How did you integrate technologies – software, hardware and online – in this project?
How did your production skills developed throughout this project?
During my production process, I have used several different programmes (online and offline software). Integrating several forms of technologies, software was a crucial part of my project. In order to make my product look professional, I was using most of the programmes at the same time, to make it look the way I wanted.
I have successfully obtained a deep understanding of the use of digital technology and keep building upon them. I have started learning more about digital technology at the beginning of Y12 and kept developing my skills in my coursework.
I made use of several listed offline and online softwares, to help me during the production of this project and help to answer the CCR questions.
I had an opportunity to work with:
- Adobe Photoshop
- AdobeInDesign
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- WordPress / Webnode
And other programmes that I already had a chance to work with were: Microsoft Word and Microsoft PowerPoint.
Photoshop was one of the most important software that I have worked with during this project. I used to edit and create the Digipack. This software offers a big variety of editing tools which helped with the picture to look professional. As I had an opportunity to work with the program in the past for my AS level project, I found the process easier than last year. Thanks to online tutorials on Youtube, it was even easier to achieve the effect that I wanted to have. I mostly used Photoshop to create the digipack. I used this software to improve quality of the picture as I am not a professional photographer. Furthermore, I was working for a long time with the name of the artists and the tracklist as they shouldn’t stand out and look even on the background. I could remove blemishes from the photos, and retouch my model’s skin and hair. I adjusted the lightning, brightness, contrast, saturation and hue of my images with Photoshop. Moreover, I used special effects to make my picture look old. Photoshop has a variety of different text fonts and is specialised on editing tools to help me to follow all the conventions of the digipack.
In Adobe Photoshop, I learned how to control lighting, how to delete small distracting details on photos, control colours and make my photos looks professional. It helped me to improve my creative editing skills because now I know how to use the programme and I was not scared to experiment.
Another program that also was one the most important software was Adobe InDesign. In AiD, I also was working on the digipack such as the “special message” to my target audience and trakclist. Even thought the same tool was in Photoshop, in Adobe InDesign, I could easily move my text and images to experiment and see where it would look better. Before using any photography in AiD, I edited them in Photoshop so the quality with the front image in both digipack and album would be the same. Moreover, I already had a chance to work with the program before this project. As a media prefect in my school, I take a lot of pictures of my school’s performances and usually edit them in Adobe InDesign, therefore I found the process of editing easy.
It helped me to put my text, so the pages of the album would look interesting for my target audience. It helped me to develop my design skills because I needed to make sure that readers can read easily. Furthermore, it taught me how to control the size of the texts and pictures, so the page would look harmoniously. I have also created and edited my own drawing, however at the end of the process, I decided not to use.
I used Adobe Premium Pro to edit my music video and edit my two prelim videos. I already had an experience with this programme; therefore, it was easier for me to work than last year. Creating a prelim video last year had definitely helped me to understand better the use of the programme and it made it easier for me this year. In my opinion, the music video was the most important and the hardest product out of three, therefore I spent more time focusing on it. I sued it once when I was creating a prelim video and a video for question 1 of CCR AS level. I could easily use once I watched different tools on Youtube. It helped me a lot to achieve the effect that I wanted to have (effect of an old video).
I used Microsoft PowerPoint to plan my digipack cover and album pages. It helped me to visual a picture and see how it would look before I started editing in more professional programmes. In the “digipack” section on my blog, you can find many pictures / possible ideas that I had in my mind. I used Microsoft Word to type all my articles for the blog and website and create the deconstruction of other existing websites. Microsoft allowed me to write my answers for CCR, write my articles, write my question for the audience research and prepare everything for the production. Thanks to auto – correct tools in this program, my articles don’t have any grammar or spelling mistakes.
WordPress is an amazing and easy platform to create own website, with many choices and opportunities. It helped me to control the process of my project and taught me how to create my website.
Last year I wanted to create a simple blog/website because it was very new for me. This year I have focused on targeting my audience, I have worked harder to show:
- research
- more prelim videos
- photos
- experiments
- mind maps
The WordPress website was an integral part of my project as it provided me with a platform to show my progress throughout my production and also to accumulate and display my research on. Throughout the entire process, the website became like a “diary” where I was making all my notes and was recording everything I have done. I uploaded all the developing stages of my production from start to end on my website. In WordPress, I could easily demonstrate my research, production and collected data, from which I could also get a feedback from my teacher.
Webnode helped me to create a website for my artist. I didn’t want to use the same website as for my blog, therefore decided to use Webnode because of good comments and recommendations I have found online. It was difficult when I just started using it, however as I started working hard towards the project, it became easier. I could easily create as many pages as I wanted, add link for the musis list and traklist, tour list with tickets and the competition.
To download music for the CCR or videos form other websites, I used http://www.telechargerunevideo.com/en/url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dhvha-7EvwNg website which allowed me to download any videos form websites for my CCR question (video).
I employed the most commonly used conventions of social media such as Google and Youtube. Both of them helped me throughout the entire production process. Youtube provided with a big variety of music videos that inspired me to create my own. Furthermore, I watched a lot of video tools that helped to use Photoshop, Premium Pro and other necessary programs. I also used Youtube to upload both of preliminary videos and other videos that you can find on my blog. I conducted most of my research through Google.
I used 4 GB card to ensure that I had enough storage for the photoshoots. Furthermore, I used Canon camera to shoot my models throughout my all projects. I had 3 main photoshoots, where I was using different models. I also used tripod and camera stabiliser to keep the camera stable. My camera allowed for professional looking middle shots, close up and long shots. Throughout all my photoshoots, I used the same camera which was provided by my school. One camera helped me to maintain one style, continuity snd synergy.
For lighting, I used flash gun which helped me to create good quality pictures with high key lighting in dark places, especially during my last photoshoot. Also, I used the reflector to balance the light coming form the flash gun and focus on the models, so all light would go on them.
All the knowledge about the media research and other help was provided by my teacher.
Elton John Best hits 