3. 1st Analysis
The image on the previous slide is an image of a double page spread from an R&B magazine by the name of 'Ear to
the Street'. A wide range of techniques have been used to make this double page spread appealing to the reader.
This double page spread is quite unique because it has used two headlines to show the audience that there is two
articles involved in the double page spread. This links in well with the layout of this particular double page spread
because, on the first page the magazine is focused on one specific article which has been separated from the
following article on the other page by using columns to structure the text to make it clear to the reader that its
separate. Furthermore, the masthead that was used from the magazine front cover has been linked with the double
page spread which is shown on the top right hand side of the first page, and the top left hand side of the second
page. This allows the audience to automatically know that the double page spread will link with the magazine front
cover and also the magazine contents page.
Moreover, underneath both of the headlines in the double page spread a subhead has been used which I
feel is a great technique to use to keep the audience interested. This is because, the specific subhead's
used in this double page spread above give a brief sentence that tells the reader what is about to come up
in the article. This will allow the reader to be drawn in into the text of the whole article
4. For this specific double page spread a drop cap has not been used at the beginning of
any of the paragraphs shown. However, the first full word of each article has been
increased in size; has had a black background behind the word and also has had the
font colour changed. This is quite unique because, a conventional drop cap would
only emphasize the firs letter of the first word that begins the article however, they
have inverted this and used the technique for the actual first word. This technique
will attract the reader automatically and will draw the reader into the actual article
that follows. I have decided that I will look into using this very drop cap technique
myself although, I will just use it for the first letter and also make the letter look
more stylish, appealing and also link it to the headline that I will be using in the
double page spread.
Also at the bottom of both pages of the double page spread, a folio
has been used to link the front page, contents and the double page
spread together. This particular technique works very well because, it
will allow you to place your logo or masthead from the previous front
page or contents page in the folio with a page number to allow the
reader to know that all the pages of the magazine are linked together
and come from the same magazine. This specific folio used above for
this double page spread I feel is pretty good however, when I create
my double page spread, I want the folio to take up most of the
bottom of the page so that it looks like there are no gaps that have
not been filled.
5. Furthermore, in this double page spread the designers have created one pull-
quote which is presented in the bottom right hand side on the first page of the
double page spread. This draws out an important section of the article and
basically highlights the specific quote using many creative techniques such as
images and colour. This is an excellent technique to use because, when the
reader turns to this page other than the headline they will be drawn to the
highlighted quote and read over it to know a little bit about the article that they
are about to read. Moreover, the quotation symbols that have been used to
signal the pull-quote are very effective because the symbols are in a bold colour
and have been maximized in size compared to the actual quote, almost like a
drop cap.
Another aspect of the double page spread above that I like and will use for my very
own is the use of an image margin for all the images that have been used in the
double page spread. It allows the text to be more structured and also much more
organised and tidy which will have a huge effect on the reader. Also, it allows the
columns of the two pages to look much more successful and useful and will prevent
the reader becoming confused when looking at the text and then being drawn into
the image that the text clashes with. Lastly, the gutter technique used also is a
similar technique to allow the text to be more neat and organised because it places
an inside margin which prevents the text from running into the edges of the double
page spread which would be a huge problem and cause the double page spread to
look very unprofessional. Furthermore, I like the way that the creator of this double
page spread has made the main image actually black and white so that it will link in
with the colour scheme of the double page spread. I feel that this is very effective to
the target audience as it will allow them to instantly know that this image will be
talked about in one of the articles presented.
7. 2nd Analysis
The double page spread shown above I feel is very effective towards
the reader and audience for many reasons. I really like the use of the
colour scheme that has been used for this particular double page
spread. The reasons for this is because, the two pages do not go
overboard and use too many colours which could distract the
audience from the main articles. However, instead the double page
spread uses two main colours which are white and light blue which
are two very bright colours which will be very appealing to the reader
and stand out straight away, especially because of the dark black
background which emphasises the colour of the article that is stated.
Furthermore, another technique that I admire from this particular double page
spread, is the use of connecting the front page with the double page spread by
involving the masthead that had been used. I feel that the way it has been used in
this double page spread is much more effective to the reader rather than the first
double page spread I have analysed. The reason for this is because, the masthead
that has been placed on the bottom left of the first page is quite bold and eye-
catching, although it is not as big as the actual masthead that has been used on
the front cover. This will allow the reader to know instantly that the double page
spread is linked with the front cover and also the contents page of the whole
magazine.
8. 2nd Analysis
Continued..
However, there is one aspect of this particular double page
spread that I feel is a disadvantage. The disadvantage is
that the headline that has been used 'Kitty Pillman
exclusive!' is actually smaller than the pull quote that has
been used. This will lead to the audience becoming more
interested in the pull quote rather than the headline which
is meant to be much more appealing because its meant to
target the reader straight away.
This screen shot shows the pull quote that has been used for this particular
double page spread. From my perspective I actually like this quote for
many reasons. One being that I like the font size of the quote
because, when looking at the double page spread as a whole apart from the
main image this aspect is the most eye catching which is quite a good
thing. Furthermore, I love the way that a different font colour has been
used for a specific section in the sentence which in this case is ‘drugs’. This
allows the audience to realise that this particular word has been
emphasised for a reason which can only tell the audience that it must be
one of the themes for that particular article.
9. This screen print shows the main image of the double page spread and also the
text that has been placed around the image. The reason I have presented this
screen print is because I love the way that the actual text has been set to actually
follow the outside layer of the image so it looks as if the text was right next to the
model when the main image was taken. I have actually thought about using this
technique myself when I begin to create my double page spread. Moreover, the
main image that has been used I feel is very effective because, the colour scheme
of the actual double page spread is exactly the same as the colour scheme of the
clothing that the model in the main image is wearing. This is very effective
because, it allows the audience to notice that this main image is somehow linked
with the article without even reading any of the text and also, the use of colour for
the image makes the whole double page spread look well organised and thought
about without being rushed.
This screen print above is of the bottom section of the magazine. I have taken this screen grab of this
particular section because, I am actually not too fond of it. The reason for this is that looking at the 1st
double page spread I analysed which used a nice folio to link in the masthead and page numbers, this
structure I feel has not been produced well. For example, the main image that has been used of the
model standing up actually looks as if part of her foot has been cut because there has been no
structure used to give the image the effect that the model is actually there on the double page spread
and not just any image that has been stuck there. Also, I feel that the page number that has been
used is far too close to the questionnaire on the double page spread which makes it look quite
cluttered.
