The document discusses the various technologies used to create a media product, including: - An iMac G5 computer from 2005 used for production with a 2GHz processor and 3GB of memory. - Photoshop and InDesign software used for image editing and magazine layout, learning tools like layers, selection tools, and character styles. - A Nikon D3100 camera, strobe lights, triggers, and soft boxes used for photography, controlling settings like aperture, shutter speed, and lighting dispersion.

1. Q6:Technology – What have you
learnt about technologies from the
process of constructing
this product?
Poppy Beamish-Benson AS Media

2. Imac G5
• The Imac G5 has a 2GHz intel core 2 duo processor,
3GB (667 Mhz) memory and a mac HD startup disk.
This computer was first made in 2005, later discontinued
in 2006. This is the computer I used to produce my
media product.

3. Keyboard and mouse
• While using the macs, I realised that the controls were
different to that of which I normally used. Instead of
having a ‘printscreen’ button, I had to use three
separate keys (APPLE-SHIFT-4) to take screenshots of
the page.
• To copy and paste objects I had to use APPLE-C and to
paste had to use APPLE-V.
• I also had to use the up and down keys due to the
mouse not scrolling down which was again different to
other computers I had used before.

4. Nikon D3100
• The camera I used for my various images was
The Nikon D3100. This camera has a manual
Aperture setting that was set to 11, and a shutter
Speed of 1/300th. This was set specifically due to
the addition of strobe lights enabling us to take
Photos successfully for our magazine.

5. Strobe lights
• For the lighting of the images, we used strobe lights.
The dial on the back of the light adjusts the lighting
output, this we had set to modelling light on due to it
being appropriate for the purpose of our images. The
auxillary lights were to slave, this meant that they were
triggered in-sync by built in light sensors. This made it
easier for us to take our images due to the lighting
being coordinated and efficient.

6. Horseshoe Flash Trigger
• To trigger the flash we used the Horseshoe flash
trigger, this uses an infra red signal that is sent to
the strobe light. The flash then triggers the flash
in-sync with the camera shutter (speed set to
1/300th sec to match strobe speeds). This piece
of equipment ensured that our images would be
well timed and taken to their full potential. It was
attached to the camera making it easier for us to
take the images and use the trigger at the same
time, this helped while taking my image due to
the strobe lighting being something completely
new to me therefore the trigger made the
process easier and more efficient for me while
taking my images.

7. Soft Boxes
• We used soft boxes within our photo-shoots to
disperse the light and give a softer, rounder light
on the subject. This avoided harshly lit images
which would’ve looked over edited and less-
effective within our magazines. They were
placed on either side of the backdrop to make
the shadows within the image equal thus making
it look more professional and eye-catching to the
viewer.

8. Backdrop
• We used a clean, white backdrop which was
lit further by two additional strobes on full
power to create high exposure. This made the
images look more effective, with a white
background making our models the focus of
the image. A busy background with more
colour would’ve made the images look tacky
and crowded thus making our magazines less
enticing for the reader.

9. Photoshop
• The main piece of software I used to create my
magazine was Adobe Photoshop. This
program enabled me to sue several different
tools to successfully edit my images making
them appear more professional, while also
improving their quality. A key tool I sued while
editing my images was the ‘magnetic lasso’
tool which allowed me to select parts of my
image, such as my model. I could then
enhance the image by changing the brightness
and contrast levels in addition to adding
shadows with the burn tool and turning specific
parts to black and white to highlight parts of
the image such as my models hair and
clothes.

10. Photoshop
• Another feature of photoshop that I had to use
was layers; layers enabled me to copy parts of
the image to duplicate them such as my
models hair to overlap of parts of text. Text
could also be placed in a separate layer to
create an ordering where some layers would
be more prominent than others, each new
item placed on the image would be created as
a new layer therefore they had to be named
and ordered in a specific way to ensure the
cover and other images were successful.

11. Photoshop
The magnetic lasso tool enabled me to select specific parts
of the image to enhance and alter.
The crop tool enabled me to crop images to the exact size
that I needed, such as my contents images.
The fill tool allowed me to add shadows to parts of the
image and change the colour of areas, such as parts of my
models tie-dyed top.
I used the text tool to add text to my images,
such as quotes and conventions for my cover.
• The separate tools for photoshop were placed on a bar at the side
of the page, making them easily accessible and visible.

12. Photoshop
• There were also ‘auto’ tools that we could use to
correct our photos and alter there contrast and
lighting. This made editing easier due to the computer
enhancing the image for you.

13. In Design
• Indesign was another programme that was key in producing my
magazine, with the main body of text being added to my article through
the tools provided. Indesign was similar to photoshop with there being
layers and a toolbar at the side. To begin with, the programme was quite
challenging to use due to it being new to me, however after using it
regularly I understood the tools and their functions.

14. In Design
I used the arrow tool to move my text and image within the page to the
correct spacings and places making it more professional.
I used the text tool to copy my main body of text onto my article and to
edit and adapt it to fit within my article page.
I used the layer tool to create columns for my text within the page.

15. In Design
• Indesign enabled me to create character styles,
such as a large character at the beginning of the
article text, in addition to creating paragraphs and
finding specific fonts.

16. Powerpoint
• I decided to use powerpoint to produce some of my
evaluation questions due to it being an effective
presentation tool. Powerpoint enabled me to add text and
images to effectively present my product evaluation within
my blog.

17. Safari
• The internet on the macs was different
to that of a windows computer, with the
controls being different such as adding
new tabs to the page.

18. Wordpress
• We have used wordpress.com to
produce our blogs and present our
magazine. While using this site I have
learnt how to embed files and media to
present my work in a professional and
easily accessible way. I have learnt how
to create posts and pages to present my
work in specific ways.