Candidate Information

Centre Name : Wilmington Grammar School for Girls

Centre Number : 61119

Candidate Name : Louisa-Grace Hurrell

Candidate Number : 6128

Final Products : Preliminary School Magazine And Music Magazine

Evaluation Question 7

Q7 Looking back at your preliminary task, what have you learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

The main thing for me about completing the preliminary task was getting used to the programmes I would be using for my final product. Not only this but it helped me to start thinking in a particular way, so that I could produce a magazine. Considering how to photograph a model or a particular object in a way that shows it in its full potential. In addition to this, thinking about the research, and how to layout the progression to the final product was started in the preliminary, looking at narrowing down my research so that it was targeted at what I would produce.

Since completing my preliminary task I have learnt many skills, such as taking photographs, thinking about the posisiton of the model what she is wearing, the make up and the lighting. All of this together would produce a good quality product. Not only this but I learnt how to modify and edit a photograph in Photoshop so that any shadows or imperfections could be taken out of the photograph and in my case edit the colour of the photo to black and white. Along with this I learnt how to use InDesign, a programme that I had never used before, creating layouts, layers of text and objects to create my pages. In particular using the text layout options for the double page spread something I found quite challenging.

Evaulation Question 6

Evaluation Question 4 and 5

Evaluation Questions 4 & 5 on Prezi

Evaluation Question 3

Q3 What kind of media institution would distribute your media product and why?

These companies already publish music magazines, that have been quite successful, I think that there is a gap in the market for a product like mine, for one of these companies to publish. The unique look of my magazine would appeal to their already unique products they have out there, however mine would be totally different. I think that these media institutions would be able to publish and distribute my product the best. 

Evaluation Question 2

Evaluation Question 1

Final Double Page Spread

Making of Double Page Spread

Here are a few screen shots to show the making of my double page spread, the above show how I created my title, putting it on a text path so that it fitted in with the shape of the vinyl. Then picking up the yellow colour from the lighting to give impact to the title. I also started to add the text, including large quotes from the article, a convention of a magazine, along with the illuminated letter at the beginning of paragraphs, and the caption of the photograph.

After playing around with the layout I decided to use text wrap and put all the text in one box so that it fits on the page more neatly with spacing that gave a more professional look.

I had to look at the writing and layout of the page more carefully. The hyphenated words did not make the page look professional or finished. I also needed to think about the spacing and guttering around the text. 

Font Experiment Double Page Spread

Again I looked at and experimented with fonts as I have for the other pages of my magazine, this time looking at font that is more suitable for an article. I looked at a font that looked more handwritten. Here you can see I looked at Freehand. However I felt that it would not have been easy to read. In addition to this, I also felt that it was not often used in a magazine itself. So I decided against it, and again stuck to the Trebucht font I have used.

Double Page Spread Sketches

Second Photoshoot for Double Page Spread

I took a second lot of photographs for my contents page as the first few did not come out well at all. This time thinking more about the lighting, reflecting the flash with white paper to create interesting shots.  I looked at photographing my Vinyl player,  here are three of the best photographs.

First Photoshoot for Double Page Spread

 These is my first photoshoot for the photographs on my contents page. They have not come out very well, the lighting was poor and it does not show the colour of the LP on the record player. I would prefer the colours and look of the photograph to be lighter so that it is not as flat.

These two pictures have very different colours the one to the right has quite an orange tone to the entire photograph and the one below has a yellow tone to it. Neither of which give a nice effect. In addition to this the background in the photograph does not look very nice.

Research of Photographs for Double Page Spread

After deciding that I wanted the subject of my double page spread photograph to be a record player, this fits in with a story on my front cover and also the vintage style of my magazine, I knew that I needed to look into how other people had taken photographs of vinyl players.

 I like how the focus has been used to look at just the needle of the vinyl player. I also think the colours created and the shine on the record make the photograph work well.

 In this photograph the colour of the middle of the vinyl appears to be the focal point. I also like the shadow created by the needle as I think it gives the photograph depth. When taking my photographs I will have to think about how I can really capture the shape of the record.

 Again this photograph gives off a very metallic look, maybe too modern for the type of photograph that I would like for my style of magazine. But it is important that I maybe include the needle, the record and some of the record player so that it gives the best impact.

Out of all the photographs I chose to look at this is the only one which includes the actual record player. I could experiment when taking my photographs as to whether or not have this in focus too. Either producing a photograph like the ones above, or actually changing the shape of the photograph by including the square and boxy look of the vinyl player itself.

Research Double Page Spread

I found it difficult to find magazine double page spreads that fitted into my type of magazine. So I decided to look at the general layout of different magazines. This would give me a variety of ideas that I could use to ifluence the work I produce.
In this double page spread the photograph used is to the left hand side, and the writing to the right. This seems a conventional layout for a doubel page spread. I particularly like how the USA is the biggest title and the subtitle overlays this. All of the colours are kept plain and simple, too many colours may mean that the page becomes too busy.

 In comparison to the previous double page spread, this one appears to be more blocky and bold, through the title and layout of the different photographs. This gives a very neat and professional finish, again the layout of writing and photographs is similar.

