The document discusses the advantages of using the same software and hardware at A2 that was used at AS, including being more familiar with it and able to work more efficiently. Specific software mentioned includes Blogger, Photoshop, and InDesign. The Canon D550 camera is also discussed. Researching conventions from real world magazines is emphasized in order to make the magazine look professional. Semiotics, or the study of signs and symbols, must be considered when editing photos and layout.

1. G325 Q1A

2. DIGITALTECHNOLOGY
Software – Photoshop, InDesign, Blogger, Scribd, Prezi,
SurveyMonkey, issuu
Advantages:
 The advantage of using the same software in AS for A2 is
that we have had some practise in using it and have
become more familiar with it.This would hugely impact
the result of our work at A2 as we would be more
experienced with using it and so we can use it comfortably
and efficiently.
For example Blogger is something we had to use for both
As andA2,.Therefore atA2 we are able to know how to
setup our blogs, change the layout and post etc. Again this
would increase the flow of producing the product.
 Using Photoshop allowed me to be creative with editing
my photos as I could change the colour, brightness and
contrast of the image for example. For my double page
spread I edited the image so that it was black and white
and changed the brightness and contrast so that the photo
was sharper and clearer. Furthermore I could edit the
background.
 InDesign was a great software to use to create my
magazine. It allowed me to move things around easily,
wrap the text around the image as well as keep a
consistent theme with the ‘A master’.
Hardware – Canon D550
Advantages:
 The advantage of using these is that they
produce high quality images which look
professional and suitable for my product.
 By using this equipment at AS it has
prepared me to use similar equipment at
A2 which would increase the flow of the
production of my product.
 Furthermore, having become more
familiar with the equipment it means that
I can experiment with it and try to create
a higher quality product.
 This can be defined as the tools and
equipment used to create the product.
 Under digital technology it can be divided up
into two sections: hardware and software.

3. CREATIVITY
For much of my AS coursework I had been inspired by existing magazines
which led to the creation of my magazine. The main thing I got idea for was the
sell lines. I imitated the design from existing magazines and altered so that it
fitted in with my magazine. An example of where I was perhaps creative was
adding the star next to the name ‘Ava’.
There were many tasks that were set for us to be completed for the piece of
coursework.The advantage of having this was we had a guideline to work with
so that we could plan out our time and complete it within the time we had.
If we didn’t have set tasks to do, it would have been quite difficult and we may
not have completed it by the time we should have handed it in.
In addition in the beginning we had completed certain tasks in a certain order
which also was beneficial as if we hadn't planned what we were doing and
jumped ahead it would have been very difficult. For example, we had
completed image ideas in advance so that when we did the photoshoot we
knew what we had to do and had some ideas in our heads.
This refers to the use of imagination or original ideas to create something.

4. RESEARCH AND
PLANNING
There were several parts of the research and planning that
we had to complete.This included the proposal, audience
research, magazine conventions, photoshoot ideas, article
and contents text etc.
Some decisions which I made based on the guidelines
given by the exam board included the genre of the music
magazine.
There were many other decisions I had to make in order to
create a good final product. For example, during the
photoshoot I had to decide what kind of hair, clothes,
make-up I wanted the model to have as well as any props
that I thought would be necessary.
In preparation for making the magazine we had to
research a lot on existing magazines which we could
imitate and adapt from.This is so that we could get ideas
and make our magazine look professional. Although the
research and planning took a lot of time to do but in this
process, it had helped us to build up on making the
magazine and making it look realistic and comparable to
existing magazines.
Research and planning is where we completed tasks
in preparation of making the magazine.These
included researching existing magazines and finding
the conventions, a proposal, moodboard,
photoshoot ideas etc.

5. POST PRODUCTION
Semiotics – this is the study of signs and symbols.
We had to consider this whilst making our magazine, in
order to make it appropriate for the target audience.
For example:
 The colours we used had to be considered carefully so
that the connotations match with the style of the
magazine.
 Images – the poses of the model were thought-out
before the photoshoot as different types of image
display a different message e.g. smiling and positive
body gesture suggests the pop music genre whereas less
eye contact and more serious expressions is associated
with the rock genre.
When we were editing our photos we had to think
about how to alter in a way that would be suitable for
our magazine. For example, if the magazine was
based on rock music the images may be changed so
that it is in black and white as it would look more
serious which suits the genre of the magazine.
When deciding on the layout of each page we looked
at existing examples to see how they usually set that
page out.We then picked out some of the features
that we liked and used them in our magazine. For
example I liked the idea of having the artist's name in
a big font and different font from the rest of the sell
line son the front cover.
This is the term for the stages after shooting/recording
which includes video editing and special effects for
example.

6. USING CONVENTIONS FROM
REALWORLDTEXTS
Since we were making a magazine and magazines have certain features which we should be
included, it was essential to try and include them.Therefore, it was important that we
researched the conventions of a magazine as we had to make sure to included the most basic
conventions at least, in order for it to look professional and believable.
Some conventions included:
 Front cover – sell lines, barcode, plug, masthead, date etc.
 Contents page – subheadings dividing the different sections (e.g. on the cover, features and
regulars), website, page number etc.
 Double page spread – informational article, by line, columns, text wrapping around the
image etc.
A difficult part of researching conventions of a magazine is that there were many variations
and not many fixed features. Also there were different features for different genres of
magazines. However an advantage of this is that by researching different genres outside of
the genre we were doing, allowed us to use those features and combine it in our magazine.
For example, I had used a circle shape for the plug which is perhaps more likely to be seen for
pop magazines but since my magazine was pop rock I decided to use it to balance out the pop
and rock side of the magazine.
Conventions – the widely recognised way of doing something.