Magazine Front Cover Production in Photoshop (First Draft)

Critical Evaluation of First Draft of Front Cover

Critical evaluation of first draft of front cover

For my magazine, I am aiming it to be in the genre of rock and indie music. I think this front cover represents the style of an indie music magazine more than it does for a rock magazine. I think this is due to the colours, however, I think the masthead of ‘Riot’ does bring it all together and tie in in the fact that this magazine both incorporates rock and indie music. I think it also represents the aim well as it gives you information about what’s in the magazine and the type of articles you’ll find inside.

Some of the coverlines are easier to read than others due to their brighter and more vivid colours, compared to some of the other dark colours used. However, the additional text (coverlines) on the front cover could be made easier to read, as well as fit in more with the main house style of the magazine. The coverlines overlap my main image of the artist, however, she is still clearly visible and the coverlines that surround her do not obscure the main overall look. The font of the coverlines are plain, simple and easy to read, which makes it easier for the audience. They also contrast to the masthead’s font, and I think this gives the magazine a unique edge, making it stand out. The masthead is very prominent, placed in the centre middle of the cover and stands out with its bold use of colours, as well as keeping in with the overall look, though this doesn’t keep in with magazine conventions, as usually, they’re placed in the top left corner. However, I don’t think this makes my music magazine unprofessional or any less like a music magazine, and with the use of a barcode, date, price and issue number, it really pulls together making it look more like a real music magazine.

The colours used all tie in together and link with the main house style, as well as the main image itself, and I think this makes it and effective front cover. However, I think it could also be problematic, as the colours of the coverlines may not stand out against the image and draw in readers. Also, the colour of the dark red used on the coverlines of ‘Molly Booker’ and ‘Molly’s first official interview’ link back to the colour of the artists lipstick and so those particular coverlines are recognisable to the main story of the girl on the cover. The background has turned out to have a gradient effect due to the lighting during the photoshoot, though I think there is a nice and even balance, which does not affect the front cover in a negative way.

Aimed at young people aged 16 to 20, I think this magazine front cover is appropriate for my target audience as it fits in with the conventions of a magazine for young people. It attracts more of a younger audience, than an older one, which is what was intended. However, when thinking of my design intentions, this front cover draft is not how I intended it to be, it has warmer, pink, purple tones to it than intended, though I still think I have achieved a reasonable cover in comparison to my initial designs.

Photoshoot with Rebecca

Photoshoot with Molly Booker

Photoshoot Sketches: Rebecca

Rebecca's photoshoot sketches for positions etc. 

For Rebecca's photoshoot, I was thinking for it to be outdoors, so it contrasts Molly's photoshoot, as well as providing some variety in the images in the final magazine. The location would be in the woods, surrounded by trees, or on a field, and would be at around 3/4, so we can catch good sunlight, to create a more natural look to the photos, which again, contrasts to Molly's photoshoot, as hers will be inside with a bright, white light. 

Photoshoot Sketches: Molly

Molly's photoshoot sketches for positions etc.

For Molly's photoshoot, my ideas were for it to be indoors, against a white background, with possibly a guitar in some photographs. 

Outfit Plans for Rebecca - Photoshoot Preparation

Rebecca - Outfit Plans by hannahatsumi 

Outfit Plans for Molly Booker - Photoshoot Preparation

Molly Booker - outfit plans by hannahatsumi 

Interview Questions for Molly Booker

These are the questions I am going to ask Molly Booker, though her answers may spin off more questions.

• What kind of music do you like?

• How did you get into music?

• Who inspired you?

• If you were to one day go on tour, who would you love to go on tour with?

• So would you say that the kind of idea of touring, is what keeps you motivated?

• Are you producing any new music now?

• So, apart from music, what other things are you passionate about?

• What is your favourite film?

• What's your favourite album?

• What's your current obsession?

• What are your plans for the future?

