Question 5

Question 6

What have you learnt about technologies during the process of creating your media coursework?

Prior to the start of this project, I had very little knowledge of most of the technology we were soon to begin using. The main images I used were taken on a DSLR camera and I knew the basics of how to use one so I required no help there in taking the images or uploading them. 

To piece together all of the aspects of my front cover and contents page I used the software Photoshop. I feel that this system is what I have learnt the most about whilst doing this media project. I have learnt how to merge separate images together to create a new layer. I cut out the model from my main image using the 'quick selection tool' and placed him on a different background to the original. 

Using text on Photoshop was also new to me. I added a masthead and cover lines. Where the text or the boxes covered the main image, I learnt to erase it so there was little overlapping. This made my front cover and contents page look more professional than before. Had I left the text and images over lapping I could have jeopardise my chances of earning a higher grade. When inserting text, I sometimes found myself putting a word in perhaps letter by letter which made things more difficult for myself when I wanted to rearrange the design. I later found out that by holding down 'control' you could select multiple layers at once and move them that way. Had I known that earlier, I could have saved myself a lot of time when I was trying different layouts for the final design of my front cover and contents page. 

I really enjoyed creating my double page spread. To make that element of my coursework, I used indesign. This software is similar to Photoshop but is different as it is made mainly for designs heavily based on using text. I looked at many different examples of double page spreads and decided to keep mine simple with a white background, one image, text covering the majority of the space and an offer for the readers the opposite side of the picture. 

Question 7

 In my preliminary task, I created a front cover and contents page for a college magazine, as seen on the left hand side. For our final coursework we had to create a front cover, contents page and double page spread for a music magazine, as partly seen on the right. I added all of the prelim creation's elements on Photoshop to raise my own awareness of the software. I added only text on top of a picture at the start but then when we began work on our final task, I learnt more about Photoshop and I added more elements, such as boxes, text and extra images. In both magazine front covers I used a male model. The second time around however, I made sure that the model was making eye contact with the camera to create more of a connection with the audience! In the preliminary I left the image plain with the original back ground but in the final task, I used the lasso tool to separate the model from the background and then create my own colour to match my colour scheme! I learnt many new techniques on Photoshop  such as how to use the lasso tool, during our time spent on coursework. 

From looking at my contents page from the prelim task, you can see that it is very minimal compared to what is included within the final outcome of my music magazine contents page. After taking a look at the prelim contents page, I decided I did not like having a coloured background so I decided my music magazine contents would better suit a white background! I cam to the conclusion that I needed to use more pictures on my contents page that were of models, that I had taken and that were of more relevance to articles contained in the magazine. 

I studied many different contents pages from different magazines and thought the best way to organize all information present would be to place it all in columns. I learnt, on Photoshop, how to put columns in to my work and adjust them to the appropriate colours etc with ease. Once I had figured that part out, all I needed to do was add page numbers then create small ideas of what Ever Ready, as a pop magazine, would include! 

Question 3

Question one

Question four

Question 2 - voice recording