Early Version of Front Page With Evaluation

Proof of how I made Front Cover

This is the original photograph that I used PHOTOSHOP to edit. I edited her spots and blemishes to giver her more of a flawless look because my research showed no blemishes or spots. In addition I made the photo black and white because the photograph in my research had a black and white photograph. This emphasized the face and put more focus on the Model.Then I started using InDesign to put the different fonts and colors to create the last print screen. I think my final design is ideal for a music magazine as the model (known to the public) will attract the consumers and force them to buy this product.

Focused Drawings on Front Page Idea

Preliminary Construction of Front Page Idea

This is a rough drawing of how I will like my contents page to turn out. It is very simple but as my research showed that there were not may objects to put on the cover. Especially as my issue is a premiere issue it will need to focus on the main issue than any other features, as the premiere issue of the magazine revolves around the main issue.

Clear Conclusion Of Font Research

 These are the FINAL CONCLUSIONS of my Font Research to  my music magazine. I had four colors as for the background and four different designs to help me design my final conclusion. I combined all the four designs to come up with my final design but I ended up deciding that the best color for my magazine would be blue as it is mutual for both male and female consumers. My final design shows how I have combined the two with the blue background and I have made the back writing black. 

Music Magazine Titles Preview

I have placed the fonts against my front cover photograph to see which would best fit the style and music magazine feel. I have chosen the second (blue background) font as it appears like a unisex music magazine rather than the pink groundground for example which may appear more feminine than unisex. Although the green background looks like an appealing magazine it does not highlight the white title of the magazine the way I would hope for it to be highlighted. However the hot orange background does highlight the title however it does not give it a cool relaxed feel to the magazine like the blue title does. Finally I will be choosing the blue background and possible giving it a lighter blue on top of this shade of blue to emphasize the title even more.

Music Magazine Titles

These are my original magazine titles. I have decided to go with the title RHYTHM out of the nine titles I came across. Rhythm seemed best my my particular magazine as I am going for a jazz/pop magazine combined to have a fun authentic feel to the magazine and hopefully appeal to a wide range of readers. I have chosen different designs and placed them against different backgrounds to see which fonts and colours will work best together. I like the last font as it is not too young nor too old. It is simple and easy to read an already displays the contents within the magazine through the font style.

Font Research

I started to look into fonts I could use for the cover of my magazine, which meant that I had to come up with a suitable title that appealed to the style I am going to create. I looked at the fonts the InDesign programme offered. I left the colour or the letter and decided that this would be the main part of the title I would adjust but the magazine would be called 'Rhythm'.

Following this I decided to look at these fonts again changing the colours and look of the font and style.
Taking the  previous font analysis into account I changed the colours and effects of the font I preferred as I feel it relates to the cool jazz feel of my music magazine.

First Photoshoot

These are my first set of photos for my music magazine I have taken many photos to give myself enough variety and room to choose the best photographs. I made my model change three times in this photo shoot to help with the diversity of the magazine. I have also made my model change her hairstyles to suit the research for the front cover and the double page spread. I also adopted the use of the guitar to decipher between whether it would appeal correctly to my magazine or whether I had to choose a photo without the musical instrument. Lastly I used the white sheet to HIGHLIGHT her outfit then I experimented with a darker curtain to emphasise her complexion. As a whole I feel that this photo shoot for the first time was rather okay as I had no help. Also planning helped me in this photo shoot as I had an idea of the poses and facial expressions I was going for.

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Music Magazine Font Research

The 'Rolling Stone' magazine's masthead has no background which allows the text to stand out and be clear against any image. The text is red and the background is grey with hitns of black to make the title appear as it elevates from the magazine and become 3-D.The font is like Times New Roman and sans serif mixed together.The 'R' in the title is accentuated to give a unique point to the magazine.

The 'Clash' magazine masthead for  bold, thick and black. The blackfont enables it to stand out against any background. The two letters in the middle are 'as' but the designers have reflected the 's' to make it appear like a mirror imagery which is very creative.The 'as' is outlined to emphasise hpe its not 's' REFLECTED but its 'as'. The colour a shimmery black on the actual magazine which reflects the glamorous style of the magazine. Also underneath the masthead is the website to engage a wider audience and show them that they can access the magazine online if they miss an issue ect. 

The 'Blender' masthead once gain uses the colour black,the text is all in capital locks to emphasise and reflect the strong title .The colour will contrast with any background image as it is very BOLD.



The Billboard Magazine is very distinct as the text is thin and neat and precise. The entire font is the same size and the same width apart from each other. The TRADEMARK for Billboard is the colours in ‘board’. I will not be adopting this however I will have certain colours that will run throughout the magazine.

Extra Photographs For Front Page

These are extra photos for my research of the front page. I have decided that I definitely want my front cover to be black and white. As my music magazine is supposed to be a jazz/ pop magazine I am trying to create an authentic look by ensuring that the photo is black and white. In addition my research has shown that the black and white picture creates a certain feel to the magazine. All three of these pictures have a particular EDGE as the models do not show their whole face, there is like a side of their faces showing. I am planning to use this idea to take a photo of my models face at an angle.

