When teaching the elements of design Shape in PhotoShop class, the mandala can be used to teach symmetry and how to use the Layers palette.
Start by showing mandalas from ancient Tibet and discussing the Tibetan art of sand painting. The mandala is a universal design symbol and sacred circle used by American Indians and incorporated into the hex symbols of the Pennsylvania Dutch. Mandalas can also be found in nature as in the centers of flowers, or the iris of the human eye. Sometimes human-made objects can seem like mandalas: bicycle wheels, clock faces and pies come to mind.
Have your students begin a new PhotoShop document that is square and 8-by-8-inches. From here, have students create guidelines for the center of the document by showing Rulers and pulling out Guidelines. Also, turn on the Grid to teach accurate placement for strict symmetry and balance.
Students start by drawing a circle on the document and choosing a color. After the circle is filled and placed front and center, show how to Edit. Transform the circle to be positioned perfectly in the center of the page. From this first circle, show how to turn the Background layer into a true transformable Layer by double-clicking on the Layer in the layers palette.
Discuss the concept of symmetry and how it can be used to achieve a balanced and pleasing composition. Using symmetry doesn’t automatically ensure a great composition, but it is a tool that can help when combined with pleasing shapes and colors.
This is also a great place to reinforce how color selection works in PhotoShop and how to vary color from light to dark. Encourage students to choose colors that are pleasing to them and that resonate next to each other. Most students have color preferences, and allowing them color choice also offers room for expression.
Then have students begin to place elements and demonstrate how to create a new layer for each shape. This is also a great place to introduce the icon of the eyeball on each layer in the Layers Menu and show how they can click on the “eye” to make the layer visible or invisible. Show students how to rearrange their Layers by clicking and dragging them above or below the desired layer.
This is also a good lesson plan to demonstrate the opacity slider in each layer and to show how opacity and transparency can be used to create the illusion of space and movement.
Allow students a good hour for creating these in-class mandalas and spend at least several minutes discussing each composition. Always ask students to decide which compositions are the most outstanding, and discuss why.
My PhotoShop lesson continues here.
