Homework:inspirational contents pages

I like this contents page because it is broken up into sections for features and reviews it has a lot of writing on it but because it is broken down into sections it is easier for the reader to look at. I like the use of red to highlight important information but I think that the gold used could be hard to read.When creating my magazine I will experiment with highlighting tools in a similar way to Q as I feel it allows the most important story's to stand out.I also like the fact that they have more than one image as it helps sell the main story's within the magazine I really like how they have placed numbers and text over the images as I feel it allows the image to gain meaning instead of just been placed on the page.

I like the masthead on this magazine it is big and bold and the use of red and white on the top of black is really eye-catching the stroke around the text allows it to be bold and is something I will experiment with on photoshop.The information about subscribing to NME on the bottom of the page is really interesting as it suggests to me that each issue of a magazine should be selling the next,I think that this is something I should include on my contents.

 I think that this contents page for vogue is not very different to the other two which I have looked at because it still uses sections for each story. I think that the use of black and white which creates a timeless feel.I do not like the fact the title is placed over the models head,when creating my magazine I will make sure that the images can be seen clearly as I feel they sell the story as much as text.I have also noticed that even though this is not a music magazine it uses red and I have came to the conclusion that red is a good colour to use for highlighting important information so I will be using this colour.

Final magazine cover, contents and double page spread

Evaluation Q6

Before starting this project my ability to use technology was limited to Facebook, Bebo, e.mail Google, powerpoint and publisher. Since doing this project my technology skills have improved  vastly as my jpeg image created on photoshop shows. I have now also learnt to use computers, camera. voice recorder, Photoshop, blogger, FLICKR and animoto to research, plan construct and evaluate my product.By using this technology I have been able to reach a wider audience through using blogger for views and opinions and by using photoshop the product quality is massively improved because the tools available allows you to cut around images, sharpen images, remove red eye, add shapes and colours and divide into layers. FLICKR and animoto are very useful forms of technology that enable you to present images in a modern way.     

Photoshop
I used photoshop to make my magazine using lots of different tools such as the lasso tool to cut around images,the red eye tool to remove red eye from images I would use,I also used the free transform tool to make images larger and smaller.It took me a long time to learn how to use photoshop because it was something I had never used before, using these tools for the first time was very advantageous because I did not really understand how to use them and made lots of mistakes early on this used valuable time but was worthwhile because if I had not attempted different things with different tools I would not have learnt the programme and improved my own skills, which meant I produced a better product .

Camera
I used the camera to take my images for my magazine I found it hard to take images of such a good quality because I have never done any photography but dealt with this and took lots of different images.Sometimes I couldn't get the conditions of my photos right for the context so I had to brighten them up and cut around them.Next time we have a task like this I will be able to take images in the right conditions such as against white so I don't have to use cutting out tools.

Blogger
I have used blogger lots thought the task and feel like it has help me lots with my research and planing although I can work Blogger properly now in September I found it very challenging because I
had never used a blog before and had no idea what a blog should be like.

Voice Recorder ,animoto and flicker
I used a voice recorder to create a pod cast which was for question 3 of the evaluation.7 and flicker on question 5 I usesd a animoto for question 7.
I felt all three where very adventuress because I would have been a lot more comfortable and it would have been easier putting it on my blog which I have had since September and can work properly but decided to challenge myself as I have found the whole task challenging because of the technology used but decided that these were other types of technology I could try and master.

After using all of these different methods of technology I believe I am more competent and I have learnt lots and lots about new technology and have addressed areas of difficulty. I believe that by using these forms of technologies I have learnt allot because  it has introduced lots of different forms of media that I didn't even know existed and that I would not have used.I believe that in the future I would defiantly use these forms of media.

Evaluation Q7

I have used animoto to answer Q7. My work and ability to use various forms of technology have vastly improved since doing the preliminary task because my skills were limited to publisher and PowerPoint, whereas now I can use photoshop, camera, blogger,FLICKR, anomoto and podcasts. I believe that by completing this task my skills and knowledge of new technologies has improved massively.

Looking at my preliminary task and my final music magazine cover you can see a big improvement I have developed sell lines that could be featured in a magazine and placed them in a realistic way instead of scattering them around the page,I have also leaned not to put them over images.When using shapes I have made them fit the text and have became more adventurous when taking photographs for example getting my models to pose.I have also learnt to take inspiration from other magazines.

Looking at my preliminary task contents page I can also see a big difference because my preliminary task did not have any images which makes the contents page not as eye catching I also used colour in a very poor way where as now you can see I have took inspiration from other texts and developed a realistic looking product that is eye catching.

Evaluation Q5

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachelotterson/
I have used FLICKR to answer this Question. Click on the above link to view my posting for my commentry click on each picture.

Evaluation Q4

my target audience would be 16-25 year old most of them will probably be in education or working in lower to middle class jobs.Their lifestyle would involved them doing lots of things with their friends.They would enjoy music and would probably spend their time soicalising ,listening to music and reading magazines.They would also spend alot of time on the internet and social networking sites.When they have money they would probably spend it on going out to gigs,festivals and going to pubs or bars.They would propbably be low earners so would have to buy things that are cheaper.They would like modern music and music that is in the top 40 because they like to be current and up to date.This group would probably go to the cinema on discount nights to see popualr moveis that are out such as horrors and epic films.I think that my target audience would watch alot of music channels on T.V. and watch shows like X Factor and celebrity juice.

This is feedback that I received from people in my target audience about my magazine .This eveidence backs up some of the points I have just made like the fact that alot of people have commented on the price being good and that they could afford to buy it, also that the images were clear it is eye catching for young people.

We Love POP

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