Unit 14 CTM Sam Sherwood: P5 Be able to edit materials to produce a final print media product

Below includes the various editing techniques used throughout this unit to achieve the final presented images, The following editing descriptions include the various editing techniques, showing the full process I went through from start to finish for an image, as well as producing a website design for the final product to be presented.

Fitness for Purpose

To achieve consistency within my final images, I opted to make similar adjustments and use the same editing techniques for all images. This allowed me to present images that would be fit for purpose. As well as this I included the brand's logo and trademark on every image, this was to assure it was clear what brand (NIKE) the images were advertising with the use of print media products.

How this was created

In order to develop a website design for my final media product, I had to go through a variety different processes in order to complete this. Individual techniques enabled me to combine images and text to create a captivating and professional looking website design using Photoshop.

Firstly I had to edit the original raw images to draw the audience to the website, this alone involved many different stages in order to produce the final images.

Firstly I removed the white background, replacing it with a gradient white solid shape to gain a more professional looking image. To do this I used the magic eraser tool (shown below), and selected the area in which I wanted to remove on the raw image. This removed the background, subsequently leaving the model visible.

Magic Eraser Tool -

Next I added a white shape on a separate layer to give the image a high quality background. I simply selected the shape tool, selected rectangle and sized appropriately. Furthermore I selected the gradient colour tool and chose a white/grey gradient to make the image more interesting. The image below shows 'layer 1' underneath layer 0, providing the required background for the final image.

Below shows the use of a gradient tool, enabling me to add two tones together for the background image.

The line that is seen in between the model and the text is the gradient tool, enabling me to select exactly where the gradient will be on the background image.

Text

Text is an essential part of print media products if they are to be effective in selling or advertising, thus I have taken exceptional care when deciding exactly what text to use and what information to include. The screenshot below shows the various layers in which I have used for text, enabling me to be precise in every block of text that appears on the final product.

Using the text and character tools, I chose the size and font of the text that will be seen on the final product. In order to keep consistency I kept to the font style 'Boulder Bold', similar to the one used by NIKE, giving a more realistic and professional media product. It was crucial to use an appropriate font style, otherwise the product may be seen completely different and not be perceived exactly how I initially planned

I resized individual pieces of texts to catch the eye of audiences, for example 'Introducing and 'Nike Flyknit' are key words in the advert, and therefore I kept the at 295.97 pt (font size), whereas the description was reduced to 72 pt (font size), drawing the reader in and causing them to look further into the new product. The language used in the text is also crucial in order to sell and market products. For example 'The most effective' is a selling point for the Nike trainers and this will draw the attention of customers, convincing them that this product is worth looking at. The rest of the text must remain simplistic and offer true understanding and information to the customer, explaining what the product is called and what it is.

Superimposition

In addition to standard text, I also had to superimpose two NIKE logos onto the image. This helps the audience acknowledge the brand immediately, and therefore is essential to include within the final product.

This process firstly involves importing the images into photoshop, this is done my selecting File, then Place:

Secondly I had to select the image that was needed in the final image.

After using the Magic Eraser Tool once again to remove the background, I had to use the Paint Bucket Tool to edit the image, changing it from white to black, otherwise the image would not be clear on the screen. I selected black for the foreground colour (shown below) to change the Nike logo to black.

Below shows an example of the alteration of frames. One of the more simple editing processes included the alteration of framing. For this image I felt there was slightly too much space above the model's head, and there was a change in background at the top of the image. This was altered to keep a consistent background and improve the framing of the image, ensuring the photograph looked high quality. I selected the cropping tool (shown above on the left toolbar) which brought up a grid on my image, enabling me to frame my image with the finest precision. For all the images, especially due to the fact I was developing website images, magazine pages, and billboards, I had to consider the rule of thirds to a great extent. In many cases, including the image below I did not follow the rule of thirds to the exact measurements, resulting in the creation of a slightly more interesting and captivating image. Following techniques used by many photographers, I initially framed my images using the rule of thirds, then simply altered the framing slightly to capture images that would draw the attention of readers and audiences. In this example, the model slightly overlaps into the middle third.

Below are two curves (photoshop) from one of my final images used in P5. Curves affect tones and contrast, and therefore by editing the shape of the curve slightly can change an image dramatically. I have changed the curve for every individual final image, to be consistent and keep continuity for every image I had to bear in mind what I had done on previous images, however as lighting had been altered at different points within my photographic shoot, I had to edit curves to match tones and contrast for every image. I opted to use two curves in order to create a greater contrast within the image, developing a more striking print product.

Curve One