Wednesday, November 27, 2024

SM-DM Apple Inc

Apple Inc. Company Information

The Company I will be working with this month is Apple Inc.

Apple Inc. is a global leader in technology, known for designing, manufacturing, and selling innovative consumer electronics, software, and services. Founded in 1976 and headquartered in Cupertino, California, Apple revolutionized personal computing with the Macintosh, transformed mobile communication with the iPhone, and redefined personal entertainment with products like the iPad, Apple Watch, and AirPods. Its ecosystem includes macOS, iOS, tvOS (Apple TV), and watchOS, seamlessly connecting users across devices.

Apple offers services such as the App Store, Apple Music, iCloud, and Apple Pay, which generate significant recurring revenue. Known for its sleek designs and intuitive user experiences, Apple is one of the most valuable companies in the world, maintaining a strong brand identity and loyal customer base. The company continually innovates in areas such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and sustainability, aligning with its mission to create exceptional products and services.

Apple Inc.'s Core Values

"We believe that business, at its best, serves the public good, empowers people around the world, and binds us together as never before."

-Apple CEO Tim Cook

We are committed to demonstrating that business can and should be a force for good. Achieving that takes innovation, collaboration, and a focus on serving others. It also means leading with our values in the technology we make, the way we make it, and how we treat people and the planet we share. We're always working to leave the world better than we found it, and to create powerful tools that empower others to do the same.

Apple Inc.'s Mission Statement

"To bring the best user experience to customers through innovative hardware, software, and services."

Apple Inc.'s Vision Statement

"To make the best products on earth and to leave the world better than we found it."

Apple Inc.'s Competitive Placement in the Market

Market Share and Financial Performance:

Smartphone Market: Apple holds a significant share of the global smartphone market, often competing closely with Samsung. As of 2023, Apple and Samsung dominate the market, with Apple capturing approximately 15.6% of the worldwide market share.
Financial Strength: Apple's strong financial position, with substantial cash reserves, enables significant investment in research and development, marketing, and strategic acquisitions, further solidifying its competitive stance.

Competitive Strategies:

Differentiation: Apple employs a differentiation strategy, offering unique products with distinctive designs, advanced technology, and a seamless user experience. This approach sets Apple apart from competitors and fosters brand loyalty.
Ecosystem Integration: Integrating hardware, software, and services create a cohesive ecosystem, enhancing customer retention and providing a competitive edge.

Challenges and Considerations:

AI Integration: Apple has introduced "Apple Intelligence" to integrate AI capabilities into its products. However, it faces challenges in matching the AI advancements of competitors like Google and Samsung.
Market Competition: In emerging markets, Apple's growth has lagged behind competitors, particularly Android devices, due to factors like pricing and local preferences.

Apple's competitive placement is bolstered by its differentiation strategy, strong financial health, and integrated ecosystem. While it faces challenges in AI integration and market competition, its commitment to innovation and quality continues to sustain its leadership position in the technology industry.

Apple Inc.'s Unique Selling Points, Demographics, and Locations

Apple Inc. distinguishes itself in the market through a combination of unique selling points, targeted demographics, and strategic global presence.

Unique Selling Points (USPs):

User-Centric Design: Apple emphasizes simplicity, elegance, and user-friendliness in its products, creating a seamless and intuitive user experience.
Integrated Ecosystem: The company's ecosystem of devices and services is designed to work harmoniously, enhancing functionality and user engagement.
Premium Branding: Apple positions itself as a premium brand, focusing on high-quality materials, innovative technology, and distinctive design, which fosters strong customer loyalty.

Target Demographics:

Innovators and Early Adopters: Apple's primary audience includes individuals who embrace new technologies and value cutting-edge products.
Age Range: The core customer base primarily consists of individuals aged 18 and older, with a significant portion being millennials.
Income Level: Apple targets consumers with medium to high-income levels, often appealing to those seeking premium products.

Geographic Presence:

Global Reach: Apple operates in over 150 countries, tailoring products and services to meet regional needs and preferences.
Retail and Online Stores: The company has a substantial retail presence worldwide and offers online stores accessible in more than 40 countries, ensuring widespread availability of its products.

By focusing on these unique selling points and strategically targeting specific demographics across various locations, Apple maintains its competitive edge and continues to thrive in the global market.

