What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
During the process of creating my magazine I have learnt more technology skills and improved my existing knowledge. This has been due to using new hardware and software, such as a digital camera, Apple iMac, Adobe Photoshop and Indesign.
I began by learning to use my camera properly, this may seem daft as it is simple to take a photo. However, I learnt to focus in on specific objects, use face detection and generally learnt to take clearer photos. The camera I used was a Hitachi HDC-1087E, I believe this camera was suitable for my project as it is digital. Using a digit
al camera is faster and easier to use as you can delete photos on the spot, and import photos to the computer relatively simply using an SD card. Using this camera also allowed me to take black and white photos, which was part of my plan, this saved me time editing the photo to black and white on Photoshop as it was already done. Looking back I believe my skills of using a camera have vastly improved, as since the start of my magazine I have learnt to think about the scenary and light before taking a photo, as well as angles of the shot.
The second piece of hardware I learnt to use was an Apple eMac computer. I had to start
from scratch when using this computer as at home I use a Dell with Windows 7, which is different to the eMac. Using the eMac was however simple as it is similar to a Windows computer, therefore I broadened my knowledge instead of learning everything new. When I first started using the eMac I was slightly hesitant as it was unfamiliar, but as the course went on I feel I adapted to it well. I believe the eMac was suitable to use as it is fast to use the internet and multiple programs like Photoshop and Indesign, which was helpful as it allowed me to complete work faster than it would be using the Windows 7 at home, which I believe is slower than the eMac.
The software I used whilst creating my magazine was the main technology that I improved my knowledge and skills wit
h. This is because I had to learn how to use programs I had never used, these include Adobe photoshop, Adobe Indesign and Grab. There were some programs that I knew how to use such as Microsoft Word and Firefox Internet Browser, this helped as it reduced the amount of new software I had to adapt to. I also had to use blogger for the first time, which took some getting used to as I had never used a blog, however I feel comfortable using it now as I can add photos, text, slideshows, gadgets and change the design. At the start of the course I would have had very little if not no knowledge of doing this, but now I realise that using Blogger to record coursework is much more efficent and easy to do than written work.
Photoshop
Using the program Adobe Photoshop was essential for me to create my magazine. This is because it allowed me to edit photos, add text, insert lines and shapes and also add effects like drop shadows and filters. I had to use Photoshop when creating my front cover and contents page, therefore I had to become familiar with it quickly. I believe I did as creating my cover and
contents was a matter of following my plan, and then editing text and photos to my desire. I learnt to use such tools like: clone tool, lasso tool, magic wand tool/quick selection and inserting text. When adding text that also allowed me to add more effects, like the drop shadow, stroke and inner/outer glow, these effects were helpful as they enabled me to give my cover a more professional look. I also used the clone tool, this was to remove a reflection in the sun glasses, the clone tool basically copies a selected area, and covers another area with the selected area. The photo on the right shows how the clone tool removed the reflection in the glasses.
Indesign
The software Indesign took me a while to understand fully, but once I had got to grips with the program I could create my double page spread. Indesign is mostly used for large amounts of text, unlike Photoshop which is used for im
age manipulation. Using this software allowed me to add a photo, and then insert my interview with ease, as I effectively moved the text straight into the double page. Indesign was also effective as it gave my double page more professionalism, as it had columns that made the text look more organised. It also allowed me to 'place' a title I created for the interview on Photoshop straight into it, this allowed me to have a bold title with effects on the page, as editing text on Indesign is not as effective as Photoshop. Looking back at the double page, I believe Indesign was a good choice of software, because after some practice I believe work can look really professional and organised, and therefore hopefully make my magazine look like it can placed on a shelf along side other music magazines.
During the process of creating my magazine I have learnt more technology skills and improved my existing knowledge. This has been due to using new hardware and software, such as a digital camera, Apple iMac, Adobe Photoshop and Indesign.
I began by learning to use my camera properly, this may seem daft as it is simple to take a photo. However, I learnt to focus in on specific objects, use face detection and generally learnt to take clearer photos. The camera I used was a Hitachi HDC-1087E, I believe this camera was suitable for my project as it is digital. Using a digit
al camera is faster and easier to use as you can delete photos on the spot, and import photos to the computer relatively simply using an SD card. Using this camera also allowed me to take black and white photos, which was part of my plan, this saved me time editing the photo to black and white on Photoshop as it was already done. Looking back I believe my skills of using a camera have vastly improved, as since the start of my magazine I have learnt to think about the scenary and light before taking a photo, as well as angles of the shot.The second piece of hardware I learnt to use was an Apple eMac computer. I had to start
from scratch when using this computer as at home I use a Dell with Windows 7, which is different to the eMac. Using the eMac was however simple as it is similar to a Windows computer, therefore I broadened my knowledge instead of learning everything new. When I first started using the eMac I was slightly hesitant as it was unfamiliar, but as the course went on I feel I adapted to it well. I believe the eMac was suitable to use as it is fast to use the internet and multiple programs like Photoshop and Indesign, which was helpful as it allowed me to complete work faster than it would be using the Windows 7 at home, which I believe is slower than the eMac.The software I used whilst creating my magazine was the main technology that I improved my knowledge and skills wit
h. This is because I had to learn how to use programs I had never used, these include Adobe photoshop, Adobe Indesign and Grab. There were some programs that I knew how to use such as Microsoft Word and Firefox Internet Browser, this helped as it reduced the amount of new software I had to adapt to. I also had to use blogger for the first time, which took some getting used to as I had never used a blog, however I feel comfortable using it now as I can add photos, text, slideshows, gadgets and change the design. At the start of the course I would have had very little if not no knowledge of doing this, but now I realise that using Blogger to record coursework is much more efficent and easy to do than written work.Photoshop
Using the program Adobe Photoshop was essential for me to create my magazine. This is because it allowed me to edit photos, add text, insert lines and shapes and also add effects like drop shadows and filters. I had to use Photoshop when creating my front cover and contents page, therefore I had to become familiar with it quickly. I believe I did as creating my cover and
contents was a matter of following my plan, and then editing text and photos to my desire. I learnt to use such tools like: clone tool, lasso tool, magic wand tool/quick selection and inserting text. When adding text that also allowed me to add more effects, like the drop shadow, stroke and inner/outer glow, these effects were helpful as they enabled me to give my cover a more professional look. I also used the clone tool, this was to remove a reflection in the sun glasses, the clone tool basically copies a selected area, and covers another area with the selected area. The photo on the right shows how the clone tool removed the reflection in the glasses.Indesign
The software Indesign took me a while to understand fully, but once I had got to grips with the program I could create my double page spread. Indesign is mostly used for large amounts of text, unlike Photoshop which is used for im
age manipulation. Using this software allowed me to add a photo, and then insert my interview with ease, as I effectively moved the text straight into the double page. Indesign was also effective as it gave my double page more professionalism, as it had columns that made the text look more organised. It also allowed me to 'place' a title I created for the interview on Photoshop straight into it, this allowed me to have a bold title with effects on the page, as editing text on Indesign is not as effective as Photoshop. Looking back at the double page, I believe Indesign was a good choice of software, because after some practice I believe work can look really professional and organised, and therefore hopefully make my magazine look like it can placed on a shelf along side other music magazines.
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