Final Front Cover For my Magazine

 My final front cover I had to make the bar code slightly smaller as it was too prominent on the page. This needed to be sorted as this was the first thing that caught the readers attention instead of the feature article photo. This is my final product.
My music magazine suits and challenges convention of a regular music magazine as i have included a long masthead which is not conventional. However, the layout and style of the magazine is conventional. There are elements within my magazine that are conventional and unconventional.

The colour scheme is red, black and white, this is continued throughout my magazine to suit my house style. I have included cover lines that are flushed left. There is a bar code, date, issue number and website placed at the bottom for the readers benefit.

The feature article photo is a close up with direct eye contact, this makes it personal and interesting, drawing the reader in. It is a clear image with no noise, and the direct eye contact and her smile make the magazine approachable. With my model, her smile and her clothing choice with the wristbands make her look her age, and not to sexualise her like most women or girls are within the media. It shows how my magazine is made for all people, ages and genders. My magazine is for males and females from the age for late teens to people in their 20s - 30s.

The overall house style of my front cover and my magazine has been shown through colour, typography and text, and the style and genres of music.

Here I added in a bar code and a price for my magazine. I looked at my magazine and saw that there was something missing. I re-evaluated my product and knew I had to add in a bar code and price to make it more conventional and to use it as a filler.

Fourth Front Cover for my Magazine

Third Front Cover Development

Second Final Front Cover Development

Here I decided to change the style of font for the text. I knew I had to make the text more visible and stand out to the reader. I made the text bold and changed the colour of the text for some of the different pieces. 

First Final Design of Magazine Front Cover

This is the first final design of my front cover. Here is the first basic layout of my front cover. The resolution of the JPEG file is not very good, so I needed to improve this aspect. Also, certain fonts and colour`s do not match the the image or the house style. The font colour needed to be changed in certain parts of the magazine front cover. 

For effect i decided to justify the text left, and slightly misplace them so they are not inline. This breaks convention and does not make the magazine look organised. So another improvement will be to justify them left and ensure that they are in line along the left hand side of the page. 

The text needs to be more visible as it is hard to read some of the text on the page. I will find a way to improve this and ensure that everything is clear. 

Third Front Cover Picture Design



Here I began to work on this photo. I loved this photo the most out of every picture I took. The picture is clear and has no noise to the image, the lighting hits her head perfectly from behind and on the right side. However I began to experiment with placing the masthead on the image. This did not look right, so I decided to increase the brightness and the contrast on the image to brighten her face and the background. This immediately made the image look magazine front cover material and would allow me to add text to the white background.

I decided to take the picture in front of a white background and used a bright light behind the hair to make it stand out. The effect of using the white background and the lighting the hair from behind allowsme to have the perfect background and does not mean i have to cut out around the tiny detail in the lose hair.

I also loved how the masthead match the image and they both compliment each other. The lighting and the pose, will allow me to place the text where I want it to go in the right places for me to justify the text left.

This image is the feature article photo that I am going to use for my magazine front cover. 

Second Front Cover Picture Design

For my second front cover design I used a close up of my models face. I liked this photo as it stood out to me. The close up shot makes her eyes stand out, making it feel very personal.

The contrast of the light coming from the right side of her head makes her hair look as if it is glowing, and the shadow on the right side of her face makes the image and figure stand out from the page.

 Here is a screen shot of how I made and developed this front cover photo. On this front cover I used the exposure tool too increase the brightness and decrease the contrast in this image. The extra brightness on her face makes the feature article photo stand out even more making it look even more appealing. 

I did a similar technique for the masthead on this front cover. I used a Stencil STD font, and instead of using a black font I used a white font to make the masthead stand out more, but I kept the reversed word "love" in red. 

In this front cover, I love the the feature article photo, but do not like the masthead that goes with the image. I think in order for both of these to work the masthead needs to be a smaller title, with possibly on letter, like in Q magazine. 

First Front Cover Picture Design

This was my first attempt to create a feature article photo with a masthead that would fit together.

Here I have included a screen shot of making the front cover in Photo shop. In Photo shop I used the magic wand tool to cut around the top half of the image, so it could be placed in front of the masthead. I then brightened the image and increased the contrast slightly to give it a better and more professional looking effect.

