This document outlines common design elements and styles used in magazine layouts. Magazines typically feature a large artist or band image spread across one or two pages with accompanying text. Introductory snippets called stand firsts are only a few lines. Headlines sometimes use large drop capitals or quotes. Bylines identify the author. Columns, color schemes, page numbers, and logos are consistent within each magazine. Articles end with relevant dates and photographer credits appear near images. Some magazines include Q&As with differentiated question and answer formatting.

1. Main image of artist/band, the
image will either bleed across two
pages or one single page with the
writing on the other. Usually the
image will use direct address. Some may have a big letter, this is usually
specific to the magazine.
A stand first is an introduction to the
article, only a few lines long.
The drop capital/cap,
stems down usually about
3 lines.
Some magazines use a quote as their headline, this is usually the biggest text.
Quite often there is a by line, which tells the audience who the columnist is.
Usually there are
2 or 4 columns,
however this
depends on the
magazine.
The colour scheme
is specific to the
magazine, which is
quite simple and
consists of 3 to 4
colours.
Page numbers usually
have the magazines logo
or masthead next to it,
usually sit on the bottom
left hand or right hand
corners.
Instead a full stop at the end
of an article, it may have the
logo, or a small block, or a
letter, related to the magazine.
The language of the double
page spread is informal, as it
is establishing a relationship
with the reader.
At the end of the article it will usually have an album release date or a tour date for example.
On the main image it will either horizontally or vertically say the
name of the photographer.
Some magazines will have
questions and answers, where the
questions are in a different colour,
and it will usually have the
questions in a different colour to
the answer.