Chinese New Year Foldout Book

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Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0 Lessons for Educators

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Chinese New Year Project

Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0 CHINESE NE W YEAR PROJECT

Photoshop Elements 2.0: Chinese New Year Project 1

Chinese New Year Foldout Book

This project will introduce the Adobe® Photoshop® Elements type and layout capabilities. The Chinese NewYear project is to create a foldout book about the symbols of the traditional Chinese lunar year. The book willcontain 15 pages or panels, one for each animal in the Chinese Zodiac, a new year blessing, and the story ofthe zodiac symbol. If this is a team project, a title page listing the names of the team members who createdthe book would also be included.

Materials:

• Paper: This project works best printed onto paper no less than 24 lb. in weight.

• Glue stick or rubber cement

Research:

For more online information on the Chinese New Year, go to www.c-c-c.org/chineseculture

The traditional Chinese calendar is cyclical in nature, rather than linear as in Western society. The Chinesecalendar is based on cycles of the moon. The Western calendar is based on cycles of the sun. This means thatthe date of the Chinese New Year changes every year, but is the second new moon after the winter solstice,occurring in January or February. Modern Chinese society now adheres to the Western calendar, butcelebrations are still held according to the lunar calendar. Many other cultures also celebrate the New Yearaccording to a lunar calendar.

In the cycle of the Chinese calendar, an animal represents each year. The animal year in which you were bornis said to determine your character. At the end of the project instructions, you will find a description of thetraditional characteristics of each animal sign on the Chinese calendar.

Animals in the Chinese calendar: Rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, pig



Before Photoshop Elements:Images: The first step in this process is to create pictures of the animals in the Chinese calendar. These can behand-drawn, cut and pasted from magazines, or downloaded from Web sites for classroom use. All paintingscreated for the sample in this tutorial were drawn with permanent marker and watercolor.

• Introductory End Plate: From your research, write a short paragraph explaining the Chinese New Year.This paragraph will be typed onto an introductory page for your book.

• Text: Research and write approximately three sentences of text describing the characteristics of eachanimal in the Chinese calendar. This text will be typed onto the pages of the book next to each animalimage.

• Credits: If this is a group project, you could have everyone write their signatures on one page and scanthis page for use in the book.

• File Management: Create a new work folder on your computer. Name this folder with a unique name thatyou will recognize. Always keep all image files for a single project in their own unique folder.

• Scanning: If you scan images, be sureto save them inside your work folder. Ifthis is a group project be sure to savethe files with recognizable names, suchas “Scott's Dragon.” This will make iteasier to find your own files as theproject progresses.

Refer to the illustration of the palette well(Figure 1) and the toolbox (Figure 2) forsteps requiring the use of any ofthe Photoshop Elements tools.

Figure 1

Figure 2



In Photoshop Elements:To undo any steps in this project, from the menu bar,choose Edit > Undo.

Create a new Photoshop Elements master file: From themenu bar, choose File > New. In a new file window set thenew file size to Width 6 inches, Height 5 inches, RGB Mode,and Resolution 150 Pixels/Inch (a good pixel range forprinting on a digital printer) (Figure 3).

1. Save the file. To do this: From the menu bar, chooseFile > Save As and browse the dialog box for yourfolder. Open the folder, name this master file a short,easy-to-remember name, choose PSD, format andSave. Be sure you save your work inside the new workfolder.

2. To make a cutting guide.

From the menu bar, choose Select > All to selectthe borders of your document. From the menu bar,choose Edit > Stroke and select a bright red colorand a stroke width of 1 px. This will allow you to seewhere to cut when you print out the pages of yourbook, when you print out the pages of your bookon a standard 8.5 x 11 piece of paper (Figure 4).

Figure 3

Figure 4



3. Accommodating an overlap for connecting thefolding pages.

Images and words must be placed within a setimage area to establish the borders needed toattach the individual pages. To create thisimage area: from the toolbox, select therectangular marquee tool. In the options bar,set Style to Fixed Size, Width to 5 in, and Heightto 5 in. Click in the center of the image area anda dotted-line outline of a rectangular selectionwill appear. Move the selection to the far left ofthe image area. This will allow you to leave aborder for assembling the final book (Figure 5).

4. Creating a colored image area for each page.

From the palette well, click on the Swatches tab.Move your pointer over the color boxes in theSwatches palette. Notice that the cursor turns intoa little eyedropper, which will be used to select acolor. Choose a bright red color. (Red is the colorthat signifies good fortune in the Chinese NewYear tradition.)

5. From the toolbox, select the paint bucket tool.Click once inside the rectangular selection to fillthe defined image area with the selected color.This will create a red square (Figure 6).