 Unlike the previous two magazine double page spreads, this particular layout has the photograph as a banner across the top of the page with the writing underneath. From what the model is wearing to the title, font and background the main colours of blue, white and black have been stuck too. I like how the conventional layout of a double page spread has been challenged, I think that within my work I would like to produce something different that also fits my style of magazine.

The photograph on this double page spread has been used for the entire background of the page. I like the way this works, as colours have been picked out from the photograph to use for the title and font.

Final Contents Page

I decided to sketch out how I could improve my contents page as I felt that there was a lot of space on the page and it did not look full enough. After referring to my research I decided that I could add a subscription box.

However, I used the colour dropper to pick up and introduce a new colour to the page by looking at the colours in the LP photograph. Choosing the blue, so that the subscription details could stand out. Something I had found within my research. Also adding a jpeg of my front cover, another convention I found in my research.




Here is my final contents page.

Making of Contents Page and First Draft

When making my contents page I tried to make sure that it followed on the similar style to my front cover by keeping the same font and colours, I did this by using the colour dropper. Not only this but I edited the text using the character tools.

Changing the spacing between letters, making them closer together, also manipulating the height.















For the photograph of the LPs I used as a background I put a gradient layer over it, so that part of it was white, this meant that the text could be put over the top and read more easily.

This all resulted in my final draft of a contents page.

Font Experiment Contents Page

I decided to look at a more narrow selection of fonts, taken from my previous font research.

However I have concluded to stick with the same font that I used on the front of my magazine to have some continuation and as I feel it looks the most professional and most legible.

Contents Page Final Layout Sketch

After my sketching and looking back at my research I decided to work with the following design. Obviously I knew this could change when it came to producing the product as images, colours and the sizes could not work out.

Contents Page Layout

I decided to sketch out different possible layout options for my contents page, this was to see how I could make the most of the space I had. Not only this but to take inspiration from my research and use it so that I can create a magazine that has a professional look.

Second Contents Page Photoshoot

I decided to look back to my research and rethink about how to take my photograph, thinking about the layout of the page more and the direction of photograph.

First Photoshoot Contents Page

 

 

Research Contents Page Photograph

Due to the design of my magazine I have decided to photograph Vinyls for my contents page.

I particularly like the way this photograph has been taken. It shows the worn records, on the sleeves, and also has a variety of colour but not many different shapes.

I like how you can see the artists in this photograph, and the variety of sleeves and covers of the albums. However, it does not give the vintage, old look that I desire for my magazine.

Again I like the colours in this photograph, and I particularly like the layout. However, I do not think it would suit the portrait shape of the contents page.

I like the angle at which this photograph has been taken. Again I also like how you can see how the records have aged, and look older than a brand new CD for instance. Suiting the look of my magazine.



Research Contents Page

I decided to look at different contents pages to get an idea of layout and the overall look and conventions that are used on contents pages to see if I could apply them to my contents page.

 This contents page has very cleverly used an entire picture as the background with the text and other features layered over the top. Similar colours have been used, greys, blacks and whites. With a very soft image and subtle look. The models legs creating the V shape of the title of the magazine. Keeping shapes similar and creating an easier layout to work with.












This contents page has used one picture surrounded by the text with subheadings, the black, white and red colours used throughtout and even matched in the picture by what the subject is wearing. There is a subscription box, showing a picture of this weeks issue, something often done by magazines. The same font and typeface is used throughout the page, with a very stuctured layout, following the rule of thirds.

 This contents page is very different to the last two and has a picture to go with each story that is in the issue. This making it more visual with less writing in ratio with the amount of pictures. The plain background white, with black writing on top keeps it very simple looking, again with the same font used throught the pages, with bolder bits and italic parts for quotes to stand out, to grab the readers attention.

 Similarly to the second contents page I looked at there is one main picture and another smaller picture used at the bottom of the page. Again it keeps the same colours, red, white and black with some grey colours as well. It also has subtitles and page numbers associated with each feature that is in the magazine that week. Highlighting what was on the front page as main features, it also has a section that is in the magazine every month, so regular pages that readers who get the magazine often know where to go for certain features they may like.

The main feature of this contents page is definitely the picture, it relates to one of the stories within the magazine, it has very little writing in comparison to the last few contents pages. It also commends the model and artists who created the front cover of this issue. With very simiple colours and a soft tone, similarly to the other magazines.

I have found that I need to probably keep the same font throughout the page and also simple colours, maybe 2 or 3. This would give the smartest and simplist effect. Also considering the rule of 3 when trying to layout my contents page, including photograph, title and features. Continuing the stories that are on my front cover, highlighting the most important one. Other conventions I can think about using is a subscription or a regulars section. These will all help to make my contents page look professional.

Final Front Cover

After looking at the evaluation points from the draft of my front cover I decided to make a few changes to the look of my front cover. I kept the same colour scheme, decided to use a new font and edited the way I made certain objects on the page. For example, the WIN circle in the top right hand corner of the page. The following print screens show how I made the text fit the shape of the circle to give a neater finish.



Above is a jpeg of my final front cover, the improvements have made my magazine have a more finished and neater look. The colour is now more evenly spread, and the photograph looks more natural and confident in comparison to the previous one I used.