2. Front Cover
This is the final front
cover that I made for
my college magazine.
3. What works well
• The mast head is in a bold font that stands out and
catches the eye. Using a brush from ps brushes.com, I
used the eraser tool in Photoshop to give an
interesting effect that it has been sketched. I also
erased a building into the “I” in city. This acts as an
identifier on the left third of the magazine, so people
will know what it is if they see it on the news stand.
This is a recognisable feature, that tells people straight
away what magazine it is.
• This Lead line is for the main article in the
magazine, and relates to the lead image on the front
cover. It works well, as it’s short and sharp and tells the
reader immediately what the story is about. It is in a
bold san serif font that makes it stand out against the
image and grab the attention of people who pick up
the magazine. The lead line doesn’t interfere with the
lead image, so that it is clear and easy to see. It is
aligned straight down the left third of the page, so it
looks neat and sharp and stands out as the main
feature of the magazine.
4. What Works Well
• The banner running across the bottom of the
page works well, as it informs the person
picking up the magazine what else is
inside, without taking up too much room or
detracting from the lead image or lead line. It
also makes it appear as if there is allot of
content within the magazine, as it is all
together in a small space.
5. What doesn’t work
• The “Get Active” lead line is in a
different font to the other lead
lines. I did this, as I thought this
font went with the theme of
sport and activity as it is thin and
very curvy. However, it stands
out on the page as different
from the rest of the Lead Lines
and does not look good. It also
isn’t clear against the black on
the lead image.
• A similar thing occurred with
GIG GUIDE. The body blends in
with the hair on the lead
image, so it can’t be seen very
clearly.
6. What was difficult
• Getting the effect on the Mast Head was
fairly difficult to create, as I had to erase
each line. This means some of them are
not straight, but it ads to the effect that
it has been sketched.
7. What was Easy
• The thing I found most easy, was aligning the
lead image on the front cover. The photograph
was already taken with the model at the right
side of the camera, so it was easy to align her
accurately on the right side of the page.
8. What I have learnt
• I have learnt how to take a photo that would
be suitable for a magazine front cover, which
would be easy to align on the page.
• The methods designers use when putting
together front covers of magazines, such as
using the left third
• Why certain elements are used on the cover
of a magazine.
9. What I would change if I had enough
money and time
• I would spend more time finding a better font
to use, and possibly use a Serif font instead of
San Serif.
• I would take more pictures to add to the front
cover, rather than just having the one lead
image.
11. What works?
• The Contents headline is green and
displayed with a similar effect to the
lead line. This goes with the
formulaic representation in the
magazine. It also continues on the
same colour of green.
• This flash box stands out and boldly
tells the reader of the exclusive
article. This emphasises the
article, and makes it seem
particularly special as a feature.
• The features are listed in a bold
font, to make them appear
important. It also is large on the
page, so they stand out more to the
reader.
12. What Works?
• The image of the album cover relates
to the article on the best albums of
2012. This relates to the reader, as
they may be impressed by the
selection of the album and helps
them relate to what the article is
about.
13. What doesn’t work
The green background continues on the
colour scheme of the magazine, as well
as the building acting as an identifier
on the i. However, this has been
executed not very neatly, and it is
evident there are lines and gaps in the
background. However, the font stands
out boldly and is not effected.
This green stamp gives the
contents page a cool look and
relates to the appearance of
doodling on the front cover and
contents page. However, the use of
green may have been overdone
and another colour would look
better.
14. What was difficult
• It was difficult to work with backgrounds on
the contents page, as I made it on top of a
layer. When I wanted to move around one
element, the green background that I made
on that layer would move with it. I overcame
this by cutting the section of layer I wanted to
move, however this could have been done
better by making the background and the
element on separate layers.
15. What Was easy
• Getting the image of the album cover was
easy, as I had already made my own album
cover in a previous project. Choosing the fonts
was easy, as I just used the same ones as on
the front cover to continue the theme it had
set.
16. What would I change with more time
and money?
• I would have taken more pictures that relate
to each of the features I listed on the contents
page. I would have also written more about
the stories in the contents page, rather than
just one line.
17. Magazine Covers I can compare mine
to
• The Lead lines in this
magazine are set out in a
similar way to my magazine
on the left. However, I think
it works better here as they
are all different colours
making them pop out as
individual stories. They have
also made use of a banner
along the bottom, but to
show the slogan instead of
listing more stories.
18. Contents pages I can compare mine to.
• This contents makes a similar
use of bold fonts to separate the
features from the regulars.
However, this contents page
uses more images which I would
have liked to do with more time.
This contents page also
continues a theme in the similar
way to my magazine, using a
colour scheme of blue and green
while I have used just green. My
magazine may have looked
better, using more then one
colour like this one has.
