Beginning Check Writing and Banking

Today we're going to begin a unit on using a checking account.  First we'll do a math worksheet going over percentages, decimals, and writing amounts out in longhand. (I will be handing out a copy in class, but you can get a copy here)

Next we will explore the general layout of a personal check:

Finally we will do a quick simulation of writing checks and using a check register.  I will be passing out a worksheet with three checks and a register (you can view a copy here: Checks with Register).  Use the following scenario to complete your worksheet:

• You begin your checking account today (12/02/16) with $135.72 from your piggy bank.
• You receive a Check for $550.00 from your work and Deposit it to your checking account on 12/03/16.
• Write a Check for your rent on 12/04/16 for $425 to Jellico Green Apartments.
• You go to dinner at The Pizza Spot on Saturday Night (12/05/16) for $18.27 and use your Debit Card.
• You send a Check to Edward Teach in the amount of $31.19 on 12/06/16 for a pair of shoes you bought on eBay.
• You receive a Check for $550.00 on 12/17/16 from your work and you Deposit it to your checking account that afternoon.
• You write a Check for your car payment to Airport Auto Brokers on 12/18/16 in the amount of $224.72.
• You use Online Banking to pay $124.25 for your Jellico Electric bill on 12/09/16.

Compare your ending balance with a neighbors to verify your accuracy.

Here are a couple video clips to explore:

Photoshop Example: Restore Damaged Photo

We will spend today and tomorrow restoring a photograph.  I have actually done this as a side business (see http://www.restoredtreasures.com) and did pretty well with it.  The nice thing about doing this is that you make money, but you also save someones memories.

For today, select one of the attached damaged photos to repair and restore [or locate your own].  Remember to save the original to include in your portfolio as a "before and after".  If you do not include a "Before and After" (either as one image or by uploading both) I won't grade it.

This example comes from a press release from Utah (http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/08/prweb149074.htm) in which they declare October 11th to be "Historical Photo Restoration Day".

Original

Restored

I will demonstrate the tools with this image:

Here are some examples of restored photos:

In this strange example, I combined the anaglyph project with a photo restoration to give the restored picture some depth.  You can see it if you use anaglyph red/cyan glasses.

Click on an image to view it full-size, then Right-click and Save As to your computer:

Sometimes I actually replace the original backdrop in a portrait.  Here are some examples:

Here are some video tutorials showing the basic process:

Photoshop Gondola Example

Assignment:  We have accepted an assignment from a client to take a dull, scanned photograph and improve it for use in a poster, brochure, web site, etc.  The client has scanned a photograph of a gondola, but they think it is too hazy... and they don't like the speedboat in the center of the picture... and "the colors are a little blah".  We will use PhotoShop to correct these issues... and more.

Photoshop Tools/Options Used:

• Ruler
• Rotate Canvas
• Crop
• Levels
• Clone Stamp
• Dodge
• Burn
• Replace Color
• Magic Wand
• Paste Into
• Free Transform

We will be using the following images to create our final project:
(Right-click each image and save to your computer, then open them in Photoshop.)

• Gondola
• Clouds

Part I: We will begin with the Gondola picture (p_start.psd):

• Select VIEW > FIT ON SCREEN (shortcut is CTRL+0) to see the image as large as possible
• Select the RULER tool (sometimes it's hidden under the EYEDROPPER) -- a shortcut is SHIFT+I which toggles through that toolset.
• Drag the ruler along an edge that should be straight (i.e. the edge of the tower).
• Select IMAGE > ROTATE CANVAS > ARBITRARY...
• A suggested rotation is already in place based on your ruler line (this tool is trying to make the ruler line vertical or horizonal)... so click OK.
• Use the RECTANGULAR MARQUEE tool (the box shape) to select as much of the picture as possible without including the black border (it's okay if you don't get all of the photo in the square).
• Select IMAGE > CROP
• Select VIEW > FIT ON SCREEN (again, to see the maximum image size)
• Select IMAGES > ADJUSTMENTS > LEVELS
• Drag the "black triangle" in toward the very beginning of the "mountain range" -- and do the same for the "white triangle" (click the "Preview" box to toggle this change to preview what it is doing) then click OK.
• You now have a brightened, cropped image to work with for the next part.

Part II: Removing the Motor Boat / Using the Clone Stamp

• Click the CLONE STAMP tool
• Move your pointer over to a clear area of water -- about the same distance/depth as your motorboat (i.e. somewhere in the same horizontal line) and ALT+CLICK.
• Move your mouse over to the center of the motorboat and slowly paint over the boat.  Notice the "+" shape where the CLONE STAMP is copying from.