Figure 5

Figure 6



6. Placing the animals in the calendar.

Open the first animal image file. From thetoolbox, select the magic wand tool. Click thebackground of the animal image. From themenu bar, choose Select > Inverse to selectonly the animal image. From the menu bar,choose Edit > Copy to copy the animal image.Click the red rectangle in the master file. Fromthe menu bar, choose Edit > Paste to pastethe animal onto the page (Figure 7).

7. Resizing the animal image.

If the animal image is too big you can resize itby dragging on the corner boxes that appeararound the image area when it is first pastedinto the master file. If the selection and cornerboxes are not visible, from the menu bar,choose Image > Transform > Free Transform.A box with corner handles will appear aroundthe animal image. Press and hold the Shiftkey, then drag on a corner handle. Holdingdown the Shift key will resize the imagewithout changing its proportions. When theanimal image fits properly, release the Shiftkey and press the Return key (Figure 8). TIP:You will want to have the animal fill about onequarter of the page. The finished example showsa size guide.

Figure 7

Figure 8



8. Cleaning up the image area,part 1.

From the toolbox, select themagic wand tool and click thebackground of your animal.Press the Delete key to removethe majority of the background(Figure 9 and Figure 10).

9. Cleaning up, part 2.

There may be bits ofbackground around the edges ofyour animal image. To removethese unwanted bits ofbackground image: from thetoolbox, select the magnifyingglass tool. Click on the animalimage to enlarge it to an easilyviewable size. From the toolbox,select the eraser tool. From thebrush selection menu in theOptions Bar, select, and drag onthe bits of background you wantto erase. To save your work: fromthe file menu, choose File >Save As and be sure that thename of your work file is in thetitle bar of the Save window toinsure that you are saving to yourwork file (Figure 11).

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11



10. Placing the title on the page.

From the toolbox, choose the horizontal type tool. In theshortcuts bar, set the font size to 18 points. Select a font stylethat you like. The example uses Arial. Select a font style for thetitle. At the top of the page, write "YEAR OF THE [type theappropriate animal's name]” (Figure 12).

11. Positioning the title on the page.

From the toolbox, select the move tool, and click your line oftext. A box will appear around the text, which indicates thatyou can move the text. Center the title at the top of the page(Figure 13).

12. Placing text on the page.

From the toolbox, choose the horizontal type tool. In theshortcuts bar, set the font size to 10 or 12 points. Select a fontstyle that you like. Use the same font for all the text in the book.You can use a different font for the title because the title stands alone. But the text is read in sequenceand if you type it with different fonts it adds confusion to the design. Type the description of the animaland other text composed for each page. TIP: Notice that you can press the Return key to wrap the type to thenext line.

13. Positioning the text.

From the toolbox, select the move tool, and click your text. A box will appear around the text, whichindicates that you can move the text. Move the text into position with the animal image on the page(Figure 14).

Figure 12

Figure 13 Figure 14



14. At the bottom of the page, type the Westerncalendar years that correspond to the Chinesecalendar years (Figure 15). This is a fun way to leteveryone figure out their own Chinese horoscopesign! You can obtain this information from yourWeb research.

15. To create a new master file for the next page,repeat steps 1 through 14.

16. Creating the cover and end plates.

The cover of this book in the sample has "HappyNew Year" written in three languages. The backcover will be blank. To make the cover, followsteps 1-6. Save the file in your work folder. Namethe file “Cover.” You can use the background layerfor the back cover by printing it with the text layerturned off.

17. Placing text on the cover.

From the toolbox, choose the horizontal type tool.In the shortcuts bar, set the font size to 24 or 30 points.Select a font style that you like.

18. Typing Happy New Year in three languages.

At the top of the page write XIN NIEN KUAI LE! Thismeans "Happy New Year" in Cantonese, one of thetwo major Chinese languages. In the center of thepage, write “HAPPY NEW YEAR!” in English. At thebottom of the page, write SUN NIN FE LOK! Thismeans "Happy New Year" in Mandarin, the othermajor Chinese language (Figure 16).

Figure 15

Figure 16



19. Merging layers to create front and back covers.

In the Layers palette, notice that the background and the text are all on separate layers.To use the same master file for both covers:

Click on all the Eye icons next to all layers to turn off all layers. The layers will all be invisible.

Click on the Eye icon box next to all text layers. Notice that a chain link appears in the paintbrush boxnext to these layers. This means that these layers are linked.

Go to Layer > Merge Linked. This will create only one layer for the cover you just created.

20. Creating the back cover.

The back cover will not contain text. To create this layer, turn off the Text layer. Only the Backgroundlayer will be sent to print, when printing the back cover.

21. Creating the front and back end plates.

Follow steps 1 to 5 to create the end plates file. Name this file “End Plates” and save it.

22. Typing the introduction (front end plate).

From the toolbox, choose the horizontal typetool. In the shortcuts bar, set the font size to 10or 12 points. Select a font style that you like.Type the introduction you wrote. TIP: Notice thatyou can press the Return key to wrap the type tothe next line.

