Lesson video

Hello there.

How are you doing? I hope you're good.

My name's Dr.

Jones, and I'm delighted to be your art teacher today.

We are going to be learning about digital working methods: manipulating images.

This is part of our Foundation workshops unit, an introduction to the areas of study.

I really hope you enjoy it.

It's a fascinating area to learn about and very useful indeed.

I look forward to taking you through it.

So our outcome for today is to be able to use digital tools to manipulate an image and change its message or emotional impact through that manipulation.

I hope you enjoy it.

Some of the keywords that we will be referring to throughout the session today include manipulation.

So this means altering or adjusting an image using digital tools to change its appearance or message.

We will also be using the keyword layering.

This is using stacked image components or elements in software to edit non-destructively to add layers on top.

Saturation.

This is the intensity or purity of colour.

Higher saturation means brighter, and lower saturation means muted or more greyed out colours.

Juxtaposition.

This means placing contrasting images or elements next to each other to create meaning or tension.

So in our digital working methods lesson today about manipulating images, we will divide the learning into three learning cycles.

The first one is an introduction to image manipulation.

So let's dive straight in.

Some of the outcomes for today might look something like this.

We're going to be designing some exciting images like this.

So what does it mean to digitally manipulate an image? You can pause the video whilst you think about that and discuss.

Thank you for thinking about that.

Well, digital image manipulation can refer to altering or adjusting an image using digital tools.

This technique can be used to change an image's appearance, message, mood, or visual impact.

Digital manipulation can change the tone, focus, or message of an image.

Designers use these techniques to support branding, evoke emotions, or direct attention.

There are many different digital tools which can be used for digital manipulation.

These tools should enable designers to crop or isolate areas of an image, apply filters and make adjustments, add text and graphics, separate elements into layers, and combine multiple images.

So what is image manipulation? Is it A, drawings made entirely by hand; B, cropping an image only; or C, editing images to change their appearance or message? You can pause the video whilst you think about this.

Well done indeed.

You're correct, it is C, editing images to change their appearance or message.

So how can we use digital manipulation to transform an image and enhance visual communication? Well, there are many ways an image can be manipulated.

The possibilities are endless.

Colours, layout, or layering can transform the message.

Emphasis and distortion can alter how it's seen.

Artists use digital image manipulation in varied ways.

David McLeod creates still and moving images, experimenting with art and technology.

Harshad Marathe creates multi-layered digital designs combining images and text.

Jonathan Yoc creates community-centered designs featuring photographs, text, and illustrations.

Looking at these two digitally manipulated images, discuss with a partner how edits may have changed their mood and how you feel about them as a result.

You can pause the video whilst you do this.

Well done for discussing that and having a good think about it.

Here's some great responses here.

So Jacob has said, "The first image is lighter and it is easier to see the different elements.

The colours are more natural than the second, which has a dark mood and is harder to make out." Well done, Jacob.

Aisha says, "The clarity of the first image creates a clearer aesthetic, while the second one, which emphasises colour saturation and dark purple tones, leads to a sense of mystery." Fantastic, great responses.

Thank you.

Why might an artist manipulate an image? Is it A, to cheat a drawing; B, to change its message or alter how it's seen; or C, to make it blurrier? You can pause the video whilst you think about this.

Well done.

It is B, to change its message or alter how it's seen.

So now we're going to dive straight in and create a mood board by collecting and presenting a range of visual inspirations.

Using a digital collage tool, I'd like you to gather five to eight images that reflect different manipulation techniques.

Please label each of the techniques used and the quality that it creates.

For example, one image might be labelled "desaturation for a vintage look." You can pause the video whilst you do this.

Enjoy.

So for creating the mood board by collecting and presenting a range of inspirations, you might have got some images that look something like this.

And you might have said: in the first image, blurring and sepia colours creates atmosphere.

In the second, the high contrast light purple filter adds a striking effect.

And thirdly, using darker tones and image overlay makes a dramatic mood.

So you could have some images like this labelled with those effects on your mood board.

Well done.

You might also have images that have effects such as these.

So Aisha says, "In the fourth image, combining images and juxtaposed colours creates a glitch-like effect.

