The document describes the process of designing the front cover of a magazine. Key points: 1) A photo was chosen and cropped to fit the cover, with adjustments made to make it appealing. 2) Text was added including the magazine title in a scorched font and coverlines about winning prizes and festival survival guides. 3) Smaller descriptive text and a barcode were also included, and adjustments made to colors and positioning throughout to complete the design.

1. Development Diary
Front Cover
Front Cover

2. To begin making the front cover of my magazine
I chose an image that I would like to be on the
front of my magazine. I chose this photo
because it allowed me to put the title down the
left hand side without disrupting the main focus
point of the image which is obviously the model.
When taking the photo I chose to position her
this way because of this reason as I thought that
it would look good when is came to designing.
I used the crop tool to ensure that
the image fit perfectly onto the A4
page that I created. Using some
more adjustments by dragging the
image around, I found the perfect
position shown in the image.
I used the airbrush tool on
photoshop to make sure that the I used the spot healing brush to remove any
image was perfect and that it would imperfections and to make sure that the photo was
appeal to a wider audience. I think front cover ready and so that it looks more
that this makes the image appear appealing to my target audience.
much more professional.
I think that this photo works really well as the front
I also changed the levels and the curves so
cover because it shows the main story very clearly
that the brightness was just right and so
and the photo is highly suitable to be used as the
that everything blended nicely together. If I
front cover image. It is positioned nicely and the
didn’t do this, then I don’t think the photo
photo itself is cropped at appropriate places. I used
would have looked as professional or
the rule of thirds in this image by placing the model
suitable for the front cover.
along the second vertical line.

3. I then proceeded to add the header to my
magazine. I called it ‘Indie Fest’ because the
magazine is going to be focusing mainly on
indie artists and music. I think that this was a
good idea as it is a good play on words as it is
like ‘In The Fest’. I chose to use the font
‘Scorched Earth’ for this title because it fits in
well with the idea behind the magazine and
what I want it to represent. The colour also
fits in well as it appeals to my target audience
of 16 - 21 year old females whilst also keeping
the earthy tones with the hint of brown in the
colour.
I used the bevel and emboss effect on the
text after first rasterizing the layer to make
it an image so that I can edit it more. I
thought that it would be a good idea to add
some sort of bevel to the writing to make
it look more 3 dimensional. Without this This is a more close up view of
bevelling I don’t think that the title what the text ‘Scorched Earth’
would’ve stood out as much as it does looks like. The faded bottoms
because the image would have taken to come with the font itself, I did not
much attention away from the actual title. create this effect.

4. Next I added the top and bottom
straplines. I wanted to make a slight faded
effect to this part of the magazine so that it
all blends together better. I kept it the
same colour as the masthead as well so
that it works a lot better. I think that if I
were to change the colour of the straplines
to something else it would not have looked
as effective.
I used the gradient tool in
order to make the bottom of
the top strapline and the top
of the bottom strapline, blend
into the main image so it
doesn’t look false and as
though it’s just been placed
there. I think that using this
feature is much more effective
than just placing a box.

5. After I added the top and bottom strapline
boxes, I added in the main coverline. I simply
put the name of the model on the front as
though she is an artist that everyone knows
about and made sure that it was in a big, bold,
font that everyone will be able to read from
fairly far away. I like this font because it is very
simple and straight to the point which I like.
The name of this font is called ‘Headliner No.
45’ which is one of the reasons I chose it.
I changed this opacity of the
coverline layer to 90% so
that it was slightly see
through as I thought that this
looked unique and
interesting.
In regards to the coverline itself I chose a colour slightly darker to
that of the masthead because I thought that there needed to be some
variety on the page rather than keeping all of the colours the same.
This to the reader can get repetitive especially if the same shades of
colours are used throughout the magazine.
I added the descriptors for the main coverline after this so explain a
little what the coverline involves. I used the font Litos Script because
I thought that this worked well with the overall look of the magazine.
I used the colour white over anything else because I didn’t want to
draw the main focus away from the image and the coverline itself.

