Final Skills Audit

AS Media Production: Final Skills Audit Print Production

Name: Megan Stephenson                            Tutor group: 1.03                  Date: 22/04/14

Photographic Skills

Which of the following photographic features/equipment have you used on a camera before:

Feature	Yes	No	Comments if yes – where have you completed this skills and to what level
Manual Focus features	X		During my photo shoot for my final product I used manual focus when taking my photographs. In order to make sure they were the highest quality I did this manually to ensure that none of my images were out of focus. Doing this action myself meant I could change the focus quickly during the shoot as I had limited time.
Shutter Speed	X		I used the shutter speed tool when trying out new styles of images to create different effects. This effect could capture movement much more effectively to create a different style image.
Aperture control		X
ISO Control	X		I changed the light settings on my composition pictures and my shutter speed pictures in order to make sure that none of the pictures came back dark.
A tripod		X
External flash	X		I used the external flash effect during my photo shoot for the images on my product (the front cover and the double page spread).
Self timer facility	X
Light metre	X		I used the light metre in order to measure the brightness in the photography studio to make sure the images would be the highest quality possible.
Composition grids	X		I used this feature during my photo shoot and on my mobile phone. These help put the image in the frame correctly to take the best possible image.

Photoshop Skills

Which of the following features of Photoshop have you used before:

Feature	Yes	No	Comments if yes – where have you completed this skills and to what level
Text control	X		I changed the space between letters and lines on Photoshop for my front cover. This was to make sure they fit appropriately on the page.
Filters	X		When creating different effects within photos I change the filters to change the colour of the image. This makes it a different hue and could make it look different and professional.
Brushes	X		I downloaded lots of brushes for different projects. For example in the Christmas CD cover as well as in my final product. I used a brush to put behind my breakout box on my double page spread.
Layers	X		I needed to create many different layers when creating my front cover. This allowed me to edit everything individually in order to not mess all the other features when I wanted to change one.
Opacity control		X
Shape creation	X		I added a shape on my front cover that I placed text into. This made the sell-line stand out on the cover.
Brightness and contrast control	X		I wanted to the make the image stand out more so I made it brighter to make all the colours stand out more on the white background.
Gradients	X		I wanted to make the red in my images stand out more so I used the red gradient to bring that forth in my images.
Load selection features	X		I used this tool when practising my masthead for my magazine. This allowed me to create an effective and professional outline to my text that could then be filled with colour to add to the overall standard of my product.
Feathering	X		I used the magic wand tool to select my images so I could move them around on the page properly.
Colour curves adjustment	X		To further bring out different colours in my images I changed the curved settings to warp the colours in the images to create different effects.
Resolution setting control	X		To make sure my files in Photoshop will be the highest quality, I always made sure to change the resolution to make it to a high standard.
Magnetic lasso, polygon lasso tool	X		I used this tool to select only the image and cut it out of the background.
Cropping tool	X		I used this in several places for my images to keep the parts I wanted and get rid of the rest.
Clone tool	X		I duplicated several layers in different projects to have several copies or to change things slightly.
Retouch tool	X		I used this tool to get rid of any blemishes on the models skin in order to make the image a higher standard.
Other skills	X		Dodge and Burn tool: During the vampire project I used the burn tool to distort the image and give a burnt colour effect around the models eyes to create a Halloween look. I also used the dodge tool to make the skin look grey that would help bring forth the ‘vampire’ look. Warp tool: For the vampire project I warped the models teeth to look longer and more pointed to keep in with the theme of the image. Healing Brush Tool – Replace: I used this tool in my project to replace some of the missing image that I missed when deleting the background from the image. For example on part of the book my model is holding, the magic wand tool missed part of the pages; I replaced them with this tool.

In Design Skills

Which of the following features of In Design have you used before:

Feature	Yes	No	Comments if yes – where have you completed this skills and to what level
Have you ever used In design ever before?	X
Margin and column guide creation	X		I used the measurements from my example magazine to create guidelines for the double page spread product.
Inserting an image ID	X		I manipulated images in Photoshop and then placed them where I wanted them in In Design.
Resiing images in ID	X		I changed the size of the images so they would fit where they are supposed to be on the page and the content would fill the frame appropriately.
Text manipulation – resizing, rotation	X		I changed the size of my text so it would fit on my page and not overflow and miss the end of the article on my double page spread.
Text manipulation – controlling kerning and leading	X		I changed the distance between the letters on my header as I liked the font but I needed to change the letter spacing. I did this so it would fit in the space provided on my double page spread.
Text flow creation	X		I made sure to link the text boxes together so the article for my double page spread would automatically flow through the page. This meant when I changed the fonts and sizes to fit all the text on the page appropriately, I only had to select one text box as all the writing was linked together.
Using transparent imagery in ID	X		I saved my double page spread image as a PNG24 file before placing it into my double page spread in In Design. I did this as I made it much easier for me to make sure my text would flow around the image.
Shape/line creation In design	X		I created boxes to go underneath my text to create a highlighted effect. I also inserted several lines to go around my double page spread with different designs; for example, dots and dashes of varying thickness.
Exporting to PDF from In-design	X		When completed I exported my product as a PDF file in order for me to upload my final piece for marking.
Text Wrap	X		I used the path tool to create a line around my images which I then made my text flow around. This meant that I could keep the components separate on my double page spread to make it look more professional.
Other Skills	X		Drop Cap: In my article I used a drop cap to start the piece in order to indicate where the beginning was. This also made the product seem more like a professional publication. Downloaded fonts: I downloaded several fonts to use on my double page spread. I added to font book in order to be able to use them in In Design for my product.

