Explore the process of modifying an image in Photoshop to meet client requests, specifically for a postcard project for Strategy Skylight. Learn how to select, move, and modify elements such as the title bar and text, change the color and font, add texture through layered images, and use the clipping mask and blending modes features.
Key Insights
- Image modification in Photoshop includes selecting and moving elements, changing fonts and colors, and repositioning elements based on client request. In this case, the title bar is moved to the top, the text is moved and its font is changed, and the title bar's color is modified to match the sky color in the image.
- To add texture to a title bar, import photos with texture and use the create clipping mask option. By doing this, the part of the image is constrained to the dimensions of the layer below, in this case, the title bar, which gives the title bar an added texture.
- Using blending modes and adjusting opacity, the texture can be blended with the title bar. In addition, a stroke can be added around the title bar edges to enhance its visibility. The image background can also be adjusted to ensure visibility of all elements, bringing the image modification to completion.
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In this video, we'll continue working on our postcard for Strategy Skylight. With our Photoshop file open, let's begin.
Many times when I'm working on projects such as this out in the field, I'll receive updated attributes or characteristics that need to happen within the image as requested by the client. In this case, let's work under the assumption that our client has requested the Title Bar be at the top of our postcard, as well as a little texture added to the Title Bar to make it more intriguing. This is an easy change that we can make, so let's begin.
First, we'll select the Title Bar, and next, with the Move Tool selected, we can simply click and drag it to the top. Remember, if we hold Shift as we drag, it will lock the movement vertically. We'll drag it to the top until we see the pink guide at the top, and release.
Next, let's move our title with our text up to the top as well. We'll click, and again, holding Shift, simply move it up. The next thing we want to do is change this font.
To do that, we can go to our Horizontal Type Tool, click in the text, and hold CTRL+A to select all of the text. Let's go to our font and choose a new one. You can choose whatever font you'd prefer.
For me, I'm going to choose this font, as I think it looks a little more classic, and let's bump up the font size a little bit. We'll leave it at 24 and see how that looks. That looks pretty good, so we'll leave it there. Finally, let's change the color of this bar.
We'll go back to our Title Bar, either by selecting it with the Move Tool or selecting “Title Bar” in the Layers Panel, and we'll change the color from the Properties Panel. Let's go to the Color Picker. I want to match it to the color of the sky behind it, so to do that, we could find it in the Color Picker, or use the Eyedropper Tool—simply click on the sky, then click OK. We'll see that now our Title Bar matches the color of the sky.
Let's hit CTRL+S to save our work. The next thing we want to do is add a little bit of texture to our Title Bar. To do this, let's import a couple of photos with texture so that we can create masks and apply them to the Title Bar. We'll go to File > Place Embedded, and let's first start by adding our cracked wall texture JPEG and click Place.
We'll drag it to the top and hit ENTER. Let's import two more: File > Place Embedded. This time, let's add our pink-blue texture, click Place, drag it to the top, and hit ENTER.
And finally, we'll import one more. Let's place our abstract texture, click Place, drag it to the top, and hit ENTER. As we can see, we've now added three new textures. However, we want to constrain these textures only to our Title Bar. To do that, we'll place them directly above the Title Bar in the Layers Panel. Let's hide the top two textures for now so we're only working with the cracked wall texture. Next, we'll right-click on the cracked wall texture and click Create Clipping Mask.
This essentially constrains the texture to the dimensions of the layer below—in this case, our Title Bar. By toggling the visibility for the cracked wall texture, we can see that it's created a mask for the Title Bar. Let's do the same thing with the pink-blue texture and the abstract texture.
Now we can toggle between the visibility of all three textures to see which one we like the most. In addition, if we highlight all three of them, because they are at 100% opacity, we’ll only see the top one. Next, let's blend the cracked wall texture mask with the blue Title Bar below.
We can do this by going to Blending Modes and choosing one that's appropriate. You can select whichever you prefer. For me, I'm going to choose Lighten and drop the opacity.
Let's set it to 50%. Hit ENTER. I like the look of this.
Feel free to use whatever texture and blending settings you'd prefer for your Title Bar. For me, I’ll stick with the cracked wall texture and blend it with the Lighten mode at 50% opacity. For our final change to the Title Bar, let's add a stroke around the edges.
We can do this by selecting the Title Bar, going to the Properties Panel, and selecting Stroke. We can choose any color for the stroke. In this case, I'm going to choose white. However, you can choose whatever color you'd prefer using the Color Picker.
I'll select white and click OK. It's not a very strong stroke right now, so let's increase the size in the Properties Panel. We can drag the stroke slider until it fits well. In this case, I'm going to change it to 4 and hit ENTER. This looks like a good stroke.
Additionally, we’ll want to check how the stroke is aligned. Make sure it’s inside the shape rather than on the outside, where it may get cropped, or in the center, where half of it could be lost. Set the alignment to Inside, and now our stroke looks great. As a last step, since these guides are no longer relevant, we'll remove them.
We can do this by going to View and clicking Clear Guides. We now have a good-looking postcard with our Title Bar, added texture, and a stroke around it. Let's make one more change in this video. We’re going to adjust the Austin background image so we can see all of the buildings below the Title Bar.
We'll highlight “Austin Background” and hit CTRL+T to transform the image. Next, we'll zoom out. Now that the Title Bar has no transparency, we have a little more room to adjust the image. We'll drag it down until the bottom aligns with the Title Bar, and release.
In addition, let’s align it so it's centered within our postcard. Then, I’m going to create a new guide at 3 inches. Highlighting the “Austin Background” layer, I’ll hit CTRL+T again to transform it. Even though the center of the image won't align perfectly with the center of the postcard, I want to align the circle in the image as close to center as possible. I’ll adjust that here, and that looks pretty good.
I’ll hit ENTER, and let’s hit CTRL+S to save our work. In the next video, we’ll be working with a logo on the bottom right-hand side of the image.