Apple Inc.'s Main Competitors

Apple Inc. operates in a highly competitive landscape, facing significant competition across its diverse product and service offerings.

Smartphones:

Samsung Electronics: Samsung's Galaxy series is Apple's closest competitor in the premium smartphone segment. With a global market share of 21.8%, Samsung consistently challenges Apple's iPhone lineup.
Google (Android Phones): Google's Pixel phones and the broader Android ecosystem compete with Apple's iPhones by offering a range of devices with diverse price points and features, powered by the widely used Android operating system. Android dominates the global mobile OS market, capturing over 70% of users worldwide.
Huawei Technologies: Huawei remains a significant competitor, especially in markets like China, where it offers high-quality smartphones that rival Apple's in design and performance.
Xiaomi: Xiaomi competes with Apple by providing feature-rich smartphones at lower price points, often targeting value-conscious customers.

Personal Computers:

Lenovo: Lenovo dominates the global PC market with its ThinkPad and Yoga lines, competing directly with Apple's MacBooks.
HP Inc. and Dell Technologies: These companies offer a wide range of laptops and desktops that compete with Apple's Mac and MacBook series in both enterprise and personal markets.

Operating Systems and Software:

Microsoft Corporation: Microsoft's Windows operating system and Office suite challenge Apple's macOS and iWork software. Additionally, its Surface hardware competes with Apple's laptops and tablets.
Google (Android Phones): Google's Pixel phones and the broader Android ecosystem compete with Apple's iPhones by offering a range of devices powered by the widely used Android operating system. Android dominates the global mobile OS market, capturing over 70% of users worldwide.

Wearable Technology:

Fitbit and Garmin: These brands are strong competitors in the health and fitness wearables market, challenging the Apple Watch with products focused on wellness tracking.

Digital Services:

Spotify and Netflix: Spotify competes with Apple Music, while Apple TV+ faces stiff competition from Netflix in video streaming services.

Payment Solutions: Apple Pay and ACMI

Apple Pay: Apple Pay is a mobile payment solution that offers secure, contactless payment options and integrates seamlessly with the Apple ecosystem.
Apple Card Monthly Installments (ACMI): ACMI allows Apple users to purchase Apple products with interest-free financing via the Apple Card, enhancing affordability for premium products.

Payment Solutions Competitors:

Google Pay: Google's mobile payment platform is widely adopted across Android devices and provides contactless payment options similar to Apple Pay.
Samsung Pay: Samsung Pay competes directly with Apple Pay by offering tap-to-pay services and additional support for magnetic stripe transactions.
PayPal and Venmo: These digital wallets rival Apple Pay by offering peer-to-peer payment options and extensive merchant acceptance.
Klarna and Affirm: These "Buy Now, Pay Later" (BNPL) services compete with ACMI by providing interest-free installment plans for a wide range of products.
Traditional Banks and Credit Cards: Many banks and card issuers offer their own installment plans and payment solutions, directly competing with ACMI's financing model.

Apple's competitive landscape spans multiple industries, from smartphones and personal computers to digital services and payment solutions. In mobile payments, Apple Pay faces competition from Google Pay and PayPal, while ACMI competes with traditional banks, credit cards, and "Buy Now, Pay Later" services like Klarna and Affirm. Apple's integration of hardware, software, and services continues to set it apart, but the brand must adapt to evolving consumer preferences and innovations from competitors to maintain its dominance.

My Apple Inc. Mission Statement

"At Apple, our mission is to empower creative minds and communities around the world by delivering innovative hardware, software, and services that redefine technology experiences. We operate globally, harnessing the latest advancements in machine learning and design. Committed to sustainable growth and profitability, we uphold the highest ethical standards, striving to lead the tech industry in both innovation and responsibility. We believe in fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence for our employees, ensuring a lasting positive impact for future generations."

My Apple Inc. SWOT Analysis

SMART Goals are a framework for setting clear, actionable, and achievable objectives. Each letter stands for:

S: Specific -- Clearly define what you want to accomplish.
M: Measurable -- Ensure the goal can be quantified or tracked.
A: Attainable -- Set realistic goals that are attainable given resources.
R: Relevant -- Align the goal with broader objectives and priorities.
T: Time-bound -- Set a clear deadline for achieving the goal.

This method ensures goals are well-structured, focused, and easier to track for successful outcomes.

