Creating a centre square design in Photoshop

• Skills and techniques overview

• Steps 1–8: the first segment

• Steps 9–14: the second segment

• Steps 15–16: the third segment

• Step 17: the fourth segment

• Creating pattern variations

Designing a centre square in Photoshop

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Skills and techniques overview

In this activity, you will have the opportunity to:

1. Open files in Photoshop2. Set the view of a document3. Use the Rectangular Marquee Tool to select part of an image4. Use Magic Wand Tool to select an area of an image5. Use the Copy and Paste Into command6. Select different layers in a document by using the Layers window7. Learn about the Layer mask8. Learn how to adjust a layer’s content9. Use Flip Horizontal and Flip Vertical to modify an image10. Save a file (including set the filename, file location and file format).

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Steps 1–8: the first segment

To create the first segment of yourdesign, you will:

1. open a digital photo of your site in Photoshop

2. copy a portion of the image and paste it into one section of the template file

3. learn about Photoshop Layers 4. learn how to adjust an image in

Photoshop5. save a Photoshop document.

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Step 1 Open a digital photograph of your site

1. Open a photo in Photoshop. 1. Select Open from Photoshop’s

File menu.2. In the next dialog box, find the

digital images of your site.3. Select the one you want to use

and click on Open.2. Set the view to 100% by doing one

of the following.1. Type ‘100’ in the percentage

box and press ‘enter’.2. Select ‘ Actual Pixels’ from the

View menu.3. Double click on the Zoom tool.

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1. Choose an area of the image to copy.You may need to scroll to view areas of the image which do not fit in the window.

2. Display the Info palette (open it from the Window menu).

3. Select the Rectangular Marquee Tool.4. Select an area which is at least 200 x

200 pixels (the Info window will tell you the height and width of your selection).

5. Select ‘Copy’ on the Edit menu.

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Step 2 Copy a 200 x 200 pixel area of the image

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Step 3 Open the template file, prac_template.jpg

1. Open the template file in Photoshop, (File>Open). You may need to save the file, prac_template.jpg, to a location on your computer before you begin.

2. Set the view to 100%.3. Display the Layers palette (open it

from the Window menu).

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Step 4 Select a segment or square in the template file

1. Select the Magic Wand Tool.2. Click on a segment of the template.

A marquee (dotted selection lines) will appear around the edge.

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Step 5 Select ‘Paste Into’ on the Edit menu

1. Display the Edit menu.2. Select the ‘Paste Into’ command.

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1. The pasted image covers one square or segment of the template.

2. The Layers palette shows that the image is in a new layer. More…

3. The new layer includes a Layer mask. It masks or hides any part of the image that is outside the selected area you pasted into. More…

4. The active layer is highlighted and indicated by the paintbrush.

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Step 6 View the pasted image and the new layer that is created

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If the image is larger than the mask area, you may want to adjust it.

1. Make sure the layer is selected.

2. To move the image within the mask:hold down the Control key (Apple or Command key on a Mac) and drag with the mouse or press any of the arrow keys.

3. To resize the image: select Transform>Scale from the Edit menu. Drag the handles that appear to resize the image.

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Step 7 Adjust the image (optional)

Hold down the shift key as you drag the resize handles to keep the image in proportion

To bring the masked area of the image into view, hold down the Control key (Apple / Command key on a Mac) and drag the mouse

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Step 8 Save your document

1. Select ‘Save’ from the File menu.2. Give the file a suitable name. 3. Set the save location to an

appropriate place.4. Check the following settings:

1. Format: Photoshop 2. Save: Layers.

5. Click on Save.

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To create the next segment of thedesign, you will:

1. copy the image in the first segment2. paste it into the second segment3. flip the image to mirror the first

segment4. adjust the image if necessary.

Steps 9–14 Create the second segment

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Step 9 Copy the image in the first segment (part 1 of 2)

1. Click on the Background layer of the Layers palette to make it active.

2. Select the Magic Wand Tool.

3. Click on the segment which contains the image you pasted. Marquee selection lines will appear around the edge.

4. Note: Because the background layer is active, you are actually selecting the green square in the layer below the image.

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Step 9 Copy the image in the first segment (part 2 of 2)

1. On the Layers palette, click on the layer which contains the image and Layer mask to make it active.

2. Warning: do not select the layer by clicking on the Layer mask.

3. Select Copy on the Edit menu to copy that part of the image which is within the marquee selection lines.

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Step 10 Go to the background layer and select the next segment

1. Click on the Background layer to make it the active layer.

2. Select the Magic Wand Tool.3. Click on the next segment of the

image to select it.

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Step 11 Select ‘Paste Into’ on the Edit menu

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Step 12 View the pasted image and the new layer

1. The pasted image covers the next square.

2. The Layers palette shows that the image is in a new layer. More…

3. The new layer includes a Layer mask. More…

4. The new layer is highlighted and has a paintbrush icon to show that it is the active layer.

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Step 13 Flip the image so that it mirrors the first image segment

1. Make sure the layer is active or selected.

2. Go to ‘Transform’ on the Edit menu.3. If you pasted beside the original

image, ‘Flip Horizontal’.4. If you pasted below the original

image, ‘Flip Vertical’.5. If you pasted diagonally opposite

the image, ‘Flip Vertical’ and then repeat the step and ‘Flip Horizontal’.

6. If necessary, adjust the image (by moving it with the arrow keys) so that it fills the square.

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Step 14 View the result and save your file

1. Consider the patterns that have been created by mirroring the images.

2. Save your file.

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Steps 15–16 the third segment

In this section you will practise skills that you have already learnt in order to create the next segment of your design.

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Step 15 Insert the image into the third segment

1. Select the Background layer.2. Select the Magic Wand.3. Click on the third segment.4. Select ‘Paste Into’ from the Edit

menu.

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Step 16 Mirror the third segment of your centre square

1. Make sure that the layer with the newly pasted image is selected.

2. Mirror the image by flipping it (Flip vertical and/or horizontal from Transform on the Edit menu).

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Step 17 the fourth segment

Complete the final segment.1. Select the Background layer.2. Select the Magic Wand.3. Click on the last coloured segment.4. Select ‘Paste Into’ on the Edit menu.5. Make sure that the layer with the

newly pasted image is selected.6. Mirror the image by flipping it (Flip

vertical and/or horizontal from Transform on the Edit menu).

7. Save your file.

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Creating pattern variations

Place the original image in different segments and then mirror the other images to create different patterns.

Decide on the most effective design.

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Layers and the Layers palette

When you paste an element, Photoshop pastes it onto a new layer. Layers allow you to work separately on elements.Layers stack one in front of another. The content of one layer covers the content of layers below it. The layers in a Photoshop document are shown in the Layers palette. You can use the Layers palette to:1. Rearrange layers2. Hide or show layers3. Create, merge or delete layers4. Add effects to layers and more.

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Layers in a Photoshop document

Layers palette

Paint brush indicates active layer

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Layer mask

A layer mask is created when you paste an image into a selected area using the Paste Into command. A layer mask hides or masks any content on the layer which is outside the selected area. To display parts of the image which are masked, move the layer content. Press the Control key (Apple / Command key on a Mac) and drag the mouse.To fit the image into the visible area, resize it. Select Transform>Scale from the Edit menu. Drag the handles that appear to resize the image.

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Marquee shows the size of the entire image. Part of it is masked or hidden by the Layer mask.

Only that part of the image which is not hidden by the layer mask is visible

The image thumbnail shows that the image is larger than the layer mask (right)