OVERVIEW & OBJECTIVES
When you are working on a project with a defined theme, you may need to put extra thought into the elements so that your idea is conveyed. The challenge this week is that given the scope of a project and a theme that you will be able to put together a pleasing, well balanced finished project that fully conveys a message.
Tools you should be using for this lesson include:
Everything you have learned thus far in class and all tools.
LESSON NOTES
Here are some examples to get you started thinking about your poster for this lesson. Don’t forget that you can do more than just collage the images together – try various effects to get a certain feeling.

Example of travel poster with posterize filters and cleverly overlapping segments. Notice how the selected elements overlap layers below.

This links to 10 Retro Effect Tutorials for Photoshop. Notice how the fonts echo the style.

Another retro inspired poster design. This one uses filters and pattern layers with blending modes to give it that old feel.

Repetitive elements make this poster stand out. The font and colors are important for the message and style. This link points to 50 photoshop poster tutorials.
ASSIGNMENT
ASSIGNMENT #10 – Poster Project
- In the links below are a number of images related to a theme. IMPORTANT: CHOOSE ONLY ONE THEME – and only use the images associated or that make sense with that specific theme. These images are right out of the camera. They have not been adjusted for tonal quality or sharpness, which you should do for this assignment where necessary.
- Combine selections from six or more of the images to create a poster specifically for the theme. Incorporate type into your layout. Subtasks related to this project may include:
- color correction
- cropping
- selecting objects
- refining your selections
- sharpening
- applying filters and effects
- using brushes
- using blending modes between layers
- using vectors & shapes
- using tools for detail control, such as clone stamp tool and puppet warp
- using layer effects
- and other subtasks of your choosing
- Create a poster with dimensions of 8 x 10 inches, and resolution of 72 ppi.
- Make specific notes of which subtasks you use (e.g. I used an adjustment layer to adjust the levels of the animals layer. Or, I used a bevel effect on the headline type).
- Note: You may design your poster using some or all of your own images, if you prefer to. Follow the instructions above regarding number of images, size of poster, theme and use of type and Photoshop techniques. You may also choose to do a different theme of your choice. If you choose your own theme, you must follow all the other instructions associated with this assignment.
- Save your file with layers intact.
- Take a screenshot of your layers.
- Optimize both images for the web and post them on the Course Blog along with your notes. Tell us what you are satisfied with and anything you ran into trouble with on this assignment.
Download Theme Files Here. This link will take you to a Dropbox public folder where you will find the following theme folders and .zip files. The zip archives contain all the images from the folders. Again, feel free to use some or all of your own images. The three themes are:
- County Fair
- Alaska Summer
- Mexico Vacation
QUIZ
DISCUSSION
Comments on other student’s work is encouraged.