The document analyzes the design elements of several magazine front covers. Key elements discussed include use of color to draw attention and represent genre, placement of images and text, house styles, and adherence to or defiance of conventions like placement of barcode and text on the left third. Overall, the document examines how various design choices on magazine covers work to engage readers, represent the magazine's content and brand, and influence perception of its target audience.

1. Magazine front cover analysis

2. The use of the red heading makes the title stand out against the dark
background. The red connotes danger and gore within the genre. The colours
used for the masthead and the main areas of text link to the image on the
page and give the magazine a house style. The colour choices also remind the
audience of the genre of the magazine.
The plug at the top of the page which acts as a banner advertises
information inside of the magazine. The use of different colour choice
here makes this stand out and attract the audience to read into the
magazine.
Date and price have been made to fit with the
title. The price is £2.90 an this is a reasonable
price for a magazine.
The central image used on the front cover is
effective as the colours used in the image
link with the rest of the magazine and the
text choices. The idea of only half of the face
being shown makes the image more
mysterious and this helps to represent which
genre the magazine is working with. The
dark background and the face going into the
darkness also links to the horror genre as
horrors are know the be dark and gloomy
with the audience questioning what is
behind the darkness. The red eye represents
evil. The image is central going with the
conventions of a magazine layout. The image
acts as a base for the text to be placed
around. This includes buzz words which
stand out such as ‘Plus’, ‘Hannibal’ and ‘Gore
Blimey’.
This image has a direct mode of address
The barcode used on the page is placed
in the bottom left hand corner out of
the way. It doesn’t stand out.
In this magazine front cover they use
another typical convention of the left side
third. This is where all of the text is placed to
the left of the magazine. Although most of
the text is placed on the left hand side, there
is also a small section on the right hand side
full of a small amount of text. This defies
conventions but adds originality.
The main text presented on the left third/
the titles are all shown in red, bold writing.
This represents importance in the headings.
The other pieces of text are in white and
these are lines of information about the
headings. There is a mode of address with
the question ‘Are you a psycho?’. This
question addresses the reader directly and
involves them in the magazine cover.
There are no puffs presented on this
magazine front cover.
The use of the text and the type of text used
links with the genre of the magazine front
cover. ‘Gore’ is an eye catching word
presented on the front cover. This word links
with the genre and tells the audience exactly
what type of horror the magazine consists
of.
The small amount of text presented in the
bottom right hand corner shows information
included in the magazine. This information is
in small text and is hidden as it is not as
important.

3. The masthead used on the page is bold and red. The colour red is eye
catching as it contrasts with the rest of the magazine colours. The
masthead is placed behind the main image, giving off the idea that the
magazine is well known and therefore the audience do not need to
see the title as much on the page. The brand is well known and so by
one glance as the page, the audience can tell immediately what they
are about to be reading.
Once again the date and the price is included
in small text within the masthead. The price
is unreadable but is along the price of £1.90-
£2.90. This is a reasonable price for a
magazine of films.
The large text at the bottom of the page is in
capital letters, bold and presented in the
colour white: ‘THE DARK KNIGHT RISES’. The
text here is almost as big as the masthead
presented on the page. This reveals
importance in the heading and the main
focus of the magazine. The text also links to
the main, central image as the image is of
the Dark Knight himself.
The main central image follows the
conventions of a typical magazine with it
being central and the main image, taking up
the page. The image is dark which helps the
text to stand out more. It is also placed over
part of the masthead which gives the image
importance and a main focus for the reader.
The main image subtly introduces the genre
that the magazine is representing and is
mysterious as the actor is wearing a mask;
leaving the audience wondering who is
behind the mask. The use of dark clothing
and dull colours represented on the person
itself links to the name of the film and also
enhances the light produced by the torch
that the actor is holding. This image uses a
direct mode of address as the actor is
looking straight at the camera
The barcode used on the page is placed
in the bottom right hand corner out of
the way. It doesn’t stand out.
The placing of the text on the magazine
defies conventions of a typical magazine as it
goes against the rule of the left third. The
text placed on this magazine is positioned on
the right hand third of the page. The text is
presented in different colours. These colours
include blue, grey and white. The blue text is
used for the subheadings and the white and
grey text is placed underneath describing
the subheadings. The grey and white text is
altered, and changes every line/group of
words.
The small image that is placed at the top of
the page on the left helps to explain more
inside the magazine. It acts as a type of puff
on the page as it stands out and it in a
different colour to the rest of the house style
used in the magazine. The use of yellow links
to the text below but also helps the image to
be seen as the image inside the yellow
boarder is black and therefore blends in with
the main central image on the magazine.
The yellow boarder used also links with the
heading at the top of the page. The wording
used and the colour shows that the cover set
being advertised is ‘ULTIMATE’ and
‘EXCLUSIVE’.

4. The masthead used on the page is in bold, large text filled white. The
top of the first letter of the heading has another word placed into the
masthead saying ‘Total’. The design of the masthead creates a brand
that becomes recognisable and well known to the audience. It stands
out catching the audience's eye immediately . The image overlapping
the masthead shows that the brand is well known and so recognisable
that he doesn’t need the whole masthead to show completely.
At the top of the page there is a strapline presented. This is filled in
red and the red overlaying is in white and yellow. The colours red and
yellow stand out the most catching the audiences eye, as these
colours are not sued as much over the rest of the magazine. The
strapline usually includes news within the magazine or a fact.
The main image is central and large as it
goes with the conventions of a magazine
layout. The image shows a male posing and
standing in such a way that shows he is the
alpha male. This could represent that the
magazine is aimed at males and this
therefore this reveals the target audience
through the image. The film name shown
also is aimed at a male dominant audience.
However women may also be interested in
reading the magazine due to the male on
the front cover page. The image used on
the front cover can be seen as ‘Hunky’ or
‘attractive’ and pleasing to the eye of
women. This shows a mixed audience and
a wider target audience than originally
though. This image does not use the direct
mode of address.
On this magazine they do not have a barcode on the
front page. This defies conventions of a typical
magazine as the barcode is normally placed at the
bottom of the page in the bottom left of right hand
corner. On this magazine the bar code is probably p-laced
on the back page of the magazine.
The text presented on the page follows the
conventions of a typical magazine as the
text is placed on the left third of the page.
There is also text placed on the right hand
third of the page as there is a lot of text on
the front cover. There is a common house
style used with the use of yellow and white
text. The white text is used for the
subheadings to make them stand out and
the main headings. The yellow text is used
for other pieces of information about the
headings.
On the right hand side of the page there is
a puff presented. The text is placed inside
a red circle. The colour of the text follows
the house theme of the magazine keeping
with the yellow and white text. The
information inside of a puff is usually
include words or phrases which help to
boost a status of a piece of information.
An unusual subheading is placed on the
front cover of the magazine. This heading
is the ‘Gladiator’ heading and it is placed
right in the middle of the page. It is
unusual as it is almost as large as the
masthead is and it stands out, catching the
readers eye, just as much as the masthead
does. This gives the image that the
magazine is very recognisable and so
having the masthead in large text does not
make a difference as the audience already
are aware of the magazine. The sub
heading also shows importance and it
represents what may be to come in the
rest of the magazine. The sub heading links
to the image and they are both presented
largely for the audience to see.
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