Creative Potential in Adobe Photoshop

[September 4, 2018]
The creative potential of the Adobe Photoshop interface is nearly limitless to the average user.  In working with multiple sources of media: photography, line drawings, vector artwork, there are techniques that can help the process immensely. 
Workspace layouts are the most resourceful options when performing different edits to an image.  The ability to swap between painting, layout, and typography windows help one move smoothly between frames of reference. Also, learning how to arrange multiple documents is a great way of pre-visualizing artwork.
Within the layers of your work, it's important to use the naming and grouping features, especially when you begin to exceed 50 layers.  
When adding and editing dimensions of your layer with the Selection tool, we have the magic ability to go back and view the same grouping of pixels in their exact placement.  This is a critical part of graphic design in photoshop that enables us to constantly refine what regions of an image we want to work within.
Within the filters, the ability to blend layers in different ways improves the original quality of your image.  Since filters like motion blur or lens flare are used often in many industries, it's helpful to explore the modifications you can make that way.
  • https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/how-to/make-animated-gif.html?playlist=/ccx/v1/collection/product/photoshop/segment/photographer/explevel/advanced/applaunch/basictraining/collection.ccx.js?ref=helpx.adobe.com
This tutorial will help place the final effect on the entire image: motion.  Alternating between the layers where the subject's real face is sharpened, to the crisp reflection in the glass of the crystal.
In approaching some new digital art projects, I made use of a few resources from Adobe's creative suite:

 https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/tutorials.html  I hope to create an animated image for the Two-Faced photoshop project- . 

 I plan to use a photo of myself staring into a crystal ball to create an optical transition between two elements: fire and water. In the background, I hope to depict the movement of energy with a geometric pattern of particle motion.  
  • https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/how-to/composite-color-blend.html?playlist=/ccx/v1/collection/product/photoshop/topics/compositing/collection.ccx.js?ref=helpx.adobe.com
In one image, the crystal ball will emit tiny flames, which will move in a clockwise direction, and the left side of my face would be lit in amber and red.
The second image that I transition to will show water molecules being sucked back into the ball, and the opposing side of my face will be lit in cool blues. 

  • https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/how-to/use-polar-coordinates-filter.html?playlist=/ccx/v1/collection/product/photoshop/topics/get-inspired/collection.ccx.js?ref=helpx.adobe.com
I often use the free-transform distortion tools.  It wasn't until seeing this use of a filter that I considered doing it on my own. 
I was drawn to the circular spiral of the landscape and Elshamy's use of multiple wire-mesh distortion tools to achieve this effect. I hope to use this to achieve some spiral effect to connect me to the crystal ball. 


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