C6 Planning and Research

Final Product... Planning and Research!



After weeks of planning and research my final product is finally on the go and I feel that I have everything organised and prepared.

I now have photoshop CS3 at home and I have been busy watching every tutorial on You Tube so that I understand how to use the tools to create the effects I desire. The tutorials are very helpful and I have learnt a lot of new skills. I am already noticing how much I have improved working with photoshop since creating my preliminary task.

Although my use of photoshop is improving bot everything has been plain sailing. In order to capture my images I made a lot of plans to use certain actors, props and locations. However, this is not the professional world where people are paid and contracted therefore more than one person pulled out at the last minute. This was the major problem that inhibited my work. Although I have been fortunate enough to look at more music magazine that are already existing and I have been full of creative ideas for new photos. Lighting has also not always been on my side, especially when all of sudden night comes a little too quickly and my actors and I were plunged into darkness. I think that if I was to do this same task professionally, with the appropriate actors, settings and lighting then the final outcome would be of a much higher quality. Although I was surprised with quite how much I could do with a program such as photoshop. I think that I am lucky to be able to access such technology.

I am constantly referring to my target audience. The more I research into magazine criteria and genres the more I begin to realise the importance of the profile of my audience. For example, If I was to create the entire magazine, I would need to have appropriate advertisements. I am also thinking of adding a free gift to my magazine. either a CD or poster, as well as special listings such as a first hand gig guide.

I imagine my target audience to be teenagers and young adults who are edgy and sophisticated. Interested in music, fashion and the latest news and gossip. The ideal image of my target audience profile will be like the models used for topshop and topman! I may even include a special offer regarding this shop as their consumers are those I am aiming my magazine at.

Looking back at my photos I think that I planned them well, although I can see where I should make improvements if I was to complete the task again. I have used a variety of shots, including mid-shots, close ups, two shots and long shots. However I am limited to how many images I could use as I am only creating few pages. Too many images will create a crowed layout which will be hard on the eye and unattractive. I also need to integrate text with illustration to add interest and variety.

I have also been looking at the type of language seen and used in other existing music magazines. This is often informal using a range of blasphemed words and slang. This is deemed as acceptable within the genre of music and the audience that follows.

I have also been making use of decision and revision. I have been asking other people who have a outside perspective on my work and creations to understand their opinions. These people I ask are those who are in my target audience, therefore their comments need to be taken into consideration in order for my magazine to include successful criteria. I then take on board their decisions and revise my work to improve it. This is a technique that I find extremly useful. Especially as I am looking very closely at myy work and therefore it is easy to miss imperfections, where as an outside eye can pick up on the smaller details. This is something that I will be using until the very end to ensure my work is of the best quality.

I am looking forward to seeing my final product finished and complete and I am proud of myself, I have managed to require a number of new skills on a programme that at the beginning, I found so very difficult. I have impressed myself and I am looking forward to what else follows.