The document discusses the use of various technologies in producing a magazine final project. It describes using Photoshop to edit images, manipulate lighting in photos, learning to use a Canon 600D camera, researching online for codes and conventions of magazines, using a blog to organize research, and creating a PowerPoint for codes and conventions research. The technologies helped improve the quality of the project from a limited initial technical skill level and were crucial to the magazine production.

2. TECHNOLOGY
Throughout the production of my final task, I’ve learned to use a
number of technology and used them to improve it. These include:
• Photoshop
• Lighting
• Camera – Canon 600D
• Internet
• Microsoft PowerPoint

3. PHOTOSHOP
I used Adobe Photoshop Elements 7.0 in the whole production of
my magazine. So it was used to add text, add my images,
manipulate the contrast and brightness of my images and the edit
my images. Before the production of my magazine, I had very
limited skills in Photoshop, but after a while I picked up how to use
it through trial and error.
To the right shows
my progress in
learning how to use
Photoshop and how
crucial it is to the
making of the
magazine. I used it
to add lipstick,
change the
background, the
contrast of her face
and more.

4. LIGHTING
I manipulated the lighting in order to better light my photographs as I
came to the conclusion that artificial lighting (of which the school
supplied) was the best bet in getting the right shadowing and
highlighting I wanted in my pictures.
Getting the right lighting was difficult for me, as too much lighting
could potentially ruin my image and too little would leave me nothing to
work with, so to get over this issue I research lighting tutorials on
YouTube and a lighting guide the school had. The positioning of the
lighting was also important to make it look professional. So, for my
cover and contents I used lighting straight on and for my double page
spread the lighting was to the side so that a shadow was cast on one
side of his face.
An example of the lighting I used
for my double page spread is
shown on the right, the far right
image shows the lighting more
clearly as the brightness has been
modified.

5. CANON 600D
The camera, of course, was a crucial part in the production of my
final piece as it allowed me to capture the images I was going to use.
However, before taking the actual pictures I had no clue how to use a
camera and the only experience I had was a phone camera. So, I had
to research all the aspects of the camera in order to get the best
image I could (examples of these aspects are ISO, aperture and
shutter speed). The links I used to learn about the camera are on my
blog. Something handy about the camera was that it had a large
memory so I could take many photos, which was necessary as on the
main photo shoot day I took over 300 pictures of my models. Because
I had so many pictures that I could take it allowed me more freedom
to experiment with more poses and different lighting to get the
perfect image, and it allowed me plenty of opportunity to confer with
my focus group about the best image.

6. INTERNET
The internet was another key aspect in the making of my final piece
and throughout the making of my piece I learned a lot. I used the
internet in my codes and conventions research (On my blogger) which
showed me what all music magazines did and therefore what to do too,
but also what to do to make my magazine stand out and be different
from the rest. It also helped me understand the typical layout of
magazines and the little pieces which make it look complete.
As well as that, the internet gave me blogger, which is an ideal way to
organise all the research I have been conducting for the production of
my magazine and to store all the links which I found useful. Without
the blog, keeping track of all the information would have been
extremely difficult and time consuming.
Furthermore, websites, like YouTube, helped me learn about aspects of
magazine production which I would not have known otherwise (e.g.
camera functioning, lighting)

7. MICROSOFT POWERPOINT
PowerPoint was a great way to conduct my codes and convention as
it is an structured way of putting together all my information,
which let me refer to it at a later date (especially when doing my
evaluation).

8. CONCLUSION
The use of technology has played a large part in the production and
creation of my final piece. Without this all, my final piece would lack
professionalism and would be to a much lower standard. They have
also helped me organise all my research, work and planning. Before
this task, I lack knowledge in some area of technology but now I
have developed a basic understanding of the technology.