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This lesson demonstrates how to prepare photographs prior to applying the pop-art colour - to work along, you can download the start image Here. Unzip the file and open it onto Photoshop’s workspace.
Comprehensive Layers Lesson Here!
Comprehensive Layer Blend Modes Lesson Here!
Undo and Navigation Steps
Two ways of undoing steps are from the top menu, Edit then Step Backwards. Alternatively, click a previous snapshot in the History Palette.
Navigate (zoom in and pan) your image using the Navigator Palette,
or the Zoom Tool. 
Activate The Hand Tool by tapping the Spacebar, keeping the Spacebar pressed, pan your image in the usual way. 
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Open your start image onto Photoshop’s workspace.
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Then duplicate the image (twice) by left-clicking and dragging the Background layer over the Create New Layer icon.
You now have three identical layers.
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Now, click the eye icon of the first layer to hide the layer’s visibility. Then click to highlight the second layer.
Working on the second layer, from the top menu choose Image then choose Adjustment then choose Threshold. You are looking to turn this layer’s image into a bit map (black and white) image. Therefore, set the Threshold Level to around 89, and your image will change to the following.
 
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Now, click the top layer’s visibility icon to display the layer. 
Working on the top layer, from the top menu, choose Image then choose Adjustment then choose Threshold. This time set the Threshold Level to around 100.
 
5/ Masking For Beginners Here!
We will now blend the two (bit map) layers, using a Layer Mask. This prepares the image for its colour application. Therefore, (still working on the top layer), activate the following Add Layer Mask icon.
And a white oblong mask layer will be added. 
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Set the Foreground colour swatch to Black. 
By tapping your keyboard’s D key.
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Then activate the Brush Tool.  Brush Tutorial.
And with a hard brush, begin removing the top layer, thus revealing the layer beneath it. The idea is to remove the black areas around the subject’s mouth and left eye - to tidy the image.
Note
If you reveal too much of the layer underneath - swap the Black Foreground to White, by tapping your X key - and paint it back.
Remember! On a mask layer - black takes it away, and white brings it back!
Tip
Zoom into your image. 
For a traditional pop-art look, leave a gritty bit map feel to the image. The areas that need to look clean, are the eyes and mouth. When you have tidied the mouth, cheek and eye areas, your image will resemble my example, below right.
 
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We need to merge the top and middle layers together; therefore, Shift-click the top and middle layers - to highlight them.
Then right-click a highlighted layer, and from the drop-down menu, choose Merge Layers.
Note
The Background layer remains separate.
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Activate the Brush Tool, and ensure the Foreground is set to White. Now, with a hard brush paint over the messy black areas - below left.
 
Do not flatten the layers, keep them intact. Now, link Here for lesson two
(colourising).
Wendi E M Scarth. Top of Page - Home.
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