Welcome Post

Dear Moderator,

I have completed all the tasks in this process myself including my preliminary task (a school magazine) as well as my music magazine for which I have made a front cover, contents page and double page spread. I have completed all these using Photoshop and I completed my evaluation using Prezi. In my blog I have included the different things which I used to help me throughout this process and I hope you enjoy looking through it all.

From Remi Martinelli
Candidate Number: 9122

Evaluation

double page spread explanation

In one of my previous blogs, I looked at We Love Pop magazine's double page spread for ideas on how to go about mine. I said that I wanted to use a couple of ideas from the analysis that I did of that magazine.
Firstly, I used the idea of the questions being put in a different colour to the answers so that the reader could differentiate between the two. For my interview, I put the questions in pink and the answers in black so that they were different. Secondly, I also used the quote idea but I made it a lot smaller than the one of the We Love Pop magazine. I used two quotes, rather than one big one because I wanted it to be slightly different to the magazine I looked at.
I did use one large image on the right hand side but I also had text around it because I felt like one page would just be wasted otherwise.
Although I said I liked the idea that the singers name wasn't in bold, large font, on the We Love Pop magazine, I wanted my bands name to be seen because I think the audience would rather see that this is whose interview they will be reading.

Double page spread final

I made a few changes to the double page spread. Firstly, I re cropped the left top photo and the photo on the right hand side to make the edges smoother. I also moved the final interview question over to the right a bit more and added another quote from the interview in a large bold font. The first quote I had wasn't bold enough to stand out so I used 'perpetua titling mt' font as it was already in capitals and easy to read. At the bottom on the right hand side, there was a white area where I had previously cropped the brick wall background (not very neatly), so I got the original image of the brick wall and cropped a long piece to fit in at the bottom to cover the white. Over the top of this, I added the wesbite link for 'behind the scenes extras' so that the reader knows they can find out more information on the interview. It is also promoting the wesbite.

cropping photo 2

cropping

 

 

 

Double page spread practises

This was the first attempt at the double page spread, but not completed. While doing it I found that I couldn't place all the images where I wanted along with the amount of text I had so before I finished, I decided to make some changes:

Firstly, I added page numbers into the corners of the pages. Also, I removed the bottom right image because I felt it didn't really have a place within the double page spread, so I enlarged the top right image to make it stand out more, and more obvious that they were the focus of this article, rather than have 4 small images. I also changed the font of the interview because it is easier to read.

I am going to re crop the photos from the left hand side to make them more sharp because once the page is printed, those mistakes may look obvious.

contents explanation

On one of my previous blogs on Clash magazine contents page, I said I liked the idea that it was simple but held enough information. However, I didn't really go along with this idea because as I was making my contents page, I realised that I wanted it to be similar in style to my front cover. This was the reason I used a brick wall as my background because it looked like it fitted in with the front cover, so I didn't go along with the 'plain' and 'simple' style.
I did, however, use the page number idea but as I only had one image of a band that was to be contained in my magazine, I only did this once, and rather than using a circle, I used a rectangle shape.
Clash magazine used a lot of images which I did not do. I only used one image of a band, then an image of the editor because I wanted to fit other information in too.
The 'free download' part was kind of used, but instead of making it a main part, I listed it in the contents list but put 'free download' in a different colour to stand out from the rest of the text.

Contents page complete

Here is the final draft of the contents page. I changed the page numbers of the contents because the numbers I had before weren't enough for a monthly magazine. I've added a slogan above the 'contents' because it adds a more quirky style to it, which is how I want my magazine to seem. Also, because the background is a brick wall, the slogan 'the writing on the wall' links in with that. The font of the website and what the website contains, is in the style I used for the 'Liberty' title on the front cover. It is again bringing across the country feel of the magazine. The red colour makes it look like it's almost been 'graffitied' or spray painted onto the wall.

contents page changes

I added a few more pages to the contents list, as advised, because it is a monthly magazine and 26 pages was not enough content for a monthly magazine.

