Mrs. Cook's Art Class
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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?

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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!
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CHOSE A PHOTO THAT HAS...

  • LOTS OF BRIGHT COLORS
  • CONTRASTING COLORS
  • BOLD LINES
  • BOLD SHAPES

photoshop instructions

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  • File > Open
  • Choose File, OK

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

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  • Click OK


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  • 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.

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

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  • Image > Canvas Size...

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

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  • 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.



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  • View > Rulers

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  • 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"

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  • 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.

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  • Select > Inverse

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

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  • 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.

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  • Hit Command J on your keyboard to duplicate your layer.

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  • Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal

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

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  • 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.

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

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

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  • Press command J on your keyboard to duplicate your layer.

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  • Edit > Transform > Rotate 90 Degrees CW

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

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

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

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  • Edit > Transform > Rotate 180 Degrees

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

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  • Duplicate your layer by hitting command J on your keyboard.

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  • Edit > Transform > Rotate

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  • 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"

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  • This is what it should look like.

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

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

if you have "Funky edges"....

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  • 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)

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  • You're done!!

save your work!

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  • 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!

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

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  • 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!

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  • 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.

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