The document discusses the use of various media technologies in the research, planning, construction and evaluation stages of a project. Adobe Photoshop was used to create a documentary advertisement and double page article, manipulating images. iMovie was used to edit video clips and add text/titles to construct a documentary. GarageBand was used to create a personalized theme tune for the documentary. Emaze and Prezi allowed for creative online presentations with video, images and screen shots. SoundCloud enabled embedding voice recordings into a blog. Voki allowed typing text to be read aloud and embedded.

1. How did you use new media
technologies in the research, planning,
construction and evaluation stages?

2. Adobe Photoshop
 I used Adobe Photoshop CS6 for both my
documentary advertisement and my double page
spread article. I already had pre-existing
knowledge of Photoshop from AS so I knew how
to manipulate images by using tools to change
aspects of an existing image. I have improved
these areas and now feel comfortable using
them. I noticed the biggest difference in my
timings, as this year I was able to create products
on Photoshop much quicker than last year. In this
time, I have realised that this software is an
efficient way to create realistic media products
because of the vast range of tools at my disposal.

3. Adobe Photoshop
 I have been able to change the darkness of the
colours, cut images out and place them on a new
background and put borders or shadows on my
images. Other tools that I used have been the
Cloning Tool, which I used in my advert to spread
background in the image of my victim across the
whole page. Finally, I used the Selection Pen Tool
to mimic the colour of the wall in the background
of my double page spread; I did this so I could
then blend it with the black, to create the shadow
that went in between the victim and the wall.

4. iMovie
 I used this to construct my documentary. I learnt
how to edit and cut clips and order them into the
order that I wanted them to be placed. I also
inserted text in places where it was needed, such
as giving a name tag to PC Jones and displaying
the number for the information. I also found the
best places within my piece to show the title of
the documentary. I was able to edit the lighting in
some of the clips in my re-enactment, so that the
footage appeared darker and therefore more
mysterious.

5. iMovie
 I also overlapped clips by using the sound from
one clip; I used this when the presenter gave a
voiceover of the criminal taking drugs. For some
of the transitions I increased the transparency of
the two clips overlapping so that they faded into
each other. There were also times when I used
picture-in-picture technique, which enabled me to
have an image on screen, while the presenters
were still on screen. I finally used iMovie’s sound
effects to create tension and suspense in the re-
enactments

6. GarageBand
 I used GarageBand to make a personalised
theme tune for my documentary, I used an
existing sound note, which I then added voice
recordings and additional music on top of it to
make it an individual piece of music.

7. Emaze & Prezi
 These two online software’s enabled me to
creatively publish my presentation of work; they
let me create a different pathway for my work to
flow. Prezi in particular, allowed me to insert video
clips, which let me use additional ways to explain
the points I was trying to make and portray. I was
also able to insert screen shots and images to
use as references. These two technologies were
probably used most frequently throughout my A2
coursework, and because of their simplistic layout
and ease of use, I was able to produce work that
looked of a high and professional quality in a
short period of time.

8. Soundcloud
 Soundcloud was a useful form of technology, as it
enabled me to add something out of the norm to
my blog. Instead of using a text format all the
time, Soundcloud allowed me to record my own
voice and then embed it into my blog.
Soundcloud was easy and quick to use, all that
was needed was a brief script to read notes from
and a bit of time to talk into a microphone, which I
sometimes found a lot easier than typing up
information.

9. Soundcloud
 The most useful way my group found of using it
was for our group meetings. We were simply able
to start recording at the start of the group
meeting, and then stop recording when we had
finished. This meant that we didn’t have to take
notes during the meeting; we just had to go back
to the Soundcloud to refer to when writing up our
discussions.

10. Voki
 Was a similar form of technology, however the
only difference was that you typed up what you
wanted to be said and then a voice would read it
back to you. This was then available to embed
into my blog so it could be played back with one
click. I think this is more useful for future use than
immediate use, as it can be quickly read back to
you rather than having to search through written
information, however, it has to be typed up in the
first place.