By constructing a magazine using various technologies, the student learnt several new skills. They became proficient in DSLR photography but struggled with focus and exposure initially. They also realized iPhone cameras are good for photography. While already experienced with Photoshop, the student further improved their image editing abilities. InDesign was completely new but the student learnt layout skills. Other software like Illustrator, Timetoast, Blogger, Prezi, Blinkplan, and Cincopa were also new but the student became confident using them, expanding their technical knowledge overall.

1. Question 6: What have you learnt about
technologies from the process of
constructing this product?
By Serena Bashal

2. DSLR Nikon Camera
I hadn’t had much practise before
construction of my magazine with DSLR
cameras – only from photoshoots from my
GCSE Media. We had a workshop in college
on how to use the camera and set up the 3
point lighting which was very helpful – Over
the process I learnt a lot about manipulating
lighting to get the right image.
Unfortunately, my lack of experience shone
through as the majority of the photos from
my main shoot were out of focus, and I
didn’t get my exposure/white balance quite
right, but at least I have now learnt for next
time.

3. iPhone Camera
A large portion of my shots were taken on
iPhone cameras; iPhone 4s for one shoot and
iPhone 6 for the others.
Creating my magazine has made me realise how
good the latest iPhones are for photography –
the iPhone 6 has a phenomenal camera and is
hassle-free transportable.

4. Photoshop
I was already quite confident with using Photoshop
manipulate and perfect images as I have had years of
experience from studying ICT and media in secondary
school.
However, this project refined any previous questions I had
of my ability on Photoshop and I am now fully confident
in using all the different tools and doing advanced image
manipulation.
For example, just through experimentation while editing
my photography, I know now how to change an originally
black and white image to colour using different channels,
adjustments and the history snapshot tool – this guide
explained it all:
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-color-a-black-
and-white-photo/

5. InDesign
InDesign was completely new for me as I had never used it before construction of my
contents page and dps. The learning curve introduced me to a new software, therefore
expanding my knowledge of possibilities when creating something like a magazine.
I gained information on how to perfect text to the tiniest detail, such as adding drop
caps and creating my own percentage of skew. I found InDesign a lot more
complicated than using Photoshop as the layout of the software is trickier – in my
opinion, Photoshop has a much simpler design, everything is laid out for you and
everything does what you want it to do.
InDesign, however, created problems for me – a prominent one being when you try
and move an image, there are two separate frames, one for the actual image and one
for the image + frame – it caused frustration when wanting to do something as simple
as selecting an image with a mouse and moving it slightly. In spite of all of this,
challenges are key to learning and the difficulties I initially had with InDesign only
improved my technically ability even more.

6. Illustrator and the Colour Wheel
In college, we had a workshop on how to use Adobe
Illustrator. Again, this was my first time using this particular
piece of software and I found it very interesting; you can do
pretty much anything (in regards to manipulation) to a
piece of text or an image, such as slightly shift a letter or
two in a specific direction, cut precise sections off,
skew/distort it – I created my masthead in this session.
An additional feature we were taught how to use was the
Adobe Colour Wheel, where you have the option to find
the exact colour you need. It was actually quite simple to
then incorporate that colour into Illustrator, all I had to do
was copy in the HEX code.

7. Timetoast
Another new piece of software I was introduced to over the course of this project was Timetoast. I
found it fairly simple to use, the layout of the website was pretty self-explanatory and the result
was a basic yet very effective product to organise deadlines.
I learnt how to format my production schedule into a timeline where you can hover over bubbles
with a mouse to get more information on it.

8. Blogger
I had had previous experience with blogger from
where I studied AS Media for a few months at my
previous sixth form, however I didn’t use it to an
advanced extent.
After this project, I am confident with most features of
blogger including embedding things like YouTube
videos and presentations by converting the page to
HTML mode, creating hyperlinks and publishing blog
posts.

9. Prezi
I was new to Prezi at the beginning of
the project and now I am confident in
presenting my work with it.
The simplicity and ease of use of the
software appeals to me as well as the fact
that it creates presentations that have a
unique design and feel.
.

10. Blinkplan
Again, I was new to Blinkplan at the
beginning of the course. I used it to create
my magazine flat plan to plan out what was
going to go on each page.
It enabled me to visually see my content
design with ease and had the option to add
in advert pages as well.

11. Vlogging
My initial proposal was done via a vlog, whereby I
presented to the class using Powerpoint and it was
filmed and uploaded to Youtube, where I and
anyone else in the world who had internet could
access it.
I had never vlogged before and presenting to a
camera was a bit nervewracking but I now feel
confident with vlogging in general, speaking to a
camera and the concept of uploading to Youtube.

12. Cincopa
Cincopa is a website which allows you to create digital photo
albums and then copy/embed them onto other sites – I
embedded mine onto my blog.
As I had to do five different shoots, it was easy for my
photography presentation to get messy on my blog however
Cincopa allowed me to present them all in neat albums of which I
could simply copy the links and embed them into my blog.