The document discusses the progression and learning from the author's preliminary task to their final magazine production. Specifically:
1. Images were improved by learning to use lighting and camera settings properly as well as photo editing skills in Photoshop.
2. Text formatting was enhanced by using varied fonts, sizes, and colors more effectively to draw attention to key elements.
3. Layout improved through research on conventions and practicing spacing and framing of images and text in Photoshop.
4. Experience taking photos and editing in Photoshop allowed the author to create a higher quality final product that better emulated professional music magazines.
4. PROGRESSION AND LEARNING
There were many things I changed from my preliminary task to make the overall outcome of my final production
better.
1- IMAGES - The images on my preliminary task are badly taken with natural light. I was just learning how to use the
camera during my preliminary so I didn't think much about the background of the images or the mise en scene. In my
final production I used proper lights and spent time planning the pictures I wanted to take (eg mise en secene,
lighting, positioning ect.) Throughout the production of the magazine i learnt about photoshop and it allowed me to
edit features for example contrast and brightness which all helped in the final product. In my final magazine I also
used more images which I felt improved the overall quality.
2 - TEXT - In both my magazines I tended to
stick with sans serif fonts throughout. I used a
lot of bold fonts especially in my final production
as it is a common convention of music
magazines. I feel as though the use of text
improved as well, in my final production I used a
the technique of making some bold, some italic
to add effect to different words. Through
powerpoint I could also stretch the colour, height
and width of some of the words. It also allowed
there to be a distinct separation between
different features, mastheads and anchor texts.
I also stuck to more feminine colours in the text
which is more a common convention of fashion
magazines rather than music magazines as it
appeals to a more feminine audience (my target
audience)
5. PROGRESSION AND LEARNING
3 - LAYOUT - The spacing and lay out of my final piece is something I feel has improved from my preliminary task to
my final production due to how layers work on photoshop and how to resize different things. From my research I
studies how text and things can be placed around the picture to make it visually better. In my preliminary I added text
around the face but in my production I framed her face with the text making the main focus the artist.
4 - MASTHEAD - During my production I learnt the importance of a masthead and how it tended to be one of the first
things you saw when you looked at the magazine. Although very similar, I learnt how to edit texts to get the most
powerful masthead possible. In my preliminary the background to the masthead had a busy background with items in
the background taking away the overall effect. In my final production, when taking my pictures, I made sure I had a
plane dark background so I could make it stand out as much as possible.
A common convention of music magazines is bold font so I used white as the colour. In my preliminary the grey got a
bit washed out and didn't look very professional. In most music magazines the name ended up being a lot shorted
and punchier than my chosen name of ‘Platinum’. The longer name tended to be a convention more used in fashion
magazines. This is a convention i wated to break in the production of my magazine.
6. FINAL PRODUCTION
I was able to apply all my new knowledge of things I learnt from creating my preliminary task to progressing to my
final front cover, contents page and two page spread.
7. PROGRESSION AND LEARNING
The changes I made from my preliminary task to my final production and the skills I acquired a long the way I could
also apply to my two page spread. The main changes consisted of images, text and layout.
IMAGES - I learned how to take professional looking images with a digital camera, using lighting, appropriate mise en
scene and costume. I also learned out to manipulate images on photoshop by chaining factors such as the contrast,
brightness ect)
TEXT - Although I didn't change much about the text, I learnt how to use a variety of different fonts to give the best
effect. I also learnt where to place bold or italic fonts to give emphasis to special words or sentences. I also learnt
how to make it stand out by changing the colours width and height to get the desired font I wanted. I could then apply
it to my two page spread as well.
LAYOUT - From my research I gained knowledge on appropriate layout and spacing and making sure it was
consistent throughout my magazine. I learnt how to frame the face with text instead of just placing it randomly across
the page and drowning out the image.
IN CONCLUTION
The quality of my final production was increased do to the techniques and skills acquired from the production of my
preliminary task to my final production. These skills including taking professional photograph (using lighting and mise
en scene) and then editing the images accordingly. I learnt this through trial and error and watching a few tutorials on
youtube.
Other things I learned were more complex aspects of photoshop. Before my preliminary task I had never used
photoshop before, through practice and watching a few tutorials when it came to my final production I was able to get
the most out of it and edit my photos and text how a music magazine would, giving me a better outcome.