Thanks to my media guru friend Pete - here are some free tools which can help your media work. Some you may know, some you may use already, some you may find just do the same thing as other apps you use, but they are all free and online and relatively easy to use.
1. Padlet: this app allows you to put together a 'wall' of stuff. It looks a bit like Pinterest but is probably best used as a way of everyone in class putting up their ideas on a whiteboard, so it becomes like a 'live team wall' for sharing ideas and work done.
2. Trello: this is effectively a 'digital to do list' and is ideal for long term group projects like coursework. You can organise things into three columns, for example, with 'to do', 'doing' and 'done' and gradually tasks shift to the third column, giving a sense of completion.
3. Piktochart is an excellent tool for making infographics, which can look pretty good and express your information in really clear, visual terms. When you login, it even has fellow members online to help you with problems! Here's one on computer programming:
4. Simplebooklet allows you to create attractive booklets from otherwise dull material and stick them online. It is a bit like templates for desktop publishing, but can certainly liven up your material:
If you click on the image above, you can go into any of the booklets and see what is possible. It would be a good way of producing a summary of your research and planning work from your blog.
5. Pixlr is a cut-down online picture editing tool. It doesn't do as much as Photoshop, but it is free and accessible anywhere. Give it a try.
6. Animoto: You may be familiar with this video editor, but if not, give it a try. It allows you to make up to 30 second videos out of stills, so is ideal for presenting bits of research as slightly more sophisticated slideshows.
7. Finally, Kickstarter- why not think about using it in combination with some of these apps and tools to make your project that little more 'real'? really helps you to get to grips with issues of audience and institution!
Sunday, 23 February 2014
Wednesday, 12 February 2014
Page sizes
You're now at the stage where you need to be considering your page sizes and layout.
For Publisher, look at a bleed of 184 x 262 mm.
Explain, in your blog, the difference between bleed and trim.
Set up your pages and start to import your work on to them.
Monday, 10 February 2014
Help and pointers 10.2.14
UPLOAD – all the work you’ve done so far, including analysis, image editing etc. With the practical stuff, make sure you ASK other people – not just me – what they think (via blogger) and make use of their feedback.
THEORY STUFF (not a comprehensive list by any means, but things to cover) 1. Investigate your target audience. Be specific. Who wants to buy your magazine? Why? Think Blumler and Katz and Young & Rubicam.
2. Build up a complete profile of your ideal consumer. How old is the ideal consumer? What interests do they have as well as music? What socio-demographic do they belong to? How much disposable income do they spend and what does it go on? Be comprehensive
3. Exchange of texts. How will your mag get to the reader? Will they buy it from a shop or read it exclusively on line? What shop would stock it? Why? Think about mainstream stockists (WHSmith / Tesco etc) Vs independent retailers. Think about the content of your mag – would the big stockists feel comfortable selling your mag if it has ‘adult’ themes or images?
4. What are the advantages of mail order? Think how this applies to niche magazines (and identify a few) What are the disadvantages?
5. Deconstruction of other mags. What are the codes and conventions used? Do some magazines deliberately challenge established conventions (eg RayGun) What do you (and your TA prefer) and why? Compare the conventional (Kerrang! / Q / TOTP et al) to the unconventional (Raygun).
6. Check off the list Miss Howsam gave you at the start of the year. Make sure you have blogged all the pre-production work up.
PRACTICAL STUFF (not a comprehensive list by any means, but things to cover) 1. Name of mag / masthead design. What are the connotations behind your choice of name? Why have you chosen a specific font. What does that signify to you and your readership?
2. Layout ideas for P1 / contents and DPS. What are they going to look like? Maybe rough out a sketch or plan, photograph it and upload it to your blog (with annotations). What incentives will you offer your readers? Does a niche / indie publication need them as much as mainstream mags?
3. Images – what existing images do you like (and say why) – look at Ross Halfin, David Bailey and others. Look at my blog for more ideas. Explain WHY you have looked at (and edited) existing images. Explain that although you cannot use them in your magazine, you got to grips with the software and wanted to use it (Pixlr / Photoshop) to create new connotations to existing shots – then use the skillsets you have learned to enhance your own work. What mood / tone / vibe are you hoping to create with your own images? Does your TA think you have achieved your goals?
All of this needs to be blogged up ASAP – come and find me to discuss. Remember, this isn’t an exhaustive list – just some pointers.
THEORY STUFF (not a comprehensive list by any means, but things to cover) 1. Investigate your target audience. Be specific. Who wants to buy your magazine? Why? Think Blumler and Katz and Young & Rubicam.
2. Build up a complete profile of your ideal consumer. How old is the ideal consumer? What interests do they have as well as music? What socio-demographic do they belong to? How much disposable income do they spend and what does it go on? Be comprehensive
3. Exchange of texts. How will your mag get to the reader? Will they buy it from a shop or read it exclusively on line? What shop would stock it? Why? Think about mainstream stockists (WHSmith / Tesco etc) Vs independent retailers. Think about the content of your mag – would the big stockists feel comfortable selling your mag if it has ‘adult’ themes or images?
4. What are the advantages of mail order? Think how this applies to niche magazines (and identify a few) What are the disadvantages?
5. Deconstruction of other mags. What are the codes and conventions used? Do some magazines deliberately challenge established conventions (eg RayGun) What do you (and your TA prefer) and why? Compare the conventional (Kerrang! / Q / TOTP et al) to the unconventional (Raygun).
6. Check off the list Miss Howsam gave you at the start of the year. Make sure you have blogged all the pre-production work up.
PRACTICAL STUFF (not a comprehensive list by any means, but things to cover) 1. Name of mag / masthead design. What are the connotations behind your choice of name? Why have you chosen a specific font. What does that signify to you and your readership?
2. Layout ideas for P1 / contents and DPS. What are they going to look like? Maybe rough out a sketch or plan, photograph it and upload it to your blog (with annotations). What incentives will you offer your readers? Does a niche / indie publication need them as much as mainstream mags?
3. Images – what existing images do you like (and say why) – look at Ross Halfin, David Bailey and others. Look at my blog for more ideas. Explain WHY you have looked at (and edited) existing images. Explain that although you cannot use them in your magazine, you got to grips with the software and wanted to use it (Pixlr / Photoshop) to create new connotations to existing shots – then use the skillsets you have learned to enhance your own work. What mood / tone / vibe are you hoping to create with your own images? Does your TA think you have achieved your goals?
All of this needs to be blogged up ASAP – come and find me to discuss. Remember, this isn’t an exhaustive list – just some pointers.
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