Looking back at my preliminary task...

Audio version can be found using link below:
https://soundcloud.com/gjonesmedia/looking-back-at-my-preliminary-task

Since creating my school magazine front cover back in September, I can see huge progression in my final media product. I feel that compared to my final product, the front cover I produced in my preliminary task is very amateur looking whereas my final product has the potential of being a professional music magazine front cover. I feel that the improvement in my media product is due to a range of reasons. 

Firstly, I feel that my improved knowledge and understanding of the software I have been using, Adobe Photoshop and InDesign, has allowed me to create a professional looking final media product. As previously in my preliminary task, I feel that my lack of knowledge of the software is clearly presented. The use of the gradient background on my school magazine makes the overall product appear amateur; I have improved this in my final product by using a mid-shot of my model creating a simplistic yet effective background and main image, in order to attract the audiences gaze. 

Additionally, I feel that my improved understanding of the codes and conventions of the pop music magazine genre and a better understanding of my target demographic audience, compared to my preliminary task, has allowed me to create the magazine and features to appeal to the young female demographic; by creating coverlines, using a range of fonts as well as serif and sans serif styles, and a house style, applying to the 3 colour principle, this will more likely attract the attention of the audience. 

Throughout the process of creating my final product I feel that I have gained a better understanding of page layout, to arrange features of the front cover in order to attract the attention of the audience and gain a greater response, As well as emphasising key features such as the masthead, main image and promotional features (WIN! features and freebies) in order to increase the appeal of the magazine to the audience, as well as encouraging the audience to purchase it.

Overall, I feel the preliminary task was a good opportunity and a good practice for me to understand the features of a magazine and to practice using new software such as Photoshop and InDesign, that I had not previously used before starting this media course. I feel that the task has allowed me to further improve my final media product to ensure that it is successful.