Contents Page

First Draft

* I used the same colour scheme as my front cover.

* The main feature takes up almost half of my entire contents page, to show to the reader this is an important factor of this issue.

* The text is split into three sections: 'On the cover', 'Inside' and 'Regulars', so that it is easy for the reader to find what they are looking for.

* I kept the layout simple as this is a common convention of a contents page.

* I have used only two colours and two fonts so that it does not look cluttered or unprofessional.

* However, the text was far too large and my photograph was a bad quality.

Second Draft

Final Contents

* I changed the main photograph as this one is bolder, brighter and more eye catching.

* I used the 'desaturate' tool on photoshop to make my editors photo black and white.

* I added a drop shadow to page numbers so that they stand out and also made them a different colour. This helps to keep my layout simple and easy to read.

* I added page numbers on top of photographs so that it is easier for the reader to find what they are looking for.

* I added an outer glow to 'Brooke Davis' to make is stand out on the white background.

* I included an editor's letter as this is a common convention of a contents page.

* The red line down the middle of the page helps to seperate the two sections of text.

Front Cover

First Draft
I decided to re draft this front cover because:
~ The photo is very grey and dull.
~ The background also looked grey.
~ I thought the pink colour scheme was too harsh and would only attract women who were classed stereotypically as 'girly'.
~ It is difficult to read the text down the left hand side.

Second Draft

~ I used the same colour scheme as 'VIBE' magazine.
~ I think the red will attract a wider audience.
~ Free CD helps to draw attention to potential buyers, this is a common convention of a magazine.
~ However, the image and background still looked grey.

Third Draft

~ I used the brightness and contrast tool on Adobe Photoshop to make the image brighter.
~ I also changed the background to ensure it was white.
~ To make some of my text stand out I added a drop shadow on Adobe Photoshop to make it look like it is jumping out of the page.
~ To make my title stand out I used the bevel and emboss tool, and also added the stroke effect to make it more eye catching and bold.
~ I added a discrete outer glow to the text on the left hand side to make it stand out against my models skin.
~ The price for my magazine is £2 as this is the amount my target audience said they were willing to pay in my questionnaire.
~ Barcode positioned in a discrete place so it does not draw attention from the cover.


Final Cover


After attempting to edit the previous photograph a number of times I decided to use a different one.
~ I think this one looks more professional and is of a much higher quality.
~ I altered the brightness and contrast using Adobe Photoshop to make the photo brighter, and also used the curves tool to make the lighting better.
~ I think the colours that my model is wearing help to compliment my cover.
~ In relation to Marjorie Ferguson's theory, my models pose is

a 'chocolate box' as she is looking into the camera, half smiling with lips together.

~ I think this cover looks professional as I have used common conventions of magazines already on the market.
~ I kept the same colour scheme as my 'house cover' 'VIBE', and used white for a small amount of text.
~ I think my magazine would attract the attention of a broad demograph.

Flat Plans

Flat Plans

Before I created my magazine I planned out the layout for each section by drawing a flat plan.




Cover





















Contents



















Main Article Double Page spread















Main Article Single Page spread

Photographs

Photographs

I decided to ask a friend to model for my photographs as I wanted to have a range of different shots. For some of my photographs we went to the Newcastle/Gateshead Quayside to capture some different poses, on different backgrounds. However, I chose to use a photo against a plain background for my front cover, so that it would be easier to cut out. I am going to use my photos for my cover, contents page and four page article. As the majority of magazines only have one person on the cover I decided to use this convention when I created my own. After studying all of the photographs that I had took, I decided to choose which ones i definately did not want to use.

This photo is from the first set of photographs that I took, however I decided not to use them as the white t-shirt did not stand out on my white background.

Although I like the background of this photograph there is too much of a shadow on the model, therefore I decided not to use it as it was also unclear.

I decided this white background did not compliment my models complexion and the pose wasn't very good so this is another photo I decided not to use.

I was going to use a photograph of my model sitting down for my article however it was difficult to capture a good background and on the photo my model is laughing too much and is windswept, so I choose not to use this one either.

Originally, this was going to be the photograph that I used on my cover, however after analysing and trying to adjust it I decided that I didn't like the quality of the photo. I attempted to alter the brightness and contrast and I used the curves tool to make the photo appear less grey. In the end I decided I didn't like how my model was positioned or the bad lighting.

After taking another set of photographs I decided to use this one on my front cover. However, I decided that if I was going to use it on my cover I would have to drop it and alter the brightness and contrast using photoshop.

This is the final image once I had manipulated it. I think it looks more professional because the lighting is much better and the photo is cropped and ready to be placed onto my front cover.

Plan

Research






- ‘NME’ is a weekly British music magazine.
- Title is short for ‘The Musical Express’.
- Title is always in a bold red font, with a white outline so the audience always recognises the magazine.
- ‘Free Poster’ advert attracts a broader audience.
- Only three colours of text are used; yellow, black and white.
- Magazine includes TV reviews.
- Cover photograph is a medium shot and the models are looking directly into the camera.
-‘Skins’ text is much bolder, so that it stands out and shows it is the main feature.
- Hooks on the cover help to attract a wider audience.
- Bar along the bottom is a common convention of a magazine as it links to other features in the magazine.
- Barcode is subtly placed.Magazine has a teenage target audience.


Contents Pages
After analysising the magazine covers, I decided to also analyse two contents pages as this would help me to creat my own.




















