14 Constructing Media Message

Sameer Khanuja

Structure of Module

1 Media Message: Concept

2 Graphic Software

2.1 Text Editing

2.2 Image Editing

2.3 Audio Editing

2.4 Video Editing

2.5 Desktop Publishing

2.6 Website Design

Media message: Concept

Any message containing text, photograph, audio or video is a media message. There are various mediums/platforms available to send/share these media messages. You can share messages using digital means like Mobile, Tablet, Laptop, Pen Drives, TV, Radio etc or using non-digital forms like printed magazines, newsletters etc.

The message received/collected need to be transformed to ensure that original intent of the message is retained while sharing. If the message is not transformed or edited properly the originality of the content or story gets lost. This process is called creation of media messages

There are tools used to create or edit a message before sharing. The scope of this module is to share the list of tools and how they are used in a most effective manner.

2. Graphic Software:

There are multiple graphic tools available for various purposes. And therefore it is important to understand about software and their usages. Same software can be used for designing a layout for printing and editing image for Website.

There could be multiple ways of categorizing software. We have depicted following 2 ways to categorize these software:

Medium
Technical and Process

Medium : The diagram below depicts various platforms for which message needs to be created. Digital tools / applications are available which can be used to create messages for respective mediums. User need to understand the logical categorization and usage of applications to use them effectively.

Technical & Process: The diagram below depicts different categories with few examples of tools/applications available in that category. We have provided few categories and tools above to limit the scope of this module. We have tried to provide examples of applications which are mostly used by people – freeware or licensed.

The diagram above depicts different categories with few examples of tools/applications available in that category. We have provided few categories and tools above to limit the scope of this module. We have tried to provide examples of applications which are mostly used by people – freeware or licensed.

Applications and tools are not necessarily limited or aligned specifically to platform/medium. Its up to user to take maximum advantage of the tool where ever possible. For example if user is intending to edit image the choice will be Image Editing application (say Photoshop), irrespective of that photograph is suppose go on Website, Newspaper or on TV Channel.

2. 1 Text Editing

A text editor application or tool is used for editing text. Few applications are available with operating systems you but they are generally very basic where you can just type text with different fonts and font sizes – these applications does not allow many text edit features – eg Notepad.

Word processors like MS Word or AbiWord provides some of the very good features like Spell Check, Word Count, Find & Replace, Table Of Contents etc which are used extensively in professional industry – Like Magazines, Newspapers, Books etc

2. 2 Image Editing

To understand Image Editing tool its important to understand the concept of image – rather Digital Image. Digital image can be of two types:

– Pixel Based

– Vector Based

Pixel Based – In a digital image the smallest defined unit is pixel (picture element). And many pixels makes a digital pixel based image. 300 DPI image means – Image having 300 dots per inch (dpi). Digital Pixel image can be captured from any camera (DSLR, Digital or Mobile) or it can be created using Digital Tools or applications.

A pixel editing software may allow users to play with images with following features. Very few software may have all these features combined:

Text Editing and Transformation features
Image Editing and Transformation features like

o Color Management

o Filters to apply readymade effects

o Image Size and Resolution

o Layers and Masks

Allow file save in various image file formats

Vector Based – Vector image is the use of polygons to represent images in computer graphics.

Vector images are based on vectors, which lead through locations called control points or nodes.

Vector based application may have following features. All features may not be part of single software:

Tools to create any shape in Vector accurately– This particular feature helps in creating creative logo designs and layouts
Color Management
Scale Vector shapes accurately
Text Editing and Transformation features
Printing Features like Preflight Warnings, Print Multiple Documents, PDF Marks etc
Filters to apply readymade effects

To edit above mentioned digital images, digital tools or applications are available in the market. These tools are not so easy to use and hence require basic training before usage. There are multiple online trainings available or one can also opt to take classes from institutes.

Refer to the table below to understand their usage and category

3.1 Audio Editing

Tools or applications used for editing audio clips fall into this category. Audio Editing software is the one used for editing and generating of audio data. Most software can edit music, apply effects and filters, adjust stereo channels etc.

User can expect following features in Audio editing softwares:

Import and Export of various audio file formats for editing
Ability to record audio from various inputs and store recording data digitally
Ability to edit duration, start and stop time of audio clips on timeline
Feature to merge or fade into or out among multiple clips. This also allows user to mix multiple sound tracks at various volume levels

Please refer to following available audio editing software available in the market:

4.1 Video Editing

Video editing software is the once which can handle post-production video editing of digital video sequences on a computer non-linear editing system (NLE).

NLE software is based on a timeline interface where sections of moving image video recordings, known as clips, are laid out in sequence and played back. Such software offers multiple features for trimming, splicing, cutting and arranging clips across the timeline.

User can expect following features in Video editing software:

3D Editing
Animation Tools
Audio Transitions
Color Correction
Direct Camcorder Capture
Drag and Drop
DVD Burning
Green Screen (Chroma Keying)
HD Support
Speed Change
Subtitles
Video Transitions

5.1 Desktop Publishing Software

Desktop publishing software are the ones which are used for creating page layouts, advanced text editing and image editing for Printing

Desktop publishing allows users from various domains to self-publish a wide range of printed matter – eg Posters, Books, Magazines, Pamphlets. These applications can also be use for

Designing posters or layouts for print media requires understanding of printing processes as a pre-requisite. Following are the examples of Desktop Publishing Software:

6.1 Website Design Software

There are multiple software available to develop a website. Such software provides pre-defined templates which can be leveraged to develop a website quickly. Infact there are many online tools available to create a website without downloading and installing it on desktop.

Online website design software may allow easy drag and drop, designer-made templates, beautiful galleries, mobile optimized, domains, huge image collection and secure hosting,

Website Design software may have following features depending on complexity of respective tool:

Design Templates/Themes
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) – This particular feature allows search portals (like Google) to find content/items listed or available on particular site
Video and Audio Embedding
Drag and Drop Features
Static and Dynamic Text/Images
Responsive Compatibility
Marketing Features (like Analytics)
Hosting Features
Blogging features

Following table provides some of the website designing softwares

#	Name	Free/Commercial
1	Wix	Free & Commercial
2	SquareSpace	Free & Commercial
3	Weebly	Free & Commercial

you can view video on Constructing Media Message

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