Metal Insect Project

Directions: Create a metal insect out of various metal pieces. Choose pieces of
metal from objects such as a watch, a car, an engine block, etc. Duplicate a
selected piece, multiple times, to add depth and interest (ex. the thorax). You may
use one realistic image to add interest to the image, but the focus is on the metal
insect not the background.
Create a working document that is 9 x 12 (or 12 x 9)
at a resolution of 150.
Choose an insect
Add pieces above the insect on separate layers: Note
you can duplicate the insect layer, bring it to the top and
reduce the opacity to 20-30% (or turn the visibility
on and off)

Choose Parts

Adding the Parts

Think about the color and composition. Make it look natural

Continue to add parts. Think of the piece as a puzzle. Also, add texture to the pieces so
they are not as shiny.
Ctrl click on the thumbnail piece, go to a texture image file.
Select the texture and Ctrl-C to copy. Go back to your working file and make sure the
piece is still selected paste into the texture. Shift Ctrl-V

Add shadows and depth by using the burn tool and/or paint brush tool (B). Build
up shadows gradually.
When using the burn tool you need to be on the layer below an object ( ex. A
quarter on top of another. You would burn the bottom quarter to give the
appearance of a shadow.
When using the brush tool, make sure you create a new layer to add the
brush/shadow. This way you can blur it and change that layer image to
multiply. Also, if you dont like it you can delete that singular layer.

Be creative and add mouthparts, individual parts of the leg etc. Create a hatch in the body.
Use the pen tool to create a shape in the body (or use a vector shape)

Make a selection using this shape and copy and paste the bees back to make a separate
hatch piece laying off to the side. Use the distort transform tool (Edit | Transform | Distort)
to warp the hatch slightly so that the angle looks natural. Create some shadows on a layer
underneath. Paste more gears into the piece.

Again add shadows and detail. Example a side gear

Adjusting the final piece with lightening adjustments. To blend the colors and
light a little better, add a Gradient Map adjustment layer. Set the layers blend
mode to opacity, and used the following gradient. EXAMPLE ONLY.

Adobe Photoshop Metal Insect

100 Pts Maximum

Name:
(A) Excellent (B) Good
18 to 20 pts
16 to 17 pts

Art Rubric
Project Criteria: Completes a metal
combination that is robotlike in nature. Background
is underw helming and only one or less piece is
visible. Able to demonstrate use of mask, dodge
and burn. File is created on a 9" x 12" 150 dpi
layout.

Elements and Principals: Understanding

and demonstration of art elements and principles
of design. Especially emphasis, shape, and color

Technical Understanding & Design:

Selects corrrect Adobe PS tools to create project.
Selects appropriate m etal im ages, selects,
and arranges them w ithin the space to
communicate the ideas, and feelings effectively.

Craftmanship: Uses art tools, ideas,

processes skillfully -- demonstrated competance.
Pieces are selected correctly, and arranged in a
manner to represent an insect

Work Habits/Creativity: Uses time and

materials w isely -- show s respect for materials
and facility. Demonstrates a unique, original,
individual w ork of art. Adds elements that
enhances the overall piece.

(C) Average
14 to 16 pts

(D) Below
Average
13 to 14 pts

(F) Poor
0 to 12 pts