Part III: Adjusting Highlights and Shadows

• Click the DODGE tool (it looks like a black pushpin) and set the Range for HIGHLIGHTS and the Exposure to around 10%.
• Adjust your brush size as necessary with the [ and ] keys.
• Brush over the red and white striped tarp and notice how the highlights are getting brighter.  Try this on other tarps and the side of the boat which seems to get shinier.
• Click the BURN tool (it looks like a hand pinching and is found under the DODGE tool) and set the Range for SHADOWS and the Exposure to around 5%.
• Adjust your brush size as necessary with the [ and ] keys.
• Brush over the boats/tarps just to get a little contrast.

Part IV: Replace the Orange Tarp

• Use the ZOOM tool (it looks like a magnifying glass) to zoom in on the orange tarp -- making sure you can see the entire thing.
• Use the LASSO tool and draw around the orange tarp (making a selection)
• Select IMAGE > ADJUSTMENT > REPLACE COLOR
• Click on the orange part of the orange tarp.  You should see a faint "mask" of the orange shape appear in the Replace Color box.
• Hold down the SHIFT key and Click and Drag around the orange tarp trying to select ONLY the orange areas.  If you over-select (i.e. you accidentally go into the black) you can start this step over.
• When you feel like you have a nice, sharp "mask" of the orange tarps shape, drag the HUE slider left and right.  Notice the colors changing on your image.
• If you adjust the SATURATION slider and the LIGHTNESS slider, you can actually match the colors of the other tarps on the boat.

Part V: Make Blue Skies From Gray

• Open the Clouds picture (p_clouds.psd).
• Click on SELECT > ALL (or do CTRL+A)
• Select EDIT > COPY (or do CTRL+C)
• Go back to your Gondola picture.
• Click the MAGIC WAND tool (SHIFT+W toggles this)
• Click in one of the "gray" areas of the sky and notice how it selects some of the building tops.  We don't want that.
• Drop your TOLERANCE down to 10 and see how that works.  Notice that it [probably] doesn't select the entire piece.  We can compensate for that by holding SHIFT and clicking in the "unselected" areas.
• Continue SHIFT-Clicking the other "gray" areas of the sky throughout the picture.
• Select EDIT > PASTE INTO (not PASTE)
• Notice how ugly and unnatural this looks?  Don't worry -- go over to the OPACITY setting (above your LAYERS) and drag that down until it looks natural.  Mine is about 37% [this time].
• When you are satisfied with your final product, select LAYER > FLATTEN IMAGE.

Part VI: Make the Before and After

• Go to IMAGE > CANVAS SIZE
• Change "inches" to percent and change the width (since this is a picture that is taller than it is wide, a side-by-side comparison works best -- so we will adjust the width) and change the 100 to 200 (making it twice the width).
• Click on the Right Arrow (this means you want your current picture -- the "after" -- to be on the right) and click OK.
• Copy your original image (in this case, p_start.psd) and Paste it into your finished image.  Use the MOVE tool (the black arrow) to drag it to the left side.
• You may want to use your FREE TRANSFORM to rotate and resize the original so it fits better.
• Add your name to the finished image.
• Save your completed file as a JPEG image to your Thawspace. 

Part VII: Add to Your Portfolio

• Go to your Blog (http://www.blogger.com/) and sign into your account.
• Click New Post and make sure "Compose" is selected.
• Click the IMAGE/PICTURE button.
• Browse for your picture (from your Thawspace).
• Add a description about the steps you completed or the process you used in putting this together.  You could even add the reason you did the project (e.g. A virtual client wanted you to clean up an image to use for print/online media).
• Click PUBLISH POST.
• Click VIEW BLOG.

If you have difficulty following along and would like to work on this from home, here is a tutorial using the same images:

Photoshop Retouch Example

BASIC RETOUCHING

Today we are going to explore some photo retouching.  Next we will be creating a "before and after" picture to save to our portfolios.

