From doing a preliminary task on photo editing software, the author learned how to use Photoshop's tools and layers effectively to create a music magazine. They also learned about using different colors and lighting techniques when shooting photographs to target specific audiences. Through completing both the preliminary task and final magazine, the author gained knowledge of the codes and conventions of music magazines and improved their time management skills.

1. LOOKING BACK AT YOUR
PRELIMINARY TASK , WHAT
DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE
LEARNT IN THE
PROGRESSION FROM IT TO
THE FULL PRODUCT?

2. Doing the preliminary task has helped me in creating my final product
in lots of different ways, and since doing both I have learnt enough to
be able to design and make a music magazine to a high standard.
From doing my preliminary task, I have learnt how to use the editing
program photo-shop. I have learnt how to create layers on photo-shop
and how to remove the background from images and writing. I have
also learnt how to use all of the different tools on photo-shop.
Learning this from the preliminary task helped me to make my
magazine quickly as I knew what I was doing with the program. Since
the preliminary task I have furthered this skill, and have learnt how to
use each part of photo-shop effectively and how to use it to a
professional standard.

3. One of the most important things I have learnt is what colours
give what effects on the audience and the magazine itself. With
this I have learnt what colours are best used for each audience.
For example, darker colours such as blacks are targeted at the
male audience of an older generation and whites are targeted
at the female older audience. Pastel colours and really bright
colours such as pinks and greens are targeted at the younger
audience members such as pre teens and younger children.
Learning this prom the preliminary task allowed me to target
my audience effectively as it taught me which colours should
be used for my target audience.

4. I have learnt a lot of photography skills since the preliminary task,
which I have used in my final product. I have learnt how to use
different elements on a camera, such as focus, and exposure to create
the right effects. I have learnt how to direct lighting onto my subject
and what types of lighting to use. This includes learning the right
temperature of light to use for the subject, and learning when to use
back light, low light, spot light and other angles of lighting for the
subject. I also learnt when it was best to use coloured lighting and
what colours to use for this type of lighting. I learnt about DOF (depth
of field) which helped me to produce images that have focus on the
subject and that are correctly blurred in the background.

5. I have learnt about the codes and conventions of different types of
magazines from the preliminary task and from actually producing my
final product. The preliminary task helped me to learn about the codes
and conventions that are used non specific magazines, such as mast
head, barcode, and dominant image. It also taught me how to use these
codes and conventions and where they should be placed on the pages
in magazines. In the progression from the preliminary task to the final
product I have learnt the codes and conventions of different genres of
music magazines, in particular, POP music magazines. I have learnt more
about what the codes and conventions are for the different genres, and
how they should be used effectively for specific target audiences.

6. I have also learnt how to manage my time effectively. The preliminary
task took a lot longer than expected to complete and was still not
finished to the best possible standard because we ran out of time.
When making the final product I used my time effectively and made
sure that I got my magazine done by the final deadline. I did this by
preparing everything I could before the lesson so that when I got the
time to edit and create my magazine, I knew exactly what I was doing.