Evaluating Photoshop as a Tool for Making Print Products

1.            What have you learnt about the way Photoshop works?

We have learned how to add layers and merge them into a composite.

You can manipulate images, resize them, take parts out, add bits in, add text.

2.            What have you found most difficult about working with Photoshop?

Image extraction was difficult – you have to be very precise and it can look a bit ‘stuck on’ the background instead of realistic.

Working out what all the tools are – some of them are unfamiliar and some we didn’t use at all.

Trying to match colours between different images.

Having to confirm changes before moving to next step.

3.            Which of the tools have you found most useful?

Basic select tool which means you can resize and move around an image.

Blending outlines using blur tool. Smudge tool also good but more dramatic.

Text tool gives a lot of font options and colours.

Clone stamp to get rid of any small unwanted spots.

4.                 What are the main limitations of working with Photoshop?

You can only choose from the tools which are in the toolbar.

Can be a bit slow and frustrating if you are not used to it.

If your basic photo is not right, Photoshop can’t completely change it.

Images in pixel formats lose quality if made bigger.

5.                 Manovitch argues that software such as Photoshop encourages a focus on a new kind of creativity, “creativity through selection”. How creative does working with Photoshop allow you to be?

You can still be really creative even though you are limited. You are still creating something artistic and having to think about how you want things to look.

Lets people who can’t draw be creative.

You have to be creative to select right.

The way you combine existing images is creative.