Music magazine analysis (Uncut)

Uncut Analysis

Music magazine analysis (NME)

NME Analysis

Music magazine analysis (Q)

Q Analysis Media Completed

Evaluation section 4: What have you learned about technologies through this process?

Through learning the new technology of adobe programs such as Photoshop and indesign, I have learned a number of things.

-Due to the exploitation of media products, every photo displayed to us had been manipulated in some way. Whether its the simple changing of saturation, or extreme measures like airbrushing and cutting, every picture has been changed from the original image. Some of these methods I now know how to do myself to create the image I envisage. I have learned how to use tools such as the lasso, hue/saturation adjusters, colour selectors and the paint bucket, the magic wand, as well as various layer working to get an image close to that of professional standard.
-I have also learned the importance of a flat plan when creating pages. This is so that you have a clear image in your mind of the product you would like to create, and so that you can create the right quality product in the time provided. Also, to meet the correct conventions of a contents page for example, a flat plan including columns and gutters etc is vital to get the correct measurements and placing ideas.
-Lastly, I have learned that adobe programs or that of similar software are incredibly important when creating a product of high standard. Due to the precision in editing in Photoshop, and the professional layout designs you are able to create in indesign, a magazine worthy of  purchase is the end product.

College magazine evaluation, sections 2 and 3

Evaluation section one: How does my product use, develop or challenge the conventions of media products?

Indesign skills development

I began my contents page in photoshop, where i used my previous knowledge of the magnetic lasso tool to cut out the bubble in my picture, and adjusted the hue/saturation of the new layer to make it purple. I did this so that the picture on my contents page would relate to my previous front cover colour
scheme of purple and orange. 

I now moved onto indesign. After creating my 3 columns, and appropriate bordering and guttering, created a new layer. It was here that i selected file, place to set my picture as the background for the contents.  






Once my picture was in place, i inserted text boxes over the top of it. I did this by drawing a text/picture box, and placing text from word into it. I then used the swatches on the right hand side to change the colour of the boxes as well as the text to match my colour scheme. I then used the select mouse (white mouse) to drag the lines of my text boxes away to create a more choppy effect.








After creating and editing my title, i created a new layer. It was here that i was able to use file, place again to import my image and move it to the correct position in my page. I developed it further from the screen grab by using the select mouse to rotate it diagonally to add more to my choppy,creative theme.

After drawing an appropriate text box, i used file place to get my editors note from word. This fitted to the shape of my column. I then used the select mouse to rotate the box to a diagonal angle, matching my text boxes. 

Lastly, i drew a box the size of my logo. I then pasted the CCN logo into the box. By selecting object, fitting and fit content to frame, i could make the logo the appropriate size.

Completed contents page

Completed magazine cover

Applying photoshop to my college mag cover.

-With my initial knowledge of the basics, i was able to perfect my picture quality. I did this by using the magnetic lasso to cut out my inconvenient background light switch and delete it.
-I used the blemish brush and the blur tool to correct skin imperfections in my models skin.
-I also used, firstly the colour selector to find the exact colour of her lips, and used the paintbrush tool to perfect gaps in the lipstick of my model.

- After adjusting the hue/saturation of my picture, i then used the magnetic lasso a second time to duplicate the picture and move it to the left of the page to fit my flat plan. This is because when displayed in a shop, the left side of the magazine is usually seen, therefore this is where i plan to put my masthead. I then went on to delete the original image using the draw lasso.

After adjusting the hue/saturation of my original wall background to give a choppy effect, i was able to paste my masthead (from dafont) as well as taglines from word onto separate layers. I have used orange and purple as a colour scheme, as these are opposite on the colour wheel and are thus complimentary of each other. After almost completing the additions to my photo however, we realized that it was not fitted to an A4 magazine size. There i restarted on a new window, copping and pasting aspects of my cover that i thought effective, and taking the opportunity to change those that weren't.

I had to begin my selecting a new A4 piece of paper and fitting my photograph to it, without stretching the image. This allowed me to make appropriate changes.

I therefore decided to add a block colour background to make a statement colour scheme using the bucket too, as well as only adding minor hue/saturation adjustments to my picture. I also used the hue/saturation to change the colour of my masthead to match my background colour.

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