Evaluation - Q7: Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

1. Evaluation – Q7: Looking Back at Your
Preliminary Task, What do You Feel You
Have Learnt in The Progression From it to
the Full Product?
By Gregory McLaney

2. Preliminary Production
My contents page for my preliminary
production was very basic and there wasn’t
very good positioning in the overall
composition. I used grids on my main task to
split the sections of my magazine up creating
two columns either side and a middle
section. This worked well and I could create
a clean and easy to read contents page.
For my original production all my cover/sell
lines were positioned on one side. On my
main task I carefully positioned them for the
best effect. Plus, I used Photoshop to
manipulate the typography. This created a
more outstanding and bold effect making the
sell lines more viable for the reader.
My mast head for my preliminary was very
basic with a coloured background. For my
main task I developed my skills and
produced a 3D text, positioned behind the
artists head using Photoshop.
The original preliminary task was lacking
colour and Photoshop manipulation. During
my main task I edited all of my images and
made them link with my social class and
genre. This made my compositions strong
and created a large contrast between my
original production and my main task.
Final Main Task Production

3. 
My preliminary task was very basic in terms of typography and images. I
used the same basic font throughout my preliminary task. So, in my main
task I used 2 different fonts with better effects to create a more
outstanding composition which appeals to the audience. Another main
feature which differs the two productions is the use of images, I took
basic images around college for the first task but when it came to the
main task I used image from different areas to appeal to my target
audience and genre. In my first task I missed out generic features of
music magazines such as a website page this is a minor fault, however it
creates a very un-professional touch to the magazine and does not
create the right look. So in adding small features like this, it enabled me
to create a better and more professional look.

4. Another feature that has progressed
since the initially stages of the
preliminary tasks is the use of Photoshop
and manipulating images. I can now
create professional looking images with
effects I never knew before and this
feature is shown throughout all stages of
my main task production.
My InDesign skills have improved
since the preliminary task mainly with
speed of editing, towards the middle of
my construction task I started getting
used to the short keys and other
features which meant I was editing a
lot faster than in the preliminary task.
Since the development of my preliminary
task my technology/editing skills have
progressed immensely. I found that I had a
lot of plain white space on my contents
page of my preliminary task and now on
my main tasks final product. I have learnt
from this mistake and made my magazine
more compact which make it look
professional and eye appealing for
audiences.

5. After completing both tasks I can
see my skills have developed and I
know my software production skills
have progressed. I feel more
confident using various different
computer and internet software
now. I found that I'm also more
confident taking photographs and
can capture the right angles to
create effects upon the viewer.
If it wasn't for the preliminary task I do not think I would be as
confident with photography and software. It was good experience
completing the preliminary task and it gave the experience of seeing
the change of my own personal skills.
I found that linking different software was a main feature
that made the construction process easier and more
effective. I used Photoshop for its advantages
(manipulation and effects) and InDesign for its pros
(Positioning and Text). This meant I could create the best
possible compositions in an easy way which was time
efficient. Also, a feature that helped me improving my skills
was basically learning how to use certain tools in certain
ways. This lead on to me using different tools and adapting
to the layout of software and towards the end of my
construction I was using various shortcut keys which cut
editing time drastically.

6. Double Page Spread
Even though I didn’t create a double page spread Both the images in this double page spread were
article for my preliminary task, the skills I developed created by manipulating them in Photoshop. If it
in doing the preliminary tasks meant I could was not for the preliminary task I would not have
produce a double page spread article for my main been able to create images to this quality.
task.
I used Photoshop to create paint splashes and
a flasher in the top right corner. The feature of
Photoshop throughout my production was
from a result of progressive growth of skills
since the original preliminary task.
I used InDesign to create the drops caps
on the text and insert the text. I also used
InDesign to position the whole of my
composition. Plus, I used InDesign to
create the caption quote in which I added
drop caps and a background. My skills
from the preliminary task helped me
develop an understanding of this
programme and create this composition.

7. 
To conclude, throughout the whole of this product my skills have come a long way in all different forms of
technology and software editing. I think that the main advancement has been using Photoshop. I have also
started thinking of better ways to attract audiences whilst I'm editing. I always had my target audience and
genre in mind whilst creating my magazine so I could make sure that the magazine was targeted at them
more than target to look good and stylish. However I think I got a good balance of both and my target
audience was met at the same time of having a good looking and stylish magazine.

Finally, I think the representation of my magazine is fine with good effects and appealing text and articles.
However, the one downside to my magazine is probably a lack of imagery. So, if I could change anything this
would be one option. But, on the plus side the images I used were very strong with perfect colours to connote
links with my genre and target audience. Plus, all my compositions were filled in the end creating a finalized
professional look.