I have also added some Quickfire questions that I will ask, though I am still unsure as to whether I will actually use them in my magazine:

• Skinny or baggy?
• Fizzy or still?
• Socks or no socks?
• Hair up or down?
• Fake tan or no tan?
• Jake Bugg or Shangri La
• America or England
• McDonalds or Pizza Hut?
• Coffee or tea?
• The 1975 or Bastille?
• Black or colour?
• Apple or Android?
• Piercing or no piercings?
• Tattoos or no tattoos?
• The Hobbit or The Lord of The Rings?
• Rock or electro?
• Acoustic or electric?
• Starbucks or Costa?
• Skirt or jeans?
• Dr. Pepper or Coke?
• Pop or indie?

Articles for my Contents Page

These are the articles that I will use for my contents page:

Features:

• Revealed: Foals' new album
• Exclusive interview with Bring Me The Horizon
• Rebecca!
• Sky Ferreira talks about her love for making music
• Brand New and their upcoming success
• swim Deep and Peace talk about their upcoming tour together
• Bombay Bicycle Club: exclusive photoshoot!
• Basement talk to us about their future plans
• Grimes and an European tour?
• The Front Bottoms talk about their rising fame
• Chvrches talk to us about XXYYXX and MS MR
• La Dispute: on their upcoming UK tour
• MGMT, Tame Impala and Alt-J

Regulars:

• Riot Mail
• Advice from Vic of PTV
• Your questions answered by Jack Barakat, of All Time Low
• Tour bus tales with: You Me At Six
• Posters!

These will depend on the space I have on my contents page. I chose these articles because they portray both the rock genre of my magazine, and the indie/alternative genre of my magazine, which I have decided to aim for. 

Pre-Production Planning: Mastheads and Article Ideas

Magazine names:

I wrote the mastheads in the font that I would use for my actual magazine on the titles that I was more interested in.

Article ideas:

Features:

• New solo artist brings a new sound to the music industry! (Main article)
• Pop-punks hottest band get ready to explode! 
• Revealed! Tonight Alive's new album
• Tour bus tales with All Time Low
• Bring Me The Horizon's Oli Sykes: "I just want to make people happy"
• Bastille on: All This Bad Blood

Regulars:

• Your questions answered with Jack Barakat, of All Time Low
• Tour dates of 2014
• Posters

Double Page Spread Flatplans

Follow hannah's board Double Page Spread Flatplans on Pinterest.

For this fifth design, I was inspired by this double page spread from Tatler magazine. Though Tatler magazine is a fashion magazine, I really liked this page layout.

Contents Page Flatplans

Follow hannah's board Contents Page Production - Flatplan on Pinterest.

From my flatplans, I have decided to do the first design. This is because I like the layout of the design, and unique when compared to other magazines of similar genres/content, giving it an edge and something new for readers. I decided that I would have my contents page title coming through the middle of the page, rather than at the top, which goes against the normal conventions, however, I think this breaks up the page, adding a sense of overall balance. I would have my main image (the main article) across the top, almost separate from the rest of the articles, making it clear to the reader where they can find the article, as well as a brief description.

The second design is similar to the first, however, feels more busy, making it harder to read for the reader.

The third design is different form the other two, with the contents page title at the top and a more conventional look to the overall page. I decided not to do this design as it feels a little busy, and less coordinated than the other designs.

Front Cover Flatplans

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Looking at these, I am considering either doing the second or fourth design. I think the second design clearly shows the masthead, therefore making it clear to the market what this magazine is called, thus giving them an insight into what type of magazine it is and the content it produces, due to the words 'Riot'. This design also shows who is featured on the front cover as the artists name is clearly visible, though if I carry out this design, I would consider making the masthead more visible than the artist's name. This design doesn't particularly follow the normal codes and conventions as the masthead is in the middle of the cover, not in the top-left side. However, when looking at the first design with the masthead following the conventions, I am unhappy with the result as there seems too much empty space that I would struggle to fill.

I like the layout of the fourth design, however, I think there are definitely improvements to be made on this one, as with the masthead being at the bottom of the cover, there is less visibility in terms of being on the shelf. Instead, what would be seen would be the artists name, 'Molly Booker'. This challenges the normal codes and conventions, as usually, the masthead is placed at the top left of the cover.

Looking at my designs and considering which one I would like, I have come to the conclusion that for my front cover, I will do the second design.