Digital Photography & Imaging - Week 8

Practical 8

Poster Design
Part 3: Start to develop your poster

1. Draft the digital poster based on your sketches.
2. Develop the composition techniques using Digital Photography/ Photo Imaging.
3. Apply textures & effects if necessary.
4. Finalize your design with color correction (Adjustment Layer)

Since we have to use a person as the main subject of the poster, I first took a picture of myself that resembles my sketch. I decided using this yellow warmth lighting because I wanted a more mellow, dreamy feeling.

Fig 1.1

I started finding other elements I wanted to photoshop in. As most elements I wanted to add were pictures I couldn't take personally (such as sea creatures, certain plants, city skyline, etc), I tried finding stock images of each element to avoid copyrights and so that I don't steal others' work. Even if I take a picture online, I will manipulate them in photoshop with effects and textures.

Fig 1.2

I erased the background with quick selection tool and created a mask on my picture first. I drew the tear on the face and at the bottom of this portrait, and erased the masked layer accordingly.

Fig 1.3

Next, I added the city skyline, removed the background, flipped it horizontally, and use the warp effect so that it curves outwardly, to seem like it is popping up. I wasn't sure what kind of city to add, so I tested with a few.

Fig 1.4                                                           Fig 1.5

Fig 1.6                                                             Fig 1.7

I figured the city from Fig 1.6 fits my vision the best of what I wanted, so I stuck with that. I originally wanted a medieval-looking city, but I think using a modern city portrays more accurately where my hometown really is. It could also fit with my idea of trying to blend technology with nature in a magically way. 

Next, I wanted to show what I want my home to feel like, a hidden desire of where I want to try living in the future. I looked up stock images of cottage core houses, or colourful, medieval aesthetic European houses and place them as a layer behind my portrait. Since I still wanted to incorporate a sort of medieval, dreamy element, I like the idea of comfy cottages or houses found rich with culture, as those places are part of my dream to visit, and perhaps even stay in for a while.

Fig 1.8                                                                       Fig 1.9

Fig 1.10                                                                        Fig 1.11

Fig 1.12

I chose Fig 1.12 as it held the kind of dreamy, comfy feeling I am looking for, and the pink and green contrast creates a warm feeling, against the cool feeling of the city.

This is my digital poster progress based on sketches:

Progress 1:                                                                 Progress 2:

      

Fig 2.1                                                                           Fig 2.2