Evaluation

What have you learnt?

During this preliminary task, we learnt how to use Photoshop, developing upon existing basic skills to slightly more complex skills such as using layers, selection tools, shapes, colours and text. Having used a basic form of Photoshop before called Serif, I was able to apply the knowledge I had from using that to this task. However, there were many things I hadn't done before such as use shapes and text, group layers into folders in order to keep them organised and use layer styles and adjustments. 

We also developed our analysing skills with our conventions and semiotics analysis. We had to look at the different features of magazines and become familiar with the names of these (e.g. masthead, skyline, plug, etc.) and then apply analytical skills in order to show how each of these features were effective to making the magazine look aesthetically pleasing and eye-catching so that it attracted an audience. 

How have you used technology?

During this task we had to use and become familiar with two different computers and their operating systems: PCs running Windows and iMacs running OS X. I was already quite familiar with OS X however it did prove difficult to use at times and there were many things I had to get used to such as the mouse not having a right-click button, the sensitivity of it quite low and the scroll direction being reversed (the latter two of which I was able to change and so this made everything a lot easier). Eventually, I found myself preferring to use the iMacs over the PCs as I found them easier to navigate and generally a lot more smooth-running than the PCs. 

Also, for this task I had to become more familiar with the exposure settings on my DSLR camera in order to achieve the effects I wanted within my main image. This meant learning what aperture, ISO and shutter speeds were and how to use them to my advantage. I also had to learn the different framings and composition of an image in order to make it pleasing to the eye and easy to work with when it came to editing the front cover (e.g. allowing space at the top of the image for the masthead and skyline).

Lastly, I had to make a Blogger account in order to post all my work in the form of a blog and get used to using it. This included making posts, changing the text in the posts, adjusting the pictures so that they looked good on my blog and regularly updating it. This was all new to me as I have never had a blogger account before and so I had to learn how to use everything so that I could get my blog to look just as I wanted it.

What conventions have you used and why?

In my final image I used a main image, masthead, skyline, footer, plug, date, website, barcode, price and multiple feature stories. These were all used in order to make my magazine look as professional as possible and attract the target audience (which is students at a college). I tried to keep these conventions looking clear, bold and colourful in order to make the magazine eye-catching and easy to read. I slightly challenged the genre of college magazines by making my front cover bright with feature stories that might attract a teenage student (such as the summer festivals article) rather than cramming it with information about academic-related articles. However, I didn't really challenge the placement of conventions and this was because I wanted to keep my magazine cover looking as realistic as possible.

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What would you change if you were to do this task again?

If I were to do this task again I would take more photographs for the main image in different locations and of various students (e.g. science students, art students, etc.). I would pay more attention to the exposure when photographing indoors in order to get clearer pictures that would be easy to work with. I would also try out different angles such as tilted angles, low angles and high angles; props such as science equipment, art equipment and computers and poses such as somebody sat writing, drawing or working on the computer. This would give me a greater scope and variety of images to use as a main picture as well as images to include within the magazine. 

If I were to do this task again I would also make the magazine look more professional. I am not keen on how the plug looks with the shape and gradient and think with drawing or downloading shapes could give the magazine more verisimilitude. I would also download and use more fonts as I think using only two main types of font really restricts the visual appearance of the magazine.

I would also ask the teacher more questions as I usually take it upon myself to find things out alone. However, if I had asked a teacher it could have made the task a little quicker to do and my magazine cover may have looked better through receiving more feedback on how to improve had I sought it more often.