My Final Product

My Final Product
Front Cover

 

 

Double Page Spread:



Final Skills Audit

AS Media Production: Final Skills Audit Print Production

 

Name: Rebecca Dawson Tutor group: 1.04

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	Y		I have used this feature in skill developments as well as the induction project that I have uploaded onto my blog as well as in my Photoshoot. This has helped my images to be more in-focus and look more professional.
Shutter Speed	Y		I have used shutter speeds during the skill development stages of photography. This has helped me to gain movement in my images and helped me to gain in-focus images of models jumping in the air and down steps.
Aperture control	Y		I have used apertures to control the different layers/features of an image. For example, when controlling the aperture I could focus on a prop and make this the only object that was in-focus. This could also be reversed. The evidence of controlling apertures is the aperture write-up on my blog.
Continuous Shot Mode	Y		I have used continuous shot mode when developing my skills of photography. Continuous shot mode has helped me to produce sequences of motion within images, making my images look professional and high-quality. The write-up of continuous shots is on my blog and the model is blowing bubbles.
A tripod	Y		I used a tripod when I carried out my aperture skill development task. The tripod balanced the camera so that I didn’t have any unwanted motion blur on any of my images.
External flash	Y		I used this in my Photoshoot as I used a soft box to control the lighting. This can be shown in my Photoshoot images in my Unit 3 Project.
Self timer facility		N
Light meter		N
Composition grids	Y		I used composition grids when I incorporated the rule of thirds when controlling the eye-line in images. This can be shown in all of my skill developments as the eye-line has been controlled on most images. These images will be present on my blog.

 

