1. What have you learnt about
technologies from the process of
constructing this product?

2. Photoshop Software
Before creating my prelim, mock and final magazine I had never used photoshop before.
Although I could live without it then, I have now become very attached to this software, as
it’s the most creative flexible software I have come across. Aswell as allowing creativity it
also gives a very professional finish offering effects such as feathering, changing levels and
blemish removers. I believe this software is perfect for creating magazines as, like
magazines, it works in layers allowing attention to detail and the ability to play around with
the layout.

3. Epson Stylus DX3800
This is the scanner I used to scan all of
the details such as buttons and ribbons
for my magazine. It is handy because it is
all in one, including a printer and copier. I
found this very easy and quick to use. It
worked much better than I imagined it
would, and I found this better than
photographing the components, as the
images are much more detailed, also this
connects directly to my mac, preventing
the need to plug in a camera and upload
photographs.

4. Fujifilm Finepix 5600
This is the camera I used for the photography in my
magazine. Although it is a brilliant camera, unfortunately
it is the first time that I had used it seriously, and I feel
that I didnt choose the correct settings, judging by the
outcome of the final photographs (they were a little out of
focus). In future it is something that I will definitely look
into as the settings I used are certainly not doing the
camera justice. But I suppose the positive of this is that,
I will know for the next time I use the camera.

5. MacBook
Apple’s Macbook is the best computer/laptop I have
ever used. It is very fluid to use, as it works by
dragging and dropping rather than clicking all the
time. I especially think it works really well with the
photoshop software, compared to the Dell computers
at school. Aswell as photoshop my Macbook also
has software such as iPhoto which allows you to edit
photos, a little like photoshop.

6. Overview
By creating this magazine I have had to deal with technologies that I am
not particularly familiar with. This has really helped me to become open
minded about new technologies and I have come to realise that magazine
production would be hopeless without software such as photoshop. Although
the technologies allow the magazines to look very well finished, I do believe
that some magazines are a little too ‘thought out’ and blocked, I really like
the idea of having a creative look allowing it to be more aesthetically pleasing
and interesting. I feel it would be nice to see magazines using techniques a
little like the one I used to make my magazine look a bit ‘handmade,’ as I
think this could broaden their target market, reaching out to more creative
people who can appreciate small details.