The document describes the process of designing a magazine cover in Photoshop. First, the author creates a grid on an A4 page to help layout elements. A masthead is added using a default font aimed at teenagers. Medium close-up images of four young men are imported and made transparent. Text is added using the text tool for the lead line, cover lines, and banners to entice readers. Finishing touches include rotating the masthead, adding a shadow, and including a barcode to make it look realistic.

1. Skills Development
Journal

2. Making a magazine front cover..
First, I loaded up a
A4 page, and
added a grid so I
would be able to
place things in a
neat way.

3. Masthead
Next, I started to
think of ideas of a
masthead, using
photoshop default
font. I used Sans-
Serif because the
magazine isn’t
aimed at older
people, but young
people between
the ages of 13-15.

4. Medium Close Ups
Then, using some
images of four
young men, I
added them in and
made them big
enough so they
are a medium-
close up. Using the
quick select tool, I
made their
backgrounds
transparent.

5. Lead line
Using the text
tool, I created the
lead line which is
relevant to the
main image and
the main article
that would
feature in the
magazine

6. Cover Lines
As well as a lead
line, the front
page also needs
cover lines so the
reader will know
what is inside the
magazine, and if
they see
something
interesting or fun
they will want to
buy the magazine.

7. Banner
Banners are used to show the
reader what is inside the
magazine, but in less detail than
the cover lines. I did this by
making a box, bringing down the
opacity.

8. Finishing Adjustments…
In the end, I rotated my
masthead slightly, and
added a pink shadow to
make it more colourful
and would appeal to the
target audience of girls. I
right clicking on the layer,
and using the drop
shadow options in
‘Blending Options’.
To make the magazine look more
realistic, I added in a barcode I found
on the internet.

9. Stages for my actual magazine
My final magazine is called ‘Beat’. I went through numerous
stages on Photoshop to create three separate pages; The front
cover, Double Page Spread and Contents page.

10. Front cover…
Masthead…
My first stage was to put in my
masthead. I simply did this by
opening the JPEG file, then
dragging the image using the
‘Move Tool’ onto a plain ‘A4’
page which would be the
‘Background’ layer of my Front
Cover. I adjusted the size to fit
nicely into the left corner of my
magazine. The reason for this is
because it is where magazines
traditionally place their
Tools I used:
mastheads because of where
they are placed on shelves in
shops, so they can be easily seen
from afar.
Move Tool (v)

11. Lead Image…
Next I put in my lead image,
I did this again by opening the
Image and drag and dropping
onto my Front Cover. I then
changed the image layer to
greyscale because I wanted
to make the image look more
serious.
How I changed it the layer to greyscale:
Then I was
greeted with
this screen, I
Then I clicked used some of
Select the the sliders until
the ‘Black and
‘Image’ the image
white..’ option
option, then looked how I
from the
‘Adjustments’ wanted it to,
menu.
then clicked
‘OK’.

12. Banner and vital information…
Next I put in my banner and my
vital information, this time I used
the ‘Text’ tool and the
‘Rectangle Tool’
tool to create the banner. I
simply made it by creating a
rectangle, then placing the
correct size font on the top. I also
create a Plus sign using the ‘Line’
tool, then Merging the two
layers together, after which I used
‘Blending Options’ to create a
drop shadow.
Tools I used: For the information I simply used
the ‘Text’ tool. I used the font
Rectangle Tool
‘Centaury Gothic’ which is very
similar to the font used for the
Blending option masthead.
Text Tool
Line Tool

13. Lead Line…
For my lead line, I wanted it
to be slightly off centred in
the page, and in the same font as
the current text on the page. I
also wanted it to have the same
colours as the rest of the
Front page, so I used the colour
panel to change some of the
text to white and some to
orange to create a more
interesting look. I also used the
italics button to make some of
the text italic.
Tools I used:
Text Tool Character Tool Box

14. Cover Lines...