Based on my Apple Inc. mission statement and SWOT analysis, here is my list of 12 "SMART" goals, with the top five specifically achievable through an effective social media strategy:

Sunday, November 24, 2024

Digital Image Editing Design Blog Post 4

November Wrap-up

November was a busy month in my Graphic Design course.

We had a couple of "Teach Me Wednesdays," and the first project was taking pictures and making six postcards, effectively communicating the message in a limited space.

The next project was "Designing Emotion", using text and images to convey the feeling or feelings of a song without using the title or lyrics.

"Duality"

The next project was three Holiday ads, a magazine full-page ad, a half-page ad and an Instagram-Facebook ad.

The next project was a motivational poster based on the artwork of Romero Britto.

The final project was a cover for Photoshop User magazine for next year.

November 2025

Until next time,

Phil

Digital Image Editing Creativity Blog Post 4

Merge Two Unrelated Images

I found this exercise at:

Flex Your Design Muscles With These 10 Creative Exercises | Design Shack

it is number 10 on the list.

Instructions:

10. Merge Two Unrelated Images

Stretching your creative muscles often involves doing things you wouldn't do on a regular basis. Most of us only use a limited part of some of the design tools at our disposal.

Grab two images.
Merge them. Swap the heads. Flop the backgrounds.
Create something totally fantastical, or so real that it is totally creepy.

Until next time,

Phil

Sunday, November 17, 2024

Project 4 – Holiday Ads

Digital Imaging Editing – Week 3

Assignment:

Using the same product or service (No cars/trucks or video games), create three advertisements:

1- 8.5 x 11 in full-page magazine ad

1- 8.5 x 5.5 in half-page ad

1- 2000px x 2000px Instagram/Facebook ad

Save each as a .jpg or .png and post to your blog along with a description of the audience, the intended message, and why you feel the design decisions you made will motivate the audience to take the desired action.

Client: St. Jude Research Children's Hospital

St. Jude Research Children's Hospital is a leading pediatric treatment and research facility based in Memphis, Tennessee, dedicated to advancing cures and preventing catastrophic diseases in children. Founded in 1962 by entertainer Danny Thomas, St. Jude operates under the guiding principle that "no child should die in the dawn of life."

Renowned for its cutting-edge research and patient care, the hospital specializes in treating pediatric cancers and other life-threatening diseases. Families never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing, or food, ensuring that financial burdens do not hinder access to care. St. Jude shares its research freely with the global medical community, significantly improving survival rates for childhood illnesses worldwide.

Holiday-themed Advertisements:

Full-Page Magazine Ad: 8.5 x 11 inches @ 300 dpi
Half-Page Ad: 8.5 x 5.5 inches @ 300 dpi
Instagram/Facebook Ad: 2000 x 2000 pixels @ 72 dpi

Intended Audience:

Adults aged 25–65, primarily middle- to upper-income individuals who value the satisfaction of contributing to the well-being of children and families in need. This group includes parents, caregivers, and professionals who have a desire to support reputable organizations.

Intended Message:

Each ad intends to inspire the audience to take immediate action by visiting the website and setting up a one-time or monthly donation, and that supporting St. Jude brings hope, healing, and joy to children and their families.

Motivation to Take the Desired Action:

The images feature smiling children, personalizing the cause, and showing the direct impact of donations. This appeals to the audience’s empathy, particularly that of parents and caregivers.

Advertisements:

Full-Page Magazine Ad (8.5 x 11 inches):

Half-Page Horizontal Ad (8.5 x 5.5 inches):

Instagram/Facebook Ad (2000 x 2000 pixels):

Until next time,

Phil

Digital Image Editing Design Blog Post 3

The Emotional Impact of Color

When creating Project 2 - Designing Emotion, I had to refresh myself on the emotional impact of color in design which we touched on in the first month of Graphic Design Theory.

The song I chose was Duality by Slipknot. Searching for Duality song meaning on the Internet, I found the following: This song involves the internal struggle between opposing forces within oneself, such as pain and relief, sanity and insanity, and the constant battle to maintain control amidst chaos.

The lyrics vividly depict this turmoil, with lines like

"I push my fingers into my eyes... It's the only thing that slowly stops the ache"

symbolizing a desperate attempt to alleviate internal pain through physical means.

