What did you learn? I’ve never really used the pen tool, generally try to avoid it since I was never really taught how to use it. Working with it here helped me understand the tool better than before.

What was easy? I think some of the stencils were easier than others, like the first, second, and third.

What was challenging? The last two stencils were difficult until I figured out what I needed to do.

How could your submission be improved? by making the lines more on the stencils.

How might you apply your knowledge in future assignments or work scenarios? I now have a better understanding of the pen tool which can help when working in illustrator in the future.

What did you learn? I learned color contrast and fixing the photo to look better, but still realistic.

What was easy? Knowing what colors I wanted to edit was easy. The photos without background noise were easier than ones I had to edit out things.

What was challenging? editing out certain things as well as getting the colors right without it looking unrealistic.

How could your submission be improved? I think if I had the skills to edit everything out of the backgrounds I’d need to. Or if animals sat still long enough for me to completely control the photo.

How might you apply your knowledge in future assignments or work scenarios? Not only does being able to manipulate the colors in photos help with control in other projects, but doing this project helped me think about the position of the photos and perspective which can increase the overall quality of the piece.

How did a specific reading, video or others’ work inspire or help you? my wonderfully cute pets

what did you learn? I learned how to use, specifically, the lasso tool. Every time I’ve used photoshop and needed to cut something out, I’ve used the magnate or magic wand tool. I was interesting learning different techniques to get similar effect

What was easy? Using the tools I’ve used before, but also following along to learn how to use the tools I wasn’t familiar with.

What was challenging? The tool used on the woman was really hard to get right. I had to constantly change the color so it wouldn’t go into her hair or her outfit. Part of me would rather trust my eyes than that tool though I do see it’s uses.

How could your submission be improved? Being more precise on the objects, specifically the woman.

How might you apply your knowledge in future assignments or work scenarios? Knowing the different techniques will help later hat working in photoshop to know which technique will work best for each situation.

On the left is the original while on the right is my thumbnail touchup. I wanted to use the lights to the photos advantage, though the photo isn’t the most high resolution.

The left photo is the original and the right it the thumbnail touchup. I used the stamp and touchup tool to get rid of the glass glare and specks on the lamp. Also messed with the lighting and colors.

What did you learn? I learned how to use the curve, level, and sharpen tools.

What was easy? Playing with the lighting to get the colors I wanted.

What was challenging? Trying to figure out how to use the sharpen/curve/level tool to my advantage, but also look good.

How could your submission be improved? For my first photo, I think getting it scanned better who help as well as, for both, getting to know more of photoshop to make the photos look realistic.

How could the professor improve the assignment? being more clear in the text instructions.

How might you apply your knowledge in future assignments or work scenarios? Any photo I work on in the future can be improved with color changes and touchups.

The first photo was taken on my iPhone while the second was taken with a real camera. The photo with the phone is basically all the same shade. There’s no contrast of colors. The other photo has color contrast with the lighting. The background is also blurred, showing depth while the first photo doesn’t. In the camera photo you can see the light off of the snow on top, while in the phone photo the snow looks all one color without much distinction.

The first photo is with a phone while the second is with a camera. The first photo is significantly more blurry with less lighting contrast. The lighting in the second picture reflex off the magazine as well as the table. The second picture is also clearer.

The stock images are extremely clear. The also, most likely, have setting differences of lighting and color. My own drawing (can’t draw with right hand) is clear even with the lack of artistic quality.