Third week of production

 Third Week of Production - Unit 3 Project


In the third week of production, I carried on with the development of my Indesign DPS. This started with mixing my skills of Photoshop and Indesign when creating the header. I firstly opened the filed red box from Indesign onto Photoshop so that I had the right angle needed. I then accessed 'layer style' and clicked onto 'pattern overlay' and  changed the colour to red to fit the header in with my 3 colour palette. I chose the textured pattern because I felt that it looked like a blurry, distorted image which I thought reflected the vision of a drunk person. Thus, I thought it fitted in quite well and this is why I like the header element of my media product.

I then opened the image of the model and used the 'Magnetic Lasso Tool' to cut out the image - ensuring that I was careful. However, this caused a problem because of the back-combed hair I created in the Photoshoot. Due to this hair, it was hard to get a neat edge. This meant that the image looked rough and messy when cut out and selected. To resolve this, I copied this image onto a transparent background and then used 'Load selection.' This skill meant that I could colour and define the edges of the image so that the wispy hair was a matte colour. This neatened the image and made it look more professional. The eraser tool also helped because when I defined the edge too much with the brushes, I could oppose and reverse the mistakes. In addition to this, I used the same method to sharpen the edges of the diagonal rectangle so that it didn't look de-pixelised and so it had a more defined edge. I also used the unsharpen mask skill that I had learnt to make the model image more prominent and defined against the distorted background. I then angled the image the same as the background rectangle and pasted the image onto this. I then grouped them and saved them as a PNG file to insert into my DPS.

After inserting my header, I needed the text to go on top. However, I needed to download fonts again. To do so, I looked on dafont.com. I chose a few fonts that I thought would work with my idea and used one for the heading and one for the kicker. I didn't use the same because I thought it was too over the top. The header's text font goes with the image in the header and the kicker's font goes with the article. Although, both fonts do work well alongside each other as they both add a sinister tone. I also experimented with the positions of the Polaroid images as I didn't know where to place them. Within the third week of production, I also inserted my article and used text flow creation to ensure that the text was fluent. I then came across a problem with the article because even in font size 10, the article didn't fit onto the page.To resolve this, I experimented with the 'Paragraph Formatting Controls.' I changed the 'space after' paragraphs to help fit the article on the page. However, this still wasn't enough so I had to go back onto my article and re-edit it to condense it. This meant that the article took longer than expected to finish and was more difficult than I thought because it was hard maintaining an informal lexis, using two semantic fields as well as trying to condense the information. This made me panic as I didn't think I had enough time to reach the final deadline.

When I re-edited the article, I came across another problem. I would have had to have two different coloured fonts so that the audience were able to see the whole article. This is because the black font blended in with the black clothing of the model. To resolve this, I inserted rectangles and lowered the opacity so that the text was easier to read; yet the model was still visible.
I also played around with the kicker and Polaroid images a little more as I wasn't happy with the layout of the page.
I inserted a drop cap on the first letter of my article so that the audience knows where to start reading.
I inserted a quote into the middle of the article columns, however I wasn't happy with the appearance of this so I changed it in the final touches. At this stage, I also inserted a break-out box. This was created by using Photoshop. I inserted an image from the internet onto Photoshop (ensuring that it was a large image) and I then copy and pasted it to get 3 bottles. I then cut around these with the Magnetic Lasso Tool and pasted them onto a transparent background. I placed the three bottles close to each other so that they overlapped because I knew that I wanted my break-out box to be bigger length ways that width ways. The file was then saved as a PNG and was placed into Indesign. However, when placed into Indesign, I didn't feel that it looked attractive or looked as if it were a professional break-out box. Therefore, I then deleted this and started designing a new break-out box later.

I then moved my focus back onto my front cover as I still knew that this wasn't complete. Both the front cover and Indesign needed the last improvements and final touches.