According to my research, the song revolves around the internal struggle between pain and relief, sanity and madness, and the human tendency to battle conflicting emotions. The song conveys intense, raw emotions like anger, desperation, chaos, and fleeting moments of clarity, reflecting the inner conflict that listeners may deeply resonate with.

Once I had determined which emotions I would target in my project, I found the following summary of how color in design can represent emotions.

The Emotional Impact of Color in Design

Color is a powerful tool in graphic design that can evoke emotions, convey messages, and create associations. It influences viewers psychologically and culturally, shaping their perception of a brand, product, or message. Understanding the emotional connotations of colors helps designers create intentional and effective visual communication.

The emotional responses to colors can vary based on personal experiences and cultural differences, but certain general associations tend to remain consistent. Below is a table showcasing common emotional reactions to the 12 primary and secondary colors used in graphic design.

Color	Emotion 1	Emotion 2	Emotion 3	Emotion 4
Red	Passion	Energy	Danger	Love
Blue	Calm	Trust	Sadness	Stability
Yellow	Happiness	Optimism	Caution	Creativity
Green	Growth	Health	Envy	Balance
Orange	Enthusiasm	Warmth	Playfulness	Attention
Purple	Royalty	Mystery	Spirituality	Luxury
Pink	Romance	Gentleness	Innocence	Compassion
Brown	Earthiness	Reliability	Stability	Comfort
Black	Power	Sophistication	Elegance	Fear
White	Purity	Simplicity	Cleanliness	Peace
Gray	Neutrality	Formality	Uncertainty	Sophistication
Teal	Freshness	Clarity	Renewal	Serenity

I also found the following table:

Emotions and Primary Colors in Graphic Design

Color	Emotions
Red	Passion, Energy, Urgency, Excitement
Orange	Enthusiasm, Creativity, Warmth, Playfulness
Yellow	Happiness, Optimism, Brightness, Caution
Green	Growth, Health, Tranquility, Freshness
Blue	Calmness, Trust, Professionalism, Sadness
Purple	Luxury, Creativity, Wisdom, Mystery
Pink	Love, Compassion, Gentleness, Playfulness
Brown	Reliability, Stability, Comfort, Earthiness
Black	Power, Elegance, Mystery, Sophistication
White	Purity, Simplicity, Cleanliness, Innocence
Gray	Neutrality, Balance, Sophistication, Uncertainty
Gold	Wealth, Success, Prestige, Exclusivity

These are the colors and emotions I focused on in my final composition:

Color Palette

Deep Red: anger, pain, and intensity.
Charcoal Black: darkness, chaos, and despair.
Steel Gray: neutrality, coldness, and detachment.
Burnt Orange: fiery passion and raw emotion.
Pale Blue: fleeting moments of clarity or calm amidst turmoil.

Until next time,

Phil

Digital Image Editing Creativity Blog Post 3

Design a Quote

I found this exercise at Flex Your Design Muscles With These 10 Creative Exercises | Design Shack it is number 1 on the list.

Instructions:

Everyone has a few inspirational mantras that serve as a perk-me-up when things start to drag. Combine one of those messages with great imagery or using beautiful typography and create a social media background image or desktop wallpaper. (These designs are really popular on social media and many of them are not visually pleasing; find one you hate and make it better.)

Find an inspirational quote. (Not sure where to start? Try one of these.)
Add a background image, texture or favorite color.
Typeset using a typeface you've been wanting to use or create custom lettering by hand.

I like the quote:

"The best way to predict the future is to create it." -- Peter Drucker

I then needed to find or create an image inspired by the quote.

Until next time,

Phil

Monday, November 11, 2024

Project 2 - Designing Emotion

Theme and Emotions of "Duality"

The theme of "Duality" by Slipknot revolves around the internal struggle between pain and relief, sanity and madness, and the human tendency to battle conflicting emotions. The song conveys intense, raw emotions like anger, desperation, chaos, and fleeting moments of clarity, reflecting the inner conflict that many listeners may deeply resonate with.

Poster Details

Dimensions: 16 in x 20 in
Resolution: 150 dpi
Mood: Dark, intense, chaotic, and visceral

Color Palette

Deep Red: Represents anger, pain, and intensity.
Charcoal Black: Conveys darkness, chaos, and despair.
Steel Gray: Suggests neutrality, coldness, and detachment.
Burnt Orange: Evokes fiery passion and raw emotion.
Pale Blue: Represents fleeting moments of clarity or calm amidst turmoil.

