Blue Pixel Professional advice from the photography experts
Digital picture art Students learn how to use filters in Adobe® Photoshop® Elements to create digital picture art.
Grade level:
6–12
Subjects:
Language Arts, Technology
Skills addressed:
Using filters to modify your photos
Topic:
Learning how to use filters to enhance photos using Photoshop Elements
Time needed:
One class period
Two class periods to practice Photoshop Elements skills and publish individual drawings
Materials:
Use of a computer
Photoshop Elements software
Overview
Students learn how to take digital pictures and apply filters and styles to create their own digital art.
Instructions
Hand students a digital camera and let them loose to take pictures.
Download and save the pictures in a form that lets the students access them.
Open Photoshop Elements and set up a canvas as below: Set up the canvas any size that you wish. Remember that in order to print on standard size paper you need to set your width and height to about 7.5" x 10" for portrait orientations and 10" x 7.5" for landscape.
Open your picture in Photoshop Elements by clicking on File>Open and browse to that picture:
Close your file browser (it will be in your way) and drag and drop your picture onto the blank canvas. To move the flower picture onto the blank canvas, click your mouse on the background layer, hold the mouse button down, and drag and drop it onto the blank canvas.
Use the Move Tool to move the pictures into position and make any necessary changes in size. Notice that Elements makes a new layer automatically whenever you move another picture onto your canvas. If you wish to rename the layer, right click and select “Rename Layer.”
Copy Layer 1 several times. This will give you plenty of copies on which to try different filters and effects. To copy a layer, right click on the layer you wish to copy and select “duplicate layer.” If you wish, you can rename the layer.
Let’s try out some filters. Click on Filter>Artistic>Dry Brush. Make adjustments as you wish. Make sure you turn off the “eyeballs” on the layers ABOVE the one you are working on. The layer on top of the layer pallet is always the one that is visible on the canvas.
Try some different effects. Here are some examples:
Now let’s experiment with the color adjustments and enhancements. Click on Enhance>Adjust Color>Color Variations.
The Color Variations box gives you several options.
If you want more control, click on Enhance>Adjust Color>Hue Saturation.
The Hue/Saturation Box gives you control over all colors and allows you to preview your changes:
Student examples
Take some time and experiment with all the controls in both the Enhance and Filter Menus. Students love to experiment and create their own art from their own digital pictures! Woddy's enhanced water fountain looks much different from the original.
Cody's tomato magically grows!
Note: Lesson content is furnished for informational use only, is subject to change without notice, and should not be construed as a commitment by Adobe Systems Incorporated. Adobe Systems Incorporated assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or inaccuracies that may appear in this material.
Credits
This lesson was created by educator and Adobe Master Teacher Sara Martin.
Note: Lesson content is furnished for informational use only, is subject to change without notice, and should not be construed as a commitment by Adobe Systems Incorporated. Adobe Systems Incorporated assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or inaccuracies that may appear in this material.
