Tuesday, 3 May 2011
Question 7: Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
When doing my preliminary task I didnt do any audience research so it was hard for me to decide what to include in my magazine as I didnt know what they would like. I think that my approach to the audience has improved as I analysed the results from my audience research and looked more at my target audience.
My preliminary task did help me to understand the conventions of magazines better as I did some research prior to creating the magazine. It helped me to apply these to my main task which made my magazine look more professional.
When creating my preliminary task I used InDesign and found I didnt like it so I switched to photoshop, I think that it is good that I learnt which one I prefer by doing the preliminary as it saved me time in the main task as if I had to switch half way through that I could have fallen behind on work. This also meant that during my preliminary I was able to experiment more with the software and understand it and find techniques and tools I could apply to the main task.
When evaluating my preliminary task and looking at others it made me see what not to do in the main task and what worked well, this is critical in helping me to maximise my marks and not make the same mistakes.
My preliminary task did help me to understand the conventions of magazines better as I did some research prior to creating the magazine. It helped me to apply these to my main task which made my magazine look more professional.
When creating my preliminary task I used InDesign and found I didnt like it so I switched to photoshop, I think that it is good that I learnt which one I prefer by doing the preliminary as it saved me time in the main task as if I had to switch half way through that I could have fallen behind on work. This also meant that during my preliminary I was able to experiment more with the software and understand it and find techniques and tools I could apply to the main task.
When evaluating my preliminary task and looking at others it made me see what not to do in the main task and what worked well, this is critical in helping me to maximise my marks and not make the same mistakes.
Question 6: What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
When creating my magazine I had to use various forms of technology, when experimenting with them I extended my knowledge on them more which made my product even better.
1. Internet Explorer
Before creating my magazine I had to do some research on other magazines, I used internet explorer to access websites and pictures to look at other magazines front covers and so on. I learnt that internet explorer contains much more useful information than you think and that search engines are very useful.
2. Digital Cameras
To take my images for the main task and the preliminary task I used the Nikon D70 camera, I havent used a professional camera before, DSLR's have so many more controls than ordinary digital cameras, I experimented with the controls and learnt what they did. I learnt that changing the apperture on the camera can create the background out of focus while the foreground (In this case the model) stayed in focus, this made images look more interesting.
3. Photoshop
I used photoshop to alter my images to make them better or more suitable. I experimented alot with photoshop and learnt new things and how to improve images. I cropped images to make them more suitable, changed the colour balance, contrast, curves, sharpness and much more. I think photoshop was the most useful tool. I also used it to make my magazine pages.
Here is one of my images which i chose to feature in my magazine, I decided that it needed to be cropped as the sky was very high and it didnt need to be
Here on my final double page spread you can see the difference between the cropped image and the non cropped image
4. Dafont
The fonts used in my magazine were from the website dafont.com. I hadn't used this site before so it was all new to me. After messing about and researching I learnt how to get the fonts and how you can use them on photoshop and other programs.
I found photoshop the most useful as you can do almost anything on it, I was able to erase parts of an image, move text behind an image, make text see-through and lots more.
1. Internet Explorer
Before creating my magazine I had to do some research on other magazines, I used internet explorer to access websites and pictures to look at other magazines front covers and so on. I learnt that internet explorer contains much more useful information than you think and that search engines are very useful.
2. Digital Cameras
To take my images for the main task and the preliminary task I used the Nikon D70 camera, I havent used a professional camera before, DSLR's have so many more controls than ordinary digital cameras, I experimented with the controls and learnt what they did. I learnt that changing the apperture on the camera can create the background out of focus while the foreground (In this case the model) stayed in focus, this made images look more interesting.
3. Photoshop
I used photoshop to alter my images to make them better or more suitable. I experimented alot with photoshop and learnt new things and how to improve images. I cropped images to make them more suitable, changed the colour balance, contrast, curves, sharpness and much more. I think photoshop was the most useful tool. I also used it to make my magazine pages.
Here is one of my images which i chose to feature in my magazine, I decided that it needed to be cropped as the sky was very high and it didnt need to be
Here on my final double page spread you can see the difference between the cropped image and the non cropped image
4. Dafont
The fonts used in my magazine were from the website dafont.com. I hadn't used this site before so it was all new to me. After messing about and researching I learnt how to get the fonts and how you can use them on photoshop and other programs.
I found photoshop the most useful as you can do almost anything on it, I was able to erase parts of an image, move text behind an image, make text see-through and lots more.
Question 5: How did you attract/address your audience?
When making my magazine I used many different techniques to attract/address my audience these are:
- Use of language/mode of address: The language used is not complex, it is simple to read and understand. Most of my target audience would not be willing to read a big magazine with complex words as many are not highly educated. Some words are slang words and written in abbreviated forms to appeal to the audience.