Feeling of the Listener

The song creates a deep-rooted experience, drawing listeners into a variety of emotions.

The design should evoke:

The oppressive weight of internal conflict.
The explosive energy of anger and desperation.
A flicker of clarity or hope amidst the chaos.

Intended Audience

Primary Audience: Fans of Slipknot, particularly those familiar with the song's themes and the band's intense, emotionally charged style.

Secondary Audience: General audiences drawn to dark, expressive artwork, including those interested in music, mental health, or emotional expression.

Demographic Focus: Likely ages 18–35, leaning toward individuals who appreciate alternative, metal, or expressive visual art.

Intended Message of the Finished Composition

The composition aims to communicate the raw emotional conflict of "Duality", the struggle between chaos and clarity, pain and relief, and the tension of opposing forces within oneself. It seeks to evoke feelings of turmoil, intensity, and introspection, aligning with the song’s themes of internal struggle and catharsis. The poster captures the essence of the song without illustrating its literal lyrics, creating a mood that resonates with the listener's emotional experience.

Challenges I Faced

Blending Multiple Images: Trying to seamlessly integrate five distinct images while maintaining balance and cohesion.
Maintaining Consistency: Ensuring all visual elements contribute to the intended mood without overwhelming or distracting from the message.
Color Palette: Selecting the different images to fit the palette of red, black, orange, and gray while preserving their impact.

What I Learned from the Composition

Advanced Blending Techniques: Using layer masks, blending modes, and adjustment layers to blend the images.
Color Theory Application: Understanding of how to use color to evoke specific emotions amid a complex design.
Conceptual Design: Using images to convey an emotion.
Problem-Solving: Strategy to address technical challenges, such as scaling, resolution, and maintaining harmony.

Duality Lyrics

Song by Slipknot

I push my fingers into my eyes
It's the only thing that slowly stops the ache
But it's made of all the things I have to take
Jesus, it never ends, it works its way inside
If the pain goes on

I have screamed until my veins collapsed
I've waited as my time's elapsed
Now all I do is live with so much fate
I've wished for this, I've bitched at that
I've left behind this little fact
You cannot kill what you did not create

I've gotta say what I've gotta say
And then I swear I'll go away
But I can't promise you'll enjoy the noise
I guess I'll save the best for last
My future seems like one big past
You're left with me 'cause you left me no choice

I push my fingers into my eyes
It's the only thing that slowly stops the ache
If the pain goes on, I'm not gonna make it

Put me back together or separate the skin from bone
Leave me all the pieces, then you can leave me alone
Tell me the reality is better than the dream
But I've found out the hard way, nothing is what it seems

I push my fingers into my eyes
It's the only thing that slowly stops the ache
But it's made of all the things I have to take
Jesus, it never ends, it works its way inside
If the pain goes on, I'm not gonna make it

All I've got, all I've got is insane
All I've got, all I've got is insane
All I've got, all I've got is insane
All I've got, all I've got is insane
All I've got, all I've got is insane
All I've got, all I've got is insane

I push my fingers into my eyes
It's the only thing that slowly stops the ache
But it's made of all the things I have to take
Jesus, it never ends, it works its way inside
If the pain goes on, I'm not gonna make it

All I've got, all I've got is insane
All I've got, all I've got is insane
All I've got, all I've got is insane
All I've got, all I've got is insane

Watch the full music video: Slipknot - Duality [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

Until next time,

Phil

Digital Image Editing Design Blog Post 2

Photoshop Blending Modes

The Blending Modes are separated into six groups:

Normal: No special blending takes place, only opacity effects these.
Darken: The result darkens the image. White is invisible on the Blend layer.
Lighten: The result lightens the image. Black is invisible on the Blend Layer.
Contrast: Increases Contrast. 50% gray is invisible on the blend layer.
Comparative: Difference between images is apparent.
Color: Works on different color qualities.

Descriptions of Blending Modes

Normal: There are no special blending methods happening here. Lower opacity to show the layer beneath.

Dissolve: This is the same as normal except no transparency effects are applied to pixels. The blend happens by dithering pixels on or off, making it look like snow on the picture.