‘Q’s contents page uses the following conventions:
- It has a clear well organised layout.
- It is quick and easy to read.
- The text is aligned down one side making it easy to read.
- The same colour scheme is used as on the front cover.
- Only three fonts have been used.
- It has separated the text into three sections: features, the Lennon issue, and every month.
- The close up of James Blunt takes up a lot of the contents page, this implies that he plays a bit part in the months issue.
- He is also looking directly into the camera.
- The bar along the bottom links to other stories in the magazine.
- A white background is used so that all of the text and photographs stand out against it.



Main Articles
Finally, I decided to analysis magazine articles, as it would help me to gather ideas on how to structure my main article.









- This article is from 'Word' magazine.
- There is no title to the article so this suggests there is a cover page.
- White background makes pictures and writing stand out.
- Double page spread.
- 4 seperate photographs of Madonna have been used, all from the same event.
- Other pictures have a white box around them and a drop shadow has been used to make them look like Polaroid photographs.
- Not a question and answer interview.
- One of her quotes has been enlarged and has been placed in between two columns; this is a common convention of a magazine.
- Text is seperated into four columns.
- All of the text is in black.
- The website is written along the bottom of each page.
- Photograph credits are written down the side.


Although 'OK' is not a music magazine, I decided I wanted to analyse it as I liked the style of the article.
Only three colour fonts have been used; black, white and gold. The interview is with Emma Watson, a famous actress and the reader immediately knows who it is with as her name is written inside of a gold header to make it stand out on the white background. At the beginning of the article there is a block of text that tells us a small amount of information about the actress, this is the introduction to the article. The rest of the article is wrote in a question and answer format, unlike the other pieces. The questions are wrote in a black bold font to make them stand out from the questions. I like this style of article, and I am going to use this format when I create my own magazine.



After analysing a range of front covers, contents pages and main articles I am now able to use ideas from those magazines when I create my own. I know now a lot of the conventions of these pieces and I will be able to incorporate them into my own magazine, in order to make it successful.


Before I created my magazine, I put a range of fonts onto a page of A4 paper, and asked 100 people what they thought were the most bold, eye catching fonts.
The most popular fonts were
- Eras Bold
- Broadway
- Impact.

After considering a range of factors I decided to choose 'Impact' font as the writing for my title, because I think it is the most bold, eye catching text, out of the three the public selected.

Music mazagine

Questionnaire

Are you male or female? (please circle)
Male/Female

Do you normally buy music magazines? (please circle)
Yes/No.

What normally attracts you to a magazine? (please circle)
Genre
Front cover
Price
Model
Other
(if other please state here ……………………………………………………..)

How much would you be willing to pay for a music magazine? (please circle)
Less than £1
£1.00
£2.00
£3.00 or over.

Do you prefer to see male or females on the front cover? (please circle)
Males
Females

What type of music do you prefer? (please circle)
Chart music
Dance
Rap
Indie

What would you like your music magazine to include? (please circle)
Interviews
Posters
Album reviews
Free gifts
Other
(if other please state …………………………………………………………….)

How often would you like your magazine to be released? (please circle)
Daily
Weekly
Fortnightly
Monthly

Are you more likely to purchase a magazine if there is a free gift? (please circle)
Yes
No

After giving my questionnaire to 50 people, I compared my results so that I would be able to find out what the publics ideal magazine would be.

These are my results:

When I create my magazine I will make sure it fits the criteria that the public have chosen, as they are my target audience.

This is my final contents page, I have followed the conventions of a contents page to make it successful. I have used the same colour scheme as my front cover so that they matched, and they are the colour scheme of school. I have included bold sub headings, and also page numbers. It was difficult finding a photo to suit my front cover as I wanted it to link in with one of my stories. I also did not want to have to cut it out because the model's hair would have been very awkward. It was hard to get the camera angle of this photo right as I had to take it in mid-air.

This is my final magazine cover. I have followed the main conventions of magazines to create it. For example I have included attractive models, a bar code, and tags. The photo angle that I decided to use is a medium close up, this is because it is a typical magazine convention. I also made the models look directly into the camera, as if they are staring at the reader. I think that the models clothing stands out well against the blue background.

Once I had cut around my photo I transferred it onto the background. I choose to have a blue and yellow colour scheme as they are the school colours. I used the same font for all of my text so that it did not look uneven. I also added a shadow or outer glow to my text to make sure it stood out on the blue background. I decided to add a bar code to my magazine as this is a typical convention of a magazine.

Once I had took all of my photos I started to design my front cover. The first thing I did was cut out my picture.

This was quite difficult as I had to create a neat, outline around the image. After this I transferred the image onto my magazine background.

When I created my school magazine, the first thing I decided to do was go and take pictures. This meant that I had the foundation to my magazine. I took a range of photos as this meant I had lots of option choices, and had back up photos incase they didn't look as they appeared on the camera screen.

This was the very first photo that I took, althought I liked how the background complimented the models clothing, the male model looked too serious. Therefore I chose not to use this photograph.

My next idea was to have someone jumping in the air on my cover, as if they were celebrating good results. However, it was difficult to get the position of the camera right, and to capture a high quality image in the air. I decided not to use this idea, as all of the photo's were too blurry, or difficult to cut out.

This is the photo that I finally decided to use. I choose this,

as both of my models l ook natural and are both staring

into the camera.