2. Cover Conventions
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Cover Image:
I have used the
convention of a cover
image to grab the
audiences attention
when looking at the
cover.
I chose to make the
colour of the image
black and white which
could be seen as slightly
unconventional. I told
my cover star to stand
the way he is to add to
the sinister theme of the
cover. Eye
Contact:
I have made
the
cover star make direct eye contact when looking
at the camera to give the illusion that he is
looking directly at the audience getting their
attention. This is also seen as conventional to
magazine covers.
3. Cover Conventions V2
Selling Line:
I've included the very conventional selling line
onto my cover as it gives the audience
incentive to buy the magazine. I made it
stand out by using different graphics and
contrasting colours.
I also added a graphic with text in it saying
free CD this wouldn’t be considered
necessarily conventional but some music
magazines do include a free item displayed
on the cover even if its just a poster. I have
used bold capital letters for the text as it
makes it stand out more.
Headline:
The headline is probably one of the most
Conventional inclusions to a music
Magazine, as without it the audience
wouldn’t really know what the magazine
is about. I decided to use the colour scheme
of black and white which adds to the sinister
Theme that I'm going for on my cover. The
Word Walters is made to stand out more
Than the real , this is so the audience can
Right away distinguish who or what is to
Come in the article. For Walters I used black
Text with a white stroke making it visible on
The black and white background.
Sub Heading:
I've decided to use multiple headlines to include as much information on the cover as I can without it being
too much, therefore putting off the audience. For the font I used Eurostile as its clear and easy to read, I
Decided to use white as the main colour for the sub headings as it contrasts well with the black
Black background. However I chose to make some of the key words yellow to stand out from the actual
Sub headings as they show of important features of the magazine. Ex: Exclusive Interview.
4. Cover Conventions V3
Coverlines and Margins:
Coverlines are conventional segments
of information added into a cover to give
the audience some type of information
on different parts of the magazine. For
my magazine I decided to use two
different types of font: Eurostile and
Lucida Fax. I did this to add a variant to
the cover as when I used the same font
for all the text it looked to similar. I also
alternated between a larger and smaller
font to add more detail making the larger
text stand out more. I also made more
important parts of the text yellow making
them stand out even more. I included a
pull quote within thecoverlines making them seem more personal to
the magazine. Finally I also used a small three
line graphic separating the coverlines from one
another.
For the margins of the cover lines I decided to
aligned them on the left of the cover to keep them
out of the way of the cover stars face which would
ruin the illusion of them looking directly at the
audience.
Date Line:
A date line would be
considered
conventional
As they are included on
the magazine cover to
show the audience
when the magazine
was released. I placed
mine vertically along
the left side of the
page. I also made the
colour of it white with a
black stroke making it
stand out on the
background.
5. Contents Conventions
Title:
For the title of my contents
page I just used the
conventional word Contents
this makes sure there are no
doubts as to what the page is
about. I decided to use a black
graphic behind the white
Contents making it seem more
modern and fitting in with the
angular theme of the page.
Masthead Logo:
Its very conventional for
magazines to include the Logo
In the contents page, as it
promotes the magazine even
more. I chose to include the
masthead into the same
graphic as the title.
6. Contents Conventions V2
Date Line:
I included the conventional date
line as it give the audience a
perspective of the relevance of
the magazine. I included the Date
Line in the same black graphic as
the Masthead and the Title as to
therefore put all the general
information on the magazine at
the to of the page. I chose to use
the colours of white and yellow
for the text as it not only fits in
with the colour scheme as the
rest of the contents it stands out
from the graphic behind.
Artist Index:
Probably the most
conventional thing on the
page, seeing as it generally
the point if it, the index gives
the audience perspective on
where about in the magazine
they can find a particular
Artist or Band with the page
numbers supplied. I place
mine inside a box graphic
underneath a selling line The
Worlds Finest Music Guide. I
chose to have the
Artist/Bands name bold and
slightly bigger so the
audience will have no trouble
locating the artist that they
want to read about. Also, I
added as smaller graphic on
the left of the artists name to
show what type of article it is.
For example, next to Liveley
West, is a yellow graphic with
the word New in to show that
the article is new this week.
Page Numbers:
Page numbers are also very conventional for
Contents pages as its basically the point of them
(to find the page faster). For my page numbers
the ones that are attached to a feature article are
in a blue circle arrow thing making them stand
out more along with the Feature Article. I also
included page numbers at the end of the Artist
index.
7. Contents Conventions V3
Artists Name:
Another convention would be the
name of the actual artist. This shows
the audience who will feature in this
months feature of the magazine. I
chose to have my artists name in a
black font which adds to the simplicity
of the article making their names
easier to read, making it more
convenient for them.
Feature Article:
This convention is normally used to
promote the main/special article that’s to
come in the magazine. For one of mine I
decided to include it inside a box graphic
with other graphics around it including the
page number, this allows it to stand out
compared to other parts of the article.
There's also a caption included with a
brief overview as to what's the article is
about.
8. Cover Development
Masthead:
One way in which I developed an idea
from a current magazine is the
masthead of UNCUT. I used the idea of
a full word as the actual masthead
instead of an abbreviation like NME. I
also developed the idea of having a
shadow to the back of the masthead
making it jump out from the page. One
way in which I differentiated my
magazine from UNCUT was by
changing the colour of the the second
half of the masthead. I did this to
portray the style of magazine through
colour, it changes.
9. Contents Development
Artist Index:
For my artist index I developed the idea that Q used in one of their magazines. I liked
this idea as it gave a good visual on the artists and a good over view on what that
article would be about. One way in which I differentiated my article from the one Q
produced was that I added a Next section to the bottom of the index telling the
audience what's to come from he magazine giving them an incentive to buy next
months article.
10. Article Development
Background/Colour scheme:
I decided to develop the idea that this magazine as I found the background to be very
unique which is pretty much always a good thing for an article as they can sometimes
seem very repetitive. I used the old paper theme which adds to the effect of my article as
it enhances the validity of the article as my article is a Biography, making it look like it
could have been wrote down as the particular things in the article happened throughout
the artists life.
11. Cover Conventions Challenges
Cover Image:
One way in which you could say that I have challenged
conventions in my cover would be that I chose to uses a
black and white picture. This goes against conventions as
most magazines covers will have a vibrant picture to grab
audiences attention. I choses to use the black and white
picture as making it dull in colour will make it standout
more ( if that makes sense).
Background Colour:
Another way that my cover could be considered to challenge
conventions would be the inclusion of a graphically included
background. This contrasts to the majority of covers using
the background of the actual photo. As you can see from the
covers on the left, my article is very similar to the Q one in
most aspects apart from colour scheme.
12. Content Conventions Challenges
Columns:
In general my whole contents page is is pretty conventional. One
example of this would be the columns, they are in a particular
order with some different headings. I decided to use this
conventional idea as it makes the contents page easier to use and
easier to understand. This is effective as it will help the audience
find their way around the magazine.
Feature Article:
I have included 3 feature articles witch could be considered
slightly unconventional as the majority of contents from
magazines that I've seen have included only one feature article. I
feel however that including a wider variety of feature articles is
important as the audience get a better overview of what's to
come.
