This is my CD cover created using different brush tools and fonts.

This is my first InDesign page. I have produced the double page spread above by using the image placement and resizing tools (black and white arrow tools) the black arrow sizes the frame the white arrow resizes the picture I then used a grid method for the picture page on the right. I inserted text, changed the font, added a stroke, changed the colours of the text and stroke, added a drop-cap, worked with text flow in the margin lines for my columns to hold my text.
I then exported it as a JPEG which allowed me to have it as an image.

Cross Processing

My cross-processed image.

For this I crated a new adjustment layer and selected curves and this allowed me to alter the tones of the red, blue and green in the image by adjusting the lines.

- By altering the red, I made shadows darker and red highlights brighter.
- By altering the blue I blocked the blue shadow areas.
- By altering the green I increased the contrast in the highlights.

After doing this process, I have ended up with a slightly retro styled image which has the high contrast between shadows and highlights. This is a very subtle effect which takes a lot of trail and error.

Shutter Speed Experiments With Light

The photos below are photos that I have taken with the camera shutter speed at five seconds and eight seconds. This was done so that I could capture the motion of the light in the darkened room which created shapes.

This was taken at shutter speed 5 seconds. Robson is drawing a squiggle.

This was taken at shutter speed 8 seconds. Megan is drawing a face.

Post Production Photo Manipulation Work

Dodge and Burn tools used.

I used the dodge and burn tools which darkens parts (burn tool) and lightens others (dodge tool). I burned the edges of the photo and part of the face and neck in an attempt to give a shadowed effect. I dodged certain areas such as the trees to the right of the person on the closest side to him to give a brighter effect near the focal point.

 Sharpened mask effect.

I have used the sharpen mask effect which brings out the edges much more clearly so you can see the features better.

Adjustment of brightness and contrast.

I have used the brightness and contrast settings to give the image a richer and more vibrant appearance.

Auto tone/contrast.

I have used the auto tone/contrast/colour tools on the image.

Using Different Shots

In this first shot, I used a technique which uses line to draw the eye to the focal point of the image. In this case it is the lamp post shadow leading to Robson.

The last shot and the next shot have both got the focal points off centre to give them a bit more character.

This second one is a frame shot in which the subject is placed in a frame within the actual image frame (eg the doorway)

 This tilt down creates a sense of powerlessness which is enforced by how the eye level is below the third line.

 The focus on this on is a little bit off as it is slightly blurred on the face up until the eye which (if done deliberately) can connote different messages however in this case the blurred outlines suggest a relaxed person taking a drink as the smooth lines create a softer, calmer feel.

My First Cover

Induction evaluation

The first piece of work I have completed for AS Media Production is the magazine front cover.  I used photography and Photoshop to make my front cover. I had never used Photoshop before in detail other than using the brightness setting once.

This was the first time I had used full manual focus on a camera and this proved more difficult than I first anticipated as in most of pictures I took, the main focal point (the person) was blurred and out of focus. The person in this picture is the main focal point I ensured I used the rule of thirds when positioning the eye line in the picture because this is the best way to get an accurately planned image. To keep a steadier base when using the camera I used the ‘T-stance’.

Having never used Photoshop before, I was just beginning to learn some of the tools. For the title I used the emboss tool to give it a 3D-like effect which would appeal to younger people (the audience I chose to target). The use of many colours allowed me to make the magazine as open to both genders as possible however I realize that stereotypically girls would buy more magazines so I included pink at the top in the eye line of the person on there as it would direct their eyes to it and as a sells line, it could entice them into reading into it and buying the magazine. I used as many selling techniques as I thought appropriate such as exclusivities, ellipsis, reward lines, rhetorical questions, exclamation marks and quotes.  When I was experimenting with different tools, I opened up another image which I took and used the lasso tool to cut around the head and I then inserted the newly trimmed head into my magazine as another way of getting people to read on by only having that and “Page 7” written.

I had difficulty with using manual focus as a result the majority of the shots I took were not focused on the person or were still blurred around the edges and so it took me quite a number of attempts before I managed to get the shot seen on my cover. When using Photoshop, I could not use most tools efficiently and this led to problems when creating my cover. I tried to make my image fit the cover as it was a little bit too big however when I did, it stretched the image and so I had to find out how to undo it and resize the image without contorting it. Another problem I encountered was when using the layers panel, when I wanted to move a certain part such as the “EXCLUSIVE” I did not have it selected in the layers panel and so I ended up moving other set pieces of the cover.

From doing this I have learned some useful skills in the taking of images and use of the camera such as the T-stance and manual focus. Also within Photoshop I learned how to insert images, text and shapes and also how to manipulate these in many ways to produce my front cover.

This is my front cover.

AS Media Production: Technical Skills Audit Print Production

Name: James Henderson                    Tutor group: 1.17      Date: 20^th September 2013

Photographic Skills

Which of the following photographic features/equipment have you used on a camera before:

Feature	Yes	No	Comments if yes – where have you completed this skills and to what level
Manual Focus features Creative writing classes		N
Shutter Speed		N
Aperture control		N
A tripod	Y		Basic level at car shows
External flash		N
Self timer facility	Y		Basic level at family parties
Light meter		N
Composition grids	Y		Using the rule of thirds

Photoshop Skills

Which of the following features of Photoshop have you used before:

Feature	Yes	No	Comments if yes – where have you completed this skills and to what level
Text control		N
Filters		N
Brushes		N
Layers		N
Opacity control		N
Shape creation		N
Brightness and contrast control	Y		Basic use on bridging week.
Dodge/Burn		N
Clone stamp tool		N
Colour curves adjustment		N
Magnetic lasso, polygon lasso tool		N
Cropping tool		N
Retouch tool		N

In Design Skills

Which of the following features of In Design have you used before:

Feature	Yes	No	Comments if yes – where have you completed this skills and to what level
Margin and column guide creation		N
Inserting text in ID		N
Inserting images in ID		N
Resizing images in ID		N
Text manipulation – resizing, rotation		N
Text manipulation – controlling kerning and leading		N
Text flow creation		N
Text effects – drop shadow		N
Drop cap insert		N
Using transparent imagery in ID		N
Shape creation In design		N
Text wrapping		N
Exporting to PDF from In-design		N