6. I then added a barcode to the bottom right corner
of the page because I felt like this was the most
appropriate place to put it. If I had put it anywhere
else then it may not have been as discrete and the
bottom right corner is usually the last area of the
page that the reader tends to look at.
I got a simple barcode from the internet on google
images as all magazines need some sort of barcode
in order for it to be distinguished from all other
magazines out there when it comes to buying it.
I then added the date that the issue is going to be
released, the issue number and the price of the
magazine just above the barcode so that the
audience knows how much it will cost and also
whether or not there is a previous issue. The date
is also published so that the reader knows when the
next issue is coming out.

7. I then added writing to the top strapline to start building up the writing
on the page. I chose to add a competition to this strapline as I think
that it is something that the reader would be highly interested in
knowing about. readers tend to be more drawn into something if
there is a chance that they can either win or apply for something free.
I chose to make the word ‘WIN’ in red, because it will then stand out I then made an insert that looked like a stick so that
amongst the rest of the writing. This is so that the reader will it would be a more fun aspect to the page. I found
automatically see that there is something to be won, making them want it hard to create this area of the front cover
to buy the magazine. I made sure that the prize that was up for grabs however I think that it worked well and once the
would be appealing to the target audience. I went with some festival writing is on it, it will bring the whole page
camping essentials to draw the reader in. As the majority of my together.
readers will be females in their late teens, they are now going to have
that much money, therefore the free chance to win something will
prove enticing to them.
I then added the writing to the insert, making
sure it was something that would appeal to the
target audience. I chose a more relaxed font
for this area and made the word ‘iTunes’ red so
that it would again stand out to the reader. I
chose to go with this sort of insert over
anything else because my target audience again,
enjoys being able to receive free things.

8. I then added the second coverline. I chose
to go with something such as a survival
guide because most readers enjoy reading
articles such as this so they can see what
they need to take with them and also what
not to take with them when they are
attending festivals. I think that it was a
good idea to stick with the same font as
the main coverline, otherwise there would
be too much going on across the page. I
stuck to the same colour as well so that it
would all work well together.
I then added the descriptor to the coverline using the
same font as the main coverline descriptors and the
same, simple white colour. Again, I didn’t want to
change this around to much so all I did was make the
font smaller so that it was clear which coverline was
the main one. If it was the same size, the the attention
would’ve come off of the main story, with the reader
focusing on more than one article.

9. I then added the top coverline to the
front cover, titling it ‘Headliners’. I chose
to go with this coverline because I believe
that my target audience would like to
read about the types of people they are
most likely to see at this years festivals. I
kept the font and the colour the same as
the other coverlines so that it does to
deter from the overall look of the front
cover. Much like the previous coverline, I
made sure that the font was smaller than
the main coverline so that all the
attention is mainly on the main coverline.
To finish off the front cover, I added text to the bottom strapline. I
chose to go with something that would be appealing to the target
audience, but not like the top strapline, going with something different to
a competition. I chose to go with one of the articles on the essentials
that are included throughout the magazine. I thought that I would do this
I then added the descriptor to this coverline to make over anything else as it is something that the audience would want to
sure it was similar to the other coverline. The font and read about so that they don’t get lost.
the white colour stayed the same as the other two with
the font being as small as the other coverline.

10. I then added the top coverline to the
front cover, titling it ‘Headliners’. I chose
to go with this coverline because I believe
that my target audience would like to
read about the types of people they are
most likely to see at this years festivals. I
kept the font and the colour the same as
the other coverlines so that it does to
deter from the overall look of the front
cover. Much like the previous coverline, I
made sure that the font was smaller than
the main coverline so that all the
attention is mainly on the main coverline.
To finish off the front cover, I added text to the bottom strapline. I
chose to go with something that would be appealing to the target
audience, but not like the top strapline, going with something different to
a competition. I chose to go with one of the articles on the essentials
that are included throughout the magazine. I thought that I would do this
I then added the descriptor to this coverline to make over anything else as it is something that the audience would want to
sure it was similar to the other coverline. The font and read about so that they don’t get lost.
the white colour stayed the same as the other two with
the font being as small as the other coverline.