23. Positioning the introductory text.

From the toolbox, select the move tool and clickyour text. A box will appear around the text,which indicates that you can move the text.Drag the text to position it on the front endplate. Double-click on this layer and rename thelayer "Intro Plate."

24. Adding credits for the Back end plate.

Open the file containing the scanned list ofnames of the team members. Drag the list to theend plates file. This will create a new layer(Figure 17).

Figure 17



25. If the text area is too big or too small, resize it by following step 8.

26. Double-click the Credits layer and rename the layer "Credits Plate."

You have now created all of the internal pages, front and back covers, and end plates for the completebook.

27. Printing.

To print the book, open the master file. From the menu bar, choose File > Page Setup and selectLandscape. This will insure that the pages will print on standard 8.5 by 11 paper. From the menu bar,choose File > Print to print each page.

28. Printing the covers.

Open the cover file. From the menu bar, choose File > Page Setup and select Landscape for each file. Toprint both covers from the master cover file:

Turn off the Eye icons on all the layers. This will make all pages and the background invisible. Click on theBackground layer.

Click on the Eye icon on the Front Cover layers.

From the menu bar, choose File > Print to print the background and cover layer together for the FrontCover.

29. Printing the back cover.

Turn off the Eye icon for the front cover and select the Eye icon for the background only. Send to print.

30. If you have created a new master file for each cover, from the menu bar, choose File > Page Setup andselect Landscape for each file. Then from the menu bar, choose File > Print to print each cover.

31. Printing the end plates.

Open the End Plates file. From the menu bar choose File > Page Setup and select Landscape for each file.

Turn off the Eye icons on all the layers. This will make all pages and the background invisible. Click on theBackground layer.

Click on the Eye icons on the front end plate.

From the menu bar, choose File > Print to print the background and the front end plate.

32. To print the back end plate: turn off the Eye icon for the front plate and select the Eye icon for the Creditsplate. Send to print.



33. If you have created a new master file for each end plate, from the menu bar, choose File > Page Setupand select Landscape for each file. From the menu bar, choose File > Print to print each plate.

All printouts will contain a red rectangle containing image and text and a narrow white rectangleshowing you where to glue your book together. The red rectangle and narrow white rectangle will bebordered by a thin red line, which indicates where to cut.

Book Assembly:

34. Carefully cut around the red and white rectangle designating the pages on the printouts.

35. Lay all pages in a line, in the following order: Front Cover, Intro Plate, Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon,Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig, Credits Plate, End Plate, Back Cover.

36. Using a glue stick or rubber cement, put glue on the white strip on the cover and press this strip to theback of the intro plate. Continue for all pages, pressing the blue strip to the back of each subsequentpage, including the credit plate and the back cover. Be sure there is no glue on the red rectangles.

37. Place books onto the glued pages to keep them flat while the glue dries.

38. When the glue is dry, fold the book at the glued seams for each page to create an accordion. Fold thebook so that the front cover is on the top. Press the folded sheets beneath a heavy book to create sharpfolds. Unfurl it to display or read.



Legend of animals on the lunar calendarAccording to Chinese legend, the 12 animals on the calendar quarreled one day about who was to head thecycle of years. The gods were asked to decide and they held a contest to determine the animal that wouldhead the cycle. The gods said that whoever reached the opposite bank of the river would be first, and the restof the animals would receive their years according to their position in the finish.

All 12 animals gathered at the riverbank and jumped in. Unknown to the ox, the rat had jumped upon hisback. As the ox was about to jump ashore, the rat jumped off the ox's back, and won the race. The pig, whichwas very lazy, ended up last. That is why the rat is the first year of the animal cycle, the ox second, and thepig last.

Characteristics of the animal signs

People born in the Year of the Rat are noted for their charm and attraction for the opposite sex. They workhard to achieve their goals, acquire possessions, and are likely to be perfectionists. They are basically thriftywith money. Rat people are easily angered and love to gossip. Their ambitions are big, and they are usuallyvery successful. They are most compatible with people born in the years of the Dragon, Monkey, and Ox.

People born in the Year of the Ox are patient, speak little, and inspire confidence in others. They tend,however, to be eccentric and bigoted, and they anger easily. They have fierce tempers and although theyspeak little, when they do they are quite eloquent. Ox people are mentally and physically alert. Generallyeasygoing, they can be remarkably stubborn, and they hate to fail or be opposed. They are most compatiblewith Snake, Rooster, and Rat people.

Tiger people are sensitive, given to deep thinking, and capable of great sympathy. They can be extremelyshort-tempered, however. Other people have great respect for them, but sometimes Tiger people come intoconflict with older people or those in authority. Sometimes Tiger people cannot make up their minds, whichcan result in a poor, hasty decision or a sound decision arrived at too late. They are suspicious of others, butthey are courageous and powerful. Tigers are most compatible with Horses, Dragons, and Dogs.

