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

When looking back at my blog, I have noticed how much knowledge I have gained from using different technologies and how much my technique has developed since the beginning. When we first started to construct magazines we used Microsoft Publisher to create them. Even though Publisher was the most simplest programme to use, I struggled to use it because I felt really limited on what I could do and what I could manipulate, I think this was also because we were doing a school magazine and there was a structured format to the magazine which limited ideas on how to present it especially when using Publisher. Yet it was quite a simple piece of technology to use as I was able to construct my own template and import images easily and create shapes without any complications.When we moved onto the recreation task, it was the first opportunity I had to use Photo Shop. I found it difficult as I didnt have any techniques on how to use it, but I found that you werent limited on what you could do and manipulate with it. But as I didnt have a lot of knowledge on how to use this piece of technology, I found it difficult to do even the most simplest things (for example creating a box/inserting an image) without it messing up the layers. But what I did learn is that it is important to put all the layers in folders.

And when it came to creating my actual magazine, I also discovered that you could add texture/patterns to already existing fonts, much like what I did with Alices name. I also discovered how to manipulate filters by crushing the vibrancies or the colours featured in the pictures to make it look bolder. I also discovered how to manipulate the brushes on the software by increasing their size, and making the brush strokes harder or softer to change the style of the brush. I also learnt how to make fonts stand out more against other colours and added drop shadows and glows around different fonts to make them 3D and more eye catching.Other important pieces of software/technology: SanDisk Cruzer 4GB memory stick to store all the Photoshop files as I quickly learnt that they took up quite a lot of space. HP Laptop Fuji Film XF1- I used a white background, natural light as well as the flash to create a flawless look without the need for airbrushing.