Evaluation: Question 6What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

In my production I used various technical items and software's. This allowed me to explore and understand

just how technical it is to produce my product. Learning how to use this software and technologies has

really helped me gain my preferred reading.

Digital SLR Nikon Camera

I used this for the photography of my product. Following some research (such as tutorials) into the product, I found it very simple to use (see next slide). I found the fact that it is digital extremely useful because, as I was taking the photos, I could decide how I wanted the lighting and modify the setting or redirect my model. The large memory of the camera allowed me to take multiple shots so that, when looking back at the photos on my computer, I could decide which photo I wanted on the front cover, double page spread etc.

BLOG

iPhonesI used an iPhone 4 for one of the pictures on the contents page and an iPhone 6 for other pictures on the contents page. I felt that although taking the photos on my phone and liking them, that it was an added challenge to try to adapt the photos using Photoshop and changing the contrasts, brightness etc. Due to the difference in quality from the iPhone 4 and the professional cameras, I decided to just have those images smaller and on the contents page as less important images, but adding some effect towards the layout of the product.

Adobe PhotoshopI used Adobe Photoshop for the majority of my production phase as I found it very simple and straight forward to use. However I didn’t initially feel the same way; I struggled at the beginning to understand how to place an image in the document or even how to minimize a page. I research different tutorials, asked for guidance from my teacher and eventually taught myself at home by purchasing the software and continuing my work after school. I now find the software extremely easy to work with and very useful for manipulating certain images and creating effects.

]Photoshop screenshots]

Safari and ChromeI used both Safari and Chrome Browsers to complete my research into different mediums. I researched the different magazines that I wanted to base mine on, including Q, NME, CLASH and Fader. The internet really helped me as it allowed me to keep in touch with my focus group and share all of my ideas and opinions in addition to gaining some feedback from those in the age of my target audience. The internet also allowed me to post on my blog and update all of the progress that I had made along the way which I found so useful as it enabled me to monitor my development.

PowerPoint, Word and Prezi

I used all of this software to gather information together and put it in an exciting document and interactive presentation. I wanted to display some of my research and ideas in some form that either my target audience or just anybody who is willing to learn would be engaged by. With the use of transitions, colours, images and quirky fonts I think that I have been able to inject some fun into some of the more heavy text that I have put together.

Lighting

I used professional light boxes that helped me capture that realistic photographic effect. I was able to move them around to get my prefered look and tried various different distances etc., and then shared them with my focus group and asked for their opinion on the different photographs. I am very pleased and impressed with how the photos have captured the highlighted blue in the model’s eyes and I feel that that is due to the very good camera quality and the very bright but subtle lights used.

In Conclusion…

The use of technology has increased my production immensely. If I had not had these technologies then my production would be a low level 1 and I would have been very disappointed with the lack of professionalism in the final product. Without these technologies I wouldn’t have been able to do the following; research different magazines and their designs to help inspire my product, share with my focus group or post onto my blog, track my progress and also see where I needed to improve . To conclude I think that the technologies are of vital importance in the making of products like mine and I would thoroughly recommend that future students use them when creating these types of products.