CTK AS Media: Unit G321 Foundation Portfolio Coursework

Q1. In what way does your media product us, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? At the beginning of this project, I was assigned to research real magazines and analyze the presentation of its contents. I researched many different magazines, which followed standard conventions, as well as many that did not. Nearly all the magazines regardless of Genre followed the most of the common Conventions. For my magazine, which is music and danced based, I wanted to create an original design, which challenged the norm. Originally I did not wish to follow the same path as the rest of the generic magazines; I wanted my Masthead to go down the side of the magazine. I decided that I wanted to use fonts local to Photoshop, I believed it would be better if did not install any install packs from dafont.com.

After several lessons of coursework I went through several changes with my project, In total I remodelled my magazine four times. In the between the second and third, I changed my masthead so it goes along with top of the front cover and follows the conventions diagram. It was further edited and the text was changed to a downloaded font called Abode from dafont.com. This was because during that time I had wanted to have my magazine design resemble some of the other ones, in particular mixmag. This was because I realised that my own initial design looked more like a one sided flyer than a full-fledged magazine.

Chago Bunton-Cole

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CTK AS Media: Unit G321 Foundation Portfolio Coursework

The same effects were applied to the newly installed font to keep a certain loyalty to my original idea. This way it could look slick and stylish.

At first I thought that it would suite my magazine, but, after having convocation with my target audience, I decided that it would be best to have my original font, because my magazine needed a stronger more filling text. The abode text was too slim and did not fully show the extent of the excitement I wanted my readers to feel. So for my final remodel I had placed the original masthead back in its place along the top and had gotten rid of the circle design underneath.

The Selling Line is sometimes a short description of the magazine titles main objective or to promote the magazine. They are used in many magazines, and are usually something along the lines of the best of the UK or for the people, by the people. Originally I did not have a selling point because I was struggling to figure out where I should place it, because of my mastheads original location. After my third remodel I created my selling line, because it is a dance and dubstep magazine I said The United Kingdoms greatest music, clubbing and dance magazine, in order to promote the magazine and display what genre it was, if my designs werent clear enough. I placed it along the top of the magazine just above the masthead for a simple easy-to-read look and professional look.

Chago Bunton-Cole

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CTK AS Media: Unit G321 Foundation Portfolio Coursework

In order to follow the conventions diagram, I inserted a barcode along the bottom of the magazine. I had to go through three remodels to get it the way wanted it. First it was just a barcode, then I inserted the date, and then the price was placed along the top.

Cover lines are brief descriptions of main articles that appear in the magazine. The main cover line/ selling point, however, performs a similar task to regular cover lines describes the biggest or unique hook about the magazine and is usually much larger and uses a different font from the regulars. Originally I was used the Eras bold ITC font, which is already installed onto windows version Photoshop, for the cover lines on my magazine.

The main cover line used the same fonts and colours but was around twice as large as the rest. It was placed above the rest of the cover lines to connote importance and priority.

After my second remodel, the all of the cover lines were scrapped and new ones would take their place. This was after I did some research on professional music magazines. The regular cover lines would use thicker text for the title, and smaller, slimmer text, such as Cobrel or Ariel. I also decided to space them out because, the magazine looked more like a leaflet then what it was supposed to be. The main cover line would use the Sports World font from dafont.com.

Chago Bunton-Cole

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CTK AS Media: Unit G321 Foundation Portfolio Coursework

Not only did I change the cover lines, I also inserted a plus section, it is not necessary for the conventions but I think it would add a professional touch to the magazine.

The contents page is the first page of the magazine and contains needs to contain the categories of the magazine (stories, news, reviews releases etc), features (which are basically alternative cover lines for contents pages), the issue/date, the title, the editors note and exclusive articles with sub lines. Unlike my front cover, my contents page was rather straight forward. Rather than constantly changing them because I was having issues with conventions and originality, I had a certified plan. I inserted the title at the top of the page, containing both the word Contents using the same font as the masthead and the date on either side. I decided that it was best for me to follow the conventions appropriately.

Even though the editors note is required by the conventions, I tried to challenge it several times to complete the contents page without it, but I realised that this page needed an editors not to be finished in my head.

