Evaluation: Question Six

Evaluation

Research: • Google chrome• Intranet- media packs and resources• Adobe premier pro- to edit my audience research video• YouTube- upload interview • survey monkey- to create a survey• Slideshare- to convert into PowerPoints to upload on blogger• Social media (Facebook, Twitter)- share survey• Adobe Photoshop- preliminary task• Microsoft PowerPoint- market research, magazine analysis

and survey results• Blogger- to show all my work

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

Hardware/Software

Planning: • Microsoft PowerPoint – photography plan and pitch

document• Photocopier- to scan in the mock up of my front over,

contents page and double page spread• Microsoft word- reader profile• Adobe bridge- contact sheet• Blogger


Hardware/Software

Production:• Adobe Photoshop- edit photos, to create the front cover

and contents• Adobe InDesign- double age spread• Microsoft word- article for double page spread• Blogger


Hardware/Software

Evaluation:• Microsoft PowerPoint• Slideshare• Microsoft word• Prezi • Blogger


When constructing my magazine, some of the technology which I used was familiar such as Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. However there were some programmes which I had never used and using them for different aspects of the magazine I have learnt a lot from these technologies.

To start the process, I set up a blog to put my coursework on. I had no experience with blogger but is seemed like a useful platform to store my work in different formats. I had to learn how to upload posts by changing the size and layout of my blog and embed html codes to be composed into PowerPoints which was useful due to a lot of my research being in this format. Even the smaller things such as changing the fonts and sizes of the images were different to the normal programmes I use such as word. Overall, I am feeling more confident with using blogger


When using adobe Photoshop for the production, I was familiar with it as it was used for the preliminary task but I had experience prior because of another subject. I could identify the different tools and skills needed for simple editing but I learnt more throughout the process such as the blemish tool to hide any imperfections and the selection tool to copy layers and overlap the masthead on the background. I found tools which made the images look more effective like the levels and brightness/contrast. To develop further from this I also learnt to convert the Photoshop document into a JPEG in addition to post on my blog. For my contents page I used the text tool which I wasn’t familiar with but most of my contents page had the same skills as my front cover.

Premier pro was a useful platform to edit my interview. I had never used premier before this task but was easy to learn how to clip parts together and trim them. However I found it quite difficult when trying to edit the brightness because it was quite dark and it would keep changing. Also, sound levels and transitions with text were difficult but once I learnt how to do it for one question I could repeat it for the rest of the questions because it was easier to do instead of changing the sound levels. I found this programme a challenge but it was a more exciting way of presenting my work on blogger.


InDesign was used to construct my double page spread. I didn’t find this programme as difficult as premier but it was harder to work compared to Photoshop. I have had experience with InDesign when making a book which differs from an article because of the different skills. I learnt how to insert guidelines for my columns and also link the text boxes together so they would flow. However to change the colour of the text you had to use a code for the specific colour wanted which was to open up Photoshop and use the colour picker to use back in InDesign. This way very important because the red I chose was used predominately on my front cover.

YouTube is a programme I frequently use as it is a good search engine for videos. It is a very familiar site, however when it comes to uploading media it was a small challenge. Due to me having a google account which is also connected to blogger, my account was already set up to upload. I attached my video file and it took a few minutes to upload. I thought this platform was really useful but also an interesting way of presenting work


I have frequently used Adobe Bridge before for many contact sheets. Even though I have used it to create contacts sheets I haven't uploaded any before in a JPEG format. I learnt how to change it from a psd to a JPEG and upload it to blogger. I think that this programme is an appealing way of presenting all of my images

For my photography I used a canon camera which was familiar with me prior to this stage. I knew how to use flash, change the iso and shutter speed which enabled me to use the right settings and angles in order to create the effect I wanted. I used the studio in order to capture the correct lighting which is how I learnt to use the light boxes.


Another site called slide share was a new experience and I learnt how to upload a PowerPoint to blogger. Due to the fact that you cannot transfer a PowerPoint onto blogger I had to upload it to this website which convert it into a digital slideshow. I also learnt how to embed the code into the html option on blogger which I then had to compose and share on my blog. This way it isn't just a link which directs you to a different website and is visually appealing on my blog

For my interview I used survey monkey which I had no experience with. It helped me collect results for my research. It was quite easy to use because it allowed me to have different styles of answers such as multiple choice and written answers. The link was available to share on social media which is how I got most of my responses. The responses were then displayed in charts with percentages which was simple and is clear to see the amount of people who answered.

Education

Evaluation: Question Six