Darken: Any areas that are darker on the base color will replace the lighter colors on the blend layer. The result is a darker image.

Multiply: With the exception of white on the blend colors, each color is darkened. This is like taking two transparencies, placing them over each other, and holding up to the light. White is ignored.

Color Burn: Darkens the base color and the blend color, increasing contrast. Produces a darker and more saturated result. Blending with white produces no change.

Linear Burn: Decreases the brightness of the base color. Blending with white produces no change.

Darker Color: The darkest of the base or blend pixels display. The colors are not altered.

Lighten: The opposite of Darken. The resulting color that displays is the lightest of the base or blend color.

Screen: This is the opposite of multiply. It is like taking multiple exposures on a single film frame. Black is ignored.

Color Dodge: Opposite of Color Burn. The base color influences and contrast is reduced. Blending with black produces no change.

Linear Dodge (Add): Opposite of Linear Burn. Increases brightness. Blending with black produces no change.

Lighter Color: Opposite of Darker Color. The lighter of the base or blend pixels display. The colors are not altered.

Overlay: If the colors on the blend color are darker than the base, they are multiplied. If they are lighter, they are screened. This produces saturated colors and pleasant contrast. Blending with 50% gray produces no change.

Soft Light: Similar to overlay but with less contrast. This is like casting a diffused light from the blend color. Blending with 50% gray produces no change.

Hard Light: This is like shining a harsh spotlight at the image. If the blend is darker than 50% gray, it multiplies. If it is lighter than 50% gray, it screens.

Vivid Light: Works like Hard Light but uses color dodge and color burn rather than multiply and screen. Produces a higher contrast image than Hard Light.

Linear Light: The blend color is the light source. If the blend color is lighter than 50% gray, the result is dodged by increasing brightness. If the blend color is darker than 50% gray, the result is burned, and brightness is reduced.

Pin Light: Where the colors are 50% gray on the blend layer, the base layer shows through. Lighter or darker than 50% gray will display on the blend color.

Hard Mix: Reduces the image to solid red, green, blue, cyan, yellow, magenta, white, or black. These are the primary colors. No gradients will be displayed in the image. This produces a posterized effect.

Difference: The lightest colors are subtracted from the darker colors. White inverts the base color, and black produces no change. This psychedelic blend mode is useful for aligning layers together.

Exclusion: Similar to the Difference mode but with less saturation. Very little luminance is shown for the blend pixels.

Subtract: Subtracts the blend color from the base color, darkening the result.

Divide: Divides the blend color from the base color, lightening the result.

Hue: Uses the color hue of the blend color. The Saturation and the luminosity of the base pixels are used.

Saturation: Uses the color saturation of the blend color. The hue and the luminosity of the base pixels are used.

Color: The color from the blend color is used. The luminosity from the base pixels is used.

Luminosity: All the image detail from the blend pixels is shown with the color from the base color. Opposite of Color.

Until next time,

Phil

Digital Image Editing Creativity Blog Post 2

I found this exercise at Flex Your Design Muscles With These 10 Creative Exercises.

It is number 7:

7. Reimagine a Photo

1. Start with a copy of an image you want to doodle on.

2. Have fun digitally or print it out and doodle with markers.

3. Create a pencil sketch of the image.

Until next time,

Phil

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

PhotoShop Goodies

Assignment:

Make a list of 5 good sites for free Photoshop Brushes, 5 good sites for Photoshop Actions, and 5 sites for Photoshop Plug-ins and describe what you like about each site.

5 Good Sites for Free Photoshop Brushes

1. Brusheezy – Offers thousands of free Photoshop brushes, patterns, textures, photos, and PSD files, in various categories.
2. My Photoshop Brushes – Offers over 1,000 packs of free brushes in various styles, including paintings, ornaments, splatters, clouds, and more.
3. Brush Lovers – Offers free Photoshop brushes, styles, gradients, patterns, vectors, and textures organized into categories.
4. Creative Bloq – Offers a list of 71 of the best free Photoshop brush collections, from watercolor to ink, charcoal, and special textures and effects.
5. Design Shack – Offers 45+ sets of free Photoshop brushes, focusing on high-quality options for different design projects.

5 Good Sites for Photoshop Actions

Photoshop Actions are prerecorded commands and steps that save time and transform your images with just one click!

