I have learned to use features like colors, boxes, and transformations more effectively in the full product compared to the preliminary task. Specifically, I limited colors to a strict red, white, and black scheme and used "less is more" with effects like gradients. I also improved my use of layout and focus on the interests of the reader rather than just demonstrating skills. Overall, my skills in InDesign and Photoshop as well as my design sense have grown from applying lessons learned in the preliminary task.

1. 7. Looking back at your preliminary
task, what do you feel you have learnt in
the progression from it to the full
product?

2. Cover Comparison
Although I used the same two pieces of software
(Adobe InDesign and PhotoShop cs3), it is evident
that I used many more features to better effect in
the full product
•I used many of the same conventions such as a
header/footer, barcode, date and issue number,
masthead and colour scheme.
•I’ve learnt to use colours to a better effect in my
full product, as in my preliminary task I tried to use
a range of bold colours in order to try and achieve
an eye-catching look. However, they clashed quite a
lot which made the features such as the sell lines
difficult to read. Learning from this mistake, I stuck
to a strict scheme of red, white and black, and then
when a feature needed something extra, I used
yellow or blue. I feel that this makes the product
looks much more professional as the colours work
together very well.
•I also used more boxes and transformations to slant
object and make them appear more visually grasping.

3. Cover Comparison (continued)
•In the preliminary task I was already quite familiar
with many PhotoShop tools, and I tried to apply things
such as gradients and drop shadows all over the
product. Upon reflection, it seems cluttered and that it
needs a pinch of simplicity with a ‘less is more’
approach, which is what I tried to do in the full
product
•In the preliminary task, I used quite a number of sell
lines to try and frame the subject of the image, but I
knew that this would be difficult in my full product as
I had my mind set on a band as the main feature,
which would mean using a group shot, so I steered
clear of using any sell lines. This way you could see the
band more clearly, which is what I wanted
•More specifically, I used the levels tool quite a lot to
edit the subject and the background of the cover image
in my preliminary task. After realising that the desired
effect of contrast wasn’t achieved, I made the
background very dull and plain in my full product

4. Contents Page Comparison
•It’s quite clear to see that the layout of the
two contents pages are very similar, as I was
quite pleased with the one I produced in the
preliminary task, so I decided to build upon it
•However in the full product, I used less
gradients, and focused more on the colours
and layout in the interest of the reader. I used
a ‘polaroid’ style photograph to demonstrate
some vintage style (which is popular in indie),
doing a similar thing as last time. Although, in
the full product, I set it backwards and slanted
it to make it appear wedged onto a clipboard
for some visual effect
•I also used my knowledge of InDesign to add
a drop capital on the beginning of my briefing
of the band, and well as a QR code that would
link to their website

5. Conclusion
 I believe that since my preliminary task, I have
developed a broader range of skills within InDesign
and PhotoShop, using features more effectively to
appeal to the target audience
 I think that my sense of design has also improved, in
that I have become much more disciplined in using
the layout and effects of features/objects, rather than
just using every skills I know when it may not be
relevant to the task