The document discusses various technologies used in creating a magazine project, including IMac computers, an HP laptop, cameras, internet programs, and lighting. The author learned that (1) different programs have different features and learning to use new technologies takes time, (2) technology can be unreliable and problems can set work back, and (3) while technology enabled completing the project, it is also important and trusting other methods beyond technology.

1. Evaluation 6
What have you learnt technologies
from the process of constructing this
product?
Throughout the process of researching, designing and
making my project and magazine, I have used a range
of technology to help me reach my end product. In the
next slides I will be showing you the main pieces of
technology that I have used throughout and things I
have learnt from using them.

2. IMacs
I have used the IMacs a lot of the time, whilst doing this project mainly because we have them based at
our school, in our media lessons. Before this project, it was the first time I had ever used one, so as you
can image I was getting extremely confused! But after a little of playing around and being taught how to
use certain programmes, they become easier to use. However, we only have a total of 9 Macs in the
school, so we have to share them around so everyone can have a turn- this can get very frustrating some
times as well as most of our work was saved on particular Macs, when they could of been in use.
The Macs however are very useful to use as they have different programmes and software, in
comparison to a standard laptop that only mainly has Microsoft. I used a range of programmes but mostly
'Pages', as it helped me a lot when it came to designing and putting my magazine together. I started my
magazine by using 'Pages', as it seemed easier to use in relation to Microsoft Word, mainly because
there were more extra tools that allowed me to fade/shadow my pictures or backgrounds, add features
like funky text boxes or bubbles and I also liked how I could move objects and images around the page
easier. However, when it came to finishing my 1st draft of my magazine, using this program I had doubts,
and disliked a lot of the out come so I then moved on to using Microsoft Publisher for the rest of the work.
On the other hand, I did use this piece of software to produce my mood boards, and I thought it worked
very well as it was quick and easy to place the images together, move them around and add extras to
them like the fade.
By using something completely different, I think its learnt me to not put too much trust into technology, as
it can be difficult to get your head round and isn't always going to be simply to use. Its also very important
to realise that sometimes you may not like using a program and it simply isn't for you, meaning you need
to think quickly in order to move on using something different, over wise you'll be wasting time. But I have
also learnt to give new things a go! Having different programmes in both Microsoft and Pages has also
been very annoying, mainly because I have learnt how to use certain things that I wanted to include in my
magazine in Pages, but I haven't been able to get it on Microsoft. This is also the same with transferring
work from one programme to another- it cant be done, which is very annoying! I also used a program
called 'keynote', this was mainly for one of my evaluations and it was the first time I had used it! On the
whole I thought it was awesome! Was easy to use, easy to pick up how to use it and it was very much like
'Pages' but just adding slides. I have learnt from this that using new things can be good, and isn't so bad.
My overall thought from using the Macs are to now stick with something
I feel comfortable and confident about using, as it is time consuming trying
to work with something that you currently don't no how to work.

3. Hp Pavilion Laptop
I will be using my Hp Pavilion laptop mainly when I'm at home, which allows me to continue
working on my blog, adding and changing posts and producing my magazine drafts. It also helps
me to edit my recci images and do further research on other magazines, and general information
I may want to add into my work. I found using my own technology was much better than using
the Macs, as I'm used to using this and can rely on it more because I can use it when I want. I
can also work much quicker on it as well, however I only brought it this year however, so I had to
play around with certain programmes a little bit to get used to it. Mostly all the programmes on my
laptop, are those that I am used too and have previously used before. However, when it came to
using Microsoft Publisher, I had to play around with some of the tools and re-teach myself on how
to work it, as I had forgotten a lot on how to use it. After a while though I realised using this
programme rather than Pages, was so much better but was very time consuming in order for me
to get certain features exactly how I wanted them. I also use Microsoft Word on a regular bases,
so when it came to using that for certain pieces of work, I could get the work done quicker as I
didn't have to explore on how to use it. Using both Microsoft Word and Publisher also allowed to
have an advantage when it came to transferring my work from school and home, as the school
has normal computers which can support my work.
I have again learnt not to trust technology, mainly because when I was working on the internet at
home, I tended to lose internet connection a lot. So a plus to working at school, would be there a
constant supply of connection, that was secure and wouldn't disconnected on a regular bases. I
also wasn't able to transfer my work that I had done on the Macs, which meant I could adapt to
the work I had already done, I would have to start all over if I wanted to improve it or make it
better- this was mainly my content pages, front covers and double page spread. I also found
when switching my memory stick from my laptop to schools computers, that it tended to distort
my pictures that I took from a professional camera, which unfortunately I could overcome that
problem.

