Journal Entry 6

This week I wanted to use a program I'd never used before, so I searched on www.download.com for windows programs that edited photos and managed to find and downloaded a program called PhotoImpact X3. This program exceeded my expectations of freeware software (although it is only a 30 day trial) as it had so many features and effects that could be applied to images, and even animations. I was suprised at how advanced the program was and worried that I would not be able to use it, but the inteface was so easy to follow and use and I managed to create a an image that I am really happy with, which I have posted on to my digital portfolio website.

The image I edited was one of my friend dancing. I wanted to emphasize the feeling of losing yourself in dance, of becoming one with yourself. I wanted to convey dancing as a special thing, a creative practice that allows someone to express and connect with themselves. I applied so many effects to the image, because they all were relevant in allowing me to get the message across that I was aiming for. I experimented with lots of effects including, noise, cartoonize, contour drawing, blur, distortion, comic strip, whirlpool effect, lighting effects, image insertion, animations, colour changer, paintbrush tool, cloning, etc. The effects I chose to incorporate in my art piece include cartoonize, contour drawing, comic strip, whirlpool, star animations, lighting effects, star images, painting and cloning. Overall, the image displays exactly what I was aiming for - a fantasy-like theme.

I also downloaded a program called "GIMP", a program often used instead of Adobe Photoshop, as it does not cost any money. I was so busy experimenting and so impressed with PhotoImpact that I did not get around to experimenting with Gimp, but at least now I have the program to use for my next piece of digital art, if I am satisfied with it. I want to use as many different programs as possible for my portfoilo to show my diversity, and also to learn and experiment with a variety of programs instead of just mastering one. After using a variety of programs, I can decide which program I am most comfortable using, and can perhaps use that program to complete the last couple of my digital art pieces for my portfoilo. So far, PhotoImpact is definitely my favourite, although I find the music programs very easy to use, I'm too familiar with them and its exciting to learn something different.