I then started to use the text tool to create my masthead. The masthead title I have chosen is "REVOLUTION". I made this masthead in a Stencil STD font and made the text black. However, linking in with the title theme of revolution I then decided to put the letters (E,V,O,L) in red, and flipped them round backwards. This is so the red word spelling "LOVE" backwards, stands out within the masthead "REVOLUTION", giving it a contrast between the two completely different words, drawing in and interesting the reader.

However, I did not seem to like how this fitted together. The picture and the masthead work well together, but i chose not to use this as my front cover image.

Front Cover Photo Shoot

For my photo shoot I had to use a different model to the other person I wanted to use for my front cover. My photo shoot has to consist of close ups and mid shots, upon a white background as I wanted her hair to stand out. I used the lighting in a unique way by placing a light behind and to the right of the model. I also placed another light in front of her on the right hand side to ensure that the right side of her face stood out the most and was lit up, this helped create a shadow on the other side of her face. 

Overall, I found it really hard to try and choose which picture to use for my front cover. So i decided to experiment with all of the pictures that I wanted to use. 

Final Magazine Pencil Sketches

Exsisting Front Covers

Through experimenting with long shots I found that this technique does not work with my style of magazine. I took some picutres and started to create my magazine but then decided that it does not work and stand out, showing that it looks amateurish.

I then decided to investigate more music magazines. I found that Billboard magazine had the style I wanted to use. I then began to see that close ups and medium shots were best as they were conventional.

Front Cover Development

Through photo shopping the first set of pictures I took, I found that this style does not work. The whole colour scheme of the image and the masthead does not work together. The revolution title does not link and match the feature article photo as the conventions of the image have no revolution symbolism to it.

The colour scheme of both the masthead and the image does not work together. The effect of merging a black and then coloured effect looks interesting but has no relevance. Also the feature article photo seems to look as if it is a solid block and has no three dimensional effect to it. This image looks as if it has just been put there with no real thought. The pose of the figure makes her look very triangular and solid, creating a feeling that makes the reader wonder as to why they can not seem to like this image. I asked several people to evaluate this front cover and try and figure out what is wrong. we all came to the conclusion that the shot of the image is not a long shot or a close shot, making the image look out of place.

The size and style of the masthead is too small to fit the page. working with an image to fit the size of the masthead is difficult to do with the style that I have. I concluded that I must enlarge the size of the masthead and change the colour to suit the picture.

From here I began to rethink the idea of how to plan out the front cover and researched some more music magazine layouts.      
                                                                                                               

Through looking and researching more music magazines I found that Billboard fitted the theme of my magazine. I loved the house style and the conventions. The style of the long-mid shot in this fitted what I wanted to do to create my image for my magazine.

I would have to change the style of the masthead I would now keep the word revolution all the right way and make the R stand out more in a bigger /and different font. This is so the word "evolution" within the word "revolution" would stand out more and fit in with the nature element of the evolution theme of life. Thinking about fitting the style of the image with the masthead, I found that this figure of Katie Perry suits the overall theme of the masthead as the flowers and the whole nature theme matched the title of "revolution".

I would get my model to pose in this way and in this style of fashion so my house style and theme of the magazine works and links together. The figure in this image has a more three dimensional feel to it as the pose of the figure works with different angles.

However I then changed my mind as I found that thinking about this style and type of front cover would not work This is because the style of my model and would not work with this theme. Physically I believe that this type of conventions and style o this magazine would not work for my music magazine.

Further developing my ideas, I investigated more Billboard magazines. I found this specific close up of Beyonce very eye catching and very pulling to catch the readers attention.

The big masthead of Billboard would match the style and size of my masthead of Revolution. This would work if I changed the colour of the masthead to white. Having my model pose in this way would work extremely well as her big blond hair would work in a unique way. The whole close up shot draws in the reader as she is directly looking straight ahead. this is making a more dramatic effect.

I will now begin to re design my idea for my front cover, using this style and page layout of this magazine.

Draft of image for Front Cover

Here I have experimented with different styles and effects. I used the magic eraser tool to take away the unwanted background surrounding the person. I then used a half black and half coloured filter to cove the feature article photo, this is to give a unique and unconventional effect. The face is presented in a black filter and the rest of the body is presented in colour. 

Once doing this I used the original image and used the magnetic lasso tool to cut around certain coloured features on the face. I cut out the coloured mask on the checks and around the eyebrows, her eyes and her red lips. This is so these features stand out in an unconventional way compared to the black top half of the face. 

