Daniel learned to use several new software programs and improved his skills with familiar ones while producing a media product. He gained experience with Photoshop, InDesign, PowerPoint, Word, Blogger, SlideShare, Premiere, Bridge and YouTube. Key skills developed include page layout, image editing, text styling, layer usage, and exporting files. Daniel also learned efficient techniques like keyboard shortcuts. Overall, the project helped Daniel become more proficient with software commonly used in media industries.

1. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT
ABOUT TECHNOLOGIES FROM
PRODUCING THIS PRODUCT?
By Daniel Clipperton

2. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT ABOUT
TECHNOLOGIES FROM PRODUCING
THIS PRODUCT?
Whilst both planning and producing my media product, I have been able to
both develop and hone my skills upon a range of different software. This has
allowed me to produce work of a more professional standard, understand
software that is used within the everyday media industry and become more
comfortable using a greater range of IT software. When I first began Media
Studies AS, I completed my preliminary task where I produced a magazine
cover using my current knowledge of Photoshop and the magazine industry.
At the time I had very basic knowledge as I had only used the software a few
times before to a very basic level, I was only able to place/arrange
images/text and the only key command I knew was control T. Some software
which I’d used before included PowerPoint and Word, which became very
useful during the planning and research stage of my coursework. Some of
the software I’d never used before and had to learn from scratch included
Premiere, Bridge, Blogger and Slideshare. These software became more
useful when putting together smaller elements of my coursework, e.g.
contact sheets, interviews and uploading files to blog/designing my blog.
Before the design process I had never previously used the software Indesign,
this meant that I had to become acquainted with the basics before I could
produce my double page spread. I developed my skills through asking my
peers/teacher and researching on the internet how to complete certain
tasks/what the tools applications were.

3. INDESIGN/PHOTOSHOP
Firstly, when using Photoshop I learned how to adapt/set up the document size, so that it was to the size of A4 (210x297) and
the correct orientation (portrait). This allowed me to ensure that my magazine conformed to the convention size and was possible
to print. Whilst producing my media product I developed an understanding of a variety of selection tools, including the magnetic
lasso, lasso, Polygon Lasso Tool and elliptical marquee, allowing me to effectively remove sections of an image cleanly by using a
mixture of selections. I also gained an understanding of how to use the feature application, allowing me to produce a softer edge
on cut images, so they did not look too sharp. I also know have a more in-depth knowledge of the key commands integrated into
Photoshop, including Ctrl+F4 (Paste), Crtl+F3 (Copy) and Shift+F7 (Inverse Selection). These shortcuts allowed me to complete
simple tasks more quickly, providing me with more time to spend on more complex areas of the design. I have also gained a
understanding of how to edit/stylise text, through the use of effects available in the drop down menu, when double clicking the
chosen layer. But, also through the typography panel, which allows me to adjust the kerning, tracking and text height. Making
sure that the text was easy for the audience to read. When producing my Front Cover in Photoshop, I learned how to work with a
variety of layers, making them visible/invisible, to that I could focus more attention upon certain areas of the design. It also
allowed me to adjust the order of layers, quickly deciding what arrangement worked best. Now, I also know how to use the pen
tool, which allowed me to create my own unique shapes/objects, that were difficult to produce otherwise. Finally, within
Photoshop I also learned how to complete the double exposure technique, which I used within my Second Heist Album Cover, this
allowed me to be more creative and gain a greater understanding of the range of applications there are within Photoshop.
I also developed a range of skills with the software Indesign when producing my double page spread. This included initially
understanding how to add margins and columns to my double page spread do that the text would not overlap with the seam of
the magazine. It also allow me to arrange my text, so that it followed the conventional style and was easy to read. Furthermore in
terms of text arrangement I also learnt that you could link text boxes together, so that it flowed from one to the next, this meant
I could write simultaneously without having to cut and paste text. I also learned how to add a drop clef to the start of my article,
making it look more professional and stand out to the reader. I also found out it was possible to create a text box using the pen
tool surrounding an image so that the text would flow around it, this allowed me to make the image stand out more to the reader
and integrate more information into the article. Finally, with both Photoshop and Indesign I learnt how to export the files at a
maximum quality in a JPEG format so I could upload them to my blog.

4. MICROSOFT POWERPOINT/WORD
Microsoft PowerPoint- Although I had used this software several times
before, I usually only produced very bland, unoriginal slides that were not
attracting to read. So therefore through my research and planning stages, I
tried to produced more creative, visually pleasing designs. I also decided
against using basic templates throughout all of the PowerPoints I used, so I
could arrange the text and images more freely and creatively.
Microsoft Word- I decided to produce elements of research in word, as well
as my double page spread, as it allowed me to effectively check my grammar
and spelling, which would not be possible in software such as Indesign. I
learned through my use of Microsoft Word that it’s possible to check the
spelling, grammar and word count as well as look up words through the
integrated Thesaurus in the review section. This allowed me to insure there
were no errors in my work that would make it look less professional, but
also helped make the article interesting/flow due to the language used.

5. BLOGGER/SLIDESHARE/PREMIERE/
ADOBE BRIDGE/YOUTUBE
Blogger- This was a software I’d never used before prior to starting my coursework, but
through learning about the software, I can now upload picture, PowerPoints and word
documents as well as being able to add links to videos. This has allowed me to produce a
blog that is more attractive to the user, as it makes the content stand out.
Slideshare- I didn’t use this software a great deal throughout my media production, yet
when I did it was in-expendable, as it allowed me to upload PowerPoints I’d created and
insert the html into my blog. This meant that they be viewed by the audience, in a similar
way to a regular PowerPoint.
Premiere- This was another software, I didn’t use a great amount of, I only used to edit
and collate my interviews. Although, I did learn a small range of skills including how to
upload clips to Premiere, add captions and export files. This meant that my
research/planning section on my blog was more interesting to the audience, compared to
a transcript version of the interview.
Bridge- I used this software in order to produce the contact sheets for the Photography
Planning section. I learnt how import the images on the software, editing the page size,
number of columns and the number of rows, plus highlight the photos I used. This helped
me to organise the photos in a concise, effective manner and show the audience which
ones I chosen.
YouTube- I used this software to upload the interviews to the internet, I learnt how to
upload the video, edit the synopsis/title and how to place a link into my blog. This was
useful as it helped to make my blog more interesting to the audience.