6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of

constructing this product?

By Scott Dickinson

Throughout the process of producing my work, I have used various software. One program that I have used dominantly would be Photoshop, here are some examples of me using the software in order to achieve a particular effect in my work:

Photoshop

In Photoshop, a technique that I have used very often is the cutting of people out of their original images. I often did this to get rid of their original shadows and background so that I could add my own with a colour of my choice. The process was very long however rewarding once complete, I would use the “polygon lasso tool” in order to create a clear outline of the areas of the picture I want to keep and the areas I want to disgard. Once the process was complete I would delete the original background and create one of my choice. This is a new technological technique that I have leant on the program when constructing my product, and one that think will be useful when working on similar projects on Photoshop.

Another technique that I have used in Photoshop is editing text. An example of this would be creating the masthead, various changes had to be made to the text using the program in order to create the effect that I wanted. I firstly chose my colour, which was a bold red in the blending options, I then added a size 27 stroke (black outline) to the masthead. I felt that this allowed the text to stand out more on the page, the black and red colours also worked well against each other. I also edited other elements such as the texture and contour which gave me the result I have used for my work. This technique that I have learnt is one that I have used in other areas of the magazine that requires text, such as cover lines, mastheads and interviews.

I have also interpreted the use of shapes using this particular software. Using the gradient tool I have been able to include many shape features in my work that allow the pages to appear much more visually effective. For example I have included some shapes behind text, allowing the text to be emphasised and highlighted as important. Also on my front cover I have made use of shapes to create a cover line that says “exclusive”, adding to the range of ways I can present text.

Another program that I have used to construct my work is “InDesign”, software that I used when creating my double page spread . I found it extremely different to use compared to Photoshop, yet created an equally effective piece of work. Here are some examples of when I used it on specific parts of my work:

InDesign

One part of my double page spread, where a technique that I have learnt is clearly visible, is when my main image collides with my interview. The text is clearly separated by the image creating a visually effective technique. I achieved this by cutting the model out of the original image using Photoshop. I then placed on the left hand page allowing the image to spread across the two pages, I edited the text so it automatically formed around the hand. I think that this is one of my most effective techniques on InDesign as it looks very professional.

Another element of the double page spread that required a specific technique was pasting the images into the correct shapes. I firstly had to find a shape that would fit the chosen images that a took myself, when I finally chose my shape I then had to make sure the image would fit inside appropriately. This took a very long time as each individual image ranges in size, at a point it resulted in having to cut out another person from the image completely. However I eventually presented it in a suitable manner that looked effective on the page.