Photoshop was used to create the front cover because it allows for the use of graphics, cropping tools, and different types of text to make the cover look professional like a magazine. Quark was used for the contents page as it provides column guidelines and allows for multiple columns, different sized and colored text, which is suitable for listing page numbers, article titles, and other content sections of the magazine. Both applications were utilized because they have features that specifically aid in designing magazine elements.