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

The Apple Macs

I have never used an Apple Mac before being faced with the task of making a music magazine. However, I managed to get used to them very quickly. I found the file explorer very useful when handling the files needed for my coursework. Also, the click and drag tool was extremely useful when using the internet and various applications on the Macs.

Photoshop: Again, before this project I have never used Photoshop. I learnt the basics whilst editing the photo for my preliminary task however I learnt most of my knowledge whilst editing the images for my magazine. I learnt how to use the burn tool in order to create a vignette effect on some of my images. I learnt how to use the colour replace tool by transforming the mode of the image to greyscale, and returning it back to colour mode. I also used the same tool to replace colour on certain parts of the image. I used the spot healing tool on my models face, as well as the burn tool on the shadows to darken her eyes and make them stand out. I also used brightness and contrast layers over the images. As well as this, I discovered how to use brushes and how to download them of the internet off a website called www.brusheezy.com . I used these brushes to give my magazine a grungier feel.

In Design: Again, like Photoshop, I have never used In Design before the preliminary task. It took more getting used to than Photoshop, however once I realised that you could work in layers similarly to Photoshop I was okay as I had understood this part of the programmes pretty quickly. This programme was really helpful as it enabled me to compose the layout how I wanted. Also, I was able to explore fonts through this programme using a website called www.dafont.com which was very useful as it gave me a variety of fonts to use in my magazine to give it a professional look.

I know feel very confident using these two programmes on the Apple Macs, whereas in September I wouldn’t have known where to start.

As well as these main programmes, I have used many sites to help me develop my blog. I have used www.flickr.com (which I have already used) to upload images that I had edited and use the annotating tool which I have never used before and found very helpfully. I also produced several slideshows using PowerPoint which I used www.slideshare.net to upload and host them on, then posting them on my blog. As well, I used www.photobucket.com which I used to upload my pictures and create slideshows with them which were then featured on my blog.