Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 2010 - 58

The Forward Warp Tool, with an icon that looks like a finger poking
the Pillsbury Dough Boy, is used to alter photos of starlets to make them
look thinner-or fatter. Other tools have names like Bloat Tool, which is
best left to the imagination.
In short, the Liquify Filter makes the magic happen. The Forward
Warp Tool allows us to stretch or shrink specific parts of the original image, molding it like clay to fit the proportions of our very real actress.
The Freeze Mask Tool allows us to protect sections that we have
completed, so that they remain untouched while we reshape the surrounding areas. While working, the frozen areas appear red, like frozen fingers
and toes in a Montreal winter. We lower the opacity of the dress in order
to see through to the body outline and stretch the sleeve to match the arm.
You guessed it, we use the Thaw Mask Tool to remove the protection
once an image has been sufficiently transformed.
As a side note, once you have experienced the Liquify Filter, don't be
surprised if you find yourself heading straight for those unflattering vacation photos, where the warp tool will really come in handy.

It all adds up:

FiNal thoughts
In theatre, it is often the case that the actor will only be chosen long after
the designs have been made. With our system, the costume illustration can
be made in advance, and then proportions can be digitally reworked once
the actor has been cast. The process of changing an illustration's proportions allows the designer and director to review the designs and see what
they will look like using the specific proportions of the actual actor. This
process allows for modifications to be made to the style in order to make
the garment flattering for the actual body shape, rather than the imagined
ideal. This can be particularly useful when there is a big discrepancy between the original design and the actor's shape.
Changing proportions digitally allows us to see how any garment will
look on an individual person, which means that any changes to the style
can be made on the drawing board, rather than in the fitting with a garment that has already been cut and sewn. This saves both time and money,
while allowing the wearer to see exactly how the garment will look before
one stitch has been made.
Simply changing proportions in our illustrations to reflect real body
sizes has impact on how we see ourselves, and perhaps ultimately, how
we accept diversity in body image. As we change the way we portray the
image, we can change the way we perceive ourselves, and ultimately this
change of perception may allow us to be more accepting of our bodies as
they really are. v

extraordinary
education

Dance I Design & Production I Drama I Filmmaking I Music

Joseph P. Tilford, dean

Catherine Bradley is a "hands-on" costume designer, Head of
Wardrobe at McGill University, and teacher of Costuming for the
Theatre I and II. Her team's work in digital costume illustration
has been honored at the BRAVO awards at the Montreal Science
Centre in 2010. Technical support and innovation are thanks
to Sawssan Kaddoura, recent graduate in Game Design at the
University of Montreal.

SCHOOL OF DESIGN & PRODUCTION
UNDERGRADUATE & GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Scene Design
Sound Design
Technical Direction
Scenic Painting
Costume Design
Lighting Design
and Technology

Stage Automation
Stage Properties
Costume Technology
Wig and Makeup
Stage Management
Performing Arts
Management

All of the guides referred to in this article are available from the project Web
site: digitalcostumeproject.mcgill.ca. The original project was made possible by an
award from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada,
and by McGill University's ongoing support.

1533 S. Main Street Winston-Salem, NC 27127-2188
336-770-3290 admissions@uncsa.edu
www.uncsa.edu
The University of North Carolina School of the Arts is an equal opportunity campus of the UNC system.

theatre

design

UNCSA_TD&T_3.375X10.indd 1

technology

S U M M E R

2010

9/3/09 11:37 AM

http://digitalcostumeproject.mcgill.ca http://www.uncsa.edu

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 2010