For my masthead i have titled it "REVOLUTION" in a font called "STENCIL STD". In the word "revolution" it is has the word "love" spelled backwards. So i reversed and flipped the word love making it red so the letters are backwards to make the word love stand out more. This shows a dramatic contrast in the word revolution as love is the complete opposite to it. In producing the words in red and reversing them it shows a style off rebellion, breaking against normal conventions of a magazine. 

Also, in creating a rebellious magazine I have used bright and bold colours, and a new singer to show how people are rebelling and breaking conventions to become their own unique person. the whole house style of this magazine is of bright, bold and rebellious styles. 

I will use a better and higher quality camera and use the lighting more effectively when i retake some of my images for the front cover. this will develop and evolve in style with a more understanding house style.  

Double Page Spread Designs

Double Page Spread Designs

Double Page Spread Designs

Contents Page Designs

Front Cover Designs

Design Brief

• My music magazine will be called Revolution.
• The front cover will use stencil stD for the masthead.
• My feature article photo will be of one person, and will be female. The picture will take up the majority of the page.
• The cover lines will be placed on the right hand side and left hand side only and not in the middle.
• My contents page will consist of three or four photographs.
• I will use running heads throughout my magazine.
• My layout will be organised and clear.
• My double page spread will consist of both text and pictures on both pages.
• My colour scheme will be black, white and red.
  

Existing Front Covers

• This type of shot is a medium long shot, with a clear view of the woman’s body.
• She is posed standing up in a sexual way by holding her hands on her crotch and over her breasts. This shows a real sense of female sexuality and tells us that Lady Gaga is not afraid of showing off her sexuality.  This tells us that she is fearless as she doesn’t have a top on and that she is confident with her body. It also indicates that the media want women to pose in a sexual way to present them.
• The lighting is bright on the body and contrasts to the dark trousers and cloves she is wearing. The light is bouncing off her skin making her look as if she is something to worship and that her sexuality is something to worship as a female.
• The mise-en-scene of the photo shoot is very interesting and controversial, especially the costume. The costume is a pair of plain black trousers, with spikes emerging from the thigh areas, and then a pair of gloves that resemble the character Edward Scissor hands. Her top half is naked, with her hands strategically placed to cover her breasts. The unconventional style of dress is used, as always with Lady Gaga, to show her rebellious and different fashion style, which always seeks to shock and interest people in what she will wear next.

• This type of shot is a medium long shot showing the female singer Rihanna.
• She is posed in a sensual and seductive way as she is wearing very little clothing. She is turned to the side with her bum on show and having her hands placed in front of her. She also is looking over her shoulder with a seductive look to attract the customer’s eye. This image connotes a lot about how a woman has to present herself in order to be noticed in the media through using her sexuality.  Again it tells us that she is confident with her body.
• The lighting in this picture is very bright from the front shinning on her body, making it look as if she is glowing. The shadow on the back of her shows a sort of dark side to her and how her looking over her shoulder indicates she wishes to explore this dark side.
• The mise-en-scene of the photo is very seductive as she is showing herself to the customer and is looking over her should to try and intrigue you to buy the magazine. It shows an overall dark and seductive tone as a woman in control and taking charge by using her sexuality.

• This type of shot is another medium long shot but with the woman sitting down. This is female artist Rita Ora.
• Her pose is very sophisticated and very lady like. This is shown by the way she is sitting down on a chair with her legs crossed and her arms placed, one on her leg, and one propped up on the chair. This connotes a very formal and serious tone.
• The lighting is very bright on the figure making the magazine brighter. Along with the bright background and white font the front cover looks very bright and ordered.
• The mise-en-scene in this front cover is very sophisticated and professional, but also has a slight hint of dominance within the female as she seems to be very relaxed looking very confident. The fact she also has her shoulders and legs showing indicates that she is trying to sell the magazine. 

Questionnaire Results Analysis

From my results I used them to determine what style and type of magazine I will make to suit my target audience.

Question 1: What is your favourite genre of music?

I found that 38% like rock music the best, 12% liked pop music, another 12% liked Indie music, and the other 38% liked mixed media music magazines. From this I can see that I will have to create a music magazine with these different music genres as they are most popular, so I will create a mixed media music magazine. 

Question 2: Why do you think this?

