Digital Technology

Progression from preliminary task to final product

Software

Planning

Final product- • Microsoft Publisher

Publisher

I used Publisher to-• Create shooting schedule• Create editing schedule• Create mock ups

Editing images

Preliminary task-• Microsoft Paint

Final Product-• Microsoft Paint• Adobe Photoshop

Microsoft Paint

I used paint to:• Scan in and colour the original title for my

magazine• To crop images• To convert Publisher documents (such as mock

ups) into JPEG documents, to post on my blog. (Print screen -> Paint -> save as JPEG -> Blog)

Adobe Photoshop

I used Photoshop to-• Edit the saturation of images• Edit the exposure of images• Edit the white balance of images• To add ‘highlight’ to images• To ‘sharpen’ images• To add ‘fill light’ to images

These images show an example of how I used Photoshop.

I changed the saturation of this image.

Before After

Construction of products

Preliminary task- • Paint • Microsoft Publisher

Final product-• Paint • Microsoft Publisher

Paint

I used Paint to-• Convert my Publisher products into JPEG

documents to post on my blog

Microsoft Publisher

I used Publisher to-• Construct my school magazine and music

magazine

I used Microsoft Paint, Publisher, and Adobe Photoshop because I found them easy programs to use. I cannot afford the editing technology that would have been used to create a ‘real’ magazine. I used the resources available to me, that made my product look as conventional as possible.

Internet software

Internet software:• Blogger• Survey monkey• Facebook• Youtube• Slideshare

BloggerI used blogger to show all of my coursework. I used it because it is a very interactive medium, and I feel that media coursework should be expressed in this way, because after all, media is all about the audience. It is easy to construct a blog using blogger, and it is easy to access the blog for audiences.

Survey Monkey I used Survey Monkey to conduct my target audience survey during the research stage of my coursework. This method was easy to use, for me and participants, and allowed me to collect vital information from my final product, such as what the audience feel they want in an Urban music magazine. I then used this information in the construction stages of my coursework for my final product.

Facebook

I used Facebook to distribute my survey to my target audience. It was a quick, easy and effective method of distribution, due to the fact that the majority of Facebook users fit into my target audience. Eg. Aged 15-25, socio-economic group C2DE. This meant that the results that I received were relevant to my music magazine product.

Youtube

I used Youtube to upload the videos of my audience videos (feedback, ect), and to search for tutorials for Photoshop. I used Youtube because it is the largest video sharing website in the world (that I am aware of). This meant that I was sure that I would be able to find the tutorial videos, and because I already had a Youtube account, it was easy to upload my videos, and then embed them to my blog. This method is quicker than to upload the video straight to Blogger.

Slideshare

I used Slideshare to upload Microsoft Powerpoint presentations onto my blog, such as this one. I feel that it is an interesting and interactive medium to use on a blog. It is fun, visual, and looks much less cluttered than if I were to just use paragraph upon paragraph on my blog.

Hardware

iPod touch

I used my iPod touch to take the images for my recce for my final product. I used it because it was easy to use, I carry it all of the time so it is easily accessible, and the images did not need to be of high quality (iPod touch’s are 0.7 megapixles).

Sony SLR

I used this camera to take the images for my school magazine, and my music magazine. I used it because it produced higher quality images than my iPod because it is a higher megapixel camera. In the construction of ‘real’ magazines, much higher megapixel camera’s would be used, however this camera was made available by my school, so this was all I was able to use. It was easy to use, and did the job it was intended for. However, if I had the chance, I would have taken images with a higher quality camera.

TripodI used a tripod to hold the camera whilst taking the images for my final product. I did this so that my images were straight, and steady. I did not use it for my school magazine, and had never used one previous to the construction of my music magazine. However, I am glad that I used it for my final magazine. It made the images look more professional.

Apple MacBefore I began my a-level media coursework, I had never used an Apple Mac before. At first I found them almost impossible to use. But after some experimenting, I eventually became used to them. However, this happened too late for me to construct any of my products using the Macs. Nevertheless, I blogged on the Macs.

Windows Computer

I used Window’s PC’s for my school magazine and music magazine. I used my Window’s laptop primarily, because it was easily accessible, and I was familiar with it and all of its programs before I began my coursework. This made the process of construction of my products a lot easier. I also used the school Window’s computers to finish Microsoft publications that I created at home. I transferred these documents using my memory stick.

Memory StickI used my memory stick for my school magazine and music magazine. I used it to transfer my documents from my laptop to the school computers, and vice versa. I also used email to do this, however, my school has an EMBC block on most websites, including Hotmail, so memory stick was an easier method.

ScannerI used a scanner to scan in the drawings of my original music magazine title. I also used it to scan in the draft ideas for my music magazine plan. It was an easy method to use, and when uploaded onto my blog, looked very personal. So I liked this method, rather than all of my work being computer generated.

Printer

I used a printer to print out my school magazine cover, and my music magazine to show my audience the products as real-life products. I felt that this way, they would get a more realistic opinion of the appearance of my products, as they were the actual size of a magazine.