6. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT ABOUT TECHNOLOGIES DURING THE PROCESS OF PRODUCTION?During the whole process of creating this product I have learnt many skills that I will further use in other aspects of my life. I came into the production of my magazine with confidence of current, modern technologies and I feel that now my knowledge has been furthered and enhanced overall.

Software and ProgramsFrom the beginning to the end of the process, I have had to use multiple programs to achieve my final results. I have had to utilise adobe Photoshop CS6 to alter and enhance the look of my images, as well as to produce the cover and contents pages. The usage of layers was difficult to grasp at first but in the end was very helpful in editing smaller, more specific areas of the cover and contents. It allowed me to make my images look even more professional and also allowed me to create an authentic looking cover, despite the harsh learning curve the program has. I have also used the Microsoft office suite to create documents such as my pitch document with ease, and to present results such as my survey result slideshow. Finally I utilised adobe InDesign CS6 to create my double page spread. The program allowed me to easily create a column layout to conform with traditional magazines, as well as importing my colour scheme from Photoshop directly.

Websites & Online ServicesThroughout the production of my product I have utilised online services and websites to present and assist my work. One main example is the usage of blog site Wordpress.com, where I have hosted all of my work for easy marking and allows it to be showcased in an organised manner. Using this service was a learning curve as some of the feature such as embed codes were new to me, but I now find them to be extremely useful. Another service I’ve used heavily is Slideshare.net, a very intuitive and creative PowerPoint and document presenter, which has allowed me to showcase my work in a neat, and simple player. This was easily embedded on to my blog posts with a simple code. To find suitable fonts, I used DaFont.com, a website with a huge catalogue of fonts to use, which allowed me to find appropriate and suitable fonts. I found this very helpful as I found the standard fonts to be far from suitably themed. Finally I utilised the site SurveyMonkey, to create a research survey as it was easily and quickly created with varying layouts and I found it allowed me to reach a large audience thanks to social media sharing.

6. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT ABOUT TECHNOLOGIES DURING THE PROCESS OF PRODUCTION?

Modern technology allows for convergenceOne thing I have really learnt is how modern technology has allowed convergence and also allowed older methods that originally required multiple device to now be used in ‘all in one packages’. For example, when I first was told to cerate a survey, I automatically assumed a paper survey that would be handed out or surveyed face to face with participants. However I found that I could use an electronic survey which would calculate scores, percentages and statistics, as well as it self formatting the survey and questions in numerical order. I found that modern technologies really do assist the workload and allow much more to be done in a shorter space of time.

6. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT ABOUT TECHNOLOGIES DURING THE PROCESS OF PRODUCTION?

PhotographyBefore beginning the project I was an avid photographer but I had only experience using my smartphone and a simple point and shoot camera. To capture the images for my magazine I used a variety of devices, including a superzoom camera as well as a high end Canon DSLR (500D). Using the DSLR especially, I have learnt about using modes other than auto, adjusting exposure and shutter speed as well as when to use portrait and landscape orientations. Using a DSLR was very suitable as it allowed images to be quickly and easily transferred to PC’s using usb cables or card readers, giving them image in a JPEG format. I’ve also learnt that lighting is key in many situations, and how to use low key and high key lighting to enhance photographs and give off the correct effect/style. I think most importantly though, I have learnt that however much editing and adjustment you do to a photo, if the photo is of a low quality in the first place, it will always be low quality. Taking a good photo is the key.

What I have learnt OverallI’ve learnt that research does matter and is a very helpful way of deciding your audience, style and genre’s. The research is boosted by usage of technology, which not only adds to the ways you can research but also furthers current ways, e.g. Online surveys instead of paper surveys as they’re quicker, easier and more eco-friendly. I’ve also learnt that files with large amounts of images (PSD’s) are generally very large and that has meant I cannot carry all my work onto a small USB drive. But most importantly, I have learnt the true importance of saving work and backing work up, as if the computer fails and your last save was 2 weeks ago, it’s a lot of work lost.

7. HOW HAVE YOU PROGRESSED FROM THE PRELIMINARY TO YOUR FINISHED AND FINALIZED PRODUCT?When I look back to the preliminary task, I can clearly see a dramatic improvement of the quality and suitability of my work. This shows how using the research I attained and looking into currently published music magazines, has allowed me to create a professional looking magazine which with some adaptations with conventions, could be sold amongst current ones. The knowledge I gained from analysing today’s magazines and their works, such as representing social groups and attracting a genre-specific audience , has really been an aid to creating a successful magazine. Using my comments on my preliminary task I was able to begin creating this media product, with the surveys and market research really playing a big part in many of my decisions during the process.

I’ve learnt a lot about using online services such as a blog as well as programs such Photoshop CS6 and InDesign CS6, programs I used very minimally or not at all during the preliminary process. I feel that the usage of these professional product packages was essential in allowing my product to be of a high quality.

7. HOW HAVE YOU PROGRESSED FROM THE PRELIMINARY TO YOUR FINISHED AND FINALIZED PRODUCT?

My cover for example has hugely improved since the preliminary task, with a professional masthead on the correct left hand side (Convention), alongside a suitable font. Pull quotes are now used instead of uninspiring Coverlines, alongside the left third being utilised as in the preliminary cover. My final product’s cover truly looks professional and would easily be placed in a magazine rack, whereas my ‘College Monthly’ would not whatsoever. Overall I’m very pleased with the outcome of my cover as I feel it’s a huge improvement and shows how all the research really has aided my progression throughout the process.

7. HOW HAVE YOU PROGRESSED FROM THE PRELIMINARY TO YOUR FINISHED AND FINALIZED PRODUCT?

Similarly to my cover, my contents page has undergone drastic changes since my preliminary task. I have changed the design and layout of the page, which I feel adds originality to a slightly stale formula used in most magazines these days. I also feel that this utilizes the software available, Photoshop CS6, compared to my preliminary work which was created using Microsoft Word. It clearly has made a difference using a professional program as well as having the time to perfect the page in full. Overall I feel my contents page has truly exceeded my preliminary task work and I’m very happy with it’s outcome.

7. HOW HAVE YOU PROGRESSED FROM THE PRELIMINARY TO YOUR FINISHED AND FINALIZED PRODUCT?

Finally I feel that my images are far better than the one used in my preliminary cover, as I had time to plan my photography, choosing locations, models and using a DSLR. Images are and essential part of a magazine so taking high quality, planned out images really helped my product to progress.

Overall I feel that my progression from the preliminary product to now has been huge; moving from a lacklustre and plain cover image and contents to an inventive and original cover and contents which fit my genre-specifics.