Chago Bunton-Cole

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CTK AS Media: Unit G321 Foundation Portfolio Coursework

Comparing my magazine to others, I cannot see any obvious editors notes. Categories are features or sections that appear in every magazine issue. I followed the conventions by having a categories section in my magazine, but how it is being used in the right way or not, however, is to be debated. I have used my categories to literally display the layout of the regular sections of the magazine (stories, releases etc.). I had done this because I wanted make my page look organized, and organization connotes professionalism. On page 4, the news articles will start, on page 18 the reviews will start and the news will end, on the twenty sixth pages, the stories will start and the reviews will end, etc.

Directly under the categories column I have the features column, these features contain text boxes which use a couple of words or a phase, to intrigue the ready with thick text. They often have a smaller subtext underneath which is a description.

Chago Bunton-Cole

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CTK AS Media: Unit G321 Foundation Portfolio Coursework

My contents page generally followed most of the conventions, from the title to the main image and text columns. I added a subscription side, as well as an editors note to make the magazine seem authentic. However some could argue that because my categories arent what you would usually expect and suggest it challenges the norm, also the fact that my cover girl does not have the biggest picture in the contents page.

My double page spread follows nearly all the conventions from top to bottom. It uses a simple layout with one page of text and another with pictures and a title. I decided it was time to change the colour scheme from something complex to something simpler. A nice dark blue background would make it easier for people to read the white and yellow text. This was great because it displayed a more chilled vibe. I had my title and quote around my main image like a boarder of a photo, and used a graffiti styled font that, I believed, would reflect the person in her dress sense and ambition. I arranged the text in a neat column structure to comply with the conventions and inserted a big drop capital so readers would know where to start reading from.

Q2. How does your media production represent particular social groups?

Chago Bunton-Cole

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CTK AS Media: Unit G321 Foundation Portfolio Coursework

My magazine was made to attract readers from age of fourteen onwards. It is supposed to attract both male and female readers who are into party, dance music and dub step. The main image and colour scheme of the front cover. One of the ways the representation of social groups is shown through the cover girls clothes. She is wearing modernised clothes which consist of a red and blue baseball jacket, a blue hoody, and a necklace with several gems, a bracelet, and leggings. This shows that the model has a good sense of fashion and takes a casual approach. She does not just throw on any old pair of clothes. This would appeal to those who dress well and take pride in what they wear. This is what you would see in a youthful community, regardless of gender. The socially active people that go out have to keep up with the latest fashion. The models jewellery reflects a social group that can afford to buy newer, more expensive things. Not necessarily a much older social group, but more of a responsible, and maybe even mature, social group. The models hair is frizzy and wild, which looks similar to those of party goers, the type of people who go out on Saturday nights to have a good time with their mates.

This magazine isnt meant to represent one particular social group, but a variety of social groups; this is because the more people they appeal to, the more copies will be sold.

Chago Bunton-Cole

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CTK AS Media: Unit G321 Foundation Portfolio Coursework

Q3.What kind of media institution might distribute your media production and why?

Previously I wrote about a Publishing House case study about MusicMags. I personally think that MusicMags would be the best Publishing Company for Realbase. Even though MusicMags already publishes several music base magazines, they are mostly about Rock and Roll, guitars and marching band music. If they were to publish my magazine it would gain access to a new market and attract a new target audience; also, because MusicMags is already popular with its readers, people are more likely to but my magazine. My magazine would appeal to a more vibrant, socially active audience as well announcing releases of music based hardware.

With todays new generation, of youths, it would be, logical and really profitable to distribute my magazine. This is because dub step and dance is a growing trend around todays young people, and it is certain that it will last a long time, guitars and drumming magazines, may not sell as well as they used to, and it could be possible that they may not get any attention in the future. This means that there is more of a possibility of my magazine getting sponsorships that will further increase the magazine and increase the popularity of the Distribution Company and magazine. My magazine would be sold online at musicmags.net, the publishing website. This would make it easier for people to find that magazine as well as other MusicMags magazines. It would also be sold in well-known shops such as WHSmith, which can be located throughout London. Realbase would also be sold in some local shops for easier access for readers who would otherwise have to drive to their closest shopping centre. As well as being sold in local shops, Realbase would be sold in HMV, one of the most popular music shops in the UK. This would be the prime location for Realbase because those who love music would regularly go to that store to pick up the latest magazines, and would be a great source to increase my magazines popularity.

