Digital Self Scratch Portraits

Lesson Plan Submitted by: Jeannie Sandoval
Unit: Technology - Scratch Art - Portrait
Name of Project: Digital Self Portraits
Grade Level: Middle school (adaptable to high school and upper elementary)
Alternate Lesson by Lotte Petricone

Objective: Students will

1. Learn some of the basic of Photoshop software
   

2. Adjust a photograph for high contrast
   

3. Produce digitally inspired self-portrait using scratch art.

Materials:

Adobe Photoshop (Can be obtained from the Adobe Software Page)
8 x 10 (20 x 25 cm) Scratch paper and Scratchboard Tool Kit
Drawing Pencils
Tape

Books:

Photoshop CS6 For Dummies - Quickly learn how to use Adobe Photoshop. This book is written in an easy-to-understand language.

Adobe Photoshop Classroom in a Book - The Classroom in a Book series is by far the best training material on the market. Everything you need to master the software is included: clear explanations of each lesson, step-by-step instructions, and the project files for the students.

Layers: The Complete Guide to Photoshop's Most Powerful Feature - Layers is the key to understanding Photoshop, and now you have a resource to show you exactly how. With Matt's clear, easy-to-follow, and concise writing style you'll learn all there is to know.

Approximate time line: 5 days max.

Procedure to follow for Studio project:

1. Steps to take: Teacher will take close up head shots of each student in class. While photos are being unloaded on computer, students will work in their notebooks on their sketchbook assignments. Digital photographs may also be taken during an earlier assignment. Perhaps during some observational self portrait drawings?

2. Go to Adobe Photoshop. Open student picture.

3. Go to Image, click on Image size and change the size to 8 x 10.

4. Click again on Image, go to Mode and change photo to gray scale. Click OK to discard color information;

5. Click under Image again on Adjustments, scroll to Brightness and Contrast. Change the Brightness to at least 25 and Contrast to 25. I sometimes have to modify this for levels higher than 30 if the background is dark. Try to have a nice background that is not to busy. I try to take photos of the students when they are in front of a wall or outside. Click OK.

6. Go to Image again, scroll to Adjustments and scroll down to Posterize. Change level to a 2 or 3. You want a solid black/white picture. If it is to light, you can undue, and go back and add more brightness or contrast so that more areas will pick up when you posterize.

7. Print out each student's digital image once you are done.

(Most of the pictures are printed after class is over, there is not enough time for each student to do this, sometimes there is enough time and sometimes there is not)

8. Pass out the 8 x 10 scratch art paper and the printed self-portraits. Place directly on top of the scratch art and tape to edges so it does not move around.

9. Using a pencil, trace directly on top of the printed picture- get everything and do not draw things that do not exist. If your picture does not have a nose, you cannot draw one on the picture. Draw all jagged lines etc.

10. After your face has been traced, lift off the printed picture, but do not discard, you may have to use it later for reference.

11. Begin to scratch away the white areas (use printed picture for reference as to where the white areas are located)

12. Mount on black mat or Construction Paper when complete. Hang in display cabinet with the heading of ‘Who Am I?" Kids get a kick out this project and is a hit every year.

Evaluation: Completed mounted project is worth two test grades.