Tools of The Trade: The Use of Photoshop Rules to Grasp The Writing Process

Tools of the Trade

A dark grey rectangle overwhelms the entirety of the computer screen, remaining persistence in its steadfast state of perplexity. Two fingers, the thumb and index, anxiously posed above the control and z. Eyes flicking across the screen determining points of error, the two fingers teetering, about to place pressure on the square keys. Then, disrupting the millimeter gap between fingertips and keyboard, all traces of a mistake are erased by technological engineering; the severity of mistakes, weightless. The history of each step, cataloged within the “history” tab, any source of fault tucked away; easily accessible, one click from correction. The convenient map of each step, clearing presenting a detailed record of what has been. For Photoshop each tool aids in the combined effort to piece together something of artistic value, everything with a specific description and purpose; writing jumbles together its prospective tools, forcing one to search for threads of useful information rather than having one unified presentation.

Transition to another point of time, where the computer screen holds a word document of disorganized ideas, fingers desperately putting force on the keyboard, compiling sentences for analysis. A book, resting its spine on my lap, spreads pages outward exposing words of literature merit, presenting some thematic argument. My mind, frantic with the approach of a hard deadline, tries to piece together a concrete and its respective thematic development; stressed and sloppy with the fabrication of an analysis paper.

Original perceptions expected the class to follow the format of previous English classes: tedious, compacted with reading and writing, but simple to achieve. Then, as and preconceptions often do, that initial belief crumbled with each new class period of AP English Literature. At the beginning analysis continuously eluded me (and I still argue it continues in the present); that interlocking, woven masterpiece of subtleties and theme lacked the pleasantness of clear expression. As a frustrated child tends to do with a difficult puzzle, I would force pieces together, making them adjust and reflect my opinions on how I wanted the theme to progress. Because of this constant aggression, my papers approach a possible theme, but my own judgements on how the concrete works distorts the true craft of the author; my personal impressions on the text, disrupting the real procession of the author’s conclusion

Forcefully shoving my opinions upon the text combined with occupational procrastination produced an essay of mediocre quality; a paper that does not fully embrace the text to unravel the subtleties and reach some conclusion about the theme in context to my selected concretes. All the diverging threads of an author’s message, coming together slipped through my fingers, my outreached hand only able to cling on to one tiny trace. My brain, still relying on old habits, reverted back to bland methodic writing styles. One simple point overwhelms the essay, my words circling and simply restating everything, not exposing higher levels. And I remained at this system of writing due to the inexperienced method of analysis.

So as the white format of Microsoft Word fills with mediocrity, my mind yearns for Photoshop to assemble something of logistical sense, something tangible. My inclination moved toward that direction because of my skill, the ability to glance upon a digital work and understand the methods to reach creation; to clearly see and identify the subtitles of a specific piece of work. My higher knowledge of Photoshop and its programs offers me this elevation over others when criticizing digital art. My superior knowledge of the tools and their specific purpose makes analysis, when it comes to digital art, far easier.

For someone, without the knowledge of Photoshop and similar programs, those subtleties elude them; the powerful workings of tools and theme appear only as a pleasing image. For me, when it comes to writing, I am this amateur, not well-versed in each tool of a writer and how it enhances the craft. As future college courses approach in the coming months, I need to apply this understanding that each subject carries their own sort of tools to draw out a greater significance in any topic, any realm of expression.