Main Task Evaluation: Question 7

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

There have been many things that I have learnt from when I created my preliminary task to my final product. The first thing that I have learnt is the importance of my Planning and Preparation, in the preliminary task I had briefly gone through the planning stages and didn't spend too much time researching certain criteria to make my product successful enough. For my main task I spent much more time on this stage as I knew that by researching my target audience and understanding the key concepts of my target audience magazine then I would be able to replicate some of the concepts in my magazine to make it more successful.

Using different fonts was a new thing for me as I have never learnt how to use external fonts in photoshop.

The preparation stages allowed me to create a suitable time frame to follow to make sure I was on track to finish at the appropriate deadlines. I was also able to follow detailed designs/sketches to make sure I was not just creating a non-realistic magazine for the target audience.

The progression of different photographic skills that I needed to make my magazine successful improved from preliminary stages to the final product. I had to understand how to use natural lighting as I didn't want to use artificial lighting in my product.

The biggest thing that I have learnt through preliminary stages to the final task would be the use of software techniques that helped me create different effects. For example I learnt how to add lighting effects to make my work more interesting. Also I learnt how to add lighting flares which made the images stand out more.

If I was to make this product again, I would make sure that I analysed alot more magazines as I felt that my research into magazines was not as detailed as I wanted it to be. I would also have made sure that I had asked my target audience more questions thorughout my project to make sure that my magazine did not go off track and it kept up with the traditional features of the magazine.

Main Task Evaluation: Question 6

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

Throughout this project I have used many different technologies. The first of which was the use of CMYK colouring, this enabled me to create a consistent house style throughout my project. The CMYK stands for Cyan, Magnolia, Yellow and Black. By using this I managed to make my Just Brass title stay consistent on both my front cover and also in my contents page.

For my project I learnt how to use the software Adobe Photoshop. I learnt how to edit my photographs to suite my project, I created lens flares to make the images stand out and look more interesting. I also used the ‘Magic Lasso’ tool to cut round models bodies so I could create a white background behind them.

In Quark Express I imported my edited images and by using the white background on some of the images I managed to create a text run-around with the text which made the double page spread more interesting.

By doing this project I have learnt how to use a Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera to take all of my photographs. I made sure that I had put my camera into the correct mode to capture the best photograph. I have also learnt how to develop my understanding of using professional software such as Quark Express and Adobe Photoshop. This software is allowing amateurs to create near to professional standard media devices without having to be trained.

Another piece of technology that I have used is Blogger, this piece of technology has enabled me to create an up to date log of what I have done throughout my project this helped me create a intrapersonal dialogue. Telephone technology is another device that I have used when I have had to arrange to meet models to take photos of them for my project.

I used social networking sites such as Facebook and Bebo to ask target audience members for their initial views on my magazine. This helped me create various reports throughout my project so I could keep track of what people were saying about my project.

Main Task Evaluation: Question 5

How did you attract/address your audience?

I attracted my audience through a Direct Mode of Address. I did this by using fonts and colours that brass band magazine readers would be used to mostly.

I asked many readers of this magazine and they comented on what they felt about my magazine compared to their favorite band magazines. Here are the responses that I had recieved.

"The mainsell on the front cover was very strong to attract your audience. Also the choice of font style was really good as it didnt represent a different target audience than the one you have chose."

"The content in the double page spread was really good as it made the reader feel appart of the band and not been thrown about the place with change of topic very suddenly."

"The choice of images were very good, although a few photos were a bit too dark and made the view of the magazine alot darker to read."