Contents Page Music Magazine

 

This is my final design for my contents page of my music magazine. From my previous blogs, you can see how I have completely changed it from the original idea, only keeping one or two things the same. I decided that the plain background didn't really work very well and it didn't really carry on the theme of 'country' from my front cover. I decided that to look like it was from the same magazine, I would want a brick wall background so it was more effective. I took the picture of the brick wall in school then, using photoshop put a brightened effect on it to match the front cover.
I looked at some Clash magazine contents pages to get an idea of the sort of look I wanted and I noticed that, as their backgrounds are usually plain white, they just had the 'contents' text on the background. But because my background was patterned, I decided that I needed a box around the 'contents' piece of text. So I decided to use the custom tool and used the speech bubble shape because it gave it a more quirky look which is what I was aiming for.
The one thing I did keep the same was the editor image and editors words in the bottom left hand corner.
Although I still used the 'Skinny Genes' image, I placed it up higher on the right hand side to allow room for information on subscriptions because the subscription idea is something that is likely to attract readers to read more. I placed a scan code in with the subscription box so it is easy for readers to be able to go straight to the website just by a simple scan of their phone. It keeps the magazine up to date with its readers.

front cover explanation

In a previous blog, I analysed and looked at Nylon magazine for ideas on my front cover. In a similar way to Nylon magazine, I also used my image as the main focus of the front cover because I liked the way it looked. I think it looked more effective than using a few images dotted around. I also wanted to make sure that there was not a lot in the background of the main image because I wanted the focus to be on the two girls, with no distraction from anything behind them. This was the reason I liked the brick wall idea because it was not really distracting anyone from the main image.
I also put any text around the edges of the image, again so as not to distract from the photo but at the same time be noticed by the reader. This was the reason I also used bright colours for the text, like the different shades of pink and purple, because although the image was more noticeable, the text would also be because of the colours used.
The only difference with Nylon magazine and my magazine is that the barcode is in a different place. Nylon magazine has it in the right hand corner, but mine was placed in the left hand corner.

Front Cover Music Magazine

 

This is my final design for the front cover of my music magazine using photoshop. I used this image because I wanted it to be seen straight away: the part of the magazine you would initially look at. I also felt that the brick wall background was effective because it gives the magazine more of an edgy look and the country/indie look I was aiming for. As my magazine is aimed at girls aged 12-17, I used the pink and purple colours for the different texts because itwould attract my target audience. I had originally used a maroon colour for all of the text on the front page but, although it looked effective, I felt it did not really come across to the target audience.
I made sure to put the barcode in the right third so that if it were to be on a shelf, that could be seen along with the price above it.

The font that I used for the 'LIBERTY' logo was called rosewood, and I felt that this was the font that really represented my country theme. Not only that but it stood out more than others I had tried as it was quite bold.

Contents Page music magazine analysis

This is a printscreen of the contents page of my music magazine before it was completed. I have included the image of the band Skinny Genes, who were on the front cover, and an image of the editor of the magazine. I kept the font and size of 'Liberty' exactly the same as the front cover, obviously, because it is a recognisable logo. I used custom shape tools for the shapes with text on on this page.

This is the completed contents page, with the added 'words from the editor' in a box with a drop shadow. This is placed next to the picture of the editor so that it's obvious who is saying it.

Front cover draft analysis

Here is a print screen of my final front cover design for my music magazine. This is just a draft at the moment because I have been advised to make a few changes, like making the barcode smaller and changing the positioning of certain pieces of text etc. These are a few points of what different tools I have used at the moment to get this draft where it is now.

This is the second print screen of the changes I made to the front cover. I changed the colours of the texts to pinks and purples so that it is likely to be attracted by the girl audience. I made the barcode smaller and thinner so that it did not take up too much space but was still seen. I moved a few things around and made the font size bigger on a couple of things.

Location of photos

To take my picures, I went to Harlow Common. The reason I chose this location was because, firstly it links with my country style of my magazine. I think the fact that the horses were there helped me to portray this country style and also, the checked shirts that Katie and Lizzie wore are associated with this style too. The only problem we had with this location was that it was really muddy, so any shots I wanted with their shoes in were difficult to take because of the mud we got on our shoes.
Also, as Harlow Common has a lot of greenery, I think it set the scene nicely because it showed a 'peaceful' atmosphere which I wanted my band to get across. In the middle of the common, there is a round huddle of trees and we went through there to take a few images because I think the twigs as a background looked really effective.

The second location we used was a brick wall and a staircase underneath a block of flats in the Rundells in Harlow. This was only a short walk from the first location at the common. The reason I chose the brick wall background was because it helped create more of a focus on the two girls, rather than having any distraction from anything in the background. I liked this location because the wind blew through, creating a flow in their hair which was an image I had already pictured that I wanted to take. However, sometimes it blew the opposite way, so in some photos their hair is over their face.

Photos

Here are my photos that I took for my music magazine. Some already have a slight effect on them because I took them on my iphone and used an app called cam wow. Others are plain but I will edit the ones I want in photoshop.

