Evaluation: Question 7: Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

In the transfer from the prelim task and the full product I found that I had gained a better understanding of researching other magazines and finding more codes and conventions as I analyses more and more magazines. Also by making the graphics and images in Photoshop I found that my abilities in this program became more complex as I found many new methods to make the higher quality work such as bending fire into specific shapes which allow me to make any image with a fire effect. I have also improved my time management from the prelim task to the final product. In the prelim the final piece was rushed and not of high quality. However with better time management I was able to spend more time on my work resulting in a better final product. For example with the extra time available to produce work I was able to make the key article image which would not have been possible if time management was similar to the time management of the prelim task. I still found some difficulty working to the dead-line due to the high workload in the time period but the work produced was of a much higher standard compared to the prelim task.

Evaluation: Question 6: What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Over the course of my media product I have gained a much greater understanding of the programs used in order to produce it. For example I have made many improvements on Photoshop compared to my original ability. The key image on my double page article was made through Photoshop. At the beginning of this project I would not have been able to make this image as my knowledge of Photoshop was of a low standard. However after watching a number of tutorials I was able to make the image using effects on fire which I moulded into the shape of an eagle using the effects available. Also in InDesign many of the text effects and structure were made using new knowledge of the program. In the prelim task InDesign was new to me and I was not able to form a good solid structure that I could work by which led to a lot of dead space as well as an unprofessional appearance. Although this was not to be displayed on shelves it still did not have the quality that would be expected in a magazine which was to be read by a large audience. However in the production of the final product I improved my skills greatly in structure layout by using simple things such as rulers and guides which were not used in the prelim task to make the production easier to complete as there was a basic outline to which I could develop from. This lead to more complex skills such as the appearance of text wrapping around images and keeping each of the stories separate from each other.

Evaluation: Question 5: What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

This link will take you to a prezi presentation which will answer question 5:

http://prezi.com/ihxjrwzfnfd7/evaluation-question-5-what-kind-of-media-institution-might-distribute-your-media-product-and-why/

Evaluation: Question 2-4:

This link will take you to a prezi presentation which will answer questions 2-4:

http://prezi.com/n9ctctbsdzgc/how-does-your-media-product-represent-particular-social-groups-who-would-be-the-audience-for-your-media-product-how-did-you-attractaddress-your-audience/

Evaluation: Question 1: contents page

Contents page:

-Images: the contents page contains a number of images. This is because by having images the separate stories are attractive and easily categorised. For example on the snow patrol article the image of the band was used as well as a close up of the person who would have represented the lead singer. Therefore this would have attracted the audience as the people involved were easily recognisable.

-Structure: the structure of my contents page was similar to other magazines I had researched. For example in many other magazines sub-headings categorised the different stories. In my magazine one category contained the latest new to do with individual bands as well as a second category for the Indie Awards of 2012. Also other magazines did display the top stories of their magazines in their own sub-heading. I did this also as a way of advertising more than a low number of top stories which were also shown on the front page. These were situated on the right hand side of the page which separated it into its own column and therefore showing that with each subheading they are different and indeed more important than the other stories within the magazine.  

-Mast head: the mast head for the contents page was very similar to many other codes and conventions. For example in other magazines the mast head is often situated to the left of the page with a band index spanning down the page. However as there was no band index the mast head was moved along by a banner displaying the date and issue number? The mast head like the cover mast head was placed in a box making it stand out which is not common for other magazines. I included this because after experimenting with different fonts and styles they didn’t stand out in the way I had imagined. However with the box the wording stood out and was easily recognisable as the mast head which may be confused with subheadings for the different categories of the magazine.

Evaluation: Question 1: Article

This link will take you to a YouTube video which i have made using Pinnacle studio editing software:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mP_vL6BGHg

Evaluation: Question 1: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

This link will take you to a prezi presentation which I made to answer question one basd upon my front cover:

http://prezi.com/nfitglabspbk/evaluation-question-1/

Final Products

This is the final front cover:

This is the final article:

This is the final contents page:

Production: Draft of contents page

Draft of contents page made on computer:

production: draft of article

Draft for the article made on the computer:

Production: Draft of the front cover of indie magazine

Cover Draft made on computer:

Research (YouTube video, Codes and Conventions)

This link will take you to a youtube video I have made using Pinnacle Studio editor where I analyse the codes and conventions of a Top Gear Magazine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJt01rrwHDA

Research (Codes and conventions)

The mast head for this magazine is different to many other codes and conventions which other magazines follow. For example the frontal image does not overlap the mast head but instead over a much smaller cover line beneath it. This is not often done in other magazines due to the need for cover lines to be seen as they are not frequent within every magazine. However the word is still clearly visable and easy to read.

Research (codes and conventions)

This magazine has many codes and conventions common to other styles of magazine such as the frontal image overlapping the mast head. However it does have a different structure leading to the image remaining in the centre with copy primarily to the right hand side of the page. In other magazines this is often different where the text stretches from left to centre and the image is located on the right hand side of the page. This may have been done to make the magazine stand out on shelves as the image is clearly seen even if stacked behind another magazine.

Research (Genre Analysis; Iron man 2)

This magazine is a clear representation of how a magazines genre can be identified quickly before reading deeply into it. For example the lightning sparks forming the mast head clearly represent the sci-fi genre. Also the image itself resembles futuristic technology which is greatly influenced in the sci-fi genre. 

Research (Codes and Conventions)

This magazine uses code and conventions common to many magazine styles however due to the importance of Avatar it has a number of different colour schemes and structure. For example the gold and black colour scheme makes cover lines stand out while giving off the impression of value. Also although Avatar was going to be a major release the cover image seems to hide behind the text giving off the impression that it was hiding from the public eye possibly to contain exclusive information or keep the film classed as a possible success in order to make a greater impression upon release. Finally there are a number of exclusives displayed at the base of the page giving the magazine its own value relating to the film as an exclusive and important release.