Most people made comments for their reasons as to why they enjoy their favourite genre of music. There was a mixture of different answers to back up why they liked the different genres of music.

Question 3: When you look for a magazine what appeals to you most at first?
90% of people chose the feature article photo as the thing that appeals most to them in a music magazine. The other 10% felt that whats included is what appeals to them most. From these results I will make sure my feature article photo stands out and takes up most of my page.

Question 4: What are your 3 favourite brands of magazine?
I did not set out the question correctly in order to find out the most preferred music magazine. However from the individual results i found that Q magazine was the most preferred, Billboard magazine was the second most preferred, and then Rolling Stone was the least preferred. I will use Q and Billboard magazine to set a template for my magazine to ensure that it will appeal to my target audience.

Question 5: Which colour scheme would you prefer in a music magazine?
The most popular colour scheme was red, black and white, with 90% liking this,  i will use this colour scheme for my media music magazine, in order for my target audience to be interested in it. The colour scheme blue, black and white was the second most favorite and 10% voted for this.  asking this question really helped me make up my mind about the different colour schemes to use for my magazine.

Question 6: What type of mode of address do you prefer?
Informal and friendly was liked the best with 100% of people voting for this. It is clear that i will use a informal and friendly tone throughout my music magazine.

Question 7: What type of layout do you prefer?
Out of lines and columns, spaced out text across the page, and lots of information on the page, 100% of people voted that they preferred lines and columns for a double page spread, so this is what i will do.

Question 8: What type of font do you prefer?
At 37% Georgian text was the most preferred, then at Ariel at 25%, with Copperplate Gothic bold and Stencil STD at 13% and Times New Roman at 12%, and Cambria being the least favourite. I will use the most preferred text/font that is either Georgian or Ariel.

Question 9: Ratio of pictures to text?
50/50 of both images and text was the favourite choice for my music magazine. With 2/3 pictures and 1/3 text was second. And then 1/3 pictures and 2/3 text was third and finally no images at all was voted last as this is not what my target audience want. I will use a ratio of 50% pictures and 50% text for my double page spread as this is what interests my target audience the most. I will use 2/3 images and 1/3 text for my contents page as this will give a variety of different ratios of text and pictures throughout my magazine.

Question 10: How would you like a double page spread to be?
For a magazine most of my target audience like a double page spread to be written by the article writer with embedded quotes, with 38% liking this. 37% of people preferred the article to have inserted quotes from the music artist, and 25% of people liked the featured music artist to write the article. I will write the article as the magazine editor and then use reviews and questions from the artist in order to appeal more to my target audience.

Questionnaire Results

Rolling Stone Double Page Spread Analysis

• Rolling Stone have included a running head throughout this article to show their house style and the article style. They have also included a continuous line across the top pages of the double page spread, this another way they show their house style and to make it effective, appealing and neat for the readers. 
• The photographs of the band The Sheepdogs show them at different points in their life. This links back to the front cover, where their cover line says "A very hairy fairy tale". This article is about their journey and their story to their fame, the pictures show them at different points throughout their life. This creates a more personal feel to the article. 
• The typography and style of text has been repeated and is the same as the typography on the front cover. This is a house style that has been frequently used throughout. This typography is to show the brand identity of the article and the band, linking all of them together. The stand first has been spread evenly in columns across the double page spread. The stand first too is aligned and is positioned immediately under the headline, and placed into columns. Nonetheless it is clear it is a separate piece of text forms both the headline and the main body of text because visually the size of font is different. The stand first uses the black text to ensure it stands out. The stand first effectively introduces the reader to what the feature is about. The article starts off with a drop cap which is used to enhance the article and is also called an initial and is a letter at the beginning of a word, a chapter, or a paragraph that is larger than the rest of the text. Initial caps, by their size or design attract the eye of the reader. They signal the start of a story or a change in focus. In long articles or predominantly text publications they provide a visual break. This is one of the conventions in the double page spread being shown to the reader.  Another convention Rolling Stone magazine have embodied in their article is structurally separating the text into columns, 6 to be precise. These columns appear to be distorted in places because Rolling Stone have used things such as photographs to cut into columns of text. Again this makes the page visually more appealing to the reader and less intimidating to read. The columns are also laid out in an organised way which would appeal to the reader as well. The decision to the break up the article with things such as drop caps, and photos, etc. visually attracts the more low-brow demographic to read their magazine.