And in the fifth, highly saturated and contrasting colours creates drama and warmth." Well done, Aisha.

So now that we've been introduced to image manipulation, we are now going to look more specifically at techniques and tools for digital working methods by manipulating images.

How can images be digitally manipulated effectively for the intended purpose? Can have a little think and a discuss with somebody and pause the video whilst you do this.

Well, digital tools can be used to transform an image's message.

Common digital tools for image editing include: crop, which is reducing the size of the image by cropping out certain elements.

Adjust, which is adjusting the brightness, the saturation, or the contrast, for example.

Filters, which can be overlaid onto images to completely transform the way it works.

And layers as well.

So these can be introduced to add another layer to an image, as well as text and overlay.

So the crop and selection tools enable designers to remove unwanted portions of an image.

So let's have a look at this sunset scene here, which is showing sky and buildings.

We've got a large building on the left, and then we've got the skyline at the bottom.

Jacob has said, "Cropping could be used to remove the building from this image." Let's see how that works then.

So adding or removing sections from cropping adds focus on specific areas and brings attention to the desired areas of an image.

So as you've seen here, this is the image before cropping, and this is it after cropping.

Completely transforms the way the image looks, doesn't it? The tone, colour, and mood of an image can be changed through adjustments and filters.

Saturation means the intensity or purity of colour.

A highly saturated image features bright, vivid colours, whereas lower saturation indicates muted or greyed colours.

Saturation can be seen on a scale from low saturation to high saturation.

For example, here we've got less saturation, but on the other end we've got more saturation.

Have a little look and think what you prefer.

So, which tools can be used to remove unwanted elements of an image? Is it A, a paintbrush; B, a crop tool; or C, filters? Well done.

Indeed, it is C, the crop tool.

So to build visual complexity without losing control of individual elements, layers can be used.

You could have a top layer, for example, here that's the circle.

A middle layer, which in this image is a rectangle.

And a bottom layer, which in this example is a yellow triangle.

Layers, or layering, allows you to stack multiple visual elements, photos, textures, or text within a sequence.

Here we've got different combinations of layering.

Each of these elements can be edited, merged, or reordered at any point in the design process.

This doesn't have to be with simple shapes like this.

This could be with different images.

Artists and designers often use digital tools and techniques to enable them to work with layers in their work.

Bokiba is a multidisciplinary artist who brings their background in textiles to create layered designs of vibrant palettes and playful shapes.

Felix Pfaffli experiments with digital software to create animations and graphic designs which feature strong geometric shapes and distinctive colours.

By working with layers, sections of an image can be manipulated independently of each other.

As the digital design or artwork develops, creative decisions can be made on whether different elements should be harmonised together or juxtaposed against each other.

Juxtaposition places opposing or contrasting elements side by side.

Using juxtaposition in design can create surprise, conflict, or develop visual tension and enhance its meaning.

In colour theory, certain colours are positioned opposite each other on the colour wheel.

For example, purple and yellow, or red and green.

When these colours are placed next to each other, they are referred to as complementary colours.

Using juxtaposition, complementary colours can make strong visual contrasts that makes them pop and add interest.

As well as juxtaposing colours, other visual elements could be placed side by side to create visual interest, including thin wavy lines versus thick zigzag lines, organic shapes versus geometric shapes, highly saturated versus low saturated, and different typefaces, fonts, and typography styles to contrast with one another.

Juxtaposition refers to: A, placing contrasting elements side by side; B, adding text to an image; or C, using very bright colours.

You can pause the video whilst you think about this.

Well done, it is indeed A.

It's placing contrasting elements side by side.

Fantastic.

So let's practise changing the visual tone and message of the image provided or an image of your choosing.

Using the same base image, I'd like you to digitally manipulate it in two distinct ways to change its overall mood.

Have a go at using some of those digital manipulation tools that we've discussed to make two different versions of your image.

You can pause the video whilst you do this.

Well done for having a go at that.

So for practising changing the visual tone and message of the image, you could have used the same base image, but you've.

Well done for having a go at that.

