The document compares the student's magazine front cover and contents page to the real magazine Empire. For the front cover, the student matches many conventions including the masthead font and location, cover lines around the main image, and inclusion of a splash. However, Empire has more cover lines and direct address of the main image. For the contents page, the student again matches conventions such as including the masthead and images of articles. However, Empire uses a simpler layout with two columns and larger images rather than a table. The student created both pages using Photoshop and Quark, utilizing tools for layers, shapes, text boxes, and page layout to construct the pages, but notes opportunities to better utilize the available tools and technologies.

1. Front cover and contents page

2. My front cover has a colour scheme just like Empire.
The masthead of mine and there magazine is a unique
font that isn’t used anywhere else, which I think I have
matched - just like Empire magazine. Most/all
mastheads are located right at the top of the magazine
since it is were readers will see first.
Empires skyline is advertising a article in the magazine
whilst my is showing what issue the magazine is. So I have
a different use for my skyline in the magazine.
Empires front cover and my front cover has cover
lines surrounding the main image. However
Empire has a cover line relating to the image
right across the image unlike mine. It stands out
more than my cover line which is at the side. My
other cover lines are fairly similar however I think
mine are easier to read since I have used two
colours.
Both magazines have included a splash - they
both display different information but they both
stand out from the image.
The main image used on Empire is airbrushed
a lot with a dull background related to the film
– whilst my main image is fairly realistic and
has a brighter background. Most magazines
use direct address on the main image to draw
people into the magazine, which mine has
represented. Empire challenges my magazine
however they usually do use direct address,
however this time they haven’t to create a
‘cool’ effect were the character is busy
focusing on something else.
One thing that Empire does better in there
front cover is that the front cover has more
cover lines. Whilst my magazine cover seems
more empty with less cover lines. I fit most codes and conventions mentioned above however
I should have more cover lines and maybe add a website
link to my front cover, I could also have less attention to
the price since it more professional magazine hides this.
The splash can have other information instead.
In what ways does the media product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of a real media products?
What are the strengths and weaknesses of both the product and
your use of new media technologies?

3. One new technology I used
was using Photoshop to create
my front cover. The layers in
Photoshop made it very easy to
use for each section to adjust
and edit. The layers in
Photoshop has further options
in each layer e.g. Adding
outlines/make shapes bolder –
so they stand out more. I have
used many of the options in
‘blending options’ that is fairly
new to me like drop shadow
and inner glow for the text and
masthead.
Using the photo and one image (the
barcode) I took with the camera I
transferred the image into the front cover
by using the cropping tool to make the
image fit the size of the page. I had to
bring forward the barcode since it was
hidden behind the image by moving the
layer on top.
The tool bar at
the top and the
left hand side
were used for
various things
likes moving or
resizing the
images and text.
This tool bar was
used the most
since the most of
the options
needed to editing
were all here.
I used media technologies when constructing the text for
the texts fonts/size/position by using the toolbar that was
useful to create the specific size/position/font I wanted my
magazine to be
I constructed the splash by adding a
shape with the toolbar that helped me
also change the colour.
When choosing the colour a window
appears were you can easily change
the colour shade.
The new media technology took
a while to explore and use. So
the editing and shapes took a
while too get used to however I
didn't use all the available tools.
When I set up my
front cover – I
had to set the
paper to
international, just
like a magazine.
Although I have used new
media technologies I
haven’t fully taken
advantage of all the tools
available to use.
How did you use new media technologies in the
construction of your media product?
What are the strengths and weaknesses of both the product and
your use of new media technologies?

4. My contents page title is easily identifiable
like the empire magazine. With the
masthead – ‘contents’ at the top of the
page.
At the top of the contents page empire magazine has there title at
the top – unlike mine which is at the bottom. So I could improve
the location of the title. I have shown which is issue the magazine
is.
In Empire, the magazine, has used only two
images which are quite large – unlike my
magazine which has lots of images. It focuses on
one or two things whilst mine shows more about
the articles.
I have also included a smaller image of the
front cover, which is sometimes used in
other magazines – it indicates what
magazine they are reading. So this matches
a code and convention some content pages
have.
Empire has organised there contents in two columns
without any tables for the information, unlike mine.
Which looks more simplified than my contents page,
I do find both contents pages easy to read each
section though. Both contents pages has some sort
of colour scheme that makes it easy to read section.
Empire and my contents page both have included
text at the bottom of the page. I used quark to
position them there since they weren't very
important information for the contents page –
however it is there to represent what magazine it is.
I think my contents page does match most of the
codes and conventions of a contents page however it
could be made easier/simpler for the reader/buyer
to use e.g. Don’t have a big table with all the
information.
In what ways does the media product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of a real media products?

5. I used Quark to create my contents page
which was harder to edit/construct –
Photoshop was easier to use. However
some tools were very similar to use.
The title has a
unique font to the
other text on the
page. I had to use
the toolbars to
change the
size/fonts/colour
for the other text
used on my
contents page.
I used many shapes which were in the toolbar- which I copy and pasted many times
to create the table for the text to be in. I used the rectangle box tool for the coloured
boxes to stand out more. The line tool was used to create box outlines that can be
used as sections. Both of these tools I have not used before-so it was fairly new.
Each text I had to create a new text box
which took a long time to fill in the whole
contents page – it did make it easier with to
move and edit if anything needed to be
changed later on though
The images were
imported by
creating a box -
like a text box .
Then import the
image to fit into
the box. This was
repeated several
times.
I created the three columns with media technology –
when I was constructing it a toolbar said how many
columns I want and also the width and height. I did prefer
using the drag and move option better since it would fit
the page better.
This is the page
layout – which is
very easy to
navigate to the
page you want.
This toolbar is
used to change
the type of page
you want, borders
around the page
which wasn’t used
since it isn’t a code
and convention of
a contents page.
How did you use new media technologies in the
construction of your media product?
What are the strengths and weaknesses of both the product and
your use of new media technologies?