Collage Rationale

The Collage may look like anyone can do in a matter of seconds but in reality it takes time and pain staking decision making. So basically I needed to find pictures of myself or use some of the ones provided to make a larger image made out of smaller ones layered on top of each other. The main point was to master the skills in Photoshop, have an artistic look and make it unique according to my font poem "I woke up on this side. I thought it was a dream. At first we learned to walk. Then learned to scream." The real fun came after mastering the skills. First I should actually describe what the skills were, 1) Merging layers, 2) Using masks on the images,
3) Working with layers 4) Positioning of images 5) Playing with hue/saturation/opacity and blending modes. It's safe to say that the main concept deals with mastering photos and layer manipulation.

During the collage, I found many useful tips or ways around obstacles I initially encountered. To copy a picture in to the collage, you drag it into photoshop > select > select all > edit > copy into the collage. In order to view all the images being used go to window - arrange - tile. Right click a layer than go to layer properties to rename it to each according body part. Folders can be made to drag certain layers to organize it or for editing where you can select only some layers to be affected by a change either in the folder or outside of it. To change the size of the picture you can click edit - free transform and just scale it down with the mouse or type in a percentage for the height and width at the top bar while selecting the crop tool than click the chain link button and it will than affect both. Blending mode and other is in pull-down menu in layers other can be found through right clicking the layer or above the layer list. If the image is on multiply mode it will adapt all the hue/saturation changes any photo gets, so I kept the images on normal if I didn't want them to change in color.

Okay enough about my tips, now more about the fun stuff. Like I said once I got the basics down, we had a lot of space for creativity. I wanted a fire effect, more particularly, a flame. What I did was get a fire background, but still wasn't enough. I even magnetic lasso'd in a picture of myself on both sides looking outwards with a thumbs up. In the end I found color negative RGB which turned my blue saturated lame collage to a fiery masterpiece with a flame glow in my sun glasses on both sides. I than made some of the images semi-transparent to add the flame flicker effect. I also put fingers on the hands to emphasize them and a pointing directing. Having the images under mainly linear light and multiply I was able to make them all blend very neatly. The faces also make me smile because it follows the font poem "learned to scream", also gives off the feeling of a 4 headed monster with 4 arms and only 2 legs. The middle of the collage (my back) clashes with a blue inverted look. Because the back is suppose to represent the word "side" which to me represents not only a position but a powerful feeling or emotion that distinguishes itself from the rest.

If I had more time I would make more layers, more personal connection or secrets and just make it all blend better. The collage was really fun, I loved the personal connection and creativity in it while it allowed me to home in some of my skills in Photoshop.