Welcome

Welcome to my blog. Here you will find research and planning construction evidence and evaluation for my AS foundation portfolio.

Friday 30 March 2012

Question 6 - What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this project?

Final Cut
I used final cut to create my video for evaluation question 3. In doing this i have learned first of all how to create a video. I have learned that you import images which are saved as 'JPEGs' then insert them into the bottom bar as shown to the left to create a scene. Here you can trim down the size of the image to fit your needs. For my text i learned that i could insert powerpoint presentations and then import a JPEG version.  You can also insert song clips my converting them on a youtube converter called MYP3 but i didnt use this as i decided against having any music or sound clip in my video. To upload this final cut video i also learned to save it as an MP4 the set up a youtube account then export it onto there and create it as a video on youtube. I then needed to incorporate this onto my blog and to do this i needed to embed the code to do this you copy the code then paste it into my blog into the 'Edit HTML' section. This will then appear on the blog as the youtube video equivalent.

Photoshop
I used photoshop to create my front cover, i have learnt by using photoshop, how to create a magazine that resembles a real life product. I have learnt how to add different shapes and colours and how to make this represent a colour contrast and create a logo which is of similar ilk to real life magazines such as NME and Q. I have also learnt how to transfer what i create on photoshop into different software devices such as In design and how to save it onto my blog. I have learned that i need to save it as a JPEG file as this turns it into a photo style image. I needed to do this in order for me to submit my final product as it all needed to be put onto indesign so i could export it and print it out in colour on A3. I have learnt to insert an image and how to improve it and edit it so it represents a more proffesional practice. I have also learnt how to insert and edit text so that it looks more proffesional. I learnt by using Photoshops how editing each specific layer is important to the outcome of the final product.


















Indesign

i used in design to make my magazine double page spread and contents page. To begin with i struggled with this concept but then i understood it more i used it and leanred new skills. I learnt how to make my headline text stand out more by learning that i could increase the weight of the stroke itself this made my text stand out more. I also learnt to change the colours and themes this is how i atttempted to make my product proffesional and stick to a 3 colour pallete. Using this i learnt how to make a contents page and double page spread look somewhat like a proffesional model. I also learnt how to insert new images which was key as i needed images as it was a magazine. I learnt how to format my page so the product looked more proffesional











Prezi

I have used prezi throughout my year doing AS media i have learnt that it is a good revision tool. As i have used it for certain types of research. It is useful as there is ample room to put as much information as required. You can upload images to this too by insert then getting the required image. I have learnt how to create an online powerpoint that i can use for various different things, i have even used this to answer question 1 as well as using it as a revision guide when making my product for what people want in my textual analysis.












Slideshare
Using slideshare i have learnt to upload powerpoint presentations online so that i can convert the files and use them elsewhere. I have learnt to click the orange upload button on the left and then insert the required file i want to and then it will convert into a different format. Then i can embed the code by copying it and then embed it into my blog for all to see by paste the embeded link into my blog.







Blogger


On blogger i have uploaded all of my posts for assesment in doing this i have learnt how to organise my work in chronological order as well as learning how to upload files from computers for others to view, files i have included on here are things like my final product and roughcuts. I have learnt to edit posts and upload them as well as inserting other files through imbeding them.














 Professional SLR Camera


I used a proffesional SLr camera so that the quality of my final image was of a hgiher profesional quality of which you would expect to see in professional magazines. It had higher megapixels and higher shutter speed resolution and automatically adapted to certain light. In using this i learnt how to control the zoom on the camera and how getting the eyesight in the higher third of the svreen can portray more power.

 Imac
 I produced all of my work using an IMAC this contained the programmes i needed to conduct the making of my prodsuct, it featured Indesign and Photoshop as two examples. It also had regular access to the internet so i could use the online programmes i required such as Blogger and prezi. This is what helped me create my product, it helped me as once i got used to it, it was quicker and easier to use than a normal computer. It ran quicker and more efficiently and the programmes used were more up to date so my product could have been made to a higher standard than that of a normal PC.

Tuesday 27 March 2012

Evaluation Question 5 - How did you attract/address your audience?







Front Cover
On my front cover and throughout my magazine i stuck to a three colour pallete, most succesful magazines stick to this, although magazines such as Q and NME tend to stick to the colours red, whit and black. As i wanted my magazine to have a bit of edge and be different like its genre and audience, i added green instead of white as i felt it added vibrancy and life to the magazine and it also helped to represent the genre i was trying to portray of Dubstep and dance music.