4. Cameras
In order to produce a portfolio of images of my model in the preliminary task and this
main task, I had to use a camera to take these pictures. In the preliminary task I used
my friends camera to take pictures of her, which was called Lumix Camera, as I don't
own one myself, and although I was relying on someone else to (in a way) produce
my pictures, we both worked as a team as she was taking pictures of me and I was
taking pictures off her- so it worked out fine! I liked using her camera, because it was
small and had a good 14 pixels so the pictures looked even better when edited. I
could also change features on the camera to suit the time of day and the brightness
and contrast so it was good because I could rely on someone I trust to make my
pictures look good, as she's used her to camera. Like any camera I can zoom in and
out on hers as well, which was also helpful for me because I wanted close up shots
and mid-shots of my model in this task.
Following on from this, I used a professional Camera, that I borrowed from the art
department at school for my main task, which I am unsure on what the specific design
is called but helped me to produce more quality pictures for my front cover, contents
page and double page spread. I had never used a professional camera before so as
you can imagine I had to experiment with it, but after being taught the basics I loved
it! It produced great quality pictures, which were then really easy to edit after.
However, I did have some problems with this camera as it would run out of battery a
lot! Which meant when it came to the shooting schedule that me and my model had
planned, we had to rush through it in order to get as much pictures done as possible.
Having this camera based at school, also meant that I couldn't take it home to expand
my portfolio of pictures, as after doing my main photo-shoot, I want to expand my
pictures to allow them to look more sexy and contain 'swagger' in them to link back to
my genre.

5. Internet programs
For the majority of the project, I was relying on internet access to complete my work
as most of it was put on 'Blogger. This site allowed me to post posts about my
thoughts, that I could easily upload and produce, and I can even add my own photos
as well. However, I had a lot of trouble when it came to this website, as it was very
hard to upload an image sometimes as it would come up with either unavailable to
load or unavailable to look at- which was very frustrating and time consuming! I also
had never of used it before, so as you can imagine I had to experience with it and
play around in order to get used to it.
On the whole it was really fun to use, and was definitely something different to use,
instead of just using a word processor to produce my work!
I also used a photo editor on the internet, which was called 'Picnik'. I thought this
website was extremely useful! I liked it that much it encouraged me to use it on my
personal pictures of me and my friends! It helped me a lot in editing my main pictures,
for my front cover, contents page and double page spread. Its made me think
positively about technology, instead of negative and bad. I also used '1001 fonts' that
is a website in the internet, however I didn't really like this as it didn't let me have a
different colour as the background, which meant I couldn't
use it for my final draft.

6. Lighting
When completing my main task photo shoot, I used artificial that was based in my
school hall on a stage. I thought this would be a good idea to do, as when I looked at
examples of R&B front covers, there was one particular one that I liked which
involved the model having a white light around her, as if she was on a stage or a
picture of her with a flash on was just taken. However, when it came to taking the
pictures they didn't come out like I wanted them too and the background came out
more of a pinky colour which meant that I then had to edited the background to make
it white- which obviously VERY time consuming as I had to cut around the picture!
This has taught me not to rely too much on technology, as it doesn't always turn out
like you want it too. I also had to play around with the range of lighting position to
make there a beam in the middle of the model- which was difficult as I had never of
used it before and some that I wanted to use didn't work. Therefore, I have also learnt
that technology is always at some point going to brake or get damaged. However, on
the plus side I've learnt something new!

7. Conclusion
Altogether, I think technology can be very untrustworthy and I did have a
number of problems that came down to poor technology, but putting aside
this I think its great and I wouldn't of been able to complete my project
without it! It allows me to get work done quicker, rather than doing it by hand
and the fact mostly all programmes have individual unique features that
make your work look better, look more interesting and fun to look at.