Chago Bunton-Cole

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CTK AS Media: Unit G321 Foundation Portfolio Coursework

Q4. Who would be the audience for your media product? Initially I targeted an audience from the ages of 14 to 17. In my Target Audience researched, I described a type of teenager that listens to a lot of music and goes out with his/her mates regularly. This was when my magazine was mainly dubstep oriented. Later on I decided that it would be best if the magazine were not just for dubstep, but for club music also. I then decided that it would be more beneficial if it were for people between the ages of 14-27. This makes more sense, because as an adult, you are more likely to go to parties, then when you are a young teenager. Seeing as that some of my audience Ive targeted are relatively young whilst some belong to an older generation, I decided to use artists that were around the same age. So I decided to mention Younger, newer Artists like, Labrinth, and Tinie Tempah, as well as older, more well-known DJs like Skrillex or Deadmau5. These people have a big effect on young people today. People model themselves after these people, whether, its the music the listen to or the clothes they wear. My magazine would discuss subjects oriented concerts, gigs, and generally follower the highs and lows of music in the present and future, whether its dance or dubstep.

My magazine is not bias or gender specific. It does not try to appeal certain race or nationality. Dance music and dubstep are not exclusive to one type or person; it is wide open with different types that appeal to people, regardless of gender or race and avoids political or controversial issues that have nothing to do with music. My magazine focuses more the evolution of music, how it will change. It focuses or how the artists, DJs and musicians etc, will adapt and grow.

Chago Bunton-Cole

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CTK AS Media: Unit G321 Foundation Portfolio Coursework

Q5.how did you attract/address your audience? After looking reading the feedback I got from my audience research Q6 what have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product? Whilst creating my project, I have discovered quite a lot of new techniques whilst using different hardware and software. The first camera I used to take my images was the PowerShot SX120 IS, this camera was not ideal because the cameras flash was pretty weak and was lacking In pixels, this mean that it could not have a very high resolution whilst taking photos. I took my first photos I a corridor which was well lit next to a white/creamy wall. This would prove problematic because the hair of the model had a bright reflection, and it proved very difficult to separate her from the background when using Adobe Photoshop. I then realised that the quality of the images were more like a quick photo on holiday, rather than a photo taken by an elite photographer for a magazine. After discussing with my teacher about the quality of my pictures, we both decided it was best for me to retake the pictures. This time it was with a Canon 550D attached to a Bowen Flash Kit. The flash was the only light source in the room so it allowed for successful and effective lighting. When using the camera, the focus tool allowed the camera to maximize the quality of an image, whilst the camera was steady, but this proved problematic, as both the models and I were not entirely still. With these new images it would be easier for me to edit in Photoshop because whilst the models were well lit, the background werent, this meant the magic wand tool would pick up on the colour differences.

Whilst using Photoshop, I learned about quite a bit of different techniques and effects. I originally wanted to use font exclusively to Photoshop because it would save me time and effort searching for different fonts on websites. My Masthead would use the Bauhaus 93 font for the front cover. I used this san serif font because I believed my masthead would look strong and catch the eyes of readers. Whilst experimenting with Photoshop I realised that I could further improve text, whilst using the properties panel. I the discovered the stroke tool, this would create an outline for the text on my screen and the thickness could be controlled accordingly.

Chago Bunton-Cole

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CTK AS Media: Unit G321 Foundation Portfolio Coursework

Originally I was used the Eras bold ITC font, which is already installed onto windows version Photoshop, for the cover lines on my magazine. This was because if I were to use more than one font and two colours for the cover lines it would make them magazine look incredibly busy. I used the stroke tool again for these pieces of text, but I used brush size 5 for a small effect. Most of the text was coated white, but for some words like thoughts or up in which arent really important were coated red and to about 0.5 the original height. They were all placed vertically (like most magazines) and together for so it would be easy to find, instead of the reader having to look all over the place to find important articles.

