Main Task Evaluation - Question 6

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Research

For my research i used various different technologies, i used the internet to research magazines by finding the website for the magazine and analysing the front cover/contents page. The internet helped a great deal as it allowed me to look at a broad range of magazines easily. Through the process of internet research i learned that the majority of magazines distribute to multiple platforms because they all have websites.

After i researched the magazines i then compiled my research on Blogger, blogger proved to be useful as it helped me keep all of my research in one place. Before i started this coursework i had never used blogger so i learnt a great deal. Blogger also helped me arrange my work in a clear way, making it easy for me to refer back to.

Planning

Technology allowed me to plan in an efficient and effective way, the use of websites like DaFont made it easier to find suitable fonts for my magazine and compile them in blogger again for future reference. 

Desktop Publishing Software like 'Pages' gave me the ability to devise a layout plan of the front page before designing it in detail, this was very helpful as it allowed me to concentrate more on the detailed design elements rather than the layout when producing the magazine. 

Production

I produced the photographs for the front cover/contents page/double-page spread with my own Nikon D3100. Although it is my own camera i still learnt how to decrease the depth of field by using the portrait setting, this allowed me to focus on certain things for example i could focalize a person directly in front of the camera but defocus the background in which they are standing, this allowed me to develop a more dramatic shot.

Also i learnt that turning the flash off and using professional lighting in a studio made for a better photograph as it allowed me to create shadow and depth within the photograph.

Post-Production 

To produce the front cover of my magazine i used a piece of Image Manipulation Software called Adobe Photoshop, photoshop allowed me to manipulate my front cover quite considerably for example i could adjust brightness, levels and saturation. Another positive aspect of Photoshop is that it gives you the ability to use layers, this helped me organise my coverline's, running head, splash and masthead around my CVI effectively.

To create my double page spread and contents page i used a piece of Desktop Publishing Software called Adobe InDesign. It helped me organise the body text around various photos and shapes using text wrap and the rulers allowed me to make sure the spaces between my text boxes were equal.