front cover analysis

1. Masthead- The Masthead is always found at the top of the page
and it is the largest font on the front cover it is also very clear
and stands out. It needs to be bright and it needs to standout as
it needs to be identifiable by customers. It usually has a different
font and uses different colours from the rest of the text on the
front cover as it needs to be recognised by customers. The
Masthead could be onomatopoeic to represent the genre of the
magazine which in this case is an indie rock magazine.

2. Main Image- The Main image is located in the centre of the front
cover and in this case it is an Image of a band which relates to this
issue of KERRANG magazine. The main image is usually a medium
close-up and it is clear and stands out to the customer. The band
will be told to dress around the colour scheme which the
journalist wants the magazine to be set around or the journalist
will work around the colour scheme which the band wear on the
day of the photoshoot. No text covers the faces off the band as it
would ruin the image if text was to cover the faces and it would
not be aesthetically pleasing to the customer.

3. Main Headline- The Main headline is bold and usually seen at the top
of the page and it stands out from the rest of the text on the front
cover. It is unique and it has a different font to the rest of the text as it
is changed so that there is no copy right being made.

4. Cover-lines The cover-lines are used to give
the customer an insight to what is in the
magazine, they are bold and are usually
shown in the same colour as they are
connected to each other also they are the
same colour to ensure they fit around the
colour scheme of the magazine. Cover-
lines never cover the subjects face so that
both the subject and the cover-lines stand
out to potential buyers.

5. Positioning statement- The positioning statement is used
to attract potential buyers by adding extra information
about the contents of the magazine. It is located at the top
of the page and is read from left to right. The positioning
statement gives potential buyers an incentive to buy the
magazine as it makes the magazine seem interesting. On
this magazine it states ‘survive valentine’s day: You’re
favourite stars tell you how’.

6. Splash- The splash is usually bright in colour
and usually show an offer which gives the
potential buyer incentive to buy the magazine.
On this magazine there are two splash’s one is
showing an offer saying that there is a free CD
inside this issue and the other splash is giving
an insight to an exclusive feature in this
magazine.

7. Barcode- The barcode is used to show the buyer how much the cost
of the magazine is, it is used to scan the magazine to ensure the
customer pays the correct price. It is usually located on the bottom
right hand side of the front cover but on this magazine it is at the
bottom in the centre. The price and issue date can also be found on
the barcode, this tells the buyer when the magazine came out and
what issue the magazine is.

8. Skyline- The skyline is used to give potential buyers an
incentive to buy the magazine, it is similar to the positioning
statement because they both give out exclusive information
about what is inside the magazine. It is located at the bottom
of the front cover and is usually bright so that is stands out
from the rest of the front cover. On this magazine it talks about
You Me At Six.