Bethan Foster

*What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

*Apple Mac

In order to create a seamless and professional looking product, I employed the use of an Apple Mac with programs such as Adobe Photoshop. I made this choice of computer because of the wide screen and high brightness. It allowed me to see fine details within my work and also allowed me to use Photoshop to its full optimized potential. I was able to see my work fully as it would look in a real life, allowing me to add verisimilitude. By using the Mac systems I was able to learn how to operate Photoshop and use tools such as the Colour Replacement Tool, Magic Wand Tool and Background Eraser Tool. If I was not able to use these to their full potential, my products would look much less professional.

*iMovie

To create my audience interview, I used iMovie on the Apple Mac and edited the video together suitably, to then upload onto my blog. I found this program incredibly easy to use, despite the fact I don’t have much experience with it as I didn’t use it at AS and I did not create a film trailer. I feel as though my skills in editing have been broadened by experimenting with this and allowing myself to use it by doing an audience interview. I was also able to present my audience interview in a more interesting way, which made it easier to represent information.

*Camera, Canon EOS 1200D

I used a DSLR camera in order to shoot my audience interview on. By using this I was able to establish good technique with capturing video on a more technical camera as opposed to a phone. Because of this, I was able to achieve clear audio and image so I could collate my information easily and upload it to blogger after using iMovie. I found the camera to use once I got fully used to it and was able to make my video more interesting as I could shoot from various angles and make the editing process easier and make the finished product more seamless.

*Adobe Photoshop

From AS, I was able to extend my Photoshop skills further as there was more products to be created in a variety of different styles. I chose suitable house style fonts on Photoshop and used the same across all of my products. I was able to enhance and alter my images using the magic wand tool, colour replacement tools and colourizer options to make my photographs suitable for my products.

I used the curves and levels tool within my work in order to achieve a lighting effect that I desired if I felt like the orignal photo did not out like I wanted to. I mainly used the curves tool on my DP Spread as I was able to add a soft glow to the skin of my models face that I really liked. I then also learned how to apply my images in black and white quickly using the adjustments option within the menu. This saved me a lot of time and gave me the option to change my images as I pleased and experiment with various different colouring options.

*Photoshop Continued

To achieve the multi-tonal effects on my magazine home page I used the difference layering option on Photoshop. I used this in order to ensure my writing was easy to read and it is also an unusual feature for a magazine to have. I thought it looked really interesting to have article have a change in colour as the words went over my main image. I also used a similar technique on my DP spread so my ellipsis was easily visible to the reader.