Draft design double page spread

Here is the double page spread design of the interview with the girlband 'Skinny Genes'. The boxes will be various images of the girlband so it is more information on them as well as their answering questions. The gaps inbetween will be where all the questions are, with the questions in pink and the answers in black so you can differentiate between the two. A large image will be placed in the right hand corner of Skinny Genes as it will be the first thing they will see when they turn the page so would instantly recognise them and know that the article is about them.

Draft design contents page

My draft design for my contents page, again using paint. I have included the magazine name again to get the name more noticed. The list of what to expect in the magazine is listed on one side, with the page numbers and other important information in pink to stand out against the black. The picture of the editor along with a message from them will be in one corner. The other corner will have another picture of the band 'Skinny Genes' and font within a bold shape to say what page you'll find the interview on. Other bold shapes are used to make the competition more noticed too.

Draft design for my front cover

Here is my draft design for my music magazine 'Liberty' which I created using paint. I have included the main image in the centre of the page to ensure that the band 'Skinny Genes' are the main focus of it. With this I have included the 'exclusive interview' part and the way they found their way to music, to make the audience want to read more inside. Just above this I have used a 'quote' from the band to give a little taster of what is likely to be said inside. The '20 best bands this season VOTED BY YOU!' is there to encourage the reader to want to see this seeing as they have been 'a part' of it. The free skinny genes download is in a bold shape to stand out and be more enticing to the reader. The title of the magazine is bold and I have spaced out the letters so it is more of a statement and likely to be read easier. The magazine's slogan 'freedom of music' is in the top right corner to show the magazines intentions. I have included the date and issue of the magazine, a bar code and the magazines website to show there is more ways the reader can interact.

 

 

More outfit ideas

 On Google images, I typed in 'country style clothing' for more ideas on what sort of clothing to use for my pictures. One of the first things that came up, again, was checked shirts with jeans and shorts. The majority of the images that came up after this search were of checked shirts, so I know now that I will definitely use this idea because it is obviously what people associate with 'country'.
 

This second image is also an idea I like because it uses dungarees, which is something I would personally associate with country. Also, the shirt is a good idea because it is a cool style and also, Katie, one of my models, actually has this shirt so it would be a good idea to use it!

Outfit ideas

I have looked at Taylor Swift's style for ideas on what I want my models to wear for my magazine. As I am looking at a country/pop style, Taylor Swift is a well known singer who is associated with this type of style. Before looking at pictures of her, I had already thought that I wanted to use checked shirts as one of the outfits, so when I found this picture of her wearing a checked shirt, I have decided that I want to carry on with this idea.

Ideas for my music magazine

Here is a list of my expectations from my music magazine, including the price, name, style etc.

We Love Pop magazine double page spread

 

 

This is the double page spread/interview in We Love Pop magazine. I chose to look at this for ideas on my music magazine because I like the way it is set out. I like the idea that there is one main image of the celebrity because it helps the reader to focus on the reason this interview is there -because of this singer. Also, the way the singer's name is only small suggests that the reader will already know who this person is, so it would suggest that this magazine is purchased for being 'up-to-date' with well-known singers.

I also like how the quote from Cher Lloyd has been used as another focal point of the interview because it gives a little sneak peek of what is to come in the interview, keeping the reader interested. I think this is an idea I will definitely use.

Another thing I like is the way the questions are in a different colour to the answers that the singer gives. It is then easier for the reader to recognise the differences between the two, and easier for them to read. This is another idea I think that I will use. 

Clash magazine contents page

This is Clash magazine's contents page. I looked at this for ideas on the style that I want my music magazine to be. I like the way that the page numbers are in large, bold circles by the image because they stand out and I think they look effective. I also like the fact that there is more than one image of celebrities used because it shows there is a lot of content to the magazine, and not just based around one singer/band. I think I may use the 'free music download' idea because it would entice the reader to read the magazine and be interested in what it has to offer. This contents page is simple but also holds all the information needed.

Nylon magazine style

My music magazine is going to be based around country/pop, like Taylor Swift style. Nylon magazine is one I am looking at as it's target audience is also girls who are interested in music as well as fashion. Although it is a music magazine, I want my images used to also be fashion based so that it suits all girls needs. The bright colours used here is how I would like to my magazine to be because I want them to stand out but also be attractive to my target audience. Also, the image will be based in the centre, like this one, with minimal writing round the edge- just enough to be attracted to.