4. Progression
The progression of my Photoshop skills, from
preliminary task to my final production has improved. I
have clearly done research into mastheads and their
importance since my preliminary task. A masthead
creates brand awareness, the san serif font appeals to
my target audiences age range.
The importance of layout is apparent here as I have clearly paid
attention to columns and rows here. Colour scheme is
continued throughout, giving a professional element to the
layout.The font is much smaller in the final construction and
more advanced in contents to fulfil cognitive needs and social
integrative needs. My research into codes and conventions
justifies all of the elements I have improved by, and the layout
clearly represents that of a music magazine. Q magazine,
Kerrang, CLASH and NME have helped me achieve this
outcome, as I planned the layouts, images and themes around
the codes and conventions of these magazines.
5. Progression
With my preliminary task, I didn’t know how to use the camera properly, I didn’t know how to navigate Photoshop
and I didn’t do any research into school magazine to build up my front cover and contents page.The images were
badly represented and of bad quality, I didn’t do any research into codes and conventions therefore I had no
examples to follow. I had no consideration for lighting or body language, or fulfilling theories or relating to a
specific target audience or genre. My text was random and not expressive, the layout was disorganised and boring
and I had no idea of the importance of a masthead or any features within the magazine. Since then, I have done a
lot more research into the codes and conventions of magazines that conform to my genre. I watched several
tutorials into the Canon 600d and Panosonic DMCLX7 so that I didn’t rely on the automatic ISO, this in turn allowed
me to take really effective photos (assisted with the use of lighting, body language, mise-en-scene etc.). I have
watched tutorials on Photoshop so that I can edit and adapt an image rather than just placing it. I have learnt about
uses and gratification theory and Barthes theory, I have learnt how to associate their theories with magazines, this
gives the magazine direction and focus on the genre and target audience’s preferences. I now understand the
importance of brand awareness (marketing your magazine through a house-style that audiences will recognise and
purchase), layout/structure (determines how the audience consume this product, needs of the target audience),
features (needs to fulfil the needs stated within Barthes and uses and gratification theory), colour schemes (to
appeal to different sections of my target audience such as genders, ethnicities, ages and music preferences)etc.
6. Progression
I was able to apply the skills I developed in my progression to my double page spread.
7. Progression
My Double Page Spread – using the skills I learnt in improving my preliminary task, I created a professional
magazine double page spread.
Layout – From my research, my knowledge of layouts allowed me to produce a professional, simplistic, flowing
double page spread. Photoshop allowed me to manipulate and change into different layouts to conform or
confront conventions of existing media.
Images – I learned how to use the Canon 600d to take a focused close-up shot and with high resolution to create
an eye-catching, powerful image (using lighting). I learned how to increase the contrast and create a
monochrome image from Photoshop.
Text – I learned the effect of pull quotes (which need to stand out from the background and the regular font),
mastheads and sell lines (these need to create hermeneutic codes and fulfils social integrative needs), san serif
and serif font and how they appeal to different audiences.The importance of mastheads and how they need to be
bold and eye-catching.
