The student learned several key things in progressing from their preliminary task to the final production of a music magazine spread. They improved the masthead design, switched to artificial lighting for a more professional look, varied the model photos with different outfits, and organized the layout into a neater, more mature structure. Through research on codes and conventions, and practice with Photoshop tools, the student gained skills in image editing, effective masthead design, and creating a polished layout that better met industry standards.

1. QUESTION 7
BY PHOEBE JOHNSON
Looking back at your preliminary task, what
do you feel you have learnt in the
progression of this task?

2. Final ProductionPreliminary

3. Preliminary Final Production

4. PROGRESSION
The improvements I wanted to make to my preliminary task
was done so. Such as having more than two of the same
models in the same pictures and outfits. Meaning I wanted to
have a variety of images. Also in my preliminary I used
natural lighting, so for the final production I decided to use
artificial lighting as it appeared more professional and give
the image a sharper and bolder look. Also I wanted to change
the layout of my preliminary task as it looked very messy and
childish, so I wanted a more mature and organized layout. I
also wanted to change the Masthead so it would be bolder
and easily recognizable.
So the four main things I wanted to change was:
1. Masthead
2. Lighting
3. Layout
4. Image variety

5. 1) As you can see with
my final production I
have changed the
masthead to be bold
and stand out using
the font Arial Black,
this is different to my
preliminary task as it
looks more mature and
fits the codes and
conventions of a music
magazine better.
2) I changed the lighting on my final production so it was high key and
professional looking, rather than using natural lighting from a window,
which gives a very shadowed and unprofessional look. Also using high
key lighting fits into the research I did as it is what most music
magazines use.

6. 4) The image variety on my preliminary task was using the same
two models in both shots wearing the same outfit. So I still used
two models but I took photos of them separately and had them
change outfit so that they appeared to be in a different photo shot
an makes the magazine look more put together and I also made
sure the images were properly focused on my final production
unlike on the preliminary task.
3) I also changed the layout of
my magazine from the
preliminary task as it looked
messy and childish. I changed
the layout on the front page to
more organized and to look
like a typical magazine cover.
I also changed my contents
page and included a lot more
information and looked more
profession.

7. LEARNING
I have learnt how to make the layout of my magazine better, by using
Photoshop I was able to a more layers and make it more advance, as
when I was doing my preliminary task I had little to no idea of how to use
Photoshop so I tried to make it as basic as possible. But after watching
many tutorials I have learnt how to add more layers as well as how to
edit my pictures correctly. I also had my codes and conventions research
when doing my final production so I knew how to layout my magazine,
compared to how other music magazines had designed their layout.
Properly edited photo through using
and learning how to use Photoshop,
by getting rid of blemishes and
manipulating brightness/contrast.

8. I also learnt through codes and conventions research that my
preliminary task masthead was not suitable for a music magazine
so I had to do a lot of research into the type of Masthead I wanted
and experimented with a lot of different fonts. Also in my
preliminary task the Masthead wasn’t very bold meaning it didn’t
stand out and wouldn’t be good for a first issue of my music
magazine as the Masthead needs to be there to create brand
awareness.

9. I have also learnt how to make the quality of my images
better by focusing properly and using direct mode of address
to create a personal relationship toward the reader (uses ad
gratifications theory). I learnt how to create a bold eye-
catching image with the lights and different outfits on models
and how I focused the images.
Before: After:

10. All of the things I learnt from doing my preliminary task and
finishing the final production of the front page & contents page,
I was able to produce my double page spread from all that I had
learnt.