The document provides a log book and evaluation for a student's preliminary task creating a music magazine. It includes step-by-step progressions and evidence of creating the front cover and contents page, with explanations of design choices and techniques used at each step. Research is also presented on established music magazines, their target audiences and conventions, as well as on the publisher of one of the researched magazines.

1. OCR Media Studies – AS Level
Unit G321: Foundation Portfolio in Media
Preliminary Task, Log Book and Evaluation
Set Brief - Print
Name: Liam De Costa
Candidate Number: 6146
Center Name: St. Paul’s Catholic College
Center Number: 64770
Music Magazine – Production
Preliminary Task Progression, Log Book and
Evaluation

2. Preliminary Task Progression–
Evidence
Front Cover
Step-by-step

3. Firstly, I added a black
overlay to my
background layer.

4. I created a new layer then
added a rectangle shape, from
this I added a gradient overlay
with a purple to white colour
scheme.
I then used the pen tool to
create an arch to which I then
used to create a vector mask.
This left me with the selected
area revealing the gradient.

5. Using the pen tool to create a line
across the arch, I added a stroke
path and simulated brush pressure
to give the effect
By adding a blue
outer glow and
changing the
spread and size I
created a glow to
the line.

6. I inserted the
school badge and
added a outer
glow to make the
image stand out
on the purple
background

7. By visiting the site
dafont.com I
downloaded the
font ‘Broken
Detroit’ and
applied the font to
my masthead. I
rotated ‘The’ to
match the height
of the word
‘Saints’

8. I took a picture of
my brother and
removed the
background using
the quick selection
tool and quick
masking. By
adding a layer
mask, I was able to
remove and add
parts of the image
using the brush
tool.

9. I included the
main story
headline by using
glow effects. For
the ‘Exclusive
Interview’ I
duplicated the
layer and
overlapped them
with different
colours to give
the effect.

10. Using the pen
tool to create a
box that wrapped
around the main
image, I was able
to place text
which didn’t
overlap the
image.

11. Instead of a
competition I
included a
promotional gift
that would
benefit a new
student

12. By using the same
technique for my
first set of cover
lines to wrap the
text around the
image, I added a
quote that would
appeal to parents
as well as
students.

13. I added a strapline
above the
masthead, encour
aging the selling
point of the
magazine.

14. Because of the
interaction of
social media
nowadays I
included a
Facebook and
Twitter reference
to the magazine.

15. I imported a
barcode image
from a folder
within the media
studies dpt.
Above the
barcode I added
the price and
date of the
magazine.

16. I duplicated the
masthead and
decreased the size
of it to be placed
above the social
media references.

17. I changed my brush preset to ‘Assorted
brushes’ to have access to the
‘starburst’ brush to add a shine to the
main image’s earring

18. I placed a rectangle to the corner of my magazine with a
gradient overlay. I then placed the issue number text
inside.

19. I created a layer mask to smooth the corner of the
rectangle.

20. FINAL RESULT!

21. Preliminary Task Progression–
Evidence
Contents Page
Step-by-step

22. I started by
adding a banner
to the top and
bottom of the
page with a
maroon and black
gradient.

23. I used the brush
tool to briefly
mark out where
my boxes would
be as it was
difficult to
distinguish the
different areas
with all the ruler
lines.

24. By using the same
font as my
masthead, I
created the
contents title of
the page; I also
included my
masthead which I
duplicated from
my front cover
document.

25. I then added the
page number and
the website in the
bottom right of
the page which is
easily visible. I also
created a box
where my editorial
would be with the
line tool.

26. Inside the
editorial box I
placed a photo of
myself and my
message to the
reader.
Underneath I
included a
scanned image of
my signature and
included a
contact email.

27. With the use of
the ruler, I was
able to create two
boxes which
would separate
the images to the
rest of the
contents. I used
the same gradient
as my banner and
font of my
masthead.

28. I placed another
picture of my
person of interest
of my magazine
using the quick
selection and
mask tool. By
using a layer
mask, I was able
to make the image
appear to ‘step
out’ of the page.

