Raster Graphics Explained

Raster Graphics Explained (Photoshop with The GIMP)

For this 2013 unit, students were given the choice of which tool they want to use:
Adobe Photoshop Elements or The GIMP.

Students will perform the same basic activities. The Photoshop group will follow the text and video instructions posted on the official New Brunswick BBT9 site. The GIMP group will be accomplishing the same tasks but using videos on this site (made by Mr. Rich using GIMP 2.8).

RG - Raster Graphics (Intro)

Raster graphics are images that are made up of pixels.When we zoom in to a raster graphic, we see squares much like this image.

When we zoom back, we see a car (like the cage- transform tutorial's SUV below).

You know you have a raster graphic:

if you zoom in and see pixels
if your eraser tool works as you would expect
if, when you save your work, you are asked about how much 'compression' or 'quality' you would like

Raster Graphics Activities

START with the PDF first!! ("Overview Instructions")

If you selected Photoshop, then here's where you go to Mr. Rich's Photoshop page and follow the instructions.

If you've selected The GIMP, then start with Mr. Rich's GIMP Overview page.

One last thing...

Did I mention that The GIMP is free?
Well, it is!

Meanwhile...

Photoshop CS3 is old and no longer available for sale (that I could find). After all, it came out in 2007.

Photoshop CS5 (older, from 2010) is still available.
You can buy it on Amazon for $675.

Photoshop CS6 (latest version, from 2012) can be purchased on Amazon for $569.

List of Assignments

Bold assignments are ones usually assigned.

Choose your tool:
- BBT9 Photoshop Activities
- BBT9 GIMP Overview

GIMP (gimp.org)

G NU
I mage
M anipulation
P rogram

Began in 1995 as a student project and was first released in January 1996.

About the GIMP (Official)
Wikipedia's GIMP page

For Mr. Rich's GIMP activities, please start here: GIMP Overview.
(Similar to the Photo Editing [Photoshop Elements] activities on the official New Brunswick BBT9 site.)

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop came out in 1990 and is currently the industry standard for image editing software.

Photoshop comes in the full version or as the lightweight Photoshop Elements.

Official Adobe Photoshop page
Wikipedia's Adobe Photoshop page

For Mr. Rich's Photoshop activities, please start here: Photoshop Activities.
(Gives starting instructions and sends students to use Photoshop Elements 6 with the official New Brunswick BBT9 site.)

Purposes of Raster Graphics Unit

The main purpose of this unit is to introduce students to the basic principles of photo editing.

As such, we will learn:

to photoshop someone out of a photo
to photoshop someone into a photo
to crop, select, copy and paste
to create and adjust layer settings
to re-color photographs
to restore damaged photographs
to use various filters and effects to enhance photographs

My unit and marking goals include:

having restored photos look as though they are original (i.e. edits blend in)
having enhanced photos look appropriate, for color balance and proportion
using artistic skill to make damaged photos look life-like ("taken yesterday").

About Photo Editing: GIMP vs. Photoshop

There is no doubt that Photoshop is the industry standard for photo editing software. (a.k.a. "image editing".)

However, this is a grade 9 introductory course and my students often ask if they can do work at home. (Yes, you can buy Photoshop, but it's expensive. And yes, there are 'cracked' - illegal - versions on the Internet, but why encourage my students to become pirates? "Arg!")

So, I use the GIMP. Students can download it for free. There are versions for Windows, Mac and Linux (click the hard-to-find link: "Show other downloads"). There's even a Portable Apps version for Windows.

It's true that professional designers scoff at the GIMP. And yes, some features are more difficult. (I'm looking at you, "Text Along Path"). However, the rest of the introductory features are almost the same, right down to similar icons/buttons.

And my main interest is in getting students hooked on design, technology and "problem solving". For artistic students who are just starting out, the GIMP will teach all the design and work-flow fundamentals. Switching over to Photoshop later will require only a brief adjustment period.

So, check out my "Raster Graphics" unit for grade 9! Then contact me; I'd love to hear your reaction. :-)

ps. This "Raster Graphics" unit is made from materials created and compiled by other people. The original version is a Photoshop Elements video tutorial series created for the New Brunswick Broad Based Technology courses (circa 2008). Also, the images I use are borrowed from Mr. Haney (who taught at FHS for years and retired in January 2013).

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