My fonts used are generally easy to read and are quite cleancut and simple which is what i wanted as i wanted it to be easy on the eye for my readers. The colours of my font are the key in particular my Logo 'SOUNDZ' is very striking neon green and the outline is a striking yellow which makes the text look like its the lights for a club or bar this type of music would be heard in so it is quite representative of the genre.

My model i used is posing the way he is because i was looking to emulate this picture by example he used on a promotion for his new song, i decided to emulate this photo because is one of the big names within this industry and he knows how to be a succesful so i felt it would be a good thing to in trying to emulate to make my magazine succesful. So i got my model to look away from the camera and putting his hood up as this showed his attitude and gave him edge like the genre is which i was trying to represent. His clothes are also similar to example as he is wearing a zip hoody and white shirt so this also emualtes well example so represents the genre well as well.

This is the image of Example i have tried to emulate.








For the content of my magazine i have used well known artists as the audience are going to be more likely to purchase the magazine if the artists are well known. The artists i used were also relevant as they match my genre of dubstep and dance style music so it is going to attract my target audience. Big names such as Example are not only going to attract this genre as he is starting to become a bit of a global star he will also get other people to read the magazine who may not be particularly interested in the genre but interested in him so it will interest ranges of audiences.

For my sell lines i used a play on words with the name of the band and the actual sell line. As the artist i used was called 'Sky's don't lie' i used a play on words and called the Main sell line 'Skiy's the limit' this is a creative and clever way of using a headline and will also engage the reader. I have occasionaly seen this used in other magazines, i know from previous experience of reading magazine headlines and main sell lines that 'Puns' and 'Play on words' are clever ways of creating an effective headline which can engage an audience.

Contents Page (on image next to front cover)


For my contents page i carried out the same three colour pallete of red, green and black. What this does is keep the same consistency and continuity throughout, in doing this my magazine looks more professional and appealing to the audience. In keeping a three colour pallete you can also create a theme which makes the magazine memorable and unique to the audience. The content of my contents page also carries on the same stories found on the Front cover of my magazine. My images found on my contents page also represent the genre as the clothing they are wearing and poses they are pulling match the genre and represent power. The colours on their clothing are quite loud and in your face which is how the genre should be represented. Also the layout of the contents page was copied off how Q magazine often layout their magazine as they have in the past used two images on the right side with the main image being slightly larger as it is of more interest. And they also use a smaller image under the headline features as i have to show more artists involved within the magazine.


Double Page Spread

For my double page spread i have again kept the same three colour pallete as it again shows continuity and consistency also these colours represent my genre i am trying to portray. I decided to do a Dps which features one page with the photo and the other with the content i found that this was a very effective way of using a DPS in particular the one used by Q in a lady gaga shoot showed how this can be effective. I used this DPS as a massive influence on my final piece.I made my font standout against the clothing my model was wearing and gave it a bold black outline as it made the text stand out more. i used a different colour font for my text for when the artist was talking instead of SOUNDZ i kept the soundz text green as this was the colour of the theme for the magazine and red for the artist in their interview to keep in with the three colour pallete.

This is the Lady gaga DPS i was referring to.








Here is what my target audience wanted to See in my product:

The general consensus was that the magazines i used represented the younger target audience particularly between the ages of 16-25 and Q is of More of a mainstream target audience.. Also a key point which was brought forward was that the use of colour scheme was a major pull in trying to get the audience interested and focused on the magazine, as the use of colours is what the audience look at and the bright vibrant colours used in Q represents the artists being used and if i was to use dark and dull colours it wouldn't really appeal to and engage with the required target audience. Also consistency is necessary between the front cover and contents page and keeping an 'Eye Catching' display is crucial in making the magazine a success. The use of fonts is also important getting the right contrast between the colour of the text within the masthead and side headings in relation to the main image and theme of the magazine is important so that it looks professional, consistent and so that it will make the reader want to read the magazine. Keeping a simple structure to the magazine so that it doesn't look messy and un-organised is also important to catch the eye of the audience and make reading easy and wouldnt deter them.

