What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Photoshop has played a major part in the development and production of my magazine. When making our preliminary tasks I had no idea how I was going to make a magazine that followed any of the codes and conventions of a real magazine, as I had limited knowledge of how to use the photoshop programme. I looked on YouTube how to cut out images from their background. I was also shown how to use the magnetic lasso tool, as the Photoshop demonstration (above) shows it in two different ways. I looked at several 'How to' video's to help create my magazine.

When first introduced to the apple macs, I have to be honest I got a little frustrated. Even though they had the similar programmes such as 'Word' and access to the internet. They had different layouts. At the beginning of the project, it took me a long time to complete my magazine and just general research as i'd never used them before. However, as I practised using them more often, I began to feel more comfortable and confident in using the macs. Plus, I would now rather use the apple macs than go back to the previous computers that I was using. Now that I feel more at ease with using the macs, I think I will be more calm when completing other projects.

At the beggining of the project, I did not know how to create, use or upload to a blog. For a while I left the blog and focused on the actual production of my magazine. I think this was because I thought I would just get more frustrated as it was another programme of which I could get confused with. If I could re-do the project knowing what I have learnt, then I would have started both my blog and magazine earlier. I didn't realise how much time it consumed, so now I realised I should have fully listened to my teacher when she said keep up to date with everything and odn't get left behind. From using blogger, I have learnt how to upload video's, audio's and images.

Just like the programmes above, 'Photobucket' and 'Flikr' were both new to me. I tried to think if there were any other easier ways to create slide shows of images. Although, when I was shown how to use them, I realised that they are so simple to use. I liked using them that much that I have even started using them for my photography projects. I think it proves that if I get shown how to use something and I practise for myself, then I can do pretty much anything. For recording my audio pieces, to begin with I recorded them off my phone. However, I decided not use them as I did think the sound was of a very high quality. I then plugged in a microphone, and recorded myself. Saved it as an mp3 file and placed it on my blog. Over all, I am glad that I have learnt and know how to use these different programmes as I can use them in future projects.