Graphic pen

To create the graphic pen effect select a photo you want to use. I have chosen this image below to add the filtler graphic pen onto. The first thing you need to do is open the photo up into photoshop.

To find this filter you go onto the same setting as you would for the diffuse glow, click on filter and scroll down to sketch and then click on Graphic pen. The graphic pen also gives you the option to change and make the effect how you want it like the diffuse glow does.

this is my example of the graphic pen.

Diffuse Glow

To create the Diffuse glow select a photo you want to use. I have chosen this image below to add the filtler diffuse glow onto. The first thing you need to do is open the photo up into photoshop.

Once it is uploaded go to the tool bar at the tool and click on Filter then go down to Distort and click on the first one which is Diffuse glow, which gives this soft effect onto your image.

After you have clicked on the diffused glow it will bring up the option which is below, this allows you to alter the amount off glow, graininess and how clear it is. once you have got the glow how you want just click ok and then save you image.

This is my example of diffuse glow.

Using RAW

I took this photo on my Nikon D80 using the digital format RAW. To open this image on a computer you need photoshop, once you open your image on photoshop it will come up like the image below. This then gives you more freedom to alter your photo, for example you can edit the exposure, blacks, brightness and many more. These setting do the same as what they would if you was to change the setting on your camera at the time of taking them. by using this you can save an image if it is slightly too dark or too bright as it doesn't effect the quality of the photo.

Jpeg, tiff, psd, raw and png

JPEG files are small, good quality and compatible with pretty much every peice of hardware and software in the world. JPEG files are compressed to make them easier to store or to be transferred, by this compressing the file you will lose quality depending on the level of compression.
JPEG - positives
            compressed to small files, less room, quick to copy and open on any computer
            negatives
            lossing format, lose quality

                    
TIFF files are larger than JPEGs because of this the files are a higher quality. TIFF files can also be saved with layers which can be created on photoshop and saved, so when you re-opened that file all the layers will still separate and you will be able to carry on and edit them.


BMP files are generally uncompressed and retain all the image information of the original copy, but this file   cannot save layers..


PNG files were created for internet display, Like TIFF files they compression the file but not much so the file size will still be large, and like GIF files which PNG was created to replace can store animation information.


RAW files are used when taking an actual photo, and as the name says it saves the raw image you have just shot so during editing you can do anything to it for example: blown out highlights or dark areas can be retained as the data in those parts have been saved with some detail even though they are not visible at first. RAW files are much bigger than jpeg, you have to use special software for opening and editing RAW files, such as photoshop.

Other Album Covers

For my research I decided to research some existing album covers which have already been in the charts to give me some idea off successful albums and what the front cover looks like to help me with my ideas.  To find some off the most recent albums cover or the most popular ones i typed into google images the top 40 albums and I chose three off them to write about.

I chose this album to look at first because it is very simple it shows a member off the band on stage this photo could have been taking whilst they where on stage performing, the writing on this album cover is very bold and plan but it stands out and catches your eyes as the name off the album cover is in colour and the rest is in black and white.

I like this album cover because it is in your face and bold which will catch your eye and you would likely remember this cover than the one above, as the one above it very plan. With this album cover it looks fun and interesting it will make you wondered what the songs are like on it if you haven't heard any off them before.

I like this album cover of Christina Aguilers even through it is literal, i think it is vey different to other peoples album cover. This makes it stand out as it different and if u was to see it on a shelf in a shop you would stop and look at it because it draws you in and it is very different to what Christine Aguilers normal does.

Gaussian Blur

Gaussian Blur allows you to blur a photo as much as you want.

To get this effect on photoshop click on filter, then scroll down to blur then click on gaussian blur.

How To Use The Spot Healing Brush, Healing Brush and Patch Tool

First off all select the spot healing brush, move it to the area you wish to heal and click, it will automatically get rid of any blemish.

This tool doestnt work very time, if u use it near an area of skin with different colours for example near hair or eyes

The healing brush is a better tool to use as it allows you to select a sample point to clone from. You do this by holding down the Alt key and clicking the mouse to select a refrence point.you can click and drag acorss the area you want to repair, it can look strange but when u release the mouse it will blend the effect together so it won't look so strange.

Once you have made a repair then go to edit, then click on fade healing brush. Bring the opacity fade bar to 80% or whatever suits the image you are working on. this way you can retain some of the original image.

The patch tool is essentially a lasso tool. you select the area to be repaired by drawing round it.