4 easy to use image overlay tools to create illusions

The technique of layering images, masking and erasing, makes it possible to manipulate images to create illusions. This can often be done using two images - a background image and a foreground image. Parts of the foreground image are erased to reveal the background image.

There are many ways this technique can be used with students:

Such as:

·        Virtual trip: change the background image to anywhere in the world, create a travel journal or travel postcards.

·        Mythical creature: merge animal parts to create a new creature with powers.

·        Superpowers: create the illusion of super human strength, invisibility or the ability to fly.

·        Surrealism: create a surrealistic image by placing objects out of context.

·        Out of proportion: Create the illusion that something has grown or shrunk by placing it next to objects which are out of proportion.

·        Space exploration: use images of space and planets for the background.

·        Travel through time: use images from the past as a background and add a black and white or sepia filter, students could also dress in relevant costume.

·        Jump into a story: use images reflect from a story.

·        Be the star of a comic: add images to a comic creator

·        Clone yourself: ever wished you could be in two places at once, take multiple photos of yourself in different poses and add them to the same background image.

·        Mirror image: create the illusion of a mirror image.

·        Evil twin: take on two personas in the same image.

There are many software options which allow you to do this technique, however, there are now many easy to use options.

1. Superimpose

Available for iPad and Android

Provides the ability to layer and mask your own images.

2. Clone camera

Android version: Clone camera 2.0

iPad version: Clone Camera Pro for iPad

This app provides the ability to merge images and overlay.

3. KnockOut- Professional Grade Photo Cutout & Easy StickerMaker & Best Superimpose Blender

iPad version

This app provides a range of free images for the background. You can buy the upgrade which will provide more images. You can use your own image for the foreground image. Very easy to use, simply erase the background of the foreground image. The free version does have ads.

4. Microsoft PowerPoint

Thought it was worth mentioning the remove background function in PowerPoint which is very effective and easy to use.

In the picture tools, select the option Remove background. Tools will then appear to indicating mark areas to keep and mark areas to remove. A purple mask will appear over the image, the purple areas will be removed. Layer images by right clicking and selecting Bring to front or send to back.

Turn photos into art with these 3 apps

Popsicolor

Popsicolor is a great photo editing app from the creator of Percolator. It turns your photos into an ink drawing using two colours. It is easy and fun to use. You can load images from your photo gallery on your device or take a photo.

ToonCamera

This is another photo editing app which allows you to be creative with both images and videos. You can select from a range of tools to create artistic effects.

Repix

Repix provides you with a range of artistic effects which you apply straight to the image by drawing on the iPad.  This gives you freedom to add effects where you want.

Problem Solving Games

It is no secret that I am an advocate for using games as a tool for learning. Games have the power to engage students and many offer great learning potential. They allow students to explore, be creative, learn content, develop literacy and numeracy skills, improve memory retention, develop problem solving and decision making skills and all while having fun. Lately, I have noticed a range of problem solving games which are becoming popular. These games offer great learning potential.

Often they relate to physics theories and require problem solving and decision making skills. They also teach students to persevere and to learn by trial and error. The game itself can be the class activity or it can be used as a stimulus for other activities by engaging the students into the subject or topic. Students can even document their journey through a game by creating a blog or journal by writing, video, pod cast and images.

The first game I have found interesting is World of Goo created by 2DBoy. In this game you are given a number of blobs of goo which connect to each other the aim is to construct a structure which reaches the pipe to carry the goo. As you play the game you work through levels of difficulty. This is not a free game, you can download a trial from or purchase it from a games store.

Fo more information go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_of_Goo

Along similar lines to the World of Goo is Huje Tower. This is a free online game and is also available as an apple app as both lite and paid version. In this game you construct a structure which needs to reach a given point. It also offers a range of levels to work through and provides hints.

Fantastic Contraption is another problem solving game which is available online and as an apple app. You are given challenges to construct contraptions using wheels and rods.

Another construction game which is available is Soup Toys, this game has been mentioned previously in this blog.

Tiki Towers

Tiki Towers is a problem solving game which offers fun for students. This is avalible as an apple app.  You need to build a structure out of bamboo to help the monkeys collect the bananas and get to the other side.  You are only given a number of bamboo to work with each time.  As you play you unlock more islands and levels.

A site which has many more problem solving games is http://www.physicsgames.net/

There are also a range of games available which provide challenge which you solve by drawing in the solution. An example of this is Crayon Physics. Another game which is very similar is Magic Pen.

A game available on http://www.friv.com/ is Roller Coaster Creator. The challenge is to draw a roller coaster line from one point to another and to collect the coins on the way. It offers different levels of difficulty and you add different items to the construction.

There are also many drawing games available in http://www.linerider.com/

In these games you draw a line which becomes a track for a vehicle. You then press play when you have completed the track. It is also availabe as an app.

So you want to be a Rock Star!

Recently I have been experimenting with Music games such as Guitar Hero and Rock Band. While I was strumming the guitar I started to think of possible ways to integrate these games into the classroom. My immediate thoughts went to how I would use them in Art and Multimedia classes and then I continued to explore further.  (One thing to be aware of is some games may have inappropriate images so choose a game which best suits the age of your students).

Here are a few ideas, (Happy to hear any ideas you might have to add)


• Write a blog of experiences, levels and songs mastered

• Document the songs and artists

• Research the artists

• Create an online timeline of the different styles of music
 http://www.xtimeline.com/

 http://www.timerime.com/

• Explore the period of time or culture associated with each song

• Interpret the lyrics of a song

• Write lyrics for a song

• Look at music search sites
http://audiomap.tuneglue.net/
http://www.liveplasma.com/
http://musicovery.com/

• Look at different instruments

• Create a Glossary of Music terms

This site could be useful in this task

Fun with Music

• Analyse the game

• Write a comparison between two similar games

• Write a review for the game to be published in a game magazine or blog

• Design a rubric to assess a game

• Hold a tournament between students with teams and prizes to win

• Design own rock star

http://www.blogger.com/•http://www.ugo.com/heromachine/rockstar/

• Design a Guitar

http://www.flashninjaclan.com/zzz1644_Custom_Guitar.php

• Design a poster for a band or rock star

• Write a story about rock star

• Create a virtual tour for a rock band

• Create a comic based on a rock star

• Create your own music       You can use the Audio Editor on the Aviary site

http://aviary.com/

• Beat Maker ipod app

Benefits of playing Music Games:

• develop rhythm
• develop hand-eye co-ordination
• motor skills
• develop memory and indentifying skills
• music recognition

Here are a list of games:

Game Consoles:

http://hub.guitarhero.com/

http://www.rockband.com/

Online Games:

Guitar Hero II

http://www.multigames.com/game/Guitar_Hero_II-EKn57X5O

Guitar Master

http://www.funny-games.biz/guitar-master-4.html

http://www.agame.com/game/Alvins-Guitar-Genius.html

There is also a range of ipod apps such as:

Guitar Rock Tour

Guitar Rock Tour 2

Rock Band

             Tap Tap Pro