The document describes the process of developing a magazine cover over three drafts in Photoshop. It outlines the conventions used in the initial sketch based on real magazines. The second draft made alterations to the color scheme, plug, positioning of elements, and base image. The final draft further refined these elements, changing the background to black and orange stripes, reverting the color scheme, adjusting element positioning, and editing the base image contrast.

1. MAGAZINE
DEVELOPMENT
Callie Che

2. Draft 1 - Sketch
For my initial sketch, I analysed real life examples of magazine
covers including Empire. I then used conventions I found in those
magazines to form my own magazine cover.
I used the following conventions:
 Plug
 Puff
 Masthead
 Date and Price
 Tagline
 Base Image
 Cover Line
 Barcode
I used the Empire masthead which is distinctive and unique to the
brand, this masthead is used across every issue and therefore
creates an easily recognisable link across texts. I used a midshot of
my protagonist for my base image. This shows the audience who
the main character is and conveys his position of power within the
production. In this draft I used a colour scheme mainly consisting of
red, white, orange, and grey. I took these colours from the base
image where the orange is taken from the eyes and the grey from
the protagonist’s shirt.

3. Draft 2 - Photoshop
I created my product using Adobe Photoshop and the various included
tools. I used these tools to create a digital copy of my initial sketch.
However, I also altered many features from my first draft to the second
draft:
 Colour Scheme
• I continued using the red, white, orange, and grey colour scheme,
however, to offset the grey base image, I introduced blue to the
colour scheme. This helped contrast against the background and
made the text easier to read.
 Plug
• I extended the plug by adding the tagline of the film I was
advertising. I also used a different colour from the colour scheme
to create a contrast between the film title and the tagline.
 Positioning
• I moved several features around to create a more appealing cover,
for example, I moved the puff from the top of the cover to below
the teasers. This allowed me to extend the plug and also filled the
blank space between the teasers and barcode.
 Base Image
• I used the initial photo I chose for my sketch, however, I also the
background of the image which I did not initially sketch. This
created a more realistic representation of the production since it
shows the protagonists’ weaknesses as well as his power and
strength.

4. Final Draft - Photoshop
After some consideration of my second draft, I created a third and final
draft. I also altered many features from my second draft to the final
draft:
 Background
• When considering my second draft, I found that my background
did not match my overall cover and diminished the appearance of
other features. Hence, I changed it to a background of plain black
with a subtle semi-opaque white gradient along the top and
orange and white diagonal stripes that match the colour scheme
and provide an intriguing contrast to the block black.
 Colour Scheme
• I found that the blue colour did not match the appearance of my
cover and therefore reverted to the original colour scheme of red,
white, grey, and orange. Changing the background solved the
original problem of the text being difficult to read.
 Positioning
• I swapped the positioning of the puff and “Featuring” teasers
since it was more visually appealing and enhanced the
appearance of each feature. I also moved the “+” teaser slightly to
the right so that it appeared on the protagonists’ shirt instead of
on the background. This made it easier to read since it became
more offset.
 Base Image
• Lastly, I edited the base image by decreasing the contrast, this
made my protagonist appear less blushed which settled any wide
contrast in the skin tone.