- Use of font: For my masthead and page/ article headings I used a font called 'SF Automaton' this font will already be familiar to some of my target audience as a urban music group named 'Boy Better Know' use this font for their logo which is printed all over t-shirts, albums, posters and so on for everyone to see. This means that if somebody sees the font on my magazine they might be drawn to it.
- Contents: On the contents page I used words such as 'Exclusive' to draw audience in and want to read the magazine.. also on the front cover I stated popular artists names which the audience might want to read about.
- Images: Images were taken in an urban environment, front cover shows graffiti which most people are usually attracted to look at.
After doing my audience research it helped me to decide how to target my audience, I asked them what kind of features would draw them to a magazine and what they would like to see in a music magazine and made sure my magazine met the expectations.
- Use of language/mode of address: The language used is not complex, it is simple to read and understand. Most of my target audience would not be willing to read a big magazine with complex words as many are not highly educated. Some words are slang words and written in abbreviated forms to appeal to the audience.
- Use of font: For my masthead and page/ article headings I used a font called 'SF Automaton' this font will already be familiar to some of my target audience as a urban music group named 'Boy Better Know' use this font for their logo which is printed all over t-shirts, albums, posters and so on for everyone to see. This means that if somebody sees the font on my magazine they might be drawn to it.
- Contents: On the contents page I used words such as 'Exclusive' to draw audience in and want to read the magazine.. also on the front cover I stated popular artists names which the audience might want to read about.
- Images: Images were taken in an urban environment, front cover shows graffiti which most people are usually attracted to look at.
After doing my audience research it helped me to decide how to target my audience, I asked them what kind of features would draw them to a magazine and what they would like to see in a music magazine and made sure my magazine met the expectations.
Question 4: Who would be the audience for your music magazine?
The core buyer of my magazine will be people ranging from around 16 - 20's. This is because the music genre of my magazine appeals to younger audiences.
There will be more males buying the magazine than females, this is because many females do not like the topics and language used in some rap songs, however some females do but a small amount. All ethnicities will be attracted to the magazine but I believe that the majority of buyers might be black, this is because most of the artists are black and black people started this culture so more like it and would enjoy reading about it.
My target audience probably make music of this genre themselves in their spare time, they go out with their friends to parties, drink alcohol and some will smoke. They all have technology such as smartphones, ipods, games consoles and laptops/computers. They wear lots of known clothing brands such as Adidas, Nike, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton, Prada and more. The majority of them will shop in sports shops such as JD and designer shops or department stores, they may do alot of online shopping aswell. My target audience see live music often, most of the artist they like are always performing at their local clubs so they go and show their support there. Spare money they earn is probably spent on alcohol, drugs, clothing, music and partying. People of my target audience always like to be the first to get things, when their favourite artist is coming to perform near them dedicated fans will stay up all night until tickets are released just to get some.
When I did my 'Find your tribe' this was my result, I think it ties in with my target audience. It mentions artists which fall under my magazines genre and clothing brands which relate to the ones I stated to represent my target audience.
My target audience could fall into the socio-economic groups E, D and C2 due to the range of ages that listen to the urban genres.
There will be more males buying the magazine than females, this is because many females do not like the topics and language used in some rap songs, however some females do but a small amount. All ethnicities will be attracted to the magazine but I believe that the majority of buyers might be black, this is because most of the artists are black and black people started this culture so more like it and would enjoy reading about it.
My target audience probably make music of this genre themselves in their spare time, they go out with their friends to parties, drink alcohol and some will smoke. They all have technology such as smartphones, ipods, games consoles and laptops/computers. They wear lots of known clothing brands such as Adidas, Nike, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton, Prada and more. The majority of them will shop in sports shops such as JD and designer shops or department stores, they may do alot of online shopping aswell. My target audience see live music often, most of the artist they like are always performing at their local clubs so they go and show their support there. Spare money they earn is probably spent on alcohol, drugs, clothing, music and partying. People of my target audience always like to be the first to get things, when their favourite artist is coming to perform near them dedicated fans will stay up all night until tickets are released just to get some.
When I did my 'Find your tribe' this was my result, I think it ties in with my target audience. It mentions artists which fall under my magazines genre and clothing brands which relate to the ones I stated to represent my target audience.
My target audience could fall into the socio-economic groups E, D and C2 due to the range of ages that listen to the urban genres.
Double Page Spread
This is the final version of the double page spread. I kept the background black to go with the overall theme and colour scheme of the magazine. The page header is in the trademark SF Automaton font to also go with the themes and to keep the magazine looking professional. The main text is written in the font 'Kartika' I chose this font because it is easy to read.. I decided to change the colours of the text in the interview part if the article to make it easier for the audience to read and more clearer.
Contents page
Here is my final contents page, I made sure the colours went with the colour scheme of the magazine and with the image, the fonts used are SF Automaton for the heading and Kartika for the text. I think the contents page looks professional and I like how the writing is behind the models head.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)