Modifying Shapes in Adobe Photoshop

Before and After.  Here a  shape suddenly becomes a cluster of flowers by simple placement of specific colors and shapes that give meaning to the visual.  By using the elliptical tool, I created a yellow center, and the paint bucket filled the blue background.  By creating the yellow center, there is the concept/illusion that an additional "circle" layer was added. Additionally, by changing the hues, saturation, and adding a gradient to the centers, it increases interest.  Overlapping various sizes of the same flower shape also create dimension.  Also, by saving them as a "GIF" image, the background remains transparent.

Evaluating Components:  Connotation, Attributes, Placement

All of the flower shapes reflect similar shapes and are connected with color echo.  However, increased interest may have been formed if I lightened or adjusted the hue just slightly in one of the blue flowers. In a GIF image, there is no backdrop. However, the front small flower could have been slightly shifted to the right so that all three flowers did not appear to be aligned in a diagonal.

Before and After:  I added a striped style selection to the music notes shape and then used color echo to create bars.  These two simple techniques adds fun to the shape. It also would make music lessons a lot more colorful and fun!

Evaluating Components:  Connotation, Attributes, Placement

Here the texture in the notes is contrasted with a music score developed using color echo.  I like the effect. Though by adjusting the lightness/darkness of the music bars I may have generated increased contrasts and interest allowing the music notes, or starring components, to contrast even more.  Of course, in this graphic, the notes had to be aligned properly with the bars in order to create a realistic theme.  Additionally, I might have slightly enlarged the music notes to add more emphasis.


Before and After: The scissors have different filters applied that increase their texture.  First, I applied the ocean ripple that gives the rough appearance to the scissors.  Next, by using the lens flare the scissors reflect varying light and dark patterns which gives the illusion of dimension.  Of course, after I uploaded the scissors, I realize they almost look "fuzzy."  I was hoping for a more metallic appearance.  Again, I saved the scissors as a "GIF" to eliminate the background.

Evaluating Components:  Connotation, Attributes, Placement

Here the green does not necessarily connect to any particular theme.  Maybe a silver or light blue would have promoted a more metallic look. With a single element in a GIF file, it is hard to critique the backdrop or layout since other comparable composition factors are missing.  Likewise, placement cannot be determined until it is placed into another graphic.  It might be interesting to skew or add perspective to the scissors though.  This might enhance the three dimensional effect.

 

This light bulb shape was actually fun to make.  By placing the shape layer over the candy photograph, using the magnetic lasso, and selecting and deleting the inverse, the shape remains with remnants of the candy picture.  Of course, since the shape had various parts, this process had to be repeated several times.  After I finished generating the light bulb, I placed it on a patterned background.  The background included two darker hues of red to echo the red in the lightbulb. 

Evaluating Components:  Connotation, Attributes, Placement

First, I am not sure that the candy design relates to the light bulb shape.  With that being said, without the before shot, it would be hard to tell that the light bulb was created from candy. Maybe candy with yellow variations would have been more interesting.  In addition, I attempted to place my the graphic in the left corner; however I think that its placement in the center would have made more sense in this particular instance.