 This is a print screen of my finished front cover product. In the third week of production, I edited the sell lines more and also added another one at the bottom. I did this to make the front cover look more compact so that it had a dynamic layout. I re-arranged the positioning of the Polaroid Image so that the sell line reads better. I also overlapped the 'New' button and the sell line next to it to maintain the multiple layered structure on the front cover. I tried to link the sell lines with the alcohol topic, however I did add others so that the magazine would appeal to my target audience - as it is the 'Alternative Tribe' they would want up-to-date fashion and music. E.g. 'Hot or not? New Season Fashion' sell line.
Overall, I was happy with my front cover image even though it didn't match my flat-plan or my initial ideas. This is because I feel that the magazine would appeal to my target audience more due to the obvious 3 colour palette. I also think that the darker image reflects the darkness of alcohol. I asked my peers their views on my front cover and they said that they really liked the fonts that I have chosen as they are clear and go well together. In addition, they said that they liked the main image because it symbolises the effects of alcohol. However, they did feel that the barcode should have been positioned more to the right of the page or situated at the bottom of the page. I feel that my front cover is creative because I have symbolism within imagery, the 3 colour scheme and an effective layout. I have also tried to push myself and be creative by placing my images head in front of the text so that the page looks more professional and layered. The masthead is an element that I really like because I think that it instantly gives the audience a clue as to the content of the magazine - it suggests that the articles have an impact and are important. I also like the way I have placed the image over the masthead as you can still read the masthead but the product looks more creative. I am happy with my colour scheme because the red colour does add emphasis on different features/sell lines. However, I dislike some of my sell lines because I didn't prepare them before hand so I feel that they were rushed and may not go with the alcohol magazine. I didn't prepare some beforehand because I didn't think I would need as many as I have included. I did have enough time to complete my front cover page as I finished the final improvements in the middle of the third week of production. When the front cover was finished, I saved it as a JPEG and placed it onto my Indesign document so that the pages were all together.

When the front cover was finished, I began to edit my DPS again.

Previously, I didn't like the break-out-box. Therefore, I edited it. Although this time, I had the idea of linking the break-out box with the header and the idea that alcohol is poison. When I placed these images into Indesign, I disliked them as they were too bold for a break-outbox because it drew attention away from the article and other images. To resolve this, I turned the opacity down for both images and grouped and angled them to fit the white space. However, I still disliked these images as a break-out box. Therefore, I changed this again later.
The fonts that I had downloaded onto my computer, weren't present on others. This meant that I got a plain text (like the kicker in this print screen) when I edited my DPS on different computers. This caused problems because I couldn't see how much product looked as a whole due to missing fonts. To resolve this, I tried to stay on the same computer so that I could finish producing my Unit 3 product. I also tried to download the same fonts again on different computers. When this print screen shot was taken, I was in the middle of changing the layout once again. This is because I wasn't happy about the translucent boxes hat contained some of the article. Therefore, I wanted to make more space for my article so that it could fit on more of the left hand page. To do so, I made the masthead text closer together by changing the space between them and I dragged the Polaroid images up, resized them and moved them closer together. I also changed the font of my kicker again because I wanted the fonts to relate to my target audience more. Thus, I changed the kicked text to a font that looked typed up. I wanted to connect the font with the idea of technology because my young audience have grown up with technology.

In my third week of production, I also made use of advanced text wrap. I did this by using the 'Pen Tool' and cutting out a part of the image so that the text can be wrapped around it. I then deleted the translucent boxes that the article was in because the article could fit onto the lighter background. I also text wrapped the article around the kicker.
I felt that the quote didn't look good in the middle of the text so I moved it to the bottom corner of the right hand page. I placed it here because I felt that the quote can be connected with the image - as if the model was saying the quote. I used the same font as my kicker so that the fonts linked with each other. Within the third week of production, I finally decided on a break-out box that looked good on the DPS. This was a piece of paper that was cut out. I inserted the image of a piece of paper onto Photoshop on a transparent background. I then used a sharp edged brush as an eraser and used the 'Eraser Tool' to form a rough sided image. I also added a rhetorical question caption to introduce the break-out box. This is the same font as my kicker and quote. I added a background box to this caption and turned the opacity down - this was to emphasise the caption as well as make it easier to read. I made this box red so that I still maintained the 3 palette colour scheme. I also included the caption because it  took up some space on the page - this made my layout more dynamic and energetic.
This is my finished product:

