2. Front Cover I created this front cover on “Microsoft Publisher”. I planned the layout of my cover first so I already had an idea of what it would be like.I started by editing the photo taken. I simply cropped the picture , and changed the colours to connote this spot like effect.
3. Front Cover I changed the colours, by changing the colour temperatures, this made the red colour stand out of the photo. I wanted to make it look like the guitarist was on a stage under the spots lights. Therefore I also decreased the brightness and increased the contrast a little bit, this made my whole photo stand out. Those changed started to imply it was a music magazine, especially with a the guitar in the photo.
4. Front Cover After editing the photo, I started to focus on the layout, I used similar colours to create my text boxes and my masthead. This created a link between everything and attracts more attention of the readers. The name of the magazine “Les Paul” is also very important as it is a guitar name which reflects the music genre of my magazine. I chose to show the bands featuring in my magazine on the top of the page, this follows general codes and conventions of magazines.
5. Front Cover Showing the bands featuring my magazine is also important, it shows what kind of magazine it is, and helps the readers recognize their favourite band or artist. I wanted to break the monotone cycle in the presentation of those name, to do this I used different colours for different band/artist. The colours follow a pattern, which makes it more interesting to read.
6. Front Cover I wanted my magazine to stand out and be more interesting. To do this I added a promotional sticker on my magazine. I offers the possibility of winning a price. This promotional offer is in the shape of a sticker or a badge. It follows codes and conventions of magazines. It also implies it was added at the last minute, therefore it is latest news and up to date.Overall I think my front cover gives out the genre of the magazine very well, and stands out from different magazines.
7. Content Page This is my content page, to create It I used a program called “Indesign”. This program allowed me to crop out the model in the picture. I did this by drawing around the shape, cutting the picture and placing it into the frame. I did this to have the photo over a white font, not its original frame.
8. Content Page By putting the shape of the model on a white front, it stood out of the page. It attracts attention to my content page, by creating a colour contrast. I decided to use this particular photo, because the model in the photo was looking up. On my content page, this created the impression that he was looking up at the heading. Creating the impression the artist was alive in the frame. I wanted it to stay in focus with my music genre, so I gave my model a guitar to connote rock music.
9. Content Page To create a link between the front cover and the content page, I decided to use the same font as my masthead for the heading. I therefore went back to publisher changed my masthead to “content page” and import this changed version into my content page in Indesign. This created a link between the two pages, allowing my readers to pick out that this content page is unique to my magazine. I therefore decided to do the same thing for the text boxes. I used the same font and colour on my text boxes to create a link between the two pages.
10. Content Page One of the features I like about this content page, is the red/orange frame around the page. This frame is used to draw attention to my content page. I focus the reader’s attention, to the centre of my content page. This is used in some of the magazines I did research about, I therefore decided to use it in mine. But I drew this frame very carefully, and paid a lot of attention when the frame reached my model. I made my photo go over it, to show its importance,
11. Content Page To show importance, I also used size, and colour. The page reference on the caption of the picture for example, is bigger than the others. This creates hierarchy of importance in my articles, and the article supporting the photo stands out as it is the only photo. I also used a orange/red colour for my page reference. This colour links in with my frame around the photo, but it also makes the page reference stand out, making it easier for the readers to look for something.
12. Double Page Spread I created this double page spread entirely on the programme “Indesign”. I started off by editing the main picture on the right page. I wanted to create an old fashion effect, to promote old rock music. I did this my increasing the brightness on the photo.
13. Double Page Spread Increasing the brightness helped me create this old fashion effect, the colours were a bit washed away as if the photo was old. I also decided to have my model wear a leather jacket. This again is a way of promoting old fashion rock music. The leather jacket also connotes a rebellious attitude as well as rock music. In the photo we can also see a red brick wall behind the model. This was important in promoting old rock music , red bricks are very iconic in British rock. They were used by artists like Pink Floyd in there promotion, therefore using one would help me promote this kind of music.
14. Double Page Spread When had finished editing the colours of my main photo, I started cropping the photo. I wanted my right page to be covered with that wall, therefore I decided to cut out the wall from the left page. However I the model’s shape on the left page, this is very usefully in showing that the two pages are linked together. After this I added the quote “Bring back the old school” on the top of the main photo. A quote is a good way of attracting attention, it also encourages the readers to read the article.
15. Double Page Spread In the making of my article I decided to follow the basics codes and conventions of magazines. I started of with an introducing paragraph, and divided my article in columns. This was very useful as it gave out the impression there is less writing, encouraging the readers to keep reading. I also started off the article with a cap drop. This again responds to codes and conventions of magazines. Cap drops are used very often by magazines, I used it to make my magazine look professional, and to show my readers where the article starts.
16. Double Page Spread In the making of the article I also noticed that the text would just go over the top of the parts of the photo on the right page. I decided to change this by making the text wrap around the photo. This means it would stop when it arrives near a shape. Wrapping the text around the photos made my article look more professional and stopped my text from going over the top of the photo saving more space. On the bottom corner of the pages we can see the page numbers, and my masthead. I decided to put my masthead there to remind the readers what magazine they are reading.
17. Double Page Spread Before making my double page spread I also planned to have another photo in my article. I decided to do this, but before I changed the colours of the photo to black and white. This created a old vintage effect, linking in with old fashion music, which is promoted in my article. I therefore added this photo in my magazine with a caption explaining it. Overall I like my double page spread, I promotes this old school rock music very well.
18. Overall conclusion As an overall finished product, I think my magazine is a success. It represents rock music very well through out the front cover, content page, and the double page spread I created. I also followed the different codes and convention of magazines, to attract attention and to promote my music genre. My finished magazine also looks very professional and is well presented.