Detailed Research for Front Cover

What I have learnt from this research: 

·         I have learn that the master head is the most eye catching thing on the magazine as music magazines lay emphasis on the brand to promote their product.

·         If the master head is not the most eye catching item on the magazine then the model is the next thing that is highlighted as the model is usually the main target for the audience to purchase the magazine.

·         I have also learnt that the text almost always contrast the background image to promote importance on the features of the magazine.

·         I have learnt that a barcode on the front cover is not always employed. It depends on the style of the magazine. For example for jazz orientated magazines do not have bar codes.

·         I have learnt that the photo image must be one of the most noticeable parts of my magazine and take up the majority of the page.

·         A restricted use of fonts is employed through the magazines I have analysed which increases synergy and adds a more authenticity.

·         In all three magazines the text covers the photograph which emphasises on the branding of the magazine to encourage the audience to purchase the item.

·         In all three items there is the colour black, as a background, as a text and to contrast other texts.

·         The scheme and layout of my magazine must reflect the genre of music I would like to display in my magazine.

Specific Research Front Cover

These are some of the many images I'd like to use for my music magazine cover, it does not necessarily portray music but the model and the style is the feel I am going for. The first two pictures are very glamourous, whereas the last two are equally glamourous but moreso sophisticated and simple yert elegant.The outcome of the photo shoot I will take will determine the style of music magazine I will go for. 

These are the magazine covers that have inspired me to use my model and deliver this type of photography and layout.The magazine focus on the on skin tone and the FLAWLESS makeup and hair of the model with a rather classy layout and text. The hair in all of these magazines the womens hair is curly and long to emphasise their beauty and they are all well known musical artists, such as beyonce and alicia keys.

General Research for Front Cover Research

These are various magazine covers similar to how I would like my music magazine to look like. In my opinion I like these magazine because of the expression of glamour without a musical instrument. All these pictures are images of women as I am aiming my front cover to be a picture of a woman. I thought about this carefully and decided to choose a woman for the front cover. Some of these magazine covers display women as very feminine or very masculine. I am PLANNING to have a woman but not dramatize that she is a women as it will already be clear. Neither will I try to make a statement and portray her as masculine. I am aiming for both males and females to use my product so therefor there may be a the colour blue involved but a light blue to divert the stereotype of the colour blue being associated with males.

Evaluation Questions

1.      My media product uses conventions of real media products through the titles as it refers to the image used for the front cover. In addition I have incorporated a website link for the magazine for the audience to subscribe and purchase later and future editions of the magazine. I aimed to mirror my research of the school magazines to create my final product. I feel I could have researched better as I had to change my model and style of the magazine after the first photo shoot. This would have been less time consuming and increased the quality of my work.

2.      My media product represents particular social as it was aimed at the ambitious students hence the title ‘Ambition’ however it also targeted the artistic side such as music to involve the particular age group that are interested in such things. In my opinion it reflects very ambitious students as the front cover portrays a student with her head down studying in an educational environment.

3.      The kind of media institution that might distribute my media product would be educational magazine companies that focus on ambitious students and achievements. In addition I feel that it would be distributed through educational systems such as schools, libraries and local shops to attract the students.

4.      The audience for my media product would be students and perhaps schools as the schools would possibly purchase and then distribute the product. Moreover, students are primarily the audience for my media product as it is aimed at them to be ambitious. As the various features such as a free music album is targeted at them.

5.      My media product attracted/ addressed my audience through the colour of the title as it is rather bright and bold and it contrasts with the maroon background. In addition the photograph portrays a ‘famous’ student studying and still working hard to achieve well which will attract such students. Furthermore the product includes an album to win which definitely attracts students as it includes an alternative to studying, however the album is entitled ‘Ambition’ which promotes achievements, aspirations ect.

6.      What I have learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product is that detail was very hard to achieve as the internet did not have sufficient information for me to create my original idea, therefore my initial product lacked precision. It also took me a while to grasp ‘blogger’ but I have practised and explored to enhance my use of it. In addition, I had never used Adobe InDesign or Photoshop so I need some assistance but have become more familiar with how it works. I feel more self-reliant to use it in the future however I still need practise to fully grasp and utilize these programs.

7.      Looking back at my preliminary task I have learnt that the progression from the beginning to the full product that precision is key in creating a product and that focusing on specification is beneficial to the final product. I had an idea of how I wanted my product to be initially and due to a lack of precise research I had to alter my focus to create my final product. I feel the 2^nd set of photos I took were aligned with the research and consequently created a more successful outcome. I have learnt about angles, lighting, shadows and background from taking these photos which has helped to create my final product. The preliminary task helped me become more comfortable with the programs and however I am still not fully pleased with my product. Improvements could be made such as the background being faded or perhaps using a better location as this made it slightly difficult to produce a colour consistency on the product.  

Final Draft of contents page to School Magazine

This is the contents page to my music magazine. The texts are rather large therefore the readers can easily access the main unique aspects of the magazine.

Final Draft of friont cover to School Magazine

This is the final product of my front cover for my school magazine Ambiton. I had to alter the initial pose I chose for the front cover to suit the title and I feel this portrays an ambitious student.