Question 7Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Looking at my preliminary task, I have realised that I have improved my technological skills greatly as I have been using different forms of software and equipment.

It is evident that throughout my production work, the quality of my images has gotten better. For example, the main image on my preliminary task and my main task are of very different quality. This is because for my main task, I used a better quality camera and better lighting/background. This would make my main product appear more professional, therefore catching the reader’s attention more.

Evidently, the colour scheme I used in my preliminary task only really attracts one gender, meaning that during the production of my music magazine, I had to take into consideration the colours I should use to enable more people to be attracted to my magazine. Furthermore, my preliminary contents page appears quite basic, as the contents are typical, and does not entice the audience as a contents page should do. However, my music magazine contents page has a strong layout that attracts the reader. The images are also interesting and not very plain, therefore making the reader more interested in the magazine.

While editing my preliminary front cover on Photoshop, I did not manage to cut around the model successfully, meaning that the main image is not as dominating and effective to the reader. Also, the front cover is very basic and plain, with no structure to it. As you can see, the image on my music magazine front cover is successfully cut out, and is of a high quality. This is due to my improvements in knowledge of how to use Photoshop therefore helping me improve my products. The models on the front cover of my preliminary task s not as effective as on my music magazine, this is due to the fact that the themes of each of my magazines are different. The facial expressions of the models on my music magazine are much fiercer and portray a different attitude to that of my preliminary task. This is because I had a better understanding of the codes and conventions of a music magazine, and so was therefore able to add features onto my magazine that I knew would stand out to the readers. Furthermore, my music magazine front cover is more effective as the cover and sub lines are easier to see, I made sure that the readers were able to read them successfully so that they are more attracted to my magazine.

Moreover, the masthead for my music magazine has majorly improved. This is because I was able to add effects to it due to my better knowledge on how to use Photoshop. My preliminary masthead was plain and did not stand out to the reader as much, due to the uninteresting font.