Evaluation: Question 6What have you learnt about technologies from the

process of constructing this product?

In my production I used various technical items and software's.

This allowed me to explore and understand just how technical it

is to produce my product. Learning how to use this software

and technologies has really helped me gain my preferred

reading.

Digital SLR Nikon CameraI used this for the photography of my

product. Following some research (such as

tutorials) into the product, I found it very

simple to use (see next slide). I found the

fact that it is digital extremely useful

because, as I was taking the photos, I could

decide how I wanted the lighting and modify

the setting or redirect my model. The large

memory of the camera allowed me to take

multiple shots so that, when looking back at

the photos on my computer, I could decide

which photo I wanted on the front cover,

double page spread etc.

BLOG

iPhonesI used an iPhone 4 for one of the pictures on

the contents page and an iPhone 6 for other

pictures on the contents page. I felt that

although taking the photos on my phone and

liking them, that it was an added challenge to

try to adapt the photos using Photoshop and

changing the contrasts, brightness etc. Due

to the difference in quality from the iPhone 4

and the professional cameras, I decided to

just have those images smaller and on the

contents page as less important images, but

adding some effect towards the layout of the

product.

Adobe PhotoshopI used Adobe Photoshop for the majority of my

production phase as I found it very simple and

straight forward to use. However I didn’t initially feel

the same way; I struggled at the beginning to

understand how to place an image in the document

or even how to minimize a page. I research different

tutorials, asked for guidance from my teacher and

eventually taught myself at home by purchasing the

software and continuing my work after school. I now

find the software extremely easy to work with and

very useful for manipulating certain images and

creating effects. Over the course of the year, my

technical abilities have definitely grown as I have

learnt to understand Photoshop, which has allowed

me to alter the contrasts of my production and put

certain filters in, to determine which would look more

ExamplesIn the previous slide, I have altered the contrast,

saturation and colours of the same images, and I

have chosen which ones I liked the most. I found my

focus group extremely useful and helpful in the

production phases. I used the Facebook Messenger

app for my focus group using an iPhone 4. Here is

an example of how useful my group was, deciding

which images they liked as they were my chosen

target audience.

Safari and ChromeI used both Safari and Chrome Browsers to

complete my research into different

mediums. I researched the different

magazines that I wanted to base mine on,

including Q, NME, CLASH and Fader. The

internet really helped me as it allowed me to

keep in touch with my focus group and share

all of my ideas and opinions in addition to

gaining some feedback from those in the age

of my target audience. The internet also

allowed me to post on my blog and update

all of the progress that I had made along the

way which I found so useful as it enabled me

PowerPoint, Word and

PreziI used all of this software to gather

information together and put it in an exciting

document and interactive presentation. I

wanted to display some of my research and

ideas in some form that either my target

audience or just anybody who is willing to

learn would be engaged by. With the use of

transitions, colours, images and quirky fonts I

think that I have been able to inject some fun

into some of the more heavy text that I have

put together.

Lighting

I used professional light boxes that helped me

capture that realistic photographic effect. I was able

to move them around to get my preferred look and

tried various different distances etc., and then

shared them with my focus group and asked for their

opinion on the different photographs. I am very

pleased and impressed with how the photos have

captured the highlighted blue in the model’s eyes

and I feel that that is due to the very good camera

quality and the very bright but subtle lights used.

In Conclusion…

The use of technology has increased my production immensely. If I had not had these technologies then my production would be a low level 1 and I would have been very disappointed with the lack of professionalism in the final product. Without these technologies I wouldn’t have been able to do the following; research different magazines and their designs to help inspire my product, share with my focus group or post onto my blog, track my progress and also see where I needed to improve . To conclude I think that the technologies are of vital importance in the making of products like mine and I would thoroughly recommend that future students use them when creating these types of products.