The document summarizes the student's process of creating a magazine cover and contents page for a college magazine. It discusses using a digital camera to take photos for the cover and learning photo composition. It describes using Adobe Photoshop to add images, text, colors and effects to create the cover design. It also discusses using InDesign to lay out the contents page with columns, images and text, and learning the importance of layout. The student reflects on strengths and weaknesses of their designs and feedback received to improve their skills.

1. Cover and contents of my college magazine!
Evaluation.
AS MEDIA PRELIMINARY TASK

2. IN WHAT WAY DOES YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT USE,
DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE FORMS AND CONVENTIONS
OF MEDIA PRODUCTS? COVER PAGE.
SIMILARITIES:
Masthead
Cover lines
around the
main image
“C” used
to display
images
and text.
Rule of thirds
Eye contact with both
people on cover

3. IN WHAT WAY DOES YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT USE, DEVELOP
OR CHALLENGE FORMS AND CONVENTIONS OF MEDIA
PRODUCTS? COVER PAGE
DIFFERENCES:
A medium shot used in “fashion” whereas
a medium close up is used on “sfcs
student.” A model is used on the front
cover. The pose of the model on “fashion”
could have connotations of being sexy, a
confident pose is portrayed with
connotations of glamour and style.
Whereas on “sfcs student” the facial
expression is a smile, it is a real life
student which the students would relate
to and she looks welcoming and friendly
inviting the reader to read on.
Another difference was the
background
“sfcs student” has a background
whereas fashion has a plain
background.
Lastly “sfcs student” has a barcode
which I feel makes it look
professional and like a proper
magazine whereas “fashion”
doesn’t.

4. STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE
FRONT COVER OF MY STUDENT MAGAZINE
Strengths:
I think that I followed the idea of a “c” shape as a magazine would do which
made it look professional.
I think that the background emphasised the idea of college life as it represented a
student at college.
Lastly I think that my image was clear and worked quite well.
Weaknesses:
 I think there was some dead space which I could have filled more effectively.
 I could have used a range of fonts to make it more interesting
 Lastly I think that my image had too much headspace which could have been improved
by taking the image from a better angle.

5. AUDIENCE FEEDBACK ON MY FRONT COVER.
I gained feedback from my audience so that I now know what would need improving
next time. My audience thought that my strengths included:
That they liked my font.
They also thought that my main image brought out the text- ensuring it was
easily legible and eye-catching.
My audience thought that my weaknesses include:
 That there was slightly too much space.
 They also believed that I could have had a few more Coverlines to grasp the
readers attention.

6. IN WHAT WAY DOES YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT USE, DEVELOP
OR CHALLENGE FORMS AND CONVENTIONS OF MEDIA
PRODUCTS? CONTENTS PAGE.
SIMILARITIES
Both contents pages have initial
magazine masthead on their
contents pages.
Information backs up the
coverlines on the front cover.
Simple layout of columns with
sub headings headings so the
readers can simply read the
information (columns divided
into 3). This makes the
information clear.
Use of images to provide a
visual representation for the
readers and to make it more
interesting.

7. IN WHAT WAY DOES YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT USE, DEVELOP
OR CHALLENGE FORMS AND CONVENTIONS OF MEDIA
PRODUCTS? CONTENTS PAGE.
DIFFERENCES. “Drummer” uses a number on
their images which is
professional; it allows the reader
to know exactly where to find
this section; whereas on my
magazine I didn’t do this- I think
next time I could to make it more
professional.
On my student magazine I
added an email address and
number to make it seem more
professional; this isn’t on
“drummer”.
Drummer has a clear
professional colour scheme
whereas my magazine uses a
range over colours. I think using
a colour scheme makes the
magazine look professional

8. STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE
CONTENTS PAGE OF MY STUDENT MAGAZINE
Strengths:
I think that I put a reasonable amount of images on my contents to ensure the interest of
the reader.
I also used subheadings to make sure that the information was clear and legible this
ensured my magazine would be easy to navigate around.
Lastly I used three columns to ensure my magazine gave quite a professional
approach.
Weaknesses:
 I think that my images weren’t very clear and could have been made more able to see, by
making them bigger.
 I think I could have had more text and information.
 Lastly I think I could have showed the fact I was aiming to use 3 columns more clearly.

9. AUDIENCE FEEDBACK ON MY CONTENTS
PAGE.
 I gained feedback from my audience so that I now know what would need
improving next time. My audience thought that my strengths included:
That my layout was good and easy to gather information from.
Also that I used a good amount of pictures which made it more interesting.
My audience thought that my weaknesses include:
 That I could have used a background colour this would have made it more
interesting and overall made my contents page more effective.

10. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT ABOUT THE
TECHNOLOGIES FROM THE PROCESS
OF CONSTRUCTING THIS PRODUCT?
By Laura Boucher

11. I used a digital camera to take my main image- I learnt about a range of different angles and use a medium
close up on my front cover.
I had to ensure that the model dominated the frame however there was room for coverlines. I think I could
have angled the camera better to ensure that there was less headspace.
I then used adobe photoshop. This is an image based, industry standard package. I learnt to do many
things such as:
add an image; add text; add colour and to use the range of tools available.
I began by simply adding my image;
this set the background for my
magazine. I simply did this by
placing my image.
I then added my masthead; to do
this is used the text tool and then I
simply changed both the colour and
font. I want to made my masthead
stand out so I used fx and added a
stroke and drop shadow.

12. ADOBE PHOTOSHOP
Here I was able to add some key
coverlines, including my main one
“exclusive” here I used the text tool,
font and colour, I was also able to
position my text wherever I wanted it.
Here I added a barcode and I used a strip
at the bottom, to do this I added a
rectangle and then simply added text to it.

13. CONTENTS PAGE USING INDESIGN.
I created my contents page using InDesign. This is an industry standard package. It allowed me to “place”
my images in and also my masthead. It allowed me to add text with a range of fonts, colours ext. I found
indesign fairly simple to use and easily became familiar with the toolbar.
This shows my contents page in
indesign.
Indesign allowed me to think about the importance of layout. I helped me to try and achieve the three
columns I was aiming for. The only thing I found difficult about indesign was drawing the picture boxes
first as often the sizing was wrong and the image didn’t fit. I don’t think that my contents page looked
very professional I think that I could have improved this by ensuring the images were resized and more
clear and maybe having a background colour to make the text and images stand out more. Overall
indesign enabled me to add the features of my contents page and mainly enabled me to think about the
importance of a good layout; which I have now realised I can improve upon next time.