Evaluation Question 6

 What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing your music magazine?

- Blogger - Prior to beginning this course I had not used blogger before. Now, I thoroughly understand all of the features available in creating and upkeeping a blog.

- Microsoft Publisher - I used this software to create the front cover and contents page of my preliminary task. Although I had used this software previously, creating this magazine allowed me to develop my skills, particularly on the front cover where I altered the original colours of my main image.

- Photoshop - Despite knowing what it was, I had never used Photoshop before I began my Photoshop skills development. Following this, I continued to develop my skills however throughout the creation of my magazine I obtained new methods. I am now confident and comfortable in using Photoshop without assistance. The use of photoshop allowed me to have the masthead fall behind my model on the front cover and was incredibly useful for the task of cutting out images, particularly those within the sub-article on my double page spread.

- Cameras - I had previously used a digital camera similar to that used for my preliminary task and so I was already aware of how to use the various settings. However, I had never used a camera the same or similar the larger SLR camera utilised for taking the photographs for my music magazine. I was briefly shown the different settings such as 'auto' and from there I took a few photos on differing settings in order to see which I believed had the best and most appropriate effect for magazine.

- SurveyMonkey - I had never heard of this website before however it has proven to be incredibly useful throughout the construction of my magazine. Using this website I was able to create an online questionnaire and gather data about the musical preferences (and various other elements) of my target audience. This allowed me to ensure that I remained focused on the task throughout and did not steer away from elements appropriate for my audience.

- Slideshare - I used this for my magazine front cover deconstructions and evaluation question 3. This website allows you to create a PowerPoint as usual on your computer and then upload it. Following this, you are provided with an embed code and consequently I was able to put this into the 'HTML' part of a new blogpost and upload a PowerPoint onto my blog.

- Soundcloud - This is 'an audio platform that enables sound creators to upload, record, promote and share their originally-created sounds' which I used for my first evaluation question. Using this website I was able to record my own voice and download the file. I could have also chosen to embed the audio onto my blog however I chose to combine it with a video creating website.

- Stupeflix - This website allowed me to create a video including images and text as well as adding a soundtrack behind it. I used this website for evaluation question 1 and 2 however I used a different 'theme' for each in order to make them appear differently aesthetically. Whilst creating a video on this website you are given the option to choose how long each piece of text or image remains on the screen and so I chose timings which I felt would give people enough time to read without having to pause the video. As previously mentioned, I added a soundcloud audio behind my video for evaluation question 1 and consequently I chose timings so that the audio was appropriate for what was shown on the screen. Behind evaluation question 2 I added an instrumental version of Drake - The Motion as this artist fits in with my music magazine genre.

- Animoto - This website is similar to Stupeflix in that it is used to create videos. However, as I only created a free account on Animoto the video can only last for a maximum of 30 seconds. Due to this I used Animoto for evaluation question 4 as I felt this question was quick to answer. In the same way as Stupeflix, the user adds images, texts and a soundtrack to their video. However, I did not choose the timings for my video created on Animoto and the website done this for me. I added a soundtrack of Pia Mia covering Drake - Hold On We're Going Home as this is also appropriate for the genre of my music magazine. 

- Prezi - This is a presentation software which I used for evaluation question 5. Despite having never used this software before it was very easy to navigate and gave the option of a tutorial. I was able to enter text and videos into various 'boxes' and once completed the presentation plays and zooms in on the various aspects one at a time. It allows you to stay on each aspect for as long as you want, until you click next, which is useful for the viewer as they may have different reading speeds.

Throughout the planning, construction and evaluation of my music magazine I have used multiple new technologies, many of which I hadn't even heard of before. I have developed a much greater understanding of Photoshop and would be confident in using this, and the other above technologies, in the future.