photoGRAPHIC

abstraction and typography

OBJECTIVE
You will shoot at least 24 images considering abstraction
and the principles of composition in order to produce 4
final images – 2 where the letterform continues into the
image and 2 where the letterform points out the same
shape within the image.

The final photoGRAPHIC works will represent the

consideration of digital photography including
camera and digital editing techniques as well as
typographic and design understandings.
 SHOOTING

• Shoot a digital roll of only 24 images

• Consider all the Principles of Composition as well as the idea

of abstraction in photography

• Considerhow images are cropped by the viewfinder but also

know that they can be cropped or further edited after
shooting
 EDITING

• Complete a digital contact sheet, allowing for extra room on

the page

• Draw on top of your thumbnails to add letterforms and

decide on cropping as well as which photos will make
successful typographic combinations

• Choose 4 to use for the final photoGRAPHIC images

 PRODUCTION
• Create a document that is 5” x 5” at 300 dpi

• Dragyour photo into it and position as necessary, cropping

thoughtfully. Use Command+T in order to resize to fit the
square if needed.

• Youmay rotate or flip the photo, keeping it in color or

converting to grayscale.

• Go to Image>Canvas Size and double the width or height

depending on where you will add the letterform (remember
to Anchor the image to one side first).
1
2

3
1
Create 5” x 5” 300 dpi document
1
Paste image into it

Use Free Transform

(command + T) to
resize image to fit
square

Use Crop tool to crop the square

 Go to Image>Canvas 1
Size and anchor to one
side, then double it

Use the
Polygonal Lasso
(L) tool to
select an area
 Copy and paste the 1
selection, then drag it
into place

Save as a PSD,
then flatten and
save as a JPEG
2
Create 5” x 5” 300 dpi document
2
Paste image into it

Use Free Transform

(command + T) to
resize image to fit
square

Use Crop tool to crop the square

 Go to Image>Canvas 2
Size and anchor to one
side, then double it

Use the Pen Tool

(P) to select an
area and create
a Path
 Create a new layer2
above the current
image, select it

Use the
Eyedropper Tool
(I) to select the
color you want
the shape to be
 2

Under Paths, right click

(control+click) and
select Fill Path and select
Foreground Color
 Move the layer 2
over to the open
square

Drag the path

into the trash
to delete
3
Create 5” x 5” 300 dpi document
3
Paste image into it

Use Free Transform

(command + T) to
resize image to fit
square

Use Crop tool to crop the square

 Go to Image>Canvas 3
Size and anchor to one
side, then double it

Use the Type Tool (T)

to type your letter
 Select the 3
layer with the
type and go to
Layer>Type>
Convert to
Shape

Free Transform in
order to adjust
the size and
orientation
 Experiment with 3
different Free
Transform tools to
match the correct
shape

Adjust the
opacity of the
layer to line it
up better
 Drag the letter into 3
place, click on the
color square and
select the
appropriate color
(you can use the
Eyedropper Tool
here)

Reset the opacity to

100%, then save your
work (PSD, then
flatten and a JPEG)