BACKGROUND

• We’ve learned how to select colors and use painting tools.
• We’ve learned how to use layers to manipulate elements individually.
• We've learned how to scan images and create transparent line drawings.
• We’ve learned how to apply some filters

OBJECTIVE

To understand the concept of Hue and Value, and Complimentary hues. Combining the concepts that you’ve learned, you will spend two class sessions creating an abstract composition. You will create a background using various values of one specific hue that you choose. You will then add a foreground element using various values of a hue that is complimentary to the background hue that you chose.

FORMAT

Begin with a canvas that is either 1000 x 800 or 800 x 1000 pixels.

GUIDELINE

1. Make a color Palette: create a new document that is 500 pixels wide by 200 pixels tall.
2. Create a three way gradient.
   1. First set your colors to Black and White (type the letter d)
   2. Select the gradient tool
   3. Choose the foreground to background gradient in the gradient dropdown menu. (Right below the word "Photoshop" in the menu)
   4. Click on the gradient preview (Again, below the word "Photoshop" in the menu)
   5. In the gradient editor, add a "house" below the large gradient by clicking right below the large gradient in the exact middle.
   6. Choose your hue by clicking on the color swatch. I recommend a very pure hue.
   7. Your gradient should be black on one end, white on the other, and your chosen pure hue in the middle.
3. Drag your gradient across your canvas - while holding down the shift key.
4. Create an adjustment layer that is "Hue Saturation." Set the saturation to -100.
5. Drag a black and white gradient from the center of your image to the bottom.
1. The top half of your adjustment layer mask should be black
2. The bottom half of your adjustment layer mask should fade to white
6. Flatten your image - Layer menu / Flatten Image
7. Save this palette as "background colors.psd"
8. On your large Canvas, create an ABSTRACT image using only colors that you pick from your "background colors" - use the eye dropper tool.
9. Create a new file for your foreground color palette using a complimentary color and save this as "foreground colors.psd" (see steps 1-3)
10. On your large Canvas, create a foreground element using only colors that you pick from your "foreground colors."