Q6 - What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

My knowledge of technology was limited to begin with but throughout the process of creating my magazine my skills have developed. I now feel I have complex knowledge of technology and have improved my skills vastly on adobe photoshop. I feel I have learned that using technology is important when creating a media product and it has allowed me to attract a wider audience. I created a facebook page for my magazine 'SYNTHESIS music magazine' (http://www.facebook.com/#!/synthesismedia) to allow my audience to comment and express their views. Having friends on facebook was helpful as my friends liked my page and commented on my cover, contents and double page spread. The page allows anyone to 'like' and 'comment' and has helped me alot as the feedback has allowed me to find out if my magazine successfully relates to my target audience. Creating my magazine has introduced me to Flickr, blogger and animoto, I found these useful and felt they added variety to my evaluation. My photostream on Flickr and presentations made on animoto allowed me to present my material in a modern way. I used google to collect images, research music magazines and generate ideas.

Overall, I have learned that technology is important in order to create a media product. In terms of my magazine, technology has allowed me to create a professional, effective magazine and has allowed me to connect with the target audience. Without the use of photoshop, my magazine would not have looked professional.

The physical and digital equipment I used includes a camera and a computer (with a keyboard, mouse and screen) with the programme adobe photoshop on it. The hardware and software I used influenced my magazine very heavily and by using these I was able to create a realistic, professional looking magazine. The range of editing tools available on photoshop helped me experiment with my magazine and allowed me to be creative. Had I lacked access to photoshop, I would not have been able to cut around my images and create the layout I wanted. Without social networking such as Facebook, I would have had to spend alot of time collecting feedback. Displaying my magazine on Facebook via a facebook page was completely free and this allowed me to communicate quickly and effectively. I was able to connect with my target audience and recieve instant feedback. My friends helped me collect my own images for my magazine, Jade was my cover model and Alex, James, Jordan, Kevin and Rebecca allowed me to take images of them to use as other artists or band members.