Preliminary task Evaluation

Preliminary task: Evaulation

How have you used media conventions?

• I have used many different media convention on my school magazine front cover. I have thought about the principal of thirds, with the masthead in the first third, the coverlines in the second third and the main larger coverline in the final third. I have also thought about colour schemes, by having the background image and the coverlines matching. I have used a picture that doesnt necessarily limit the target audience and that will appeal to people of the school. I have used the ‘route of the eye’ technique as well as the ‘primary optical area’ and the ‘terminal area’ by putting important information in these areas. The school website is in terminal area because it is the last thing people will see so they should remember it. The issue number and date are in the primary optical area so it is the first thing people notice and they can tell which issue from which month it is.

What technologies have you used?

• For the main cover of my preliminary task I used a photoscape which is a graphics photoediting program. I chose to use this as I am more fimilair with it myself and it is easy to add bright, bold text to a main photobehind it.
• To take the picture I used a digital camera and then uploaded the photo. I also used photoscape to edit the photo slightly to add more brightness to the orange background.  

What skills have you developed that will help you produce your main task?

• I have developed my research skills in the preliminary task. I have developed my skills in identifying media conventions in magazines and then learnt to carry them forward onto my own work.
• I have also developed my skills in shot types as I was not familiar with all the types before.
• I have used my skills in making and keeping to a plan of the things I need to do. I have used my skills in layout and photography, aswell as beforehand researching magazines and comparing and analysing similar products.

Are there any skills you think you will need to develop?

• I chose to use photoscape for this task, as you can easily add text ontop of a picture. However, if in the main task I need to manipulate the photo more or add extra photographs on top of it I may need to use a different programe before I use photoscape to add the text. 
• I may also develop my research skills further, as I found it quite difficult to identify certain aspects and conventions of magazines. However, this will develop in time and I will gradually find it easier to identify conventions.