Main Task: Evaluation Question 7

When I first started doing my preliminary task, I found it very hard as I hadn’t used Photoshop before and so adjusting to this new software was very difficult and took quite a while to get used to it. From using Photoshop, I have learnt many new skills that have helped me progress to the making of the final product. One of the main things I have learnt that has drastically improved the quality of my magazine is learning the conventions of a magazine and how to present them on the page. Looking back at my preliminary task it did not look like I was fully clear of the conventions and my execution of these conventions was relatively poor as my magazine wasn’t really structured and some of the colours were very clashing, also the magazine is not consistent as the front cover is very different from the contents page.

One of the main tools which has helped me in the progression from my preliminary task to the final main product is the use of Photoshop, this has helped enhance my music magazine as I have gotten used to it and I have learnt new skills and different tools to use to help make my music magazine a good one, this was something I was not talented in when constructing my preliminary task. This helped improve the quality of my magazine as it made it look more professional. I was able to manipulate images to my advantage. Unlike in my preliminary task I was not able to manipulate my pictures or use Photoshop to my own advantage.

My preliminary task only consisted of a front cover and a content page whereas my main task included a double page spread along side a front cover and content page, I was able to learn how to work on an A3 canvas and use the space accordingly however I struggled as there was a lot to write about on the double page spread.

I have progressed very much from my preliminary task to the main product I learnt how to fully attract my target and, fully include them in my product, something I felt I did not do to the best of my ability in my preliminary task. I also learnt how focus my magazine on a particular social group which was hip-hop, my music magazine had a specific audience so I was able to make my magazine more focused and more suited to that target group.

From my preliminary task I have learnt how to use a Canon E05 400D camera effectively to take good quality pictures.