The student learned several new skills using Photoshop during a school project to create a magazine, including using layers and the spot healing and magic wand tools. They also learned how to use online platforms like Blogger to publish work, Prezi for interactive presentations, and GoAnimate to create animated videos. While initially challenging, spending more time with the new technologies helped the student improve their skills and create higher quality work.

1. Media Evaluation Question 6 –
What have you learnt about
technologies from the process of
constructing the product?

2. Photoshop
Before the music magazine task, we had a preliminary task of creating a front
cover for a college magazine. This was created and edited using Photoshop ,
and I have to admit my Photoshop skills weren't great in this task. But I feel as
though I have improved during the main task of creating the front cover,
double page spread and contents page for my made up magazine. Spending
more time on Photoshop and getting used to the iMacs really helped and
there was a few tools on Photoshop that I got familiar with, like learning that I
need new layers for every object that I create and learning how to use the
magic want tool.

3. Photoshop – The spot healing tool
The spot healing tool was a tool that I hadn’t used before in the preliminary task and it was
something that I had to learn how to use. I also learnt that this tool allows the user to get rid of
any unwanted spots and blemishes on a face that they are editing and make the skin look
flawless.
Before – there are a few spots on her forehead that need to
be removed to make her skin look smoother.
After – the spot that was on her forehead has been removed using the spot
healing tool, I’ve also got rid of the wrinkles on her nose.

4. Photoshop – The magic wand tool
The magic wand tool allows the user to remove the background of an image if the user
wants to add their own background our cut the model out of the image. This came in
rather helpful when cutting models out of an image, it is quicker than using the lasso tool
and using the eraser to delete the background. But one thing I found out when wanting
to delete the background of an image was that I needed to create a copy of the image so
that there is then a background behind the image to delete.
The Image that needs cutting out
Copying the layer
Using the magic wand tool to highlight
what wants removing
Deleting and removing the layer’s
background

5. Photoshop – layers
Layers in Photoshop are very important when creating a new project in Photoshop; they allow you to create
new separate objects and it is also easier for the user to edit their project using layers.
In Photoshop, new layers are created automatically when wanting to write text or are adding images to the
project.
The layers was something new that I had to get used to when creating the magazine and it did take some time
getting used to creating a new layer every time I wanted to create a separate shape on my front cover and
contents page.
Adding the layers. Obviously in my example I have already created the layers I am just making them viewable by clicking the box next to the layer. To create a new layer
or copy an existing layer all you have to do is click (or drag the layer) into this box:

6. Blogger was the main online blog site that we used to publish and show progression of our work, from the
preliminary task to the main music magazine task.
Before we started using this in class, I had heard of the site but had never used it and was unsure whether I
would adapt to the new programme or not.
Once I understood the basics like creating a new post, editing and updating the post, designing what my blog
should look like to viewers and embedding videos, prezis and go animates, I found that it was very easy to use.
From this piece of technology I learnt that everyone who has access to the internet can view my posts and
comment on them. Blogger is proof that the world has developed from standard internet website posting to
internet users coming together, sharing what they feel the world should know.
A couple of posts from my blog showing that I have used the technology to embed a pdf document to
Blogger and have used YouTube to show existing artists in the rock genre.

7. Prezi is an online presentation site that allows the users to create and
share presentations and ideas using a virtual canvas .
Prezi is a fun way to present work and is less boring than the standard
power point . It was a new piece of technology that I have never even
heard of yet alone use it, but once I had made a couple of presentations
I found it easier to use.

8. GoAnimate is an online site that allows users to create and distribute animated
videos. It is a website that you have to sign up to but the content is free and easy to
use. Again this was another new piece of technology that I was introduced to at the
start of the task. I found that it is simple and fun to use once you have got used to how
you need to add characters, change how they move and adding dialogue. I used
GoAnimate a few times when describing the conventions of a front cover, double page
spread and contents page.

9. In conclusion I feel as though I have learnt quite a lot with new technologies
and how to use them. It was frustrating at first when creating the college
magazine preliminary task but once I spent time and effort on them it really
paid off and help me create a better product in the end. I am still learning
new stuff now about the new technologies and new websites that allow a
more creative and fun experience.