Grade level:
3rd–7th

Subjects:
Fine arts, Technology, basic math

Skills addressed:
Cropping, working with layers, applying filters

Materials:

• Computer
• Internet
• Possibly scanner or digital camera

Time commitment:
1–3 hours

Products used:

• Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 3.0

Taking a photo
When taking photographs of the students, be sure to fill the frame with just the students head and shoulders; much more will only make this assignment harder. Make sure the photo is well lit and not blurry.

Selecting the Image
Once your image is on your computer, find it in the view and organize option (photo browser) then click Edit, Go to Standard Edit

or

If you are already in the editor mode open your image by clicking on File, Open and finding (and opening) your image.

Cropping your Photo
Now you will need to remove all of the background of your image. (You only want your head and shoulders remaining in the image.

Start by getting the Magnetic Lasso Tool. You may have to hold down your mouse button on the Lasso tool until the Magnetic Lasso Tool becomes an option.

Begin to trace around your head and shoulders. You will see that the line jumps to the edge of your head as you move. If it is not perfect, not to worry, we will take care of that in a minute. Work your way around your body as well. If the line just doesn't want to follow your outline in certain areas you can click the mouse once to set a point.

When you have gone all the way around your head and shoulders, double click the mouse. You will then see the selection line marching around your selects.

To add to (or take away from) your image, change to the basic Lasso Tool. Make sure it is set to either Add to Selection or Subtract from Selection, as needed to repair you selection. In this example I am using the Add to.. and have carefully outlined the outer end of the hair that I want to add, but once I am in the area already selected I can be more free moving with my tool.

Creating a new layer
Once your selection is just the way you want it, right click on your image and choose Layer via Copy. (Use the default naming when asked) In the layer window you will now see two layers, one of just your selected area and the other (background layer) of the whole image.

Delete the Background Layer
Click on the Back ground layer in the layer window, drag the Background to the trashcan.

Cropping and Resizing
Now we need to make the image the right size for nine of them to fit on one piece of paper.

Start by getting the Crop tool. Then set the Width to 2 in. Height to 2.5 in. and the resolution to 300 .

Now drag your mouse across your image. You will see that the dimensions of the box will be set to only a shape that will meet the dimensions you just set.

Adjust that box to be just big enough to frame your head and a little of your shoulders. Once you have the box just the way you want it, right click on your image and click on Crop.

Create a New File
Click on File (at the top left of your screen) then New, Blank file. Set the new file properties to Width 6 inches, Height 7.5 inches, Resolution 300.

This will give you a work area 3 times wider and longer than your image. The 300 resolution is perfect for printing. If you will only be using the new image on your computer or on the internet, only set the resolution to 72 (This goes for the image cropping as well).

Creating New Layers
With your original image on top, click on the Move tool Then click on your image and drag it on top of your new work area. You will notice that the image will look smaller. Repeat this step 8 more times. Each time align the image in 3 rows and 3 columns.

You will notice that each image is now a new and separate layer. Adjust the layers so that they look right (shoulder to shoulder).

Adding Filters
To begin transforming your images, click on Filters, Filter gallery. A sample of options will appear along with your image. Click on each options and you will see a sample of what your image will look like with that filter. Many of the filters have additional options to customize that filter. Slide the bars from side to side to see how your image would change.

Click on OK when you like your choice. Be sure to click on another layer each time you want to try a new filter.

There is one more feature you might want to try.

Click on Enhance, Adjust Color, Adjust Hue/Saturation

Drag the Hue slide from one side to the other and see what happens to your image layer.

You're done
You can try applying more than one filter to your layers, but be careful not to make your image unrecognizable.

Have fun with it!

Another variation of this project would be to select just your hair and use the filters on it.