Project Monitoring Week 6

In this week, I first started to create the 'Evolution of Style' article. This was the most complicated article and layout to do because it had all these different elements to it. I first edited my images to make sure they all consistent in editing because I did not want to make them look out of place with each other. After I edited the colouring the images, I then cut out all my images because I wanted to overlay them when it came to doing Indesign work. Here is an example of this.

This was a lengthy process because I wanted them to be accurately cut out in order to make the product look professional however I did not struggle with this aspect too much because they were going on a white background and therefore any minor mistakes would not show. After I had cut out all my models, I then added them on my blank Indesign document and put each one in roughly a column because the text would have to match up each decade. This was quite complicated because indesign does not have a simple resize tool so I had to make each one was roughly the same size but was still in proportion. After I did this, I then began to add my boxes of text. As I was deviating from my original flat plan, I had to come up with a new way of presenting my article so I decided to have coloured boxes which would go with the colours of the decade. This way, I was still keeping tieing my original idea. Adding my text, I also struggled with because it was difficult to make the text stand out from the coloured boxes but still keeping it consistent across the page.  However I did find a solution to this by making the text all white and varying the colour of my boxes either making them darker or lighter. After I had finished the bulk of the page, I added my title in white to make it consistent with the bulk of my article and added my kicker also in white to make it consistent. To make the title and kicker stand out I added a brush which also empahsises my branding across my magazine but also adds a different element to the page

I then added arrows that I edited in photoshop that went with the colour scheme of each box as you can see below

After I finished this DPS, I then started to create my final DPS. I used the inital edited image that I had used for my contents page to save me time but just highlighted the reds even more because I wanted to highlight the danger of this article. I then added something spotaneous which I had not included in my flat plans. This was added extra text alongside my model highlighting the dangers of what she was wearing. I did this because I liked the effect it had on my contents page because they are similar but added an extra visual depth to my readers so straight away they can see the dangers. It is almost like I am making an example of my model and picking her apart to show the dangers.

After I finished editing my image, I then placed her in the middle of the page because I felt it broke up the text nicely but also draws the reader's eye to her. I then added my title. Originally, I had planned to have the text on either side of my model going across the page but I felt it did not flow well and confused the reader. Instead I decided to have the text in the left corner because this made it easier to read but still flowed better and drew the reader's eye more than my orignal idea. I then added my brush which again helps my branding but added it in a darker red because it connotes the theme of danger visually to my reader and does with my colour scheme. After this, I then inputted my article. I originally plan for each column to have a dangerous item however this was not feasible because I had too much text and it did not fit. To fix this problem, I added in my subheadings which differentiated each box of text and also broke it up effectively for my readers. However after doing this, I felt that the text was still too intimidating to the readers so I added quote inserts in a different font which broke up my text but also added another dimension to the reader by making it more fun to read,

Project Monitoring Week 5

I have started to create my front cover. I edited the picture to highlight certain colours through selective colouring and levels layers and also retouched the image so it would be suitable for my genre and creates a window into the future self. I then cut the picture down to fit on a canvas which I measured using magazines of my genre so it is an appropriate size. After I put the image on the canvas instead of adding the masthead, I instead decided to add my headlines so I can get more of an idea how the masthead should look because when I tried during the masthead first, it was hard to imagine if it would look professional or not. The colour them I decided to do was a limey green and pastel blue because although they are an odd mix of colours they are both fashionable and created a nice contrast and made my product look more original to set it apart from others in the genre. I create mutiple files incase I did lose one I would be able to retrace my steps and not start again. The only real difficulties I had in creating my product was making sure the headlines fit on my cover because my model is in an awakard pose for positioning my headlines so I had to use a variety of techniques such as drop shadows and stroke to make my headlines stand out against my model. I modelled my magazine on a real magazine in my genre so it would look professional and look like a women's lifestyle magazine and also appeal to my audience. Here is my cover with just headlines added.

 I added magazine conventions such as the barcodes and prices again to make it look professional and real. I also added my masthead because now I had a better idea of what my cover would like and I would be able to better judge where my masthead should be. After I added the masthead, I then placed it behind her head and erased the parts where her head is to create a more professional look.

After I created my front cover, I then went onto creating my contents page. I downloaded brushes and patterns off deviantart because I wanted to make my magazine look original from others in the genres but also to make my magazine look more feminine and like a women's lifestyle magazine. I created the header for my contents page on photoshop because I felt I had more freedom on photoshop and could experiment more easily on photoshop.

However for my actual contents page, I used indesign because I wanted columns and indesign would be the easier program. I used two images from my photoshoots (Death by Fashion and The Evolution of Style) and edited them to highilights the blues of my images so it would fit with the blues of my contents page and added the article titles on the images to make it look more original and youthful for my audience because itis unusual and draws their eyes.

I then added a letter to the editor because I had a lot of blank space on my page and I needed to fill it up so I wrote a quick letter to the editor and just placed it in the space. However although I didn't plan for this, I still think it works well and fits in nicely.

After I had finished these two aspects of my product, I made  the changes to my Anti Social Network layout. I had kept the feedback I received from my mock-ups which gave me a good idea on what I needed to change. Fortunately, I did not have to change too much from my original mockup. I edited my images which was the most complicated aspect because I had to add all these different aspects together.

Luckily they all fitted in quite well and was easier than I expected but still took a long time to perfect. After I placed my image into my DPS which was again quite easy to do, I had to edit my breakout box. I sourced an IM chat bubble from the internet and edited it on Photoshop to go with my colour scheme. I then copied them on my layout mutiple times and switched them around accordingly. I then just moved my text from my original breakout box into my new ones.

Photoshoot Plan- Death by Fashion

Photoshoot Plan- The Evolution of Style

Photoshoot Plan- The Anti-Social Network

Model Release Forms

Project Monitoring Week Four

I have successfully finished all three of my articles so they will be ready for when I do Indesign work. I started with my article 'The Evolution of Style'. I had looked at my article planning sheet which helped me in writing the tone of the article and the language needed. I also looked at the research I had done earlier and another look at the sites to see what I information I need. I then wrote my articles which was quite simple but took quite a long time because there was so much information and I had to be selective in what information I was going to put in the article. After I wrote my article, I gave it to a peer so they could review it and give me any feedback straight away so I could edit the article slightly because they only had small corrections.

I then wrote the article for 'Death by Fashion'. I again followed the same process by looking at my article planning sheet so I knew how I was going to write my article in what register and the linguistics. I then re-read the articles in my research log so I could select what information was vital to be in my article. I then wrote my article focusing on four different sections and then for each section adding a how to stop it section. This was again quite a lengthy process because I wanted to get everything right and making sure all necessary info was in. After I had finished the first draft, I again gave it to a peer so they could give me feedback so I could make the final correction.

I have also made the changes to 'The Anti-Social Network'. This was quick because there were only small changes from the feedback I received from my focus groups that I conducted when I did my mock-ups. I could not find any statistics that were more suitable to my focus group so I deleted some less vital stats to make my article more adult and relevant to my audience.