Codes and conventions of a magazine front cover

2. Cover Photo
This is almost always in the
centre of the cover and takes
up the whole page. The
model always makes direct
eye contact with the camera
so it looks like the model is
looking at the reader.
Minimal Colour Scheme
There are limited colours
on the front page of the
magazine as it makes it
look more collected and
put together. The colour
scheme also make the
front cover look neater
which appeals to the
reader.
Main Coverline
This is much bigger than
the rest of the Coverlines
so it is the first Coverline
the reader is drawn to and
this is important as it is the
main article in the issue

3. Masthead
This is the name of the
magazine and is a unique font to
every other font on the page. It
is always written in the same
place and this is what makes the
magazine identifiable.
Barcode/Price
To tell the reader
how much the
magazine is and
also usually has
the date on
Coverlines
Lets the reader know
what is in the magazine
– they are all different
fonts and sizes to make
the cover look
interesting to the reader

4. Date
Shows the reader the
date it was released so
they can identify when
the magazine issue came
out.
Position Statement
Tells the readers a
little bit of
information about the
magazine
Direct mode of address
The model in the image
is making direct eye
contact with the reader

5. Plain Background
This draws more attention
to the main image and the
Coverlines so the reader
can clearly see what is to be
expected in the magazine
Puff
In a bright colour to draw
the readers attention in and
becomes one of the first
thing the reader will read