Evaluation Question 7 What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Photoshop I used Photoshop to edit my photographs using a range of tools and techniques. To insert these images into InDesign, I had to save each image as a layer after ridding the image of it’s background.

Selection Tools. Using the quick selection tool I was able to select the image I wished to keep easily, however the edges were left rugged and unprofessional, so I would either use the rubber tool or the smudge tool to rectify the outlines. I could, however, had entered quickmask by pressing Q on my keyboard and X to change from positive to negative.

Healing brushes. These were the tools I used to ‘airbrush’ my models, allowing them flawless skin to give it the feel of a professional magazine. I learnt that the smaller the brush, the more effective the tool is and not create a smudged look or alter the skin tones too much.

Edge Tools. These tools came in useful after using the quick selection tools being more effective and professional than the rubber tool. I had to be careful using these for they could create a halo effect themselves whilst distorting the image.

Layers. Everything I do on Photoshop I made on a separate layer, making it easier to co-ordinate and edit placement of my images. To delete the background from an original image, I right-clicked on background and created a layer from background. To put all the layers together, I’d right click again and ‘flatten image’. Locking the layers proved useful as well. To insert separate layers into InDesign I’d save the layer as a .psd instead of flattening the image and saving as a .jpeg or else the background would follow.

The Arrow. The must click button! This is the tool I used the most for re-direction and positioning. A Vital Tool.

InDesign InDesign was a new program I had to learn to use. Upon opening the document, I had to set the bleed and slug to 10mm each to give me excess guidelines for optimum structure. Whilst the tools were similar to Photoshop and the principles were similar, there was still a lot to learn.

Layers Tab. It was still vital to use a separate layer for each part of creating the magazine. Clicking the empty box allowed me to lock them in place as well and the colour co-ordination made it a lot easier for me to use. You create a new layer by clicking where the arrow is pointing.

Box Colours. The box in foreground represents the fill colour of the box, and the one in the back ground represents the colour of the outline. The three boxes gives us the textures of these colours – opaque, gradient or none. To swap these around to change, press X on your keyboard.

Rectangle tool. The most vital tool on InDesign other than the arrow. Everything on every layer should be inserted into a rectangle drawn with this tool, otherwise it could go wildly wrong on the page.

Other tools – Object. Found at the top of the screen, these extra options were used to change the directions of the gradient, add other effects such as inner glows, drop shadows and other options, including changing the display quality and flipping the image – ‘transforming’. This is one of the most useful tabs to use.