PHASE IV-A: Visual Illusion

1...The Original Renton Logo Image

This custom logo image was created for a print project. The art work was much larger and super crisp. It was reduced to work for this online tutorial. Photoshop bicubic image scaling is very good but not perfect.

This sample lost its crispness and vibrancy in the Photoshop reduction process.

Also the high degree of JPEG compression adds to the slightly mushy feel this 16KB image.

2. Improved Image

This Photoshop file has been reworked to enhance its presence without increasing the critical file size.

This file is 1KB smaller than the original file above.

3...The Background Base And Rainbow Facade Tweak

The Background Base and the Rainbow Facade have been individually sharpened. Care was needed here because sharpening usually adds to the file size.

• Click activate the Background Base layer.
• Sharpen the layer (Filter > Sharp > Unsharp Mask...)
  • Check activate Preview
  • Amount set to value 65 percent
  • Radius set to value .5 pixel.
  • Threshold set to value 1 level.
• Click activate the Rainbow Facade layer.
• Sharpen the layer (Filter > Sharp > Unsharp Mask...)
  • Check activate Preview
  • Amount set to value 35 percent
  • Radius set to value .7 pixel.
  • Threshold set to value 1 level.

4...The More Obvious Text Tweak

Only a single black intermediate shadow layer was added.

• Duplicate the text layer.
  • Drag it to the New Layer icon.
• Colorize it to black (Ctrl+"U").
  • Lightness: -100
• Nudge 1 click up and 1 click to the left.

Just these simple changes improved the Logo. Click Next for continuation into Button Shadow and Drop Shadow.