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	Y		I used text control in the induction project as well as the front cover of the Unit 3 project. I used this when creating headlines and sell lines for my magazine as I moved text around to suit the magazine cover.
Filters	Y		I used filters in a Photoshop skill development to produce images that looked retro and vintage. These can be seen on my blog write-up.
Brushes	Y		I used brushes when using Photoshop during different skill developments as well as the Unit 3 project. Specifically, evidence can be found in my blog as I made pretend CD covers with different brushes that I had downloaded. Brushes allow me to make different shapes on media products that look more professional and interesting.
Layers	Y		I use layers whenever I use Photoshop. Evidence of this is on my blog as well as the Unit 3 project. I had many layers on the Unit 3 project as I had quite a lot of features, such as images, shapes, text, etc. Layers allow me to create a well-developed, professional looking product.
Opacity control	Y		I used opacity control on my Photoshop skill development when produced the retro and vintage images. This is because I filtered a block colour and then turned the opacity down. This is visible on my blog. Opacity control can allow me to, for example, make image visible as well as alter the colours of them.
Shape creation	Y		I used shape creation when producing buttons, for example on my induction project front cover. I also made a shape on my Unit 3 project front cover to display text. Shape creation is a good feature of media products as it can give the product energy and can fill white space.
Brightness and contrast control	Y		I used brightness and contrast control on my Unit 3 final project as I wanted the background a set colour for my double page spread. I also used these when developing Photoshop skills as I experimented with auto color, auto contrast and auto colour. The evidence of this is on my blog. Brightness and contrast control have allowed me to edit images quickly to get the result that I want if I didn’t get the specific image during the photography stage.
Gradients	Y		I experimented with gradients when trying to get a textured and interesting background for my header on my double page spread in my unit 3 project. I also used a gradient when creating the CD covers in my skill development that is visible on my blog. Gradients help to create a unique product because it adds colour and makes the media product more appealing.
Load selection features	Y		I used load selection features when I copy and pasted whole images on to Photoshop. For example, I sometimes copy and pasted images onto a new document so that I could edit them and still have the original image. This is a useful way to instantly copy images. I used this throughout my Photoshop use. I also used it in my Unit 3 project as I included an image in my heading on my DPS. I used ‘load selection’ after I had selected the model with the Magnetic Lasso Tool so that I could make the edges of her hair more defiant. Thus, this tool helps make images more bold and matte.
Feathering	Y		I used feathering when I carried out the skill development of vingetting on Photoshop. This is because I wanted a more blended in line around the subject rather than an obvious edit. Vingetting helps draw attention to the subject of the image and feathering helps do so as it makes the transition more psychological rather than obviously edited. The vingetting write-up can be found on my blog.
Colour curves adjustment	Y		The level and curve tool skill development on my blog states that I have used the RGB settings individually to form edited images. The colour curves adjustment serves as a filter in these images and give the image a retro look.
Resolution setting control	Y		The resolution setting control is often used – within skill developments, the induction project and the Unit 3 final project. For example, when I created the CD front covers I changed the resolution to 300dpi and the RGB was changed to 16bit. The resolution setting control helps to form sharper images and produces a more detailed image when printed. This makes my work look more professional and high-quality.
Magnetic lasso, polygon lasso tool	Y		I used the magnetic lasso tool when carrying out the vampire skill development, which is uploaded onto my blog. I used this to draw around the teeth so that I could transform and warp them. I also used the polygon lasso tool on my disability double page spread that was heavily produced on Indesign. This is because an image needed cutting out from its background so that I could place it on the page and change the DPS to how I wanted it. This is also visible on my blog. In addition, I used this tool on my final Unit 3 project as I cut an image out so that I could copy it onto a different background. These tools allow you to modify images so that they have affects within them, e.g. the vampire teeth, or to make the parts of the image more flexible so that they’re easier to adjust.
Cropping tool	Y		I used the cropping tool in a lot of my skill developments and Unit 3 projects. For example, on the disability Indesign project (that is uploaded onto my blog), I have included a break-out box which was edited in Photoshop. I did so by cropping a larger image and then used the brush tool to make the edges rough. I also did this in my Unit 3 final project as I feel that it gives break-out boxes an edgy feel. Cropping images allows me to keep the section of the image that I want, as well as discards the unwanted part.
Clone tool	Y		I have used the clone tool, but there isn’t any evidence that I have of it. This is because I just experimented with it but I didn’t use it for any purpose. I know that this tool clones the relevant part of the image that you select and you can then place where you want it by using a brush. This is good for when you want a softer part of the image as a soft brush can be used to do so. This clone tool can also be good for creating interesting imagery if different brushes are loaded.
Retouch tool/Healing Brush Tool	Y		I have used this skill when I have carried out a skill development on Photoshop that is visible on my blog. This involved uploading an image of a girl that had many spots and transforming it into a clear image. The healing brush tool makes the imperfections on images no longer visible as it transforms the images into glamorous ones. This healing brush tool is usually used to make people look better for magazine front covers etc. I have also used this tool on my Unit 3 Project as I discarded some of my models spots to create smooth skin.
Other skills     Pen tool       Liquify       Forward Warp Tool       Gaussian Blur     Blend Mode           Flatten Image   Burn Tool           Sponge Tool         Smudge Tool       Saving files as a PNG/JPEG	Y		I have learnt many other skills in Photoshop. Firstly, I used the Pen Tool when cutting out parts of an image so that I could place them over text. I did this in my final Unit 3 Project. The evidence for this can be found on my blog in the second week of productions write-up. The pen tool is good for selecting certain areas of an image because you can create curves to effectively draw around the part you want. I used  this liquify, Forward Warp Tool and Gaussian Blur when I was creating the cuts/scratches and redness on the models body. I did this because I wanted to test my skills on Photoshop. I found this task difficult as it didn’t look as good as I had hoped. However, the evidence of these skills are on the Unit 3 Write-ups on my blog. The liquify and Forward Warp Tool are tools that change the pixels in an image. When the Forward Warp Tool is used, the image looks as if I has been smudged. The Gaussian Blur Tool is good when you want the image to be softer or more dramatic. I used the ‘Blend Mode’ multiple times when using Photoshop. I was introduced to it during skill developments, for example the Vampire skill development when making the red eyes. This evidence is on my blog. I also used the blend mode when creating the scratches on my image in the Unit 3 Project. The blend mode is good when you want to create different effects in Photoshop (like the red eyes) as I can either make the original colours contrast or lighten so that the image is smoother or so that the image is diverse, colourful and bold. Basically, this skill helps change the ways the layer colours react with each other. I flattened the image so that I could export it easily. I used the ‘Burn Tool’ on various pieces of work on Photoshop. For example, I darkened the eyes of the vampire up with this tool. I also used It to make the skin of my model darker on my Unit 3 Project and I made the area around the scratches darker by using ‘Shadows.’ The burn tool is good for darkening parts of images so that the image has a more sinister tone. It is also good for highlighting certain features of an image. I used the sponge tool on my header image in the Unit 3 project to lighten up her skin around her eyes. The sponge tool is good when desaturating or saturating an image. This can be seen within my screenshots of my Unit 3 Project in my blog. I used the smudge tool when creating the scratches on my Unit 3 project.  This is because it didn’t work as well I had hoped so I smudged it a little so that it blended in with her skin more. This evidence is again on my Unit 3 write-ups on my blogs. I saved files as a PNG when he background needs to be transparent or when the JPEG image didn’t load properly into Indesign. I also saved files as a JPEG so that I wasn’t a Photoshop format file. This meant that I could save elements for my DPS as an image so that it could be easily placed into Indesign. Saving files as different formats is good for when you need to access files at home if you don’t have the Photoshop software at home. It is also good when images need to be placed elsewhere quickly.

