Photo Mandala

Objectives:

Students will understand and use radial symmetry to create a mandala.

Students will use layers, blend modes and transform in photoshop to create a mandala.

What is a mandala?

Mandala is the Sanskrit (Ancient Indian) word for "circle." It is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism, representing the Universe.

Mandalas are usually circular with a center point and exhibit RADIAL BALANCE. Radial balance describes when all elements "radiate" out from a center point.

In various spiritual traditions, mandalas may be employed as a spiritual teaching tool, for establishing a sacred space, and as an aid to meditation and trance induction.

Your Assignment:

You are going to use Photoshop to create a mandala with radial balance from a photograph you have taken. Then, you will take your final image and transfer it to a ceramic tile!

CHOSE A PHOTO THAT HAS...

LOTS OF BRIGHT COLORS
CONTRASTING COLORS
BOLD LINES
BOLD SHAPES

photoshop instructions

File > Open
Choose File, OK

Find your layers panel in the bottom, right-hand corner of your workspace.
Double-click on the "background" layer to unlock it.

Click OK

Select your crop tool from the tool bar on the left-hand side of your screen (4th one down)
At the top of your workspace, in the "tool options bar" type "3 in" for width and 3 in" for height.
Type 300 for resolution.

Outline the portion of your photograph you would like to focus on.
Click the check mark (commit button) to save your selection.

Image > Canvas Size...

Change the width and height to "6 inches"
Where it says "Anchor" click the top-right corner box.
Hit ok.

If you like, hit the command key and minus (-) sign on your key board a few times to zoom out so you can see your entire canvas.

View > Rulers

Select your "Polygonal Lasso Tool"
It is the 3rd tool down from the top, in your tools bar.
You may have to click and hold the Lasso tool down, until menu pops up with more options, then choose "Polygonal Lasso Tool"

You will use this tool to outline a triangular selection of your photograph.
Start by clicking in one of the corners of your photograph. Use the rulers to help make sure you are aligned with the actual corner.
Then, move your mouse to the adjacent corner and click again. (Again, check the measurement on the ruler to ensure that you are clicking on the actual corner)
Then, move your mouse across the center of your photograph to the corner diagonally across from your last corner, click again. (Use ruler!)
Finally, move your mouse back to your original corner and click where you started.
If you messed up, hit Command D to deselect your selection and start over.

Select > Inverse

Hit the delete key on your keyboard.
You should be left with just the triangle you selected.

You may notice that the section you just selected is still selected (lit up and blinking)
Hit Command and "D" on your keyboard to deselect that area.

Hit Command J on your keyboard to duplicate your layer.

Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal

Select your move tool.
It is the first one at the top of your tools bar.

Drag your triangle into place.
You can also use the up, down, right and left arrow keys on your keyboard to make smaller, more precise movements.
Make sure your triangles are perfectly lined up and there are no gaps or overlaps.

Click your layer menu.
It is in the top, right-hand corner of your layers panel.

Select "Merge Visible"
You should now only have one layer.

Press command J on your keyboard to duplicate your layer.

Edit > Transform > Rotate 90 Degrees CW

Move it into place with the move tool or keys on your keyboard.
Make sure it is lined up perfectly- no gaps, no overlapping.

Go to your layer menu again.
Choose "Merge Visible" again.

Hit "command J" on your keyboard to duplicate your layer.

Edit > Transform > Rotate 180 Degrees

Move it into place with move tool or arrow keys on keyboard.
Make sure it is lined up perfectly, go gaps, no overlapping.
If you like the look of your mandala as it is, then THAT'S IT! YOUR DONE!
If you want to experiment more and push it a bit further... see below!

optional: take it one step further...

(You can always easily undo it if you don't like it!)

Merge your layers by going to your layer menu and selecting merge visible.

Duplicate your layer by hitting command J on your keyboard.

Edit > Transform > Rotate

At the top, in your tools option bar, find the white box with the diagram of an angle next to it. (third one from the right)
Enter in "45"

This is what it should look like.

Now find your "Layer Blending Modes" at the top, left-hand corner of your layers panel.

Look through the different blending modes and select one that you like, its up to you!

if you have "Funky edges"....

If you have funky edges (white and gray checkers showing), crop it off so that its nice and even!
Choose your crop tool
CHANGE THE HEIGHT AND WIDTH TO SAY 6 IN
Click on your image and drag out your crop box, cropping out the uneven edges.
Commit to save (click check mark button at top)

You're done!!

save your work!

Remember to always save your photoshop work twice.
Once as a .PSD (photoshop document)
Once as a .JPEG.
ONLY UPLOAD .JPEGs to WEBSITE! NEVER .PSDs.

Print out!

ONLY PRINT OUT YOUR 1 BEST MANDALA
Go to file > Print.

Select printer ending in ".76"
Hit Print.
Get mandala from printer, check that it printed out ok, put name on back and give to me.

make tile!

Neatly cut out your mandala, leaving no white edges.
Cover your ceramic tile in a thick coating of "matte medium."
Carefully center and place photograph on top of tile.
Smooth out photo with your hand to remove any air bubbles.
Put a coat of matte medium over the top of your image.
HINT: use brush lightly and do not over-do it, you will start to remove parts of your image.
Let dry.

Objectives:Students will understand and use radial symmetry to create a mandala.Students will use layers, blend modes and transform in photoshop to create a mandala.