Highly zoomed in image - looks less realistic

Adding the final touches of the DPS was fairly rushed as my deadlines was approaching quickly. However, I did get my Unit 3 Project finished and exported on the day of the deadline. I tried to push myself as well as my skills on this Unit 3 project. For example, I started looking at various Photoshop tutorials and I decided to make cuts/scratches on my models body to reflect the physical consequences of consuming too much alcohol. It didn't work as well as I had hoped because it didn't look as professional or as realistic as I wanted. However, for a distance (100% zoomed in) the scratches look effective and displays the symbolism of the effects of alcohol. I made the scratches by duplicating the image and going onto the 'Filter' tab. I then selected 'Liquify' (Shift + Ctl + X) and used the 'Forward Warp Tool' to create the smudged effect of where the scratch will go. I then selected the colour red and used a brush with the hardness of 0% to colour over the previous smudged area. I then changed the 'Bleng Mode' and changed it to 'Soft light.' I then went back onto the 'Filter' tab, onto 'Blur' and onto 'Gaussian Blur.' I changed the radious so that it was between 4 and 14. The blend mode was changed again and the opacity was changed. The image was thn flattened and I used the 'Burn Tool' on 'shadows' to darken the area around the scratches. A new layer was then created and the colour red was chosen again. The blend mode was changed to 'Soft light' again as this is the light that went with my image more. I did the same with the Gaussian Blur and then merged the image and layer togther. After I had carried out the method of different tutorials, I used the 'Burn Tool' more so that the models skin blended in with the scratches. I also used the brush tool and created moe scratched as I thought that the Gaussian Blur scratches were hard to see when zoomed out. I then used the smudge tool to blend the brush lines in. However, these brush lines are not the same colour as I wanted the scratches to be more visible. Although, to improve on the scratches I think I should have discarded the brush lines and carried on producing the Gaussian Blur scratches. This is because I could experiment with the method and create bolder scraches.
Considering this was my first time at using these tools, I eel that it was a success. When editing the main image for my DPS, I also smudged (using he smudge tool) her make-up on her face so that it was emphasised and more messy. I did this because I wanted the model to look more unglamorous so that it opposed a 'window of your future self' image. I also used the 'Burn Tool' on 'highlights' to darken the models skin more and to make her bolder so that she stands out on the page. The 'Sponge tool' was aditionally used in places (like uner her eyes) to lighten and saturate the imag when I used the 'Burn Tool' too much.
Overall, I had some general problems that needed resolving during the production of the Unit 3 project. Firstly, the fonts couldn't be edited once complete because they weren't saved on differen computers. This meant that the error message: 'Missing fonts' came up when the software was loaded. To resolve this, I tried to stay on the same computer when producing. I also tried  to download the same fonts again. The second problem that I came across was that different computers in the college had either the CS4 version of Adobe where as others had the CS6 version. This meant that when I clicked 'save' on Indesign, it saved it as a CS6 file, meanin that I couldn't access it on computers that had the CS4 software. To resolve this image, I had to save the document as a 'CS4 or later' file even though I was on a CS6 version by going to 'save as...' and using the drop down menu. The final problem that I encountered was that there was a broken link when I exported the project. To resolve this, I had to speak with my assessor and he showed me what to do.

I asked my peers of what they thought of my DPS and they said that they liked the overall symbolism of alcohol in my images as well as my subheading. They additionally liked that I had incorporated my colour scheme onto my DPS. To improve, they said that I could add a textured background. However, I did try this method and I didn't feel that it fit in with my DPS.

I like that my DPS is fairly compact and that my text wraps around the main image on the right. I also like the effects that I have used on my header that I made in Photoshop as I think that it reflects a drunk persons vision well. I also like the fact that I incorporated sub headings in my article so that the audience are enticed to read on. To improve my DPS, I feel that I should have a different background. I think that I should have drawn a line or split the two pages up with an element in the middle as well. This is because it looks like the pages are merging into one on the preview mode. I like the construction of my article due to the flow of the structure. However, I think I would re-write my article if I were to do this Unit 3 Project again because I feel that I have made it slightly too formal for my target audience.

I think that my DPS is a creative product because I have played on the idea of the proverbial principle 'do no evil' - relating to the three wise monkeys. Hence my kicker. 'see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil, drink no evil.' The images that correlate with these also reflect the short-term effects of alcohol because they represent a hangover. This principle reflects alcohol as evil.

Deciding on the break-out box took longer than expected because I couldn't think of a break-out box image that would link with the topic of alcohol. In the end, I chose a neutral image of paper so that my DPS wasn't over the top. However, I remembered how to ceate Polaroid images. This meant that this was faster than I expected as I carried this task out efficiently.

I feel that I should have balanced the production of my front cover and DPS more. This is because my front cover was almost finished in the secon week of production and I had only just started my DPS when I was coming up to the third week f production. If I had balanced these out more then I think I would have finished both at roughly the same time.

Luckily, I didn't have to enact my contingency plan because I didn't have any major problems. However, I did encounter many minor problems, which I resolved with the help of my peers, assessor and my own skills.