The document discusses the progression from the author's preliminary magazine cover to the final product. In the preliminary cover, the author included only basic codes and conventions without much thought. The final cover includes more professional elements like suitable colors, a representative main photo, and tightly positioned extra information making the center stand out. When using design software, the author initially only used basic features and techniques but experimented more for the final magazine, incorporating thoughtful fonts, colors, and content layout associated with the music genre. The structure and appearance of pages like the contents now look much more professional following researched magazine conventions, compared to the initial more random design.

1. Evaluation: Question 7
Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you
have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

2. Codes & Conventions
When looking at my two magazines, there is a clear difference in
the class and realism between them. My original magazine cover
contains the basic codes and conventions of a music magazine;
Big, bold and clear masthead, cover lines, main image, direct
address, barcode, price, date. Whereas, the finished magazine
cover has all these codes and conventions and more, whilst
looking more professional and having a more suitable colour
scheme and look to it.
When I took my original photo for my preliminary front cover, it
was rushed and I didn’t put much thought into it, whereas on my
completed magazine cover the photo represents not only music,
but also the indie genre through the props and clothing.
The structure of the page is more professional as the focus is on
the main image, main cover line and cover lines either side. The
extra features/information (Price, date, barcode, splash) are
tightly positioned in the corners of the page making the centre of
the cover stand out. The title also stands out, along with the cover
lines as they are in bold and larger than the rest of the text on the
page. The cover lines also appear more professional as they have
the short insight to each one underneath like real magazines.

3. ▶ When producing both magazines, the software and technology I used, didn’t change. However, the way in
which I used the technology showed in my end product. I used the programs more effectively and
experimented with more of the features each programme offers.
▶ For example, on my original magazine cover and contents, I only included the basic features with basic
techniques. On my original draft, I used a basic, readable font throughout all production. The colours used
were also quite random and thoughtless, making the magazine look unprofessional. On my final
magazine, I put a lot of thought into the features I would include and the techniques I needed to
incorporate. Clearly, the magazine is a big improvement, it looks more professional and realistic. The
fonts are more associated to the music genre and look of the magazine, also the colours used are suitable
and link to the indie genre, whilst making the magazine look attractive.
▶ When using Quark for the contents page, instead of having less content on the page and more images, I
changed this on my end product so it seems a lot more realistic. I also altered the colours used so that
they would associate and carry a consistent colour scheme throughout each page on my real magazine, I
didn’t consider this much on my drafted magazine production. The structure and look of the contents
page (and also the cover and double page spread) now looks much more professional as I have followed
the typical codes and conventions on music magazines and spent time planning and researching prior to
my production work.
Technology
Due to using the features and tools that
real music magazines use, I feel my use
of technology for magazine production
has improved significantly.