From constructing this product, the author learned how to use various computer programs like Photoshop and Blogger, as well as how to effectively use a DSLR camera. The camera produced clear images that did not pixelate when zoomed in, allowing for less editing. Photoshop was used to edit photos by adjusting color balance, cropping, and removing backgrounds. Blogger proved easy for presenting coursework online and allowed customization through fonts, colors, and post organization. The author also became familiar with InDesign for magazine design.

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

2. From constructing this product I have learnt how to use a variety of new computer programs as well as how to efficiently use a camera. The camera I used throughout my coursework was a Canon eos 7D. I discovered that this camera produces very clear images which means when I edited the pictures I could zoom in without the picture becoming really pixilated. I learnt how to change the settings on the camera, including aperture, exposure time, sensitivity ISO and flash settings.

3. This helped me with my coursework as by taking a good picture first time round it meant I had to do less editing. During the photo shoots for my magazine, I used an additional flash to the one on the camera; this could be used independent from the camera and I therefore put it at different angles to find the best lighting in the pictures. To prevent shadowing in my pictures, I lit the shoot with lamps pointing at the model.

4. I also have learnt how to use new computer programs. The main two I have used throughout the year have been Photoshop cs4 and blogger. I was completely new to both programs before starting my coursework this year and have learnt a lot about them. I have used Photoshop to edit all of my photographs and to make each of my final products; this has included editing the colour balance, removing backgrounds and cropping the images, while I inserted pictures, wrote titles and added features to each of my final products. I found that having layers in Photoshop made the work a lot easier as, unlike on programs such as publisher, if I wanted to change one part of the page, it did not affect the rest of it.

5. Here are the tools on Photoshop; I have written about the tools I used the most when making my final products.

6. Blogger has proved an easy way to present all of my coursework. I prefer it being computer based as it means I can easily update and edit posts and do not have to print it off each time. Furthermore, I can present my work attractively by designing my blog and using a range of fonts and colours in the text. I have learnt how to post work, upload pictures and videos and design the blog to make it attractive. I have also added features such as 'labels' to organize my work well.

7. Another new program I have been introduced to is indesign. I used this program to make my magazine in my preliminary task and so have used my new skills to design my magazine and choose fonts while making my final products. I used the familiar programs Microsoft word and Microsoft publisher when producing my final products. As I was familiar with them, I could quickly makes notes using them. Publisher was useful as I used it to design each final product before putting the real thing together on Photoshop. When I print screened shots, I used publisher to save the shots as JPEG images. I used Microsoft word to write the interview for my double page spread as well as to make notes, for example magazine names.