People born in the Year of the Rabbit are articulate, talented, and ambitious. They are virtuous, reserved, andhave excellent taste. Rabbit people are admired, trusted, and are often financially lucky. They are fond ofgossip but are tactful and generally kind. Rabbit people seldom lose their temper. They are clever at businessand being conscientious, never back out of a contract. They would make good gamblers for they have theuncanny gift of choosing the right thing. However, they seldom gamble, as they are conservative and wise.They are most compatible with those born in the years of the Sheep, Pig, and Dog.

People born in the Year of the Dragon are healthy, energetic, excitable, short-tempered, and stubborn. Theyare also honest, sensitive, brave, and they inspire confidence and trust. Dragon people are the most eccentricof any in the Eastern calendar. They neither borrow money nor make flowery speeches, but they tend to besofthearted, which sometimes gives others an advantage over them. They are compatible with Rats, Snakes,Monkeys, and Roosters.

People born in the Year of the Snake are deep. They say little and possess great wisdom. They never have toworry about money; they are financially fortunate. Snake people are often quite vain, selfish, and a bit stingy.Yet they have tremendous sympathy for others and try to help those less fortunate. Snake people tend tooverdo, since they have doubts about other people's judgment and prefer to rely on themselves. They aredetermined in whatever they do and hate to fail. Although calm on the surface, they are intense andpassionate. Snake people are usually good-looking and sometimes have marital problems because they arefickle. They are most compatible with the Ox and Rooster.



People born in the Year of the Horse are popular. They are cheerful, skillful with money, and perceptive,although they sometimes talk too much. The are wise, talented, good with their hands, and sometimes havea weakness for members of the opposite sex. They are impatient and hot-blooded about everything excepttheir daily work. They like entertainment and large crowds. They are very independent and rarely listen toadvice. They are most compatible with Tigers, Dogs, and Sheep.

People born in the Year of the Sheep are elegant and highly accomplished in the arts. They seem, at firstglance, to be better off than those born in the calendar's other years. But Sheep year people are often shy,pessimistic, and puzzled about life. They are usually deeply religious, yet timid by nature. Sometimes clumsyin speech, they are always passionate about what they do and what they believe in. Sheep people never haveto worry about having the best in life for their abilities make money for them, and they are able to enjoy thecreature comforts that they like. Sheep people are wise, gentle, and compassionate. They are compatiblewith Rabbits, Pigs, and Horses.

People born in the Year of the Monkey are the erratic geniuses of the cycle. Clever, skillful, and flexible, theyare remarkably inventive and original and can solve the most difficult problems with ease. There are fewfields in which Monkey people wouldn’t be successful but they have a disconcerting habit of being tooagreeable. They want to do things now, and if they cannot get started immediately, they becomediscouraged and sometimes leave their projects. Although good at making decisions, they tend to look downon others. Having common sense, Monkey people have a deep desire for knowledge and have excellentmemories. Monkey people are strong willed but their anger cools quickly. They are most compatible with theDragon and Rat.

People born in the Year of the Rooster are deep thinkers, capable, and talented. They like to be busy and aredevoted beyond their capabilities and deeply disappointed if they fail. People born in the Rooster Year areoften a bit eccentric, and often have rather difficult relationships with others. They always think they are rightand usually are! They frequently are loners and though they give the outward impression of beingadventurous, they are timid. Rooster people’s emotions, like their fortunes, swing very high to very low. Theycan be selfish and too outspoken, but are always interesting and can be extremely brave. They are mostcompatible with Ox, Snake, and Dragon.

People born in the Year of the Dog possess the best traits of human nature. They have a deep sense of loyalty,are honest, and inspire other people’s confidence because they know how to keep secrets. But Dog peopleare somewhat selfish, terribly stubborn, and eccentric. They care little for wealth, yet somehow always seemto have money. They can be cold emotionally and sometimes distant at parties. They can find fault with manythings and are noted for their sharp tongues. Dog people make good leaders. They are compatible with thoseborn in the years of the Horse, Tiger, and Rabbit.

People born in the Year of the Pig are chivalrous and gallant. Whatever they do, they do with all theirstrength. For Boar Year people, there is no left or right and there is no retreat. They have tremendousfortitude and great honesty. They don’t make many friends but they make them for life, and anyone having aBoar Year friend is fortunate for they are extremely loyal. They don’t talk much but have a great thirst forknowledge. They study a great deal and are generally well informed. Boar people are quick tempered, yetthey hate arguments and quarreling. They are kind to their loved ones. No matter how bad problems seem tobe, Boar people try to work them out, honestly if sometimes impulsively. They are most compatible withRabbits and Sheep.

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Chinese New Year Foldout Book

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