So you've all practised using the same image and manipulating it in two distinct ways to change its overall mood.

You might have something that could look a little bit like this by Jacob.

And Jacob said, "In this example, the landscape scene was manipulated using saturation, contrast, and inverting colours, creating an alien-like world." Well done, Jacob.

Very creative indeed.

For Jacob's second edit, he has desaturated colours into a cool blue hue with a soft blur effect, which creates the feeling of a cool, quiet, and mysterious scene at night.

Fantastic work, Jacob.

Well done for having a go at using digital manipulation techniques and tools.

Now we're going to learn about how to create digitally manipulated images.

Juxtaposition and layering in digital art and design can be seen through the works of different designers.

Jessica Oddi uses layers to create accessibility-centered designs.

Neebinnaukzhik Southall combines organic and geometric shapes, often with complementary colours in their illustration and design work.

Barbara Kruger creates strong and striking juxtapositions through design.

Let's have a go at matching the keywords to their correct definitions.

You can pause the video whilst you do this.

Well done for having a go at that.

So we've got saturation, which is the intensity or purity of colour.

Higher saturation means more vivid and brighter colours, and lower, more muted or greyed out colours.

Well done.

Manipulation, which is altering or adjusting an image using digital tools to change its appearance or message.

Layering, which is about using stacked image components or elements in software to edit non-destructively.

And juxtaposition, which is about placing contrasting images or elements next to each other to create meaning or tension.

Well done, everybody.

So, an effective digital design should display: a clear message; an effective use of image manipulation; consideration for typography styles, balance, and layout; visual impact, possibly through juxtaposition, i.

e.

black and white, or other strong contrasting elements.

So to create an effective digital design, it is important to plan.

You might consider who is your target audience? What is your message, emotion, or chosen mood? What images could you start with? Discuss with a partner the plan for your design in response to these questions.

You can pause the video whilst you do this and you can write down your answers to the questions to get a more detailed plan.

Well done for discussing that.

So here Jun has said, "I want to make a campaign poster for raising climate awareness.

To make it eye-catching, I can use bold typography and juxtaposing colours.

Graphics and images like the Earth, animals, and hands are a good starting point." Well done, Jun.

Sofia says, "I'm making a poster for a movie night aimed at friends and family for us to enjoy films together.

I want to design a warm image, which could mean using colours like orange and red, and I could use graphics like projectors, screens, or popcorn." Well done, Sofia.

So now we are going to experiment with the digital tools and techniques you have available, ensuring you regularly save your work at different stages.

This will also enable you to better reflect on the creative process and journey towards your final design once it's finished.

You might want to screenshot your work at different stages as well to help you reflect on the process.

What should you consider first before starting digital manipulation of an image? Is it A, your favourite colours; B, the image resolution; or C, what message, emotion, or mood you want to create? You are correct, of course it is C, what message, emotion, or mood you want to create.

Well done.

So let's consider that before diving straight in.

We are going to design a poster for a fictional event.

This could be a film night, a music gig, a protest, et cetera.

You could use digital manipulation techniques to support the theme of your design.

I'd like you to incorporate use of layering with images and text.

Use filters and adjustments such as saturation, and demonstrate elements of juxtaposition in your design.

I hope you enjoy doing this task, and you can pause the video whilst you do this.

Fabulous.

So you might have designed a poster that could look something like this.

And Lucas has said, "For my music gig poster, text and images were separated into different layers.

Each layer was digitally manipulated into a cohesive design.

The background image was adjusted using saturation, with cool, light blue text being complementary and juxtaposed to the warm orange colours." Well done, Lucas.

I hope you all enjoyed that task.

And that brings us now to the end of our learning today about digital working methods: manipulating images.

So just to summarise, we've learned that digital image manipulation allows designers to adjust colours, contrast, saturation, and brightness, to create more visually striking compositions.

Tools like layers, filters, and cropping can drastically change image tone and meaning.

Manipulated images can convey complex and juxtaposing ideas or narratives that resonate with the audience, enhancing the message of a design.

I hope you enjoyed learning about that with me today.

I certainly enjoyed leading you through it, and I look forward to seeing you again soon.

Well done.