Final Skills Audit

AS Media Production

Technical Skills Audit Print Production

Name: Steph Shepherd                         Tutor group: 1.08            Date: 8th April 2011

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	x		I used the focus when using the camera for my pictures; I focused in on the bin and the model to get a crisp picture.
Shutter Speed	x		I used the shutter speed when taking the movement shots outside. When the person was jumping around and running, I tried using different shutter speeds so that it would give different types of picture.
Aperture control	x		We did an exercise during class time on aperture. I took pictures of an object on a table and used the aperture control to get different effects in the back ground, blurred out or in focus.
ISO Control	x		When I was taking pictures of the initial project, the images inside were to dark and so I had to adjust the ISO Control so that the lighting was brighter meaning that it gave off a clearly picture. This was only to a basic level.
A tripod	x		I used a tripod when taking pictures of the objects for the aperture settings. I adjusted the tripod a little but only at a basic level.
External flash	x		When taking general pictures, I used the external flash to create a brighter image when the lighting was to dark.
Self timer facility	x		I have used the self timer facility on my own digital camera, like I said in the previous document. There wasn’t a part during this project when it was necessary to use this feature, so again, I have only used this to a basic level.
Light meter	x		I have used the light meter to determine aperture settings. This was when taking my pictures but only to a basic level.
Composition grids	x		I used the composition grids when I wanted to position my image directly in the centre. I used the grids to help me find the centre and then move myself into a position where it was possible to take the picture and make it look good. I only used this to a basic level as I only used them once.

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
Have you aver used Photoshop ever before?	x		I have used Photoshop to edit all of my images and make my actual front cover; this was to more than a basic level, I feel as though I used it quite effectively.
Text control	x		I used the text control to edit the text that I had imported and make sure that it was edited to the correct size and shape etc. Again, this was to more than a basic level.
Filters	x		I used the filters to create the effects on the basic shapes that were put into my document. This was only to a basic level but in my opinion gave off a good effect.
Brushes	x		I used the brushes in Photoshop to create the mouth, eyes and bin on my final product. I used them to go over the outlines of a drawn mouth and then to draw the actual arms free-hand. I think I used these to more than a basic level as the results looked quite effective and to a good standard.
Layers	x		Layers were used throughout the project. Every time I added something new into the document, it created a new layer. I also merged layers once I was happy with it and knew that it didn’t need any more editing.
Opacity control	x		I used the opacity control when deciding how dark I wanted certain parts of the object to be. I only used this control to a basic level as it wasn’t needed much for what I was doing.
Shape creation	x		I used the shape creation tool to create the banners, the poster advertisements and the boxes for NEWS etc. I also used the shape tool to create an initial shape that I could filter to create another, original style shape that looked like a paint splash for example. I think I used this feature to more than a basic level as it was one of the main features that I used.
Brightness and contrast control	x		I used the brightness and contrast control when deciding what looked best for the main pictures on my product. I decided to make the picture of Adam on the front page brighter so I increased it and then changed the contrast to match and make it look better. I think that I used this to just over a basic level as I didn’t use it much, however when I did use it, I managed to control it successfully without any major mistakes that couldn’t be undone.
Gradients	x		I used the gradient tool when testing what background I wanted for the double page spread. I decided to test out the colours in Photoshop before InDesign as it is a lot easier to use and is much more flexible. I only used this tool in Photoshop to a basic level as I decided that I wanted a different background so it wasn’t relevant for me to use anymore.
Load selection features	x		I used the load selection features to select a load to work within the document. For example, when I wanted to work with the bin, I selected the parts I wanted and then moved them to another document so that I could work with them separately from the backgrounds and other features etc.
Feathering	x		I used the feathering tool to smooth out the bin when I initially started making the project. First I had a picture of a green bin that wouldn’t cut smoothly so I used the feathering tool to smooth it out and get rid of some of the lines. I only used this to a very basic level as I didn’t feel as though it was necessary to use it anymore.
Colour curves adjustment	x		I adjusted the colour of the arms I had drawn. I felt as though the curves on them needed to be a different colour so that they stood out a little more. I did however, undo this as I felt as though they looked better at the start rather than after I had used this feature. Again, I only used this feature to a very basic level.
Resolution setting control		x	I didn’t have to use this feature whilst making anything in Photoshop this time.
Magnetic lasso, polygon lasso tool	x		I used this feature a lot whilst using Photoshop. It was one of the main features and one of the most useful ones. I used it to cut out most of the objects because, unlike the selection tool, you can control exactly where you want it to cut by clicking the spot. Seeing as though I used this feature a lot, I think I managed to use it to way above a basic level. This was proved when I could cut out and use the feature efficiently and produce a smooth product.
Cropping tool	x		I used the cropping tool when making the poster advertisements on the front page. I selected the images that I wanted and then cropped them down to a size which I thought was appropriate. I think I used this feature to more than a basic level but still not perfectly.
Clone tool	x		I used the clone tool to clone the colour off the picture backdrop to create the background for the front cover. I think I used this quite well considering I managed to make a background out of one image and not make it obvious.
Retouch tool	x		I used the retouch tool to retouch the colour of the bins arms. This was because when I initially used the brush tool, I didn’t zoom in and so when I did, I found that there was a lot of gaps etc. I think I used this feature to a basic level.