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
Margin and column guide creation	Y		I set up my margins by measuring a Kerrang magazines margins and using these as guidelines. I used Kerrang because it was the most popular magazine that appealed to my target audience in my primary research. I also chose how many columns that I wanted on my DPS and I did insert and place my text following these guidelines. The margin and column creation helps to produce a professional product that is compact and that doesn’t miss off any elements when printed.
Inserting an image ID	Y		I inserted images in my Unit 3 Project, Induction project and my disability DPS. These are evident on my blog. Images create a more visual media product that appeals to the younger audience.
Resizing images in ID	Y		I did this by holding shift down as well as using the options ‘fit content to frame proportionally’ etc. Resizing images help to keep the pixels in-focus. The images can be found on my blog write-ups of my DPS work.
Text manipulation – resizing, rotation	Y		I did use text manipulation techniques in Indesign, for example on my Unit 3 Project I rotated (rotate tool) the header text so that the layout looked more dynamic and I also resized the text that I made in Photoshop for the heading for the Disability DPS. These examples can be found on my blog. Text manipulation makes the media product different and creative.
Text manipulation – controlling kerning and leading	Y		I controlled the kerning and leading on Photoshop when producing my DPS in my Unit 3 Project. I did this for the kicker so that it was easier to read. I also experimented with the paragraph formatting controls to edit the article so that it fit on the DPS. Kerning and leading text makes the text easier to read.
Text flow creation	Y		Text flow creation was used on all of my DPS experiments – which are uploaded onto my blog. This helps control the text when it has filled the present column as the text starts from where it left off.
Using transparent imagery in ID (PNG file)	Y		I did save files as PNG files so that the transparent background was maintained. I did this heavily in my Unit 3 Project, for example my break-out box. I also saved an image as a PNG file for my Disability DPS so that I could carry out advanced text wrapping. Transparent imagery means that the background of the DPS will be the background of the image rather than a white space.
Shape/line creation In design	Y		I created shapes in this software for the use of Polaroid images as well as backgrounds to text. This is visible in my Disability DPS screenshot in my blog and my Unit 3 project screenshot. I also created lines, for example in my first piece of Indesign work that is uploaded onto my blog. Shapes and lines create diagonals and adds energy to the structure and layout of the media product.
Exporting to PDF from In-design	Y		I did export my Unit 3 Project to a PDF file from Indesign and the screenshots of this can be found on my blog. This is a format that is easy to read and is easily accessible for viewers.
Text Wrap	Y		I have experimented with text wrap in previous Indesign work but I also used it in my Unit 3 final project – the evidence of this is a screenshot of my blog of when I inserted a quotation (which I later moved elsewhere). Text wrap allows images and text to flow well together and can split text up so that it isn’t consistently in a large amount.
Other Skills     Advanced Text Wrap     Polaroid Images     Rectangle Tool/Opacity	Y		I have used other skills in Indesign. For example, I have not only used text wrap but I have used advanced text wrap. This uses the pen tool which is used to select part of the image so that the text can wrap around it closely. The evidence of this is in my blog as I have used advanced text wrap on my Disability DPS as well as my Unit 3 DPS. I created Polaroid images in my Disability DPS and my Unit 3 DPS/front cover so that the images look more attractive and attention is drawn to them. Within the Unit 3 project (on my DPS) I have created a rectangular shape for the caption of my break out box and I turned the opacity down on it so that the text was more visible. This screenshot is visible on my blog.

 

 

Number of new skills achieved:  I have gained 45 new skills altogether as I already knew how to carry out one skill on the initial skills assessment. This is a massive improvement and I am glad that I have learnt this much.