Final double page spread

Final contents

Final front cover

Conclusion

Q7.

finishing Q7

I'm finding it harder to finish question 7 due to the content I need to find but so far my conclusion is coming along well I think, as I have tried to think of different and interesting ways to get my answers across. I've managed to use a range of techniques as well, but now I just need to finish this last question for my product to be completed.

Q6.

Q6.

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

During the creation of this product, I learnt a lot of new skills.
There’s definitely more to photography then just taking a photo as I realised, you also have to figure out what way you want the photo (e.g. portrait or landscape) to fit on a specific page or a particular size so that it’s not pixelated if you need to enlarge it. You also have to control what's actually in the photo; I chose what my models wore and their facial expressions as there are clear style and attitude differences between genres such as Pop and Heavy metal. I did research into what my models should look like which is why my blog has a mood board, and I also had to look at current trends so as to make ‘The Fall’ more relatable and fresh. The background of the images was also really important to get right as there are usually huge differences between genres, unless they are shot in a studio (but I wanted something more relaxed). You wouldn’t see a dance artist in a family home, just like typically you wouldn’t see a photo-shoot with a Pop boy band in an abandoned building so I had to really think where I should take the photos.

I had never used Photoshop or InDesign before, so of course I learnt a lot from both of them and I think now I can create quite good pieces of work on both, even if they are a little basic as I only really had a crash course in the two. I learnt the typical things like how to get rid of unwanted things in your pictures, how to change certain colours and how to make people look more airbrushed and professional.
Considering how little I knew about Photoshop, InDesign and even using Mac’s, I'm happy with my final product and what I have managed to achieve throughout my coursework. I think the hardest thing was just right at the beginning where I knew nothing, and had to find out what everything was and where it was on the Mac but once I got into the habit of regularly using them it began to get easier. I felt that InDesign was easier than Photoshop as we were only shown the basic steps we needed and I felt like there were less of them compared to what was being used on Photoshop. Another challenge was taking the photos, trying to find a time when everyone was free and willing, and shooting them portrait or landscape depending on whether they were going to be the front cover image or not. However once I had got that out the way the rest was all on the computers so required less organising which made it a little easier. The clone stamp on Photoshop was the most helpful tool ever as well!

I learnt to some extent just what the two programs can actually do for you and I realised how helpful they were for the people whose job it is to create things such as magazines. I discovered how the more time you put in, the more perfected your overall product can become, by just having a cleaner and better finish. Some of the steps in Photoshop were quite elaborate but what they did (e.g. the lasso tool) was actually very helpful.

Blogger has been the most helpful form of delivering homework. You can put things up at home and its quick and easy to embed files, add images and even inserting videos there’s just one step to do it. I also used GoAnimate, a website on which to create animations as the people I used in my focus group didn't want to be seen. That website was also quite simple to use as the sequences had been shortened a lot so it was easy for everyone to use. Overall, I have been introduced to a lot of new programs and different ways of delivering certain aspects of coursework  but I feel like I have managed to keep up with the demands quite well and I'm glad I have been shown them, so I know how to use them in the future, should the need ever arise.

Q5.

Media coursework by morris.beatrice on GoAnimate

Q4.

Q3.

Q3 from beamorris13

Q2.

Q1.

Evaluation introduction

Over this project I had to produce a music magazine front cover, contents page and double page spread.  I chose the genre 'pop' for the overall style, as I thought it would be the most fun and I could be quite creative with it. As a result, I ended up with a Christmas themed music magazine. My target audience was young teenagers (11-15 years) specifically girls as my main article was on a boy band.
The magazine is called 'Stereo' and contains a range of different aspects of pop as well as side stories to make the readers feel more involved.
I now have to create my evaluation of my magazine, to finish the entire project off.

Feedback for front cover

The comments on my front cover were that the festive colour scheme and black and white image used made a good contrast and allowed your focus to go to the cover lines which are the most important selling point. I think the overall feeling was that it was a good layout and a good design and suited the pop theme. However, the main thing to change about it would be that i said the entire album was free, whereas on a real magazine they might offer one song or a discount on iTunes. So to change my magazine to make it better, I will only offer a free song, not the whole thing but I was told to keep it as a lot of pop magazines offer things to entice potential buyers.

Inspiration for double page spread

I took inspiration from this issue of Kerrang, even though my magazine is pop not rock. I like that the writing is over the image of the band which I think is a nice touch to link the two together. Because its a rock band, the people look a bit more aggressive then my magazine needs to look so I will try and soften the poses of my band. I am also having my double page spread in interview format as its the best and quickest way to find out information about a band, and each different piece of information is easily accesible.

Inspiration for front cover

This magazine is also Christmas themed and has inspired me in that I like the bauble effect used and the  simple colours. There aren't that many cover lines and as mine is aimed at a younger audience I will be using more, and perhaps a few more colours so its eye catching.

Inspiration for contents page

I like that the editors note takes up a large part of the page so you really know what the people where thinking when they created that magazine. I love the colours and eclectic feel, with lots of images and a clear layout for where to find pages through-out the magazine. I think from this I am going to use the editors note and other small parts which i think look good but a different colour scheme as mine is christmas themed and perhaps a few less images as i want to concentrate on my main story.

initial double page spread

initial front cover

initial contents design

Finished contents page (1)

Finished Front Cover (1)

Starting contents page- different ideas

Developing front cover ideas design 2

Developing my front cover design 1

Starting the designs- choosing a front cover photo