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

Internet:

I have used the internet a lot throughout the process of making this product. I mainly used it for research (existing magazines), collecting images (for planning powerpoints), choosing fonts (dafont.com), sending emails (organising photo shoot with models) and publishing my work on a blog (blogspot). It played a huge part in helping me construct my magazine, as I used it frequently throughout the research process especially.  

PowerPoint:

I used powerpoints to present my planning and research. I found that it was good to use as it’s uncomplicated and easy to use, therefore I could produce the powerpoint quickly, eventually giving me more time to focus on the making of my magazine.

Digital Camera:

I used my digital camera for taking images that would feature in my magazine. I found the digital camera very easy to use, as unlike a film camera, I could see if the picture worked or not after I took it. The camera I used for all of my pictures was a Nikon D60 Digital SLR, which is a camera that is smaller and lighter than other SLR’s, thus making it easier to handle. Also, the use of a DSLR meant that I was able to take better quality photos as opposed to a small, standard digital camera, which made my photos look a lot more professional and suitable for a magazine.  My DSLR was useful for adjusting the aperture (for depth of field) and zooming in/out.

PhotoShop:

I used PhotoShop to edit all of my pictures. I have been using PhotoShop for years, therefore I found the editing process very easy and I already knew what techniques were the best for enhancing a photo and creating the desired effect, making it suitable for its purpose (creating a retro/vintage effect, making it more eye catching for the audience etc). I also used it for changing the colour of the masthead, headlines, titles and other text. The techniques that I frequently used were cropping (to edit out unwanted parts of the photo), adjust contrast and exposure (to brighten up the photo and increase the photo to make it more striking, adjusting colour (I used a combination of tools: vibrance/saturation, curves and colour balance to creates certain effects in colour).

InDesign:

When making my front cover, contents page and double page spread I used InDesign, as opposed to more basic software such as publisher, as I wanted the finished product to look more professional. I had never used InDesign before, so when starting to use it, I found it very hard, but I eventually grasped it, and at the end found it quite easy to use. The tools on this software proved very helpful in creating desired effects in the layout (e.g. the way the text is written to follow the shape of the photo on the double page spread). I mainly used the size adjustment tool (to adjust size of pictures, text and shapes), the selection tool (to move things around) and the type tool (to type up text) 

Blogger:

I have used www.blogspot.com to post blogs to publish my powerpoints and final product, as I think this is an up-to-date, fun and easy way to present my work with the use of technology. It’s also a good way of organising my work.

Slideshare:

I used slideshare to upload my powerpoints, so then I can embed the URL on to my blog so I can view my powerpoint using the internet.

DaFont:

I used www.dafont.com to find fonts that were suitable for my magazine. I used dafont for the buzz word 'exclusive' on my front cover, the title 'contents' on my contents page and the Betty Chicago band logo, featured on the front cover and double page spread.

Hotmail:

I used hotmail to contact the two models (Zoey and Ruby – Betty Chicago) so I could organise the shoot with them. This was a very useful way of contacting them as it’s easy to access the internet.