This was before the revamp of my magazine. After several changes and phases, I came to the conclusion that the regular cover lines would use thicker text for the title, and smaller, slimmer text, such as Cobrel or Ariel, san serif fonts.

The titles of my cover lines would use the Eras bold ITC font whilst the descriptions would use Franklin Gothic Book. However the main cover line would use the Sports World font from dafont.com I would also use the stroke tool and the drop shadow tool to make it stand out. I coated the text white and used a stroke at level 10 coated black to make the masthead stand out from the vibrant coloured background, thus making it easily readable. Compared to most magazines, mine was quite hard on the eyes. I also placed circles around the masthead to help connote the feeling of base, and sound. The larger circles would represent louder noises whilst the small would represent the lower noises. However this idea was scrapped when my magazine was remodelled.

Chago Bunton-Cole

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CTK AS Media: Unit G321 Foundation Portfolio Coursework

Another technique I learned which helped quite a lot was the gradient tool; this allowed me to have two tones blend into each other with only one shape. This came in handy because it stopped my magazine from have plane flat tones, especially with the black and darker tones. I felt that it have my contents page depth.

One technique that went well with the gradient tool was the opacity tool; this allowed me to make layers transparent. This was used on the front cover and double page spread with the lines that came from a diagonal angle in the top right hand corner and the bottom left. This is great for separating two colours from each other. This also makes easier to differentiate the foreground from the background.

Chago Bunton-Cole

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CTK AS Media: Unit G321 Foundation Portfolio Coursework

The most drastic feature I used In Photoshop was the colour overlay tool. This allows the user to coat the content of an entire layer in one colour. This is good because I have had to change the colours of my magazine front cover and contents page several times to fit the feel.

All of the images in my magazine were constructed with the custom shape tool. This was my favourite tool to use, as a graphics student as well as a media student, because it allowed me to create my own images by combining them together. The custom shape tool has been used in both my front page, and my contents page. it use it to make my logo (the circle with the crown inside), the PhoeNix logo and the many arrows in the background of both pages.

Not only did I use the shape tool for those symbols, but I also use d it to make the illusion of a sticker on my front page. This was, first, by making a circle with the shape tool. I then adjusted the size accordingly and used a gradient overlay to give the circle three different tones of the same colour. This gives the effect that light is bouncing off the image. I then cut a piece off the circle and did the same effect over it on the layer above.

Chago Bunton-Cole

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CTK AS Media: Unit G321 Foundation Portfolio Coursework

Q7. Looking back at the preliminary task what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to a full product?

Chago Bunton-Cole

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CTK AS Media: Unit G321 Foundation Portfolio Coursework

After looking at my preliminary I have realised that I have learned many new techniques and styles that maximize the quality and outcome of my work with Photoshop, Blogger and Cameras. I also learned how to apply and execute them whilst following the conventions. One of the main features I learned how to make was a masthead. My college masthead was clearly under developed and was literally just text in a black rectangle. Like the college magazines masthead, the front cover and contents page had no feel to it. It was completely plain. At the beginning of the project, I wasnt up to scratch, I had a quite basic understanding Photoshop, the only capable of changing colours, inserting shapes, pictures and text. I did not now about visual effects and I had just thrown in text to fit the conventions. The quality of the photos in the magazine was not of a professional standard. The lighting in the photos was off, and was not consistent. Near the beginning of the project, I did not know how to take advantage of space or fill it up, this heavily affected the outcome as there were huge gaps in odd places. As I proceeded through the project my skills improved at greatly. I found out what colours and themes I could use to appeal to a certain audience and how to maximize the use of space with the layout of my project. I also found out how to make the text and images look appealing with the use of stroke, colour overlay, gradient and other tools. Not only did I gain experience in Photoshop but I I gained experience in taking correct photos, with a High quality camera like the Canon 550D. I also gained experience using blogger and adjusting my layout for easy, presentable work.

Chago Bunton-Cole

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