How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation

stages By Anastasia Molot

Internet applications* Scribd - to upload Word documents on my blog and be able to embed them.

* Slideshare - to upload the PowerPoint Presentations on my blog and be able to embed them.

* Blogger - I have been posted all my work using the website blogger.com

* Survey monkey - i have been using the website surveymonkey to get some audience research for

the

* YouTube - i used YouTube to post my music videos (the final one and not finished version to

show the progress on my blog. Also, I have used it to watch the music videos I have been

analysing and how-to videos for different programs

Internet applications

* Wikipedia - I have used Wikipedia for the majority of my

research, such as the information about singles, albums of

partucular artists and some information about the music

videos. Also, about the record studios to find out which one

has produced which song.

* Facebook - ive used to advertise my audience research

survey on survey monkey and to get more feedback about my

music video.

*Prezi - I have used Prezi a lot to create interactive

presentations.

Adobe Photoshop CS6*Photoshop - I have learnt a lot about the program when editing the digipaks material. Before I had a knowledge of it, however, it was based on retouching and editing portraits. i have never really done anything related to the digipaks and posters before. So it was all quite new for me. We had a graphic designer coming into school to show us many things we can do with Photoshop. He has taught me,for example, how to use other programs, such as Alchemy together with Photoshop, how to use tools such as transformation and recording the actions to repeat them several times (actions). And generally I have improved my knowledge and interest in the program. I also have watched few how-to videos on YouTube. I have created a presentation about how I have created some of the images for the digipaks and booklet.

Fonts

I have learnt how to download and install new fonts which was very useful, since we used different gothic fonts from the Internet for the digipak.

The mechanical butterfly

The booklet pages for the song "mechanical animals was the most difficult thing I have ever done in Photoshop. It was transformed from a picture of a rock using the transformation and distortion tools. I recorded it in "actions"and then repeated it to make easier, since it was transformed far too many times. Then the final mushroom-looking detail was copied and created a shape of a butterfly wing.I have created one side of it, and then copied it and flip horizontally so that the two sides are symmetrical.

Then I created 4 wings and took a head from my drawing. In the final version I have desaturated it, reversed the colours and out on the black background so it fits with the gothic theme and colour scheme.

The final version

Final Cut Pro X* FCPX - as always, I have learnt a lot about this program. We have used it as the main and only video editing software for this project. It was used to cut the shots, apply the filters, change the colours, and edit everything at all. I have learnt how to change the opacity of the shot so it is possible to create the effect similar to overlay blending mode in Photoshop.

Use of FCPX

We have used many effects for creating different looks in FCPX, for example the effect similar to overlay in Photoshop. To do that we used an effect "Luma Keyer", which apparently by itself brings the opacity down so the lower video becomes visible. We also brought the opacity down to achieve this look

Use of FCPX - stabilisation

Some of the shots were originally very shaky, especially the outside shots, which we have filmed hand held.

We have used stabilization tools in FCPX to make it less obvious. The shots became blurry in some parts, which actually created a very interesting effect which we kept, since it fits with the atmosphere of the video.

FCPX ForumOn the Inetrnet I have found a Final Cut Pro X Froum, where I have registered and asked people questions when I did not know how to achieve a certain look for my video. For example, I did not know how to use the motion blur and they helped me. Also, I found many useful links to great free effects on it, so it was very useful. I've received good detailed answers on my questions.

Motion

* Motion - Motion was the most complicated program to use since I was not familiar with it at all, even the interface. I have watched a several how-to videos on YouTube to at least get myself familiar with an interface and what the program does. Since I wanted to get the motion blur effect I have asked on the Final Cut Pro forum about how I achieve it and they explained that I have to use Motion. So that was the main reason I have got this program and used it, it was very effective and if I had a better knowledge of it I would definitely use it more.

Cameras

* Cameras - I have been using Canon 600D to film our coursework. During the summer I have practiced to make a music video to make sure I do not repeat the same mistakes as I have done last year in the A2 coursework.For the behind the scenes pictures we have used the disposable camera, which was a good experience.

use of camera

We have used the camera to create some of the effects during the production. For example, we have used manual focus to make sure the shots were focused, because of the lack of the light deficiency in some shots. But also, we have used it to film out of focus shots, or the changing focus effect. They worked very effectively and created very dynamic shots.

For the digipak we have used the low shutter speed (around 10-30 seconds) to create the images with the motion blur effect. We used 2 of them - for the inside cover of the digipak and the front cover. They work very effective and contribute to the mysterious atmosphere of our project.

Alchemy

We have used Alchemy to create vector images for the backgrounds of some of our images. We found it very effective and easy to use. We were very satisfied with an outcome, which looks like a professional vector image.