Question 6: Draft

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

Throughout the process of this coursework, I have used many technologies which I have never used before. There were some technologies which I have used before and there were some which I have never even heard of before, therefore I had to learn how to use them. Some technologies that I have used throughout this coursework are:

• Prezi
• Adobe InDesign
• Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe Photoshop
• DSLR Canon Camera

Prezi

Before I started working on this coursework, I have never heard of Prezi before. I have learnt that it is a presentation software which I could display my work from in the form of a presentation. Prezi was especially useful when I used it to present my music magazine proposal as it looks organised and professional. When I first looked at Prezi I was perplexed and had no idea on how to use it. However, I soon got the hang of it as I have used similar softwares and programs such as Microsoft PowerPoint. 

Adobe InDesign

I have heard of Adobe InDesign before working on this coursework, however I have never actually used it. I had trouble using this InDesign as Adobe programs are very hard to master and they're generally quite complex. I managed to learn some of the basics of InDesign and I had some practice. The first time I used InDesign it was when I created my 'College Magazine' contents page, which was looked very plain and basic. I used InDesign to create my 'FLOWLY' magazine contents page and double page spread, which I think turned out alright for a beginner. I think using this program was useful as I now have the basic knowledge on how to create simple things which may be useful for me.

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator is another program which I have heard of but have never used before. I did not find Illustrator as difficult as I found InDesign. I used this program to create my masthead and because my masthead was pretty simple it wasn't too difficult. I did not want to make my masthead too complicated as I didn't know enough about Illustrator and if I try to make it too complex it wouldn't fit in with my magazine. However, overall I am happy with the 'FLOWLY' masthead that I have created even though it's simple.

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is one of the programs which I have actually used before working on my coursework. I have used it before in my own time for editing pictures, there was no real purpose to it other than that I enjoyed doing it. I used Photoshop to create my front cover of both my college magazine and my 'FLOWLY' magazine. Since I am a little bit experienced with Photoshop, I knew what I was doing more or less and I am happy with the front covers that I have created.

DSLR Canon Camera

I have never used a DSLR Canon Camera before and I'm not very good at photography, however I own a Nikon camera which I sometimes take pictures with. I believe that my photography wasn't very good and could improve in a lot of ways. However, I don't think my pictures turned out too bad and I was able to include them. I used the DSLR Canon camera to take pictures for my 'FLOWLY' front cover, contents page, and double page spread, I have never been in a photo studio prior to this coursework and it was a useful experience that I was able to learn from.