert using the Type Tool becomes a new layer. Think of layers as sheets of acetate stacked one on top of the other. You can see through unused space in each layer to the layer(s) below. Behind all of the layers is the background. The Layers palette lists all layers in an image, starting with the topmost layer. A thumbnail of layer contents appears to the left of the layer name. It is updated as you edit.
You use the Layers palette to create, hide, display, copy, merge, and delete layers. (Additional commands appear in the menu.)
Changes to an image affect only the highlighted or active layer. You select a layer to make it active, and only one layer can be active at a time. The active layer’s name appears in the image window’s title bar, and a paintbrush icon appears next to the layer in the Layers palette, indicating that the layer can be modified.
The exercise
Using the techniques described above your task is to choose, resize and layout photographs to illustrate an article on the Minimata story to appear in the EP REPORTER–an online magazine. The screen template into which the pictures and text will be layed out is a Photoshop file called
miketemplate.psd on:The photos you select should be sized and positioned relative the story's, headlines, subheads, captions and text. You've been provided with captions and some text. Make up your own headlines.
This exercise is designed to allow you to practice your skills at Photo editing and layout as well as to increase your familiarity with Photoshop. For the purposes of the story please regard the text (including the headlines, picture captions, subheads and copy text) as simply part of the layout and appearance of the page. The words themselves do not matter a great deal.
You can use as many photos as you wish at whatever size you wish bearing in mind that the as a website EP REPORTER has certain constraints re: the space available. In this exercise use what you know about how people read from the web to design your pages.
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Changing screen resolution and bit depth One of the most useful features of the iMAC is the ease with which you can change screen resolution and bit-depth. Click the small grey icon at the bottom left of the screen. It should expand.
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