Digital Photography Model

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Lesson Plan Industry Sector
Arts, Media & Entertainment

Lesson Plan Originally Created By: Eric Hoefler

How to "cartoon" an Image

Part of Unit: Creating Art with PhotoShop CS

Lesson Plan Overview / Details

This lesson will teach the student how to take an image and turn it into a "Cartoon" image like the comic books from Marvel and DC comics.  This is a simple method, however, there are other variations that advanced users can explore.  The assessment of the lesson is for the students to create a one-panel comic using themselves as the character. 

Lesson Time

Introduction
7 Minutes
Guided practice
10 Minutes
Independent practice
20 Minutes
Assessment
15 Minutes

Standards

California Academic Content Standards (Reinforced)

Objectives and Goals

  • Student will be able to "cartoon" an image using a common method
  • Student will be able to objectively evaluate a "cartooned" image based on established criteria.
  • Student will gain a better understanding that there is more than one way in Photoshop to complete a task.

Activities in this Lesson

  • Comics Comics Comics - Hooks / Set

    As the students come into the room, have a browser open with three tabs and on each tab go to Google Images and have one tab under "Cartoon Network", one tab for "Marvel Comics" and one tab for "DC Comics".  Spend about a minute on each tab discussing the different styles of comics and how similar the images are to real photographs.   Have the students look at the images to get an impression of how comics have looked over time.  Ask them for aspects of the image that they notice like lighting and shadows.

  • Take a photo and cartoon it - Guided Practice

    Have the students open a self-portrait in photoshop that has already been used in the class or use the attached file of my daughter, or have the students use a picture of a person that they have already shot and have on file in order to save class time.  To achieve a comic effect please have everyone do the following:

    While the file is opened in photoshop, have the student click on the Layers tab in the workspace and while the background tab is active press ctrl. + J  to create a duplicate layer so you won't mess up the original.

    Next, click on the layer copy so it is active.

    From the Filter menu click Artistic and then poster edges.

    At this point a window should pop up with the poster edge variables visible. (Edge Thickness, Edge Intensity, and Posterization).

    With the preview box checked adjust the sliders or values and see what different levels do to the image.  ( I like 9-1-1 personally with 9 being edge thickness)

    Upon completion your image will have a cartoon effect. See attached file for reference.

    Remember to tell the students that not all pictures can be converted into a good cartoon effect.

  • Time to create your comic - Independent Practice

    Have the students work independently on placing text on their "cartooned" effect using any text tools they know or having to learn how to insert text on their own.  Very good opportunity for self-exploration but try to suggest a drop shadow or embossed effect to add to the text.  I thought about placing constraints on the text but I didn't want to stifle creativity so if possible do not require a "bubble" or "text baloon" unless they want to use that style.

Impromptu Comic art show

Assessment Types:
Surveys, Observations, Critique by peers

For the last 14 minutes have the students get up and, with a piece of paper, walk through the room and critique all of the other students' work.  Their assessment is based on their critique of their classmates as well as their work. 

The critique has to be objective with no personal attacks or feelings toward the artist but only the piece they are critiquing.  The critique has to list at least three features of the piece that the student liked or dislike and why.  Remind them that there is only 14 minutes and so they can only spend 20 seconds on each image.

For the last minute have all of the students hand in their critiques and ask the class who they thought was the most interesting.  I do a critique for every assignment and it is interesting to see what the students find.