1. Brusheezy – Offers a collection of free Photoshop actions, including effects like vintage, HDR, and black & white.
2. Psd Stack – Offers a diverse selection of free Photoshop actions, including Duotone, Wedding, and skin retouching actions, along with tutorials on how to use them effectively.
3. Design Shack – Offers over 85 free Photoshop actions and effects, including oil paint, double exposure, color pop, and skin retouching actions, with detailed descriptions and previews.
4. Digital Camera World – Offers 71 free Photoshop actions tailored for photographers, enhancing images with effects like dehaze, color pop, create snow, and HDR.
5. Shotkit – Offers 61 free Photoshop actions designed for photographers, including portrait enhancements, color grading, and special effects.

5 Sites for Photoshop Plug-ins

Photoshop plugins (or plug-ins) are add-on programs that provide additional image effects or perform tasks that are impossible or hard to fulfill using Adobe Photoshop alone.

1. Adobe Exchange – The official marketplace for Adobe products, offering a vast collection of plugins and extensions for Photoshop, both free and premium, ensuring compatibility and quality.
2. SKYLUM Blog – Offers a list of 30+ free plug-ins with descriptions and download links to help expand Photoshop's capabilities.
3. Design Shack – Offers a selection of free plugins, each with a description to help streamline tasks, improve productivity, and add creative effects in Photoshop.
4. The Plugin Site – Offers free Photoshop plug-ins for photo effects, retouching, creative enhancements, tutorials, and additional resources.
5. Mehdi Plugins – Offers a collection of unique and creative free Photoshop plug-ins focused on enhancing photo effects and adding visual interest.

Phil

Sunday, November 3, 2024

Digital Image Editing Project 1

A Postcard Project

The director of the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital approached me because she overheard that I was taking the graphic design course at Keiser University.

With Veterans’ Day coming up, she contracted me to make six postcards with a brief description of the hospital on the backside.

The postcards are to be 5 inches x 7 inches @ 300 dpi.

The target audience is Veterans who recently separated from active duty. Her goal is to increase awareness of the capabilities of the James A Haley Veterans’ Hospital.

The message she wants to relay is that although some businesses and restaurants celebrate Veterans’ Day once a year, the James A Haley Veterans’ Hospital celebrates Veterans each and every day!

I was at the hospital for an appointment. Afterward, I walked around the hospital and took about 30 different pictures. I had to dodge traffic and keep out of everyone’s way but I managed to get quite a few good pictures.

I decided to put a blue border on the postcards, I picked the color from the American flag.

I wanted a bold typeface that would attract attention. I picked the color from a gold bar and applied bevel and drop shadow to make it really stand out.

I used guides to create a 1/8-inch border from the edge of the postcards, find the center, and lay out the back of the postcard. Overall, this was a very interesting project, and I enjoyed it very much.

I stopped at "Chicken Salad Chic" to get a chicken salad BLT sandwich and got the last picture I needed!

Until next time,

Phil

Digital Image Editing Design Blog Post 1

Photoshop Basics

Here are some of the key notes I took from week one in Digital Image Editing class.

Create new project - Postcard settings 5” x 7” @ 300 pixels/Inch.

Discussed Artboards

Can have many artboards in one project. Professor very seldom uses.

Crop

Discussed when to delete pixels or not.
If you crop outside of your image, you can use Generative Expand to fill in the new area.
Perspective Crop Tool – you can change the perspective of the image if it was shot at an angle.

CTRL or CMD E to merge layers.
CTRL or CMD Z to undo.
CTRL or CMD with + or - to zoom in or out.
If you hold the spacebar, the cursor turns into Hand Tool to move around in your image.

Tools

Turn Tips Off.
Make sure Auto-Select is turned off (no check mark).
Make sure Show Transform Controls is turned off (no check mark).
CTRL or CMD T for Transform.

Upper Row Gear Icon

Make sure Show layer bounds on hover is turned off (no check mark).
Make sure Show hover bounds from Layers is turned off (no check mark).
Leave Expand layer group on click on (check mark).
You can change your background color if you Right-Click outside of your image.

