The font used for the magazine title on the cover is incorporated into the image as building tops, standing out to fans accustomed to the usual font. Its bold sans-serif style is conventional for magazine mastheads. The font used to promote "Tron" is in a circular box, separating it and denoting its importance. The same bold, silver sans-serif font is used for most film titles, helping readers identify the main films while standing out as important information. Bolder fonts are used for some coverlines like "mind-blowing" to highlight key information, a common magazine design technique.

1. Inception Magazine Cover Analysis - Fonts
The font used for the masthead is incorporated into the image as the
letters of the word “film” are represented as the tops of buildings. This
will stand out to fans of the magazine who would expect to see the usual
font used on the magazine title and would be intrigued by the drastic
change. Its bold sans-serif style is also conventional of the masthead of a
magazine cover.
The text for the Tron
promotion is in a
font placed in a
circular box which
makes it stand out
and separates it from
the rest of the
magazine which
connotes it’s
importance. These
are often used to
promote topics
unrelated from the
rest of the magazine
cover.
The same bold, silver,
sans-serif font is used
for the majority of film
titles on the cover
which helps the
audience establish the
main films promoted
in the magazine and
also stands out as the
most important
information on the
page as the font has
an eye-catching shine
effect to it. The use of
the same font on
different topics on a
magazine cover is
conventional of the
form in order to help
reveal the magazine
identity and link the
topics.
Some coverlines are placed in a bolder font than
others, particularly ones that relate to the main
item of the magazine cover. For example the
“mind-blowing” text in the coverline and the
strapline are highlighted in red when the majority
of the text is in white fonts. Magazines often do
this to highlight important information.

2. Inception Magazine Cover Analysis - Colours
This magazine cover uses many conventional colours for
the text such as red and white which are bold yet clear
colours that are often associated with the magazine
meaning the target audience will be familiar with the
design.
The use of silver in the
coverline for the film
Inception connotes class
which automatically sets
the film in a good light
to the reader. This is
conventional of the
genre as many films in it
are often associated
with class and
sophisticated characters
or themes etc.
The blue mist at the bottom of the page and
the blue fade on the buildings in the image
create a mystic feeling to the image which
relates to the theme of dreaming and dream
worlds in the film; this realtes to the
psychological element of the film, establishing
it within the psychological thriller genre. This
also revealls an insight into the film that will
increase audience interest.

3. Inception Magazine Cover Analysis – Image
The main image is placed conventionally in the centre of the page as a
character is usually the central focus of a film magazine cover. This shows
how the main coverline supports the scenes depicted in the image. The
image includes the famous Hollywood actor Leonardo Dicaprio who many
readers would recognise and possibly be fans of, therefore increasing
public interst in both the film and the magazine.
The backdrop of the
image is an aerial shot
of a city and a number
of buildings. This could
be considered unusual
as the backdrop for a
magazine as it gives the
image a supernatural
element. However it
could be considered
conventional for a
psychological thriller,
therefore appealing to
fans of this genre.
The mise-en-scene is used in the image to
reveal elements of the film, for example his
smart costume gives the character a
professional, classy look and gives the film a
sophisticated feel. Props are also used such as
the silencer for the weapon he is holding which
connotes action and violence which is a typical
element of a thriller.