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. 

Second Photoshoot for Front Cover

Here are a few photographs that I took for my second photoshoot, these were taken after my other magazine front cover was completed as I realised that they needed to be of higher quality.

Front Cover Rough Evaluation

Making of Rough Music Magazine Front Cover Continued

Following this I took my photograph into Adobe InDesign to create my front cover.

After placing the photograph I decided to add the font I had chosen, however, I have changed the colour. Making the font the same red as the lips, using the colour picker and having the outer glow of black.










Here is a short video clip of different components I had to experiment with when making my front cover.

My next step was to add a tag line, something to capture the readers attention, I had found this was used by magazines quite often and I decided to match it with the colours I am using but using a different font.

I then added another common feature, a circle with text in, usually advertising a competition. Here I introduce a 3rd colour to give the front cover more diversity. I also changed the angle at which part of the text stood to give it emphasis.

I then decided to change the angle at which the circle object sat.










When adding the text to the front cover I had to think about the type of music and bands that would appeal to my target audience. Here is a youtube video of one of the bands I chose.

I then started to add other magazine conventions, the text describing what was in the issue. I also created my own barcode to put on the front of the magazine, in another InDesign document copying it over. I also added a similar picture to the one I will be using in my double page spread, to show what is inside the magazine.




Resulting in my final rough magazine design. I will need to go back and tweek elements.

Making of Rough Music Magazine Front Cover

To get to my final front cover I had to go through various stages and trials and errors. Finding out what worked and what didn't, constantly referring to my research as I went a long.

Once I had chosen the picture that best fitted the layout I had chosen for my front cover I decided to take it into Adobe Photoshop to edit it. The first thing I did was to eliminate any shadows caused by the lighting with the clone tool. I also used this to make colours more full and bright.

As I was still unhappy with how flat the model appeared I decided to look at the tone and contrast of the photograph. Then finally deciding to experiment with a black and white effect to create a more vintage style.

However, I felt I needed a focal point, something to stand out, so created a new layer and copied and pasted the red lips of my model onto this. Then applied the black and white effect, changing the hue and saturation of this. Then finally revealing the red lips as the top layer.

This is the photograph I ended up with to use on my front cover.