Friday, 19 April 2013

Evaluation (Question 7): Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

At the start of my course, I filled out a Skills Audit and stated that I did not 'currently have a blog', before this project I was unsure of how to use a blog and what I could actually do with a blog. I can now see that having a blog is very useful in the organisation of my coursework as it has allowed me to upload images, videos and slideshows to show the developing of both my preliminary task and music magazine. The Skills Audit also states that I had never used InDesign before, but I have now developed my IT skills and feel comfortable using InDesign to create media products.

I feel that I have progressed greatly from the preliminary task to my music magazine. The layout of my contents page and front cover of the college magazine is very basic, I have used a similar colour theme throughout which although keeps the college magazine easy to read, nothing particularly stands out as something unique and different. Whereas, in comparison to my music magazine, I feel that the front cover, contents page and double page spread are more eye-catching and will appeal to the reader as something spontaneous and new, which will interest them more than the simple format and basic colours of my preliminary task. The preliminary task uses red, black and blue, whereas my music magazine uses a range of colours such as blue, green, red, orange, yellow and purple, although this does not cause a chaotic and tacky appearance.

The images I used for my preliminary task are also simple in comparison to the music magazine's photos. The photographs I took for the college magazine have plain white backgrounds, although this allows space for coverlines and headlines, I feel I could have made it more interesting. But the photographs taken and adapted for the music magazine are much more attractive for the reader, the simple yet unique backgrounds and use of mise-en-scene such as hair, make-up, costume, props and setting draw the attention of the target market, which I feel I did not do as much with the preliminary task. I feel I have learnt how to address my audience and make my product appeal to them in the progression from the preliminary task to the full product.

The contents page of my preliminary task has text written in a plain colour of black with no use of a range of fonts, colours or sizes to highlight key information that may attract my audience. But I have learnt how to highlight important information in the music magazine as opposed to my preliminary task, by using different styles of font, a range of sizes and colours, also the use of bold and italics highlights and makes information stand out, therefore appealing to my audience. 

Overall I feel I have learnt new skills in the progression from my preliminary task to the full product of a music magazine. Such as how to attract and address the target audience with the use of forms, conventions and functions, which have been developed in my practice of using InDesign and the development of images on free editing websites and Photoshop. I feel I have included more of a range of fonts, colours, interesting backgrounds and layouts which will appeal to my target market more than in my preliminary task.

Evaluation (Question 6): What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Technologies that are used throughout the magazine industry are mainly InDesign and Photoshop, both produced by Adobe. This software is used to edit and manipulate front covers and pages of magazines to create the ideal outcome that will lead to a successful product.

Photoshop- a graphics editing program with different tool options under categories such as drawing, painting, measuring and navigation, selection, typing and retouching. This is used primarily to edit and change photos to suit the magazines appearance.

InDesign- a desktop publishing software that can be used to create posters, flyers, brochures, magazines, newspapers and books. the software allows the creator to insert text, images, shapes and other elements to create a realistic product.


I have done a SWOT analysis to show the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of using these technologies and how this affected the outcome of my media product.


Photoshop

Strengths:


  • Able to manipulate and change images using different tools to suit the theme and look of the magazine
  • Professional outcome of editing images as software is high quality 
  • Can change colours, layout and overall appearance of an image
Weaknesses:

  • Requires some skill as software can be challenging to use and work with
  • Costs money to be a member and use the software, as much as £562.56 per annum for the Creative Cloud edition
Opportunities:

  • Can change the outcome of a whole magazine as the image used portrays a certain look
  • Allows for the image to be made a better quality and more appealing to the target audience, therefore attracting their attention and making them want to purchase and take an interest in the product
Threats:

  • If used incorrectly, overall outcome of image may be over-edited and unprofessional looking
  • Need original image owners consent as using an already existing image could result in copyright problems
  • Always a risk of computer technology failing therefore a threat of losing unsaved work


InDesign

Strengths:

  • Able to insert and use functions for almost everything needed to create a professional looking magazine
  • Import and export images
  • Variety of fonts and colours available
  • Can insert different shapes and change the layout of text, images, borders and general appearance
Weaknesses:

  • Requires basic IT skills to use the software and functions correctly
  • Unable to edit images so photos used in the creating of a product need to be pre-edited
  • Takes time and patience to create a professional looking media product
Opportunities:

  • Allows creativity and the chance to make a product suitable for the target audience by using different functions 
  • Outcome of a professional looking finished piece that will appeal to audience if it is created correctly
Threats:

  • Risk of programme failing and losing unsaved work
  • If not used correctly, final media product can look unprofessional and tacky, therefore not appealing to target audience


I have used both of these technologies (Photoshop and InDesign) and functions to create my music magazine in a professional way which the layout and overall appearance will appeal to my readership. I used Photoshop to change the quality of my images to fit into InDesign correctly and clearly as the images were pixelated to start with. I used InDesign also to create the whole layout and appearance of my music magazine front cover, contents page and double page spread. I was able to work well with the technology as I had grasped how to use it correctly. The only problem I had with the technology in the creating and development of my product was that when saving the finished creation as a JPEG format, each time I had progressed on my magazine, I saved over the previous copy, therefore replacing the previous and making me unable to post draft copies to my blog, which is why these are not present.


The Importance of Technology to the Publishing Sector

The use of functions and technology in a media product and the decisions made by the creator can change the outcome of the product as a whole. For example, if the software is used poorly, therefore creating an unprofessional looking magazine, the target audience will not be attracted by it as is it will not appeal to their needs. But if a product is created successfully and looks professional, then it will appeal to the target audience.





Thursday, 18 April 2013

Evaluation (Question 5): How did you attract/address your audience?




Audience Feedback


The feedback I received from my target audience was positive and reflects my own opinions of my product. According to my readership, my music magazine attracted and addressed the reader due to these forms and conventions:

  • Eye contact of musician attracts and connects audience
  • Relevant coverlines that audience would be interested in and actually want to read about
  • Colours used throughout are simple but eyecatching
  • Layout of contents page is easy to understand, organised and allows reader to navigate better
  • Layout of double page spread is "professional" and eyecatching

Evaluation (Question 4): Who would be the audience for your media product?

Evaluation (Question 3): What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Evaluation (Question 2): How does your media product represent particular social groups?


Evaluation (Question 1): In what ways does your product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?