29. I then added
some text
detailing the
cover story
using the
pen tool to
make the
words
surround
the image.

30. By using the same
font style as the
words in my cover
story image, I
created more
cover stories for
my contents.

31. Here I used the same
method as the main
image before, hiding
the map underneath
the border.

32. Lastly I duplicated
the social media
links from my
front cover to my
contents page

33. Section 1) – Log Book

34. Music Magazine – Genre research
As of June
30, 2012, Vibe has a
circulation of
300,943, of which
202,439 was
paid, and 98,504
was non paid.
“The thing about hip-hop today is it’s smart, it’s
insightful, the way they can communicate a complex
message in a very short space is remarkable.”
-Barrack obama
“Hip-hop gave a generation a common ground
that didn't require either race to lose anything;
everyone gained.”
-JayZ

35. Established Magazine for my Research
Large masthead
which is visible to
promote the
magazine from the
shelf.
Cover stories
separated by
contrasting colours to
be easily readable.
Also, the different font
sizes grab reader’s
attention from the
shelf.
Large main image of
iconic UK singer
Adele.
‘Blows us away’
a sense of
exclusivity of the
interview with
the celebrity.
‘300th issue’ a
promotion that this
issue is something
‘special’

36. Target Audience – Katz, Maslow, Hartley and/or socio-economic needs
The target audience for Q magazine can be denoted as readers who like to increase their ‘personal
relationship’(Katz) with their favourite artists. Q magazine offers exclusive interviews with many artists from
many sub genres of music, so readers will be able to keep that ‘close’ bond with their desired artist.
‘Age’(Hartleys) effects Q’s target audience as some artists are from an older generation which my not appeal to
a younger generation. The target audience would also be in the ‘survivor’(Maslow) category as Q magazine
offers the latest information on various artists from all sub-genres of music and an insight into their personal
life.
What is the USP of this magazine? YOU MUST refer to specific
conventions/stories from you research
From the research completed into this media product, the USP of Q magazine is the exclusive information that
they get from interviews with major artists in music. Frequent words used in the main headline include
‘untold’, ‘revealed’, ‘unseen’ supporting the importance of the main cover story. The word ‘exclusive’ is nearly
always shown on the front cover, separated from the main image by colour, font or size of text.

37. Publisher research
According to the statistics shown in the
image, around 75% of customers are Male
and the remaining 25% are Female. The
average age of a customer who reads Q
magazine is 29. However, although this
information is correct, it is not accurate to
the past year statistics.
http://www.bauermedia.co.uk/brands/
q#magazine_Q
http://miaspicerx.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/picture2.png
During the months of January
and June of the year 2013, there
was a circulation of 58,980. Also
in the year 2012, Q magazine had
a reader base of 377,000.

38. Conventions of a Music Magazine
T.I. referenced in bold
and colour is
differentiated from rest
of sentence. It
emphasises the main
image by supporting
the importance of the
main image.
Bounce music, typically
related as energetic
hip hop music
originated in 1990’s.
Both audiences who
may or may not have
heard of this type of
music will be intrigued
to find out more.
Main image
- Rap artist T.I. represented
on front cover. A large icon in
the hip hop genre, which
informs the audience of the
main story.
Hip Hop and RnB artists
mentioned to give the
audience an insight into the
other articles to be found
inside the magazine.

39. Target Audience – Katz, Maslow, Hartley and/or socio-economic needs
The target audience for XXL magazine can be denoted as Personal identification(Katz) because readers will
want to have the same clothing or items as their desired artist. Age(Hartley) would be strictly for readers above
the age of 16 due to the content inside such as bad language or female artists wearing revealing clothing. Social
climbers(Maslow) reading the magazine will be attracted to information regarding their favourite artists
allowing them to increase their social status.
What is the USP of this magazine? YOU MUST refer to specific
conventions/stories from you research
From the research completed into this media product, I think the USP is the interviews with major artists in the
hip-hop sub-genre and also the products that are advertised by artists inside the magazine.

40. Publisher research
Harris Publications Inc.
Harris Publications is an American consumer-magazine publisher
in New York City. Harris Publications publishes over 50 magazines
and special-interest publications serving consumers and
professionals in Fitness & Health, Quilting, Men's Interest, Guns &
Knives and other markets.
Harris Tactical Group, a division of Harris Publications
Inc., publishes Guns & Weapons for Law
Enforcement, Special Weapons for Military &
Police, Combat Handguns, Tactical Weapons, Tactical
Knives, Guns of the Old West, Pocket Pistols, Urban
Warrior's Black Guns annual... and many more.
Harris Publications Inc. titles include
Juicy, XXL, King, Dog News, 0-60, Guns &
Weapons for Law Enforcement, Small
Business Opportunities, Men's
Workout, Exercise & Health, Celebrity
Hairstyles, and many more.