Number of new skills achieved: Around 37

Compared with my initial skills assessment of, I have greatly improved in these programmes. Before this point I had gained very little experience using a camera and these high quality programmes, now I have had chance to use them in several different projects. I have learnt and improved many different skills and how to use different tools.

Final Product

This is my final product for the brief.

Unit 3 Progress - Week 4

This was my final week of production so I needed to make sure that I created each component to the best possible standard.

First I changed the main sell-line in order to make it stand out more on the page. I increased the font size and experimented with different tools in order to change the spaces in between the letters etc. I reapplied the same drop shadow effect and changing the settings slightly to make it darker around the outsides so it will be recognisable as the main sell-line. 

I added three more sell-lines to the page to fill it out to look more like a professional magazine - these would be needed to attract the audiences attention. I moved them around and changed the colours as well as make some bold or italic in order to make them look individual and show they are different. 

I also changed the font type for the text under my masthead ('Your Times, Your Life') in order to make it more distinct and fit more on the page. The other font didn't blend into the page well whilst this one does, improving the standard of the product.


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For my double page spread I changed quite a few things to make it a better product. First I changed the font for the header as well as rotating it back so it was straight again. The first font didn't fit the theme of the piece, it looked like something associated with a horror movie and not books like the feature is  about. I kept it the same colour which I picked out from the models dress in order to create a colour scheme for the page. 

When I went around the model to make the text flow around the image I failed to change the colour of the line to transparent which I then corrected to make it look more professional.

I changed the lines around the outside of the page to make them look less bold and distract the readers eye. They are now dots and dashes which are softer on the eye and makes it easier to read the text around the sides of the page. I also added the bold line above the header so I could add the magazine title and page number above it - much like most professional magazines. 

I changed the kicker on my page to fill the gap between the breakout box. I then changed the sizes of the black blocks to only cover the text that makes the page look more for a younger audience. They will be used to seeing such techniques in other magazines they read (such as Empire). I also repeated this on the extra quote I added underneath the model.

I hyphenated the text so it flow more easily and be easier for the audience to read which is one of the most important aspects of the DPS. 

I also added more quotes from my questionnaire/ research about the topic behind the header. I made them a white/ grey hue so they wouldn't stand out too much over the header which must stand out more. They added a layered effect to the DPS as well as improving the effect of the article. One of the aims of the article is to encourage the audience to read more books; these quotes about others experience may help this target. 



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Unit 3 Progress - Week 3

For my front cover I changed the masthead font again to fit more in tone with the magazine. The other one seemed too serious and old-fashioned for a magazine aimed at teenagers; this one is more suitable. 

I also changed and moved my main sell line so it will stand out more on the page. I moved it lower on the page, changed the font colour (as well as adding some effects, such as a drop shadow) and increased the font size. This will then make it more obvious that this is the main sell line for the issue and readers will have a better idea of what to expect from the magazine. 

I moved around my other sell line and added another inside the shape to make it stand out. This is another feature that will gain the audiences interest and therefore must be highlighted. 

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For my double page spread I manipulated and improved the image I was going to use. I then added it to my DPS and enlarged it to cover a large proportion of the page. I also made it so my text flowed around the image so they wouldn't interfere with each other. You would be able to read the text and see the image properly.

I also changed the font for my header to make it more bold and stand out more on the page. I then changed the colour to match the red in the models dress so there are more colours on the page. It will make the DPS more vibrant and have a more consistent colour scheme.

I added my breakout box to the page which I created in Photoshop using different brushes to create the 'paint brush' effect. I then added the text over the top. 

Since I put my image on the DPS I needed to move my text boxes and change the font size in order for it all to fit effectively on the page. I moved my kicker to the left above my breakout box so it would have its own space so the reader can see it and the rest of the text would fit on the DPS. I have experimented with highlighting the text box in a different colour to make it stand out as well as bringing new layers and components to the page. This is subject to change as I am just testing things out. I like the idea of having this type of effect but it needs to be improved for my final product. 

I then also added lines around the borders of the page to bring new layers and effects to the page. These may change as I don't believe they are effective in the state they are in but the idea is a good one. I will continue to change these for my final product. 

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