Tools Shortcut Keys Table

(Default keyboard shortcuts in Adobe Photoshop)

Result	Windows	macOS
Cycle through tools with the same shortcut key	Shift-press shortcut key (if Use Shift Key for Tool Switch preference is selected)	Shift-press shortcut key (if Use Shift Key for Tool Switch preference is selected)
Cycle through hidden tools	Alt-click + tool (except Add Anchor Point, Delete Anchor Point, and Convert Point tools)	Option-click + tool (except Add Anchor Point, Delete Anchor Point, and Convert Point tools)
Move tool, Artboard tool	V	V
Rectangular Marquee tool, Elliptical Marquee tool	M	M
Lasso tool, Polygonal Lasso tool, Magnetic Lasso tool	L	L
Object Selection tool, Quick Selection tool, Magic Wand tool	W	W
Crop tool, Perspective Crop tool, Slice tool, Slice Select tool	C	C
Eyedropper tool, Color Sampler tool, Ruler tool, Note tool	I	I
Frame tool	K	K
Spot Healing Brush tool, Healing Brush tool, Patch tool, Red Eye tool	J	J
Brush tool, Pencil tool, Color Replacement tool, Mixer Brush tool	B	B
Clone Stamp tool, Pattern Stamp tool	S	S
History Brush tool, Art History Brush tool	Y	Y
Eraser tool, Background Eraser tool, Magic Eraser tool	E	E
Gradient tool, Paint Bucket tool	G	G
Dodge tool, Burn tool, Sponge tool	O	O
Pen tool, Freeform Pen tool, Curvature Pen tool	P	P
Horizontal Type tool, Vertical Type tool, Type mask tools	T	T
Path Selection tool, Direct Selection tool	A	A
Rectangle tool, Ellipse tool, Polygon tool, Line tool, Custom Shape tool	U	U
Hand tool	H	H
Rotate View tool	R	R
Zoom tool	Z	Z
Default Foreground/Background colors	D	D
Switch Foreground/Background colors	X	X
Toggle Standard/Quick Mask modes	Q	Q
Toggle Preserve Transparency	/ (forward slash)	/ (forward slash)
Decrease Brush Hardness	{	{
Increase Brush Hardness	}	}
Previous Brush	'	'
Next Brush	.	.
First Brush	<	<
Last Brush	>	>

Until next time,

Phil

Digital Image Creativity Blog Post 1

Digital Image Editing Creativity Blog Post 1

I found this exercise at 11 Inspiring Exercises to Challenge You As A Photographer.

It is number 3:

3. Book as an Idea and an Object

Find a book.

What is the theme in the book?

Create an image of the book:

Create an image that embodies the essence of the book’s theme, whether it be a children’s book or a crime book. Let your imagination soar as you craft a visual masterpiece where the book takes center stage. Create an interesting photograph where the book is both the theme and the object.

My favorite author is Tom Clancy. I have read almost all of his books.

One of my favorites is a book titled Without Remorse. This book is 768 pages long.

Without Remorse by Tom Clancy delves into the heart of vengeance, justice, and the price of redemption. John Kelly is at the story's core, a former Navy SEAL haunted by personal loss and seeking solace in covert missions. Set against the tense backdrop of the Cold War, Kelly finds himself embroiled in a lethal game of intelligence, betrayal, and brutal revenge. When he rescues a young woman from a dangerous criminal enterprise, Kelly is driven to expose the sinister network behind her suffering. But what begins as a personal vendetta quickly escalates into a high-stakes mission as he discovers connections to a larger operation with national implications.

As he navigates the intricate layers of espionage, Kelly confronts both his own inner demons and powerful adversaries who will stop at nothing to protect their secrets. The line between right and wrong blurs as he embarks on a relentless pursuit of justice, pushing him to the brink of his moral boundaries. With each twist, Clancy masterfully weaves tension and suspense, leaving readers questioning what justice truly means and at what cost it comes. Will Kelly succeed in his quest, or will the weight of his own past bring him down? Without Remorse keeps readers on edge until the very last page, exploring the depths of revenge, resilience, and redemption.

Summary paraphrased from:

Clancy, T. (n.d.). Without Remorse. Tom Clancy Official Site. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://tomclancy.com/product/without-remorse Mass Market Paperback | 768 pages | 9780425143322 | August 11, 1993

I really enjoyed creating this image. I made five different variations, and this is my favorite one.

Making the flag black and white and applying the vignette focuses attention on the main character. Although he appears disheveled and injured from his many battles within the story, he has a very determined and menacing look on his face.

Until next time,

Phil