First we will get an original source image to work with:

1. Begin by right-clicking the image below and selecting "Copy Image" or "Copy" (depending on which browser you are using). 
2. Open Photoshop and select FILE > NEW
3. Select EDIT > PASTE
4. Use the tools I demonstrate in class to touch up the photograph 

Next we will create the Before & After picture:

1. Select IMAGE > CANVAS SIZE
2. Change your settings to "PERCENT"
3. Click on the "Right Arrow"
4. Change your Width to 200% and click OK
5. You should now have an image with space on the left
6. Copy the original image (from this web page) again
7. Paste the image into your Photoshop document and drag it to the left (as the "before" image)
8. Use the Text tool to add your name to the image.
9. Save your image to your Thawspace as a PSD and as a JPG

Next we will upload these pictures to our portfolio:

1. Open your Blogger account (you may want to open Gmail and then go to http://www.blogger.com/).
2. Select your "Portfolio" page.
3. Click "New Post"
4. Click the "Image" button in the post window.
5. Locate and select your picture (the JPG version), then click "OK"
6. Click on the picture in your post and select the size you want it displayed.
7. Write a brief summary of what this project is about (either before, after, or on either side of your image).
8. Click "Publish"
9. Click "View Blog" (at the very top of your window)

Finally, choose another picture that you can retouch.  I'm attaching a couple examples, but you can select another image if you like.  (I recommend clicking the picture to view it full-size before copying it.)

Personality Tests

Today we're going to be taking a Myers-Briggs personality test.  This will give you an estimate of what your "personality type" is.  Personality types can help you select occupations or college majors if you are undecided.

• Go to the personality test:
  http://www.my-personality-test.com/personality-type/ 

• Answer the questions as honestly as you can, and try to not leave the sliders in the center.  If you're honest about your feelings, the results are more accurate.
• When you have your result, write your personality type on the top [as a title] of a new piece of paper.  (Mine is ENFJ).
• Summarize your "Strengths" in a paragraph.  Make a note about whether this is accurate or not.
• Summarize your "Weaknesses" in a paragraph.  Make a note about whether this is accurate or not.
• Click the "Personal Relationships" button.
• Discuss how your "Personal Relationship" results are right or wrong.
• Click the "Career" button.
• Summarize the "Work Habits" section and discuss whether you think the results are accurate or not.
• Summarize the "Career Plans" section.  Make a bulleted list of careers that might work for your personality type.  End with whether you think those are careers that might interest you.

Next, take another Myers-Briggs test here:  https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test
And another: http://www.mypersonality.info/test-personality/

• Did you get the same personality type?  How are they similar?  How are they different?
• Click "Start Reading" and read about your personality type.
• Having taken two different Myers-Briggs tests, how has your view of your place in the world changed?  Why or why not?

The Rule of Thirds

The most basic principle in photography, layout or design is The Rule of Thirds.  The basic idea is that you can divide your photo into an equally divided 3x3 grid with focal targets [sometimes called "sweet spots"] occur at the line intersections.  Photos that the human eye perceives as good or powerful tend to follow the Rule of Thirds.  Even the masters -- painters from hundreds of years ago -- used the Rule of Thirds... although it didn't really become a "rule" until photography came into being.  And even then... it's more of a guideline.  :)

So how do we use the Rule of Thirds in our own compositions?

If you were to look through a viewfinder or at a camera screen you can divide it into thirds by mentally making a Tic-Tac-Toe grid:

Many cameras have a grid or boxes or "corners" indicating where the "sweet spots" are in the photo:

Some phone apps (the iPhone Photo App, for example) have pre-built "Rule of Thirds" helpers:

The idea is that the human eye focuses most on the areas where the lines intersect.  So if we put the focal point of the photo in one of the intersections, the image becomes more attractive or interesting.

Another use of the Rule of Thirds is to place the subjects eyes on the horizontal line.  Ideally one of the eyes would be on one of the interesctions, while the eyes would be looking to the opposite side into the empty space.  This image of a cat is fairly close.

If you are taking (or cropping an existing) landscape photograph, the Rule of Thirds can be used to help add interest to the shot.  Sometimes the horizon line is on [or close to] one of the two horizontal lines.  Sometimes the picture can be divided into three areas -- the foreground, the focal point, and the background.  In the example below, the horizon line follows the bottom line while the subject of the photo is exactly on the interesection.

Here are a few more examples demonstrating the Rule of Thirds:

Now look at the following photographs and see if they follow the Rule of Thirds -- and if so, in what ways:

The Rule of Thirds is utilized in movies as well as photographs.  This is an example of a commercial with the Composition Lines overlayed on the movie.

This guy did a music video about the Rule of Thirds:

A more advanced explanation about the Rule of Thirds can be seen in the video below:

http://blog.muddyboots.org/2007/07/rule-of-thirds.html

http://www.everydayhdr.com/?p=1367