Evaluation

Evaluation

What have you learnt from completing this task?

From completing this task I have learnt numerous of things. For example, Photoshop, I have developed skills on Photoshop such as; editing photos by taking the background out and having the image free standing. In order to do this, I had to use the polygonal lasso tool to cut around the image. Once the image had been cut out I was able to place it onto any background of my choice, and was able to re-scale it, to the size intended. Also, on Photoshop I have learnt how to change the order of layers of all my items which was on my magazine, into the order which I wanted them in.

Another thing which I have learnt from this task is how to use blogger. I had never used blogger before therefore; I didn’t know how to work it or how to set it up. First thing I had to do was create the blog by using a Gmail account, which I already had, and then I had to create a URL for the blog itself. Next, I had to select a layout and design for my blog. Once I had the blog set up I was able to update my progress on it, step by step. By demonstrating knowledge which I had learnt in lesson or showing images of my magazine cover at each stage.

Also from completing this task I have learnt how to analyse text, different camera framings e.g. median close up, I have also learnt conceptual terms such as; audience, ideology, genre, media language, and what conventions are, and how to label them.

How have you used technology?

The technology which I have used whilst creating my magazine cover, is a digital camera. I used a digital Cannon camera to take my images on. I took several of images at different angles, some in different light shades. Another, piece of technology I used was blogger, which I posted my progress on and things which I had learnt in lesson. I used Photoshop as well, for actually creating my magazine and putting all the finishing touches to it.

What conventions have you used and why?

The conventions i have used are as following;

• Masthead title piece- displayed in the top left corner, as people read from left to right.
• Price- the price is above the barcode, so it is clearer how much the magazine costs.
• Date/issue number- shows the month in which the magazine was published, it is under the masthead.
• Feature stories- the feature stories surround the main image on the magazine cover.
• Font- the style of my writing is Bernard MT condensed, it varies from size 110-14.
• Image- the image which i have chosen to use is a median close up, it helps make the page more interesting and appealing, and helps make the magazine easier for the target audience to relate to.
• Offers- A chance of winning a free giveaway, it helps promote the magazine.

What would you change if you could do it again?

If I could do it again I would change the picture on my front cover and make it more relevant to a particular subject, like science, I would have someone wearing a lab coat next to a Bunsen burner. Another, thing I would change is the feature stories; I’d make them more appealing and make them stand out so they would grab people’s attention. Also, change the colour of my background and make it brighter.

College Magazine Final Front Cover and Contents Page Draft

Progress

Magazine title

Demonstrating areas

Mood Board-

Digital Drafts-

Ideas of names- College weekly, College Lifestyle, Your College

Colour Scheme-Dark blues, grey and white.

Feature story ideas for front cover- Sport competitions, exam/coursework preparation, college events, agony aunt, subject information

Examples of camera framings- extreme close up, close up, medium close up, longshot, high angle, low angle, two shot, image framed to the left, imaged framed to the right and central image.

Photographs for front cover

Taking photographs for front cover

Photoshop

Photoshop Practice

To practice Photoshop for the first time, I had to get pictures off the internet of a sand dune, the Eiffel Tower, an Astronaut and a bear.

Firstly, I had to save the images into my documents so they could be accessed. Once on Photoshop I re-opened the images onto the document, starting with the sand dune.

I re-scaled the sand dune to fit the canvas, and then opened the image of the Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower image, had a background on it, which needed to be cut out. To do this I zoomed in on the image, and used the polygonal lasso tool to cut around the tower. Once I had gone around the image, I was able to delete the background.

The next image I opened up onto the document was the astronaut. I used the same technique for the astronaut as I did for the Eiffel Tower.

However, when I opened up the image of the bear I used a different technique to what I had previously used. This technique still involved the feather tool. To cut out the background from the bear image I went around the bear with the feather tool, as the bear has fur. This tool made the image look more realistic. 

Once I had all my images, I was able to place them in the order which I wanted them to go in. By doing this I had to change the order of the layers.

Finally, I changed the contrast/brightness and saturation to make the images look more lively.

Demonstrating knowledge

Importance of semiotics/ signifiers signified

Semiotics is the study of signs and symbols as elements of communicative behaviour. It is the analysis of systems of communication, as language, gestures, or clothing.

Signifiers signified are features we 'read' and are seen as 'clues' to the meaning of texts. We have learnt the meaning - or signification - of them though constant exposure to them. This is culturally determined.


Media Language

Brief

Brief
To design a College magazine front cover and mock up contents page.

- The masthead title is placed in the top left corner.
- The price is displayed in the bottom left corner, underneath the barcode.
- The copy of this magazine addition is Summer 2009. The date is shown in the top right corner.
- Issue number is Summer 2009.
- The barcode is in the bottom left corner above the price. You can read it electronically and decode it into usable information.
- "Splat let go paint balling" acts as a teaser. It is one phrase that grabs attention.
- Headline; Dancehall's Bright Future.
- Under the headline there is a subtitle "Jeffrey Assassin' Campbell". A smaller headline that summarises the feature.
- Image; There is one main image featuring on the front cover. It helps make the page look more intersting and appealing. You can understand from the picture what the magazine is about.
- Font; Bold and clear, and consistent on the page.
- Colour; Black, yellow and white. Black background with yellow and white writng, this is a constant theme on the front cover.

                                

- Masthead from the left corner going across the top.
- The date is underneath title; fall 2010.
- Barcode bottom right corner. You can read it electronically and decode it into usable information.
- There is several of word phrases across the front cover of the magazine that act as a teaser, eg. 'Mike Posner is cooler than you'.
- Features surrounding the main image summarise what contents are in the magazine.
- The main image on the magazine makes the magazine look more appealing and is aimed at the audience intended.
- Font; the writing style on the front cover is the same except the size varies on most importance.
- Colour; blue and orange, continuous theme on the front cover.



- Masthead; displayed in the top left corner.
- The price is beside the barcode; bottom right corner.
- Feature stories surround the magazines image, to show what contents are in the magazine.
- Image; median close up, helps the page look more interesting and eye-catching.
- Colour; yellow, white and blue. Highlight the text to make it stand out on the background.
- Font; the font style of the writing is the same on the cover, but the size varies.