CREATE YOUR brand Package
with PIxlr

Download your learner files from bit.ly/llc-pixlr-files if you haven't already!

about me

follow along! 

DoWnload FILES!

Intro

What is Pixlr?

Pixlr Photo Editor: Web app*

 

Let's CREATE!

Let's learn layers!

Intro to the Pixlr Interface

Combine colours, typefaces, and inspirational images

Brand Moodboard

Retouching 101

Cut, combine, and crop

Perfect your profile photos!

Mix and match images to create a fun & unique cover photo

Intro

The PiXLR INTERFACE

Menu bar

Options

Tools

Navigator

Layers

History

File Window or Tab

Zoom level and document dimensions

Intro

First, let's start by quickly making a Pixlr account so we can save images.

Click the Sign Up link to set up
a Pixlr account.

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Let's Learn Layers!

Go to File > Open image...
> Learner Files > 01_Learn-Layers.pxd

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Tools

Move / Select tool

Type tool

Paint bucket tool

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Arrange + toggle the layers in the
Layers panel to match the image below.

Visible

Invisible

Locked

Type

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We can change the colours of the different layers using the Paint Bucket tool.

Double click here to choose a fill color for the Paint Bucket tool.

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Colour modes

Hue, Saturation, and Lightness

HSL

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Colour modes

Red, Green Blue

RGB

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Try changing the text, font, and text colour using the Type tool.

Type tool

Photo RETOUCH 101

Pixlr is proof that anyone can look like a model, because technology = magic.

Intro

Tools

Zoom tool

Red eye corrector

Spot healing brush

Hand tool

Dodge 

Blur 

Intro

File > Open image... > young-woman.jpg

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Fix 'red eye' effect

Select the Red eye reduction tool from the tools panel.
Click the center of each eye to remove the redness.

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BYE BYE BLEMISHES

Use the Spot heal tool to quickly clear any face blemishes. You can adjust the size of the brush in the Options bar above.
 

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remove wrinkles

Use the Clone Stamp tool when blurring away fine lines and wrinkles.  Hold Ctrl + click (PC) or Cmd+click (Mac) to choose a part of the skin that is smooth, for reference.

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Whiter smiles!

Use the Dodge tool to lighten darkened or yellowed areas like eyebags or teeth. Play around with the tool options for the right amount of subtlety.

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Warm complexion

1. Duplicate your background layer by right clicking the layer name and selecting Duplicate Layer, or by dragging the layer down to the New Layer icon.

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2. Select the photo area we want to "tan" using the Marquee tool. In this case it's the left half of the JPG file.

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3. Go to the Adjustment menu, and choose Color balance. Play around with the RGB values until you get a golden tan.

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5. Go to the Adjustment menu, and choose Curves. Play around with the curved line to bring out different light/dark shades in the photo and get the skin / hair shade you like.

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Bonus airbrush!

1. For that "Kardashian airbrush look": Duplicate Layer again, and select the cheek, forehead, and chin areas using the Lasso tool.

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2. Go to the Filter menu > Gaussian blur. Play with the blur amount until you the skin texture smoothens, but not so blurred that it doesn't look like skin. Hit OK.

3. Right click using the Lasso tool or use Ctrl+D to deselect the area.

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4. The edges of your "airbrushed" areas may seem harsh at first. Use the Eraser tool to gently erase the harsh edges and get them to blend with the rest of the skin.

5. You might also need to adjust the Opacity of this airbrushing layer using the Layer Properties in the Layers panel.

Awesome!
Try getting as close to the "After" image as possible.

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Try these techniques out on your photos or any of the other example photos!

cover composite

Use masks + adjustment layers for a cool, classic, pop art technique.

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Tools

Brush tool

Foreground colour

Crop 

Open up the file jump.jpg from the folder 03_Compositing in your Learner Files.
File > Open... > 03_Compositing > jump.jpg

 

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Remove shadows

Remove the shadows from the image using the same tool we used to remove wrinkles: the Clone Stamp tool

Anyone remember how we set a reference point for the stamp to clone?

Ctrl+click for PC, Cmd+click for Mac. Choose a spot in the light gray background for best results.

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B&W + accent colour

Duplicate your layer and name it Black + White. 

Make it B&W by going to Adjustment>Desaturate.

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B&W + accent colour

1. Select the Black+White
layer and choose Add layer mask from the Layers panel

2. The red box is a layer mask
which lets us erase the visible area, without destroying the image file.

3. Use a black colour brush tool to "paint in" the black and white areas.

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B&W + accent colour

4. Paint over everything but the jacket to reveal the black and white.

5. Zoom in and use a smaller brush to paint the edges

6. Right-click to adjust the size and hardness of the brush as needed

Tip: Instead of undoing changes use the eraser tool to re-apply black and white

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Import into new img

1. Go to Layer > Merge visible to combine the B&W and colour layers.

2. Isolate the person is by drawing around them using the Lasso and Magic Wand tools.

Create a new file by going to the File menu and selecting File > New...
For dimensions, enter 851 pixels wide x 315 pixels tall for a nice Facebook cover.

 

You can add more images
into your .pxd file using Layer > Open image as layer.

Use Edit > Free Transform
to bring up a box that sizes and scales your layers.

cover composite

Ta da! Play around with the Type Tool, Brush Tool, and Drawing Tools to add shapes and more.

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Saving Your work

Go to File > Save... or hold Ctrl+S

BRAND MOODBOARD

Putting all our inspiration and ideas together 

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"House Aesthetic"

Colour
Typeface
Graphic Identity or Logo

BAsic
Brand
elements

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Open the file
04_Moodboard >
Moodboard-Template.pxd

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Start with your name (or brand name) and define what you do.
All the Text Layers in this .pxd file are editable, so you can start filling in those text areas.

 

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Fill in the 3 gray squares with 3 inspiration images.  Import images into your .pxd file by using Layer > Open image as layer
 

Use Ctrl+T or Cmd+T to Free Transform and resize your image to relatively fit in the gray box.

Intro

Fill in the 3 gray squares with 3 inspiration images. Use what we learned about Layer Masks to mask off any overflowing edges on the photos.
 

Hold Cmd (Mac) or Ctrl (PC) and click the layer named Inspiration image 1 to select that area.

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Click on the layer you want to mask off, and then click the "Add layer mask" icon in the Layers panel.
 

Choose the layer you want to mask off, and then click the "Add layer mask" icon in the Layers panel.

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Your Layer Mask was successful if you see a red box beside your layer name.

Repeat this process for the other 2 images.

STOCK PHOTOS

(that don't suck)

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Use the Paint Bucket to define brand colours, or use the Shape Drawing tool to fill in the squares.
 

Remember to note your colours - you can name them underneath and that way you'll always have an idea of the ~exact~ shade you were looking for.

Use tools like Adobe Kuler (kuler.adobe.com) to discover new palettes.

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Use the Type tool to define your brand typeface.

Need more choices? Download some from www.google.com/fonts!

SIMPLE LOGO SAMPLE

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 Import the .png file (logo or icon) into your .pxd file by using Layer > Open image as layer

Use Ctrl+T or Cmd+T to Free Transform and resize your image in proportion to how big you want your personal brand name to be.

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 Download and use both a dark and light version of your icon.

Create your Brand Package with Pixlr

By Kat Bautista

Create your Brand Package with Pixlr

At this full-day workshop for absolute beginners, you’ll learn to use the online photo editor Pixlr plus as much design theory as we can reasonably fit in. If you know absolutely nothing about design, and want to build your photo editing skills while picking up some design tips and tricks, you’ve come to the right place!

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