Roughcuts
I was given the following feedback on my roughcuts: I was told that on my front cover that the Logo was to big and that i needed to reduce the size of the Font and size of my sub colour that i used as a banner for my logo. I also was told that i needed to reduce the size of my headlines and sub headlines as they were too big and took emphasis off the photo used on my Front Cover. So to improve my front cover i will reduce the size of the logo and it's banner, this will also allow me to organise my front cover better so i can fit more onto it but still not making it look cluttered. For my contents page i need to change the colour of the font used as it was a bit too bright and in the face of the audience so to improve this i will tone it down and make it a darker shade of green so that it doesn't contrast as much making it easier on the eye for the reader. I also need to organise my contents page better so that the black background doesn't over ride and go onto the side i used for my photos so no emphasis on these is lost. On my contents page i also needed to make the actual heading of 'Contents' more noticeable and make it stand out more i also decided that i needed to change it from red to green so it would fit the theme of the front cover better. I also need to refer back to real magazines more so when i make my corrections to my current magazine i will have a magazine open and then look at what it has done to be successful and then try and incorporate it into my own magazine. In doing this my own magazine will have more of a professional look and it will look more appealing to an audience to buy the product. My double page spread also needs improvements it also featured a similar problem with the font as the contents page so i will tone this down to an easier theme on the eye, but i will keep the same colour of green as it matches the theme of my magazine.



Cover and Contents
 The first image is of my final product and this is shown by how much it has changed and improved in light of the feedback i recieved on my roughcut. As i got told to i made my banner smaller and made my logo smaller but put it on a diagonal to give it the illusion that it is bigger than it is actually. I also organised my barcode and date better so they looked more compact and in doing so more efficient. Also on my front cover i reduced the size of my headlines and made them smaller and i arranged them in a better order, as my final product it features the title hotlist 2012 and i made this smaller then used a different colour font to highlight what artists are in the magazine. I also made my major selline stand out more and added a quote from the dps to add to the proffesional nature of the magazine. ALso in my final product i raised the image of my actor so that he was in the higher third to display more power and show his authroity and that he is a character doing well. I also added a circular banner showing of an offer the magazine employs this is to make more people interested in buying the magazine as they will feel they are getting more for their money.

For my contents page i Changed the layout slightly and made the contents title much larger so it was more noticable i also carried on the same three colour pallete throughout so that it carried on a proffesional theme. I also changed the colour of the main sybtitles from red to fluro green, this is so that they stood out more and were more noticeable to the audience i also centre alligned them so that they looked easier to read more compact and in doing this more professional. I also added a new headline called features ive seen this work to great effect in magazines such as Q so incorporated it into mine as i wanted to emulate proffesional practice as much as i could. I also changed it so that were only two images on the right hand side and added one to above the text as this is the layout they used in a contents of Q i saw and i thought this worked well in making the layout look more appealing as it was more compact.


 Double page Spread

For my DPS i have changed the colour of the main headline and made it stand out more by changing the colour and thickness of the stroke outline i have made it black with a neon green font theme as these two colours worked well as a contrast and made my product look effective. I have also added a couple of quotes from the the text and made the font theme of these the same colour as the main headlin. I have changed the colour of the main font to make it match the main headline and stand out more and in sticking with my theme in keeping with the three colour pallete. I have also inserted a neon green border arounf the imahge to make the extra image stand out more. I have also inserted paragraphs into my final product so that it looks more like a proffesional article and adds to the realism of the piece. I also put my quotes on an angle to give them more edge and also to match with the actor looking down to the floor i thought this would be a clever piece of composition.

 




















3. Feedback
 I conducted some final audience feedback, these are the following questions i asked:
  • What draws your attention to my product?
  • From my front cover could you work out the genre of my magazine?
  • what do you like about my product?
  • What could improve my product?
  • what social groups would you say my magazine repreents?
  • would you cnosider buying my magazine?
  • If no why wouldnt you buy it?
  • Would you reccomend it to others?
  • What would you rate it out of 10?













      I have found out from conducting audience feedback that the general consensus is:
      •   My product looks reasonably proffesional
      • People would consider buying it
      • People also find that the contrast in colours work well
      • They know the target audience is young adults and teenagers
      • The genre isnt easily noticeable.



      Monday 26 March 2012

      Evaluation Question 4- Who would the audience be for your media product?

       Who would your Audience be for your media product?

      Following Secondary research in the initial stages of my print product project i found that the audience of my magazine would be ages 16-24 as my style and genre is for dubstep and dance style music. Artists of this today which represent this style are people such as Example and Calvin Harris these are big name players within this section of the industry. Afterwards i conducted primary research which suggested what they liked about certain products and this gave me ideas how to make my product suitable to my genre. They gave me ideas such as font styles and image construction which is effective to represent certain genres. So for my Dubstep and dance style i decided that i needed to portray quite an arrogant pose which shows power. Therefore my audience for my media product would be for younger adults aged between 16-24 who were younger not as high class who enjoyed to have a laugh and new the street and party scene well, these people would generally have a lot of personality here is a moodboard which shows the types of things my audience would be into..



      Evaluation Question 3

      Evaluation Question 2