Contents Page

Double Page Spread

Final Product: Front Cover

From the preliminary task where I had basically no Photoshop skills and had never made a magazine before, to now where I have made my own front cover, contents page and double page spread alone; I can see a massive progression in skills and I'm very proud of the final outcome.

InDesign

These are the skills that I have learnt from doing this magazine project, and before this assessment I had never used InDesign before so these are all developed skills that I'm very pleased about and will continue to develop them.

Photoshop

These are some highlighted techniques I have learnt throughout the process of making my magazine and before this project I had never used Photoshop before.

Time Management

This is my completed time management sheet that help me plan everything there was to taking the 4 photos I needed to be featured in my magazine. 

Double Page Spread

Contents Page

This Kerrang contents page has kept in with the stereotypical colour scheme of a rock magazine: black, red and white. You can see that the contents page is mainly image dominated but also with that blocky effect to keep in with the house style. The main image stands because it is wild and the stereotypical convention of what a rock concert should look like, eg someone plunging head first into a crowd of sweaty shirtless men with long hair. The image represents the attitude that Kerrang has and potentially the attitude that the readers have also, as being shocking outrageous and exciting, as this image is featured in the Kerrang magazine the readers will aspire to be like that. The other images are placed underneath the main images so the readers eyes will go straight to them after, they are placed in slanty formation which is dynamic and fits in with the messy house style. One of the images contain a band with lively expressions and hand gestures showing the daring attitude that the magazine has to offer, and as this is only the contents page it shows the reader the what to expect throughout the magazine. The contents page features active words like ‘LIVE’ and ‘WIN’ which are used to appeal to the energetic audience, it is clear that most of the information is about gigs and bands which meets the audiences expectations as Kerrang is a music magazine and gives them a feel for whats to come in the magazine. As the contents page list on the right has a lot of short bursts of information this will appeal to the audience as they will expect to find a lot of information in the magazine. 

From my analysis I will use the features in the image of having models that look like how a typical rock star should look like and for it to meet the readers expectations and what they aspire to be. This contents page is more image dominated than the others I have analysed, I prefer this and want a more imaged dominated like this for my contents page as it is known that images are more interesting and eye catching than a lot of text. Under my main image I will have other smaller images like this contents page, as the readers eyes will be draw straight from the main image to the smaller images and then the text so they are slowly looking at all the features in my contents page without feeling overpowered. I will use the features of having images and words slanted to keep in with the conventional messy house style of a rock magazine and use the words like ‘WIN’ and ‘FREE’ to draw the audience in and everyone enjoys winning things and free stuff!

Again this Kerrang contents page has a blocky theme but is also image dominated within that blocky theme. Throughout the front cover there are only 3 main colours (yellow, black and white) used to keep the house style,  and again with the use of black and yellow with the main word ‘contents’ to make it stand out and keep in with the colour scheme. This black block and yellow writing is a key feature throughout the whole contents page to  make it easier to read and for the format to look clean and well presented. There is also a quote on the contents page from a specific band that has been interviewed in the magazine, that has been shown on the contents page for a tasted of what’s to come throughout the magazine and for you to get a personal feel from the band. Next to the block images are the bands names in bold which stand out and is easy for the reader to see, next the bands names are the page numbers so the readers can immediately see where to find it. The main image used is the main article for this issue of Kerrang, the image is large enough to draw attention to it, which is what the magazine wants the readers to do. From getting the attention from the reader on to the main image there eyes will automatically go to the other smaller images around that and read the stories connected to those images. There is more than one image because a stereotypical rock magazine contents page has a blocky theme with different images from gigs. 

From this analysis of  contents page I will use the blocky theme as it seems to be a recurring convention of rock contents pages., but also have it imaged dominated within the blocky theme. I will also be keeping in with 3 main colours: black, red and white. Having a key theme throughout the contents page such as the black block with yellow writing is important, as it will put the readers mind at ease and they will not be overpowered with information. Also it will make everything easier to read as it will be more clear for the reader. A quote from the main interview will be featured on the contents page so the readers know what the feel of the magazine is and can create a personal connection with the band before even reading the article as they’re directly talking to the reader.

Contents Analysis

This Kerrang contents page is in a blocky form but also image dominated as the images take over the whole page, interesting the reader and giving them an insight into the magazine so they don’t have to read as much. The use of the word contents in yellow in front of a big black box helps the word stand out, and is easily noticeable to make it easier for the reader, also keeping In with the colour scheme of the magazine. The quote from Tom Gabel, which is in bold black writing to stand out for readers, gives them a feel of the content that might be inside of the magazine and promotes the ‘Rock and Roll’ lifestyle that should be displayed in rock magazines. It also makes the readers feel like the band are talking directly to them and entices them to read more. The use of block black box’s with the yellow text over under ‘This Weeks’ is still keeping in with the colour scheme but also separating areas to make everything clear and easy to look at/find for the reader. Having band names printed in bold, in comparison to the other words is to attract the reader and make it easy to see what they’ll be interested in looking at, also as the names are next to the page numbers it’s easy for the reader to find what they want. Advertising in the same block format as the contents page but using a different colour, like the red, is to catch the readers eye. 

For my magazine I will use the features of having the contents page image dominated. It looks very interesting and catches the readers eye more, they don’t get confused by having so much to look at. I also will take away  the blocky format within setting out my articles/page numbers etc, with the image dominating image. I’ll feature a quote on my contents page to have a personal feel with the readers and as the band is talking to them and to give them some inkling of what the magazine entails. Advertising on the contents page in a bold colour away from the colour scheme is what I’d also like to do, as it will attract the readers eyes more as its not the norm on the page. 

From my analysis of this NME magazine front cover the first thing my eyes are drawn to is the magazine name ‘NME’. The masthead uses the colour white to compliment the black background and to make it stand out and get the attention of the buyers. From the ‘free new music’ in the left corner, the words ‘free’ and ‘new’ will make the readers buzz and be more interested as everyone likes free things; the words are in red also to keep in with the colour scheme of the magazine and make the statement stand out. The T in the park logo is the most colour on the magazine, this has been done to stand out and attract a wider audience, people who have attended or are attending the festival. The main pictures nearly takes up the whole of the front cover. This is effective as Eminem is known world wide and is a popular artist around the world, this will attract more readers who are fans of his music. The title Eminem is very eye catching as it uses the distinctive colours of red and white, keeping in with the colour scheme and making a stand against the black background. From this analysis some features I will use are having my title bold and a different colour from the back ground of the magazine, I will do this so my audience’s eyes go straight to the title as it’s one of the most important features. I also want my main front cover image to take over nearly the whole front cover  like this NME front cover, to attract my readers and follow the prestige of a typical rock magazine. 

Also using my new and improved Photoshop/InDesign skills I made my own bar code to feature in my magazine. This was a very time consuming task which took a lot of patients but I managed to complete and do a pretty good job if I do say so myself. I got the lines tool from Photoshop made around 20/30 lines, then went on the text box and wrote in random numbers underneath the lines I had previously laid. And then, bobs your uncle as they say.

Over time I have created pulls for the front cover, contents page and double page spread using only my Photoshop skills. I made these pulls because they are a frequent convention that I've fond from research that appear in rock magazines, especially the rock magazine 'Classic Rock' and as this is a recurring theme I shall feature these in my magazine.

Feedback for Front Cover

This video is some feedback of my rough cut from some other students in my class